EAST LONGMEADOW – The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted on Jan. 26 to amend the job description for the currently advertised police chief’s job to include a residency requirement.  

The candidate selected to take the police chief’s post would have six months to take up residence in town, according to the stipulation.

The job was initially posted on the town’s website on Jan. 19 and on the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s site on Jan. 20 after the board agreed to open up the job to potential candidates in an executive session.

At its Jan. 26 meeting, the selectmen unanimously re-voted to seek applicants for the position in order to make the decision public.

The contract for Mellis, a Springfield resident, is due to expire in March. He has served as police chief for the past 11 years.

Selectman William Gorman previously stated the decision to advertise the position was due to high police overtime budgets during the past several years.

The selectmen voted 2 to 1 at its Jan. 12 meeting to cut the department’s fiscal year 2017 (FY17) overtime budget from approximately $320,000 down to $150,000. The board also agreed to move $50,000 of the cut funds to a Reserve Fund in case there is a deficit related to the overtime budget.

Interim Town Administrator Gregory Neffinger told Reminder Publications five police officers account for 50 percent of the department’s overtime budget. He said this information came to light after a query from the selectmen.

According to the town’s FY15 payroll information, 17 out of 28 town employees who made $100,000 or more were members of the Police Department. Mellis made $137,558 in FY15, sixth highest among town employees. Two police sergeants were paid more than him.

Gorman said prior to the meeting he believes the police chief’s salary should be reduced.

“The salary of the chief is going to go down because 14 percent of the [police] budget right now is strictly for overtime,” he noted. “And that’s not overtime to do with road jobs ... [Overtime is used] if someone’s on medical leave, someone’s vacation or training.”

Gorman said he also believes 10 or 12 candidates might apply to the position with a residency requirement.

He noted he would like to see a police chief who is “more part of the community” and is “a lot more proactive.”

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to criminal just or an equivalent area of study, be Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council certified, have at least 10 years of law enforcement experience, three of which must be as a commanding officer, and pass physical, psychological as well as background examinations, according to the advertisement.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 5.

The selectmen will meet next at its Feb. 2 meeting to review applicants for a proposed five-member Advisory Committee, which would vet candidates and bring three finalists to the selectmen.

Neffinger said prior to the Jan. 26 meeting a new police chief could be chosen by the end of March.

Town Accountant Sara Menard did not respond to an inquiry related to police overtime before press time.