Interim town accountant Baystate Municipal Accounting Group's contract is up on June 30, and the town is now seeking a permanent accountant to take over at a salary of approximately $90,000 per year.

This higher than expected salary -- the previous permanent accountant made around $68,000 annually -- is needed in order to attract qualified candidates because there are a short supply of capable accountants, Town Administrator Mark Andrews told the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday.

According to the posting for the position released by the town, the salary for the incoming accountant would range between $90,000 and $95,000 "based on qualifications."

Selectman Cara Winslow expressed concern that the posting for the job only required candidates to have a bachelor's degree in order to be qualified for the position. She argued that a master's degree would be a more appropriate requirement for a salary in the $90,000 range.

"[This is] $30,000 more than what we paid the last accountant," Winslow said. "I would feel more comfortable knowing what surrounding communities are paying their town accountants."

Andrews noted that the state Department of Revenue has recommended that the town increase the accountant's salary for that reason.

"We had [the salary] in the mid $80,000 -- it wasn't what we were looking for," Andrews said about the response to the town's previous posting for the position.

Baystate Municipal Accounting Group, which is headed by Justin Cole, was hired in November of 2011 after the town twice failed to attract what officials considered suitable individual applicants after posting the job. The Board of Selectmen then voted in December to allow Andrews to enter into a six-month contract with the firm.

The town has been without a permanent town accountant since April 2011 when former Town Accountant Elizabeth Zaleski was fired after a draft financial audit revealed a $919,000 discrepancy in the town's books. The discrepancy was later determined to be caused by incorrect entries into the town's accounting system and lack of proper accounting procedures.

After appealing the dismissal and reaching a $42,500 settlement agreement, Zaleski was reinstated but agreed to immediately resign her post. She now serves as Raynham's town accountant.

In other town business:

The Board of Selectmen also decided to form a Cable Advisory Committee (CAC) formed of Matthew Underhill, the information technology systems manager for the town of Wareham; 1 member of the Board of Selectmen; and 3 at large members to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

Interviews will start at the next Selectmen meeting on March 6, according to Holmes.

The CAC will be responsible for negotiating agreements with cable companies in Wareham and reporting back to the Selectmen, according to Holmes. The Selectmen asked that applicants have knowledge of the cable industry, contracts, management, and other skills vital to negotiation.