By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
7/3/08

(previous)
The second deputy chief position has remained unfilled since Richard Wells was named police chief last year.
Deputy Chief Paul Nolan’s contract was recently extended for one year.
Paris was first appointed a patrol officer back in September, 1977, and served in that capacity for approximately 13 years.
During those years, he received numerous commendations. Among the most notable was the Distinguished Service Award for Law Enforcement presented to him in 1983.
In 1988, as part of a special task force investigating the attempted murders of four women in Milton and Quincy, he received a state commendation for being highly instrumental in the investigation and successful prosecution of the defendant in the case.
Since 1993, he has served as lieutenant and in 2004 he was named detective lieutenant.
Paris has expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for being chosen for the position.
“I appreciate the board’s decision and their confidence in me,” he said.
“I’m certainly looking forward to working with the chief in this new capacity.”
He will become deputy chief effective July 1 and will serve until June 30 of 2009.
Selectmen will then have the option of extending the agreement for another year following an annual performance evaluation.
Town Administrator
A vote of confidence was also directed at Kevin Mearn, who was appointed the town’s administrator last year after serving as police chief for over a decade.
Selectmen approved a three-year contract that will keep Mearn as administrator until June of 2011, at which time they will have the option to keep him on for an additional three years.
Mearn and the selectmen voiced mutual praise and gratitude in working together over the past year.
“I appreciate this past year and really look forward to working to help the community,” said Mearn.
In the coming year, Mearn will assist Selectmen and Fire Chief Malcolm Larson in selecting a new fire chief. He will also be instrumental in developing a two-year budget forecast for the town, as well as conducting labor and collective bargaining negotiations. Mearn also hopes to assist in adapting computer technology to the Selectmen meeting process and working with department heads to better organize the town hall archives.