A motion to adopt new wages met with some resistance from residents at Special Town Meeting on Monday who wanted to see higher pay for firefighters.

In addition to the wages of some of the town’s clerical and library employees, the town’s firefighters got an increase in salary.

The pay upgrade is based on a study the town conducted with a third party consultant. Selectman Paul Silva said they used the median range from the research to arrive at the market rate for the wages.

Resident Don Fleming, however, wanted to see more money go to lieutenants, captains and the deputy chief.

Previously, all firefighters, regardless of rank, were paid $18.71 an hour. With the new wages, all firefighters would get some increase in pay, ranging from $.94 an hour for firefighters in years one through five to $3.38 for the deputy chief. Lieutenants would receive an hourly rate of $20.83, captains $21.45 and the deputy chief $22.09. Fleming said the hourly rate should be $25,  $30 and $35, respectively.

“I think we’re just selling our firemen short,” said Fleming.

But Selectmen said increasing the salaries would mean taking money from somewhere else in the budget, and would mean treating firefighters differently than the other employees getting a pay adjustment.

“I’m not saying they don’t deserve it, I’m saying this is what the market pays,” said Silva.

To approve Fleming's motion, a majority vote was required; however, it was defeated with 66 in opposition to 31 in favor.

The original motion was then approved 101 to 2.