NORTH ATTLEBORO - A consultant's role in the search for a new town administrator will be cut back because selectmen can't find the $5,000 needed to pay him.

The board initially had hoped consultant Thomas Groux would be able to help screen applicants and participate in the first round of interviews, but selectmen say not enough money is in the town budget to pay him.

The finance committee rejected a request for the $5,000 from the town's reserve fund, arguing that it did not meet the required criteria of an emergency or unexpected expense.

Not enough funding

After taking another look at the budget, selectmen found $2,750 in the human resources budget to pay for Groux's services. Because that's not enough to cover his full bill, Groux will only review the initial applications and compare them with the criteria selectmen have set for the post. "He will not be involved in the interviews because we have a money situation," selectmen Chairman William Moffitt said.

Selectmen have received 31 applications for the town administrator's job. The board intends to schedule the first round of interviews, which will be closed to the public, for the last two weeks in May.

After the first round of interviews, the board will pare down the number of candidates to a few finalists, who will be interviewed publicly.

Officials hope a new town administrator will be hired by July 31, when Town Administrator Judith Robbins' contract expires.