NEW SALEM — Voters at Annual Town Meeting on Monday gave the nod to a budget that is $169,508 higher than the current fiscal year.

The 60 residents who convened in the Town Hall basement had no major issues with the $3.56 million figures that constituted a 5% increase in the total operating budget, which includes $1.87 million for schools. The education budget has increases to every line item except for the town’s assessment for Franklin County Technical School, which will see a decrease from $207,656 to $180,860.

The proposed non-school subtotal is nearly $1.69 million, which is up 3.04% from the current fiscal year.

Under the general government budget, the town coordinator’s pay has increased from $39,343 to $73,200. Emily Hill was recently hired to replace Jessica Mooring. Resident Lori Oliver stood up to ask about the salary, saying it seemed higher than in surrounding towns.

Gabriele Voelker, who chairs the town’s Finance Committee, explained the $73,200 figure is on par with what the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ website states other Franklin County municipalities pay their town coordinators. She said Northfield’s town administrator is paid more than $100,000, but Oliver noted Northfield is a larger, wealthier town than New Salem.

“It doesn’t matter. The problem is, the job is the same — you have the same laws you have to follow, you have the same grant applications you have to apply [for],” Voelker replied. “There’s a whole lot more to the job than just sitting at the desk and passing paper.”

Voelker also said New Salem has lost employees due to not offering competitive wages.

Hill started in the position on June 2. A meet-and-greet was held in the Town Hall basement before the Annual Town Meeting. She will work 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday. The job was previously 32 hours per week.

Among other decisions, voters adopted Article 25, which transfers $65,000 from the Vehicle Stabilization Fund to replace the Police Department’s 2021 hybrid cruiser.

“It’s had quite a few problems. It’s been in the shop probably eight, nine, 10 times — three, four for the same thing,” Sgt. Charles Brooks said. “It’s difficult in the first place, running a department with two cruisers the way that we’ve been doing it. We had a cruiser go down a couple years ago and we were with one cruiser for a while, which is a little too close to no cruisers, really, for any comfort. Because if anything happens to it, then you’ve got nothing.”

He said a hybrid vehicle is preferred because of the fuel efficiency.

Voters also adopted Article 26, transferring $149,500 from the stabilization fund for a new multi-purpose truck for the Highway Department. Aaron Thibeault, who recently passed his one-year anniversary as highway superintendent, previously said his three-man crew needs a new vehicle to replace the 2013 model that costs too much to maintain. He has said not replacing the truck would put too much strain on the other apparatuses his departments uses to compensate for the older vehicle.

Voters took no action on an article that would have transferred $44,000 to refurbish the tennis and basketball courts near Town Hall. Grants are being explored to fund this project. This proposal was the only article out of the 34 on the warrant that did not pass.

The adoption of Article 29 designated $30,000 for the continued monitoring and testing of PFAS surrounding the closed Blueberry Hill landfill. PFAS are a set of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and are known as “forever chemicals. Resident Wayne Hachey didn’t voice disapproval of the testing, but said the corporations that put the chemicals into their products should be held responsible. He said PFAS are everywhere, from Mount Everest to plastic bottles to Teflon cookware.

Voelker and Selectboard Chair Susan Cloutier told Hachey they understand his point, but that the state is holding municipalities responsible for PFAS on public land.

At the beginning of Annual Town Meeting, a moment of silence was held for Arthur “Artie” Adams, who died in April at age 89. He served on the Planning Board from 1970 to 1973 and the Selectboard from 1973 to 1976. He was also instrumental in the formation of the regional school district that created Swift River School and was a firefighter for at least 30 years. He served in the Athol Lions Club and was a New Salem Central Congregational Church trustee.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.