Going against a Finance Committee recommendation, Selectmen voted to fund the town’s grant writer position for another year.

Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to maintain the position, which is part time and pays $30,600.

“That’s a very small amount of money from a very large budget,” Selectman Jon Henry said.

Last week, Selectmen and Finance Committee members met jointly to discuss the town’s budget. Faced with a $51,000 deficit using a level service budget Finance  Committee Chair Alan Mindard said it made sense to cut the position. Using a level service budget means no new expenditures are allowed. The deficit is due to unavoidable  health care and union negotiated salary increases.

Created two years ago, Selectman Chair Jody Dickerson said the position hasn’t generated enough revenue to justify its existence.

“Right now you have to admit we haven’t gotten the most bang for the buck,” Dickerson said.

Despite his initial reservations Dickerson voted to maintain the position following a show of support from Henry and Selectman Stephen Cushing.

According to Henry, a poor economy and spending cuts at the federal level may have reduced the number of available grants this year.

“I think circumstances vary year to year,” he said. “I think in a time of austerity it’s all the more important that we vigorously go after these grants.”

Cushing agreed.

“It may not bear fruit right off the bat,” he said. “But I’m willing to give it another year and we’ll revisit it again.”

Before the position, town department heads pursued grants when time allowed. According to Henry, former Selectman Roger Blanchette became an advocate of hiring a grant writer to secure funds department heads didn’t have time to apply for.

“[Blacnhette] felt they were missing out on grants,” Henry said.