NORTON - The board of assessors might have a new member by week's end.

Selectmen are asking assessors Joan DeCosta and Barbara Martin to attend their meeting this Thursday night to interview the applicants for the vacancy on that three-member board.

Three residents have applied for the post, Selectmen Vice Chairman Robert Kimball Jr. said.

Town Manager James Purcell said a fourth also may have made the May 22 deadline.

The two boards will vote on the candidates together and appoint one to serve until the spring 2010 annual town election, when the remaining two years of the term will be on the ballot. The post has been vacant since last month's town election, when no one ran for a three-year term as an assessor.

Incumbent James Brown declined to seek re-election. However, he received three write-in votes.

Selectman Robert Salvo received four write-in votes, but declined the position.