Oakham Select Board Raises Part-Time Police Pay After Sergeant Resigns

OAKHAM — March 30, 2026 — Oakham Select Board accepts police sergeant's resignation and raises part-time officer pay to $26 an hour. The board voted unanimously Monday to accept the resignation of Sergeant Kevin Mataroshan, whose last day is no later than April 3 after 13 years with the department. With no full-time replacement planned through fiscal year-end, the police chief presented a plan to merge the remaining sergeant wage balance of $15,530.17 with $12,923.83 in part-time wages — a combined $28,454 — to sustain current shift coverage through June 30 and leave a projected surplus of $2,860. The board raised part-time patrol pay from $19.97 to $26 an hour and part-time sergeant pay from $20.97 to $27, in both cases through June 30 only, citing a survey of Central Massachusetts departments showing most pay part-timers $26 to $32 an hour. The board also voted unanimously to opt Oakham out of vote-by-mail for local elections on the town clerk's recommendation, and deferred a possible appointment to fill the vacant town clerk position until at least April 6 after a concern arose that a leading candidate's application barred contact with prior employers.