SALEM — Salem’s town chairman wants to put department heads under contract.

Chairman Linda Valentine told the Town Board Monday that hiring a town administrator who has hiring and firing discretion for staff changed the rules for department heads, such as the highway superintendent and utility district director.

“We changed the rules of the game when we hired a town administrator,” Valentine said. She said in the past the board made decisions on employment of department heads. “Now that is all residing with one individual.”

Administrator Patrick Casey, hired last year, has a contract, as does Fire Chief Mike Slover.

Casey said he believes contracts for department heads are unnecessary.

Supervisor Joe Meier agreed, saying contracts could make it more difficult to fire employees without added cost to the town. He said he also did not want the board to micro-manage operations of the town.

“If we’re going to micro-manage, we can get rid of all supervisors,” Meier said.

Supervisors Dennis Faber and Jo Weidman said a personnel policy adopted in 2007 is likely to address Valentine’s concerns. She asked that she be provided a copy of the policy.

Most neighboring communities do not have contracts with individual department heads.

In Pleasant Prairie, only Administrator Michael Polloff works under contract, and he has hiring and firing discretion over employees who are not on staff of the police and fire departments. Police and fire employees are overseen by a police and fire commission.

In Somers, department heads do not have contracts. Administrator William Morris makes recommendations on hiring and firing, but by town ordinance the ultimate authority rests with the Town Board.

Twin Lakes Administrator David Cox said both he and the clerk/treasurer work under contract, and the police chief has a more informal letter outlining the terms of his employment. There are no other department heads in the village, with the supervisors of public works and highways working under union contracts.

The town and village of Bristol have a similar arrangement. Administrator Randy Kerkman has a contract, and recommends hiring and firing decisions to the board. Kerkman said foremen of other departments are covered by union contracts.