Selectmen say a bylaw entitling town employees to longevity pay is no longer necessary.

Vice Chairman Robert Kimball said the bylaw was created when he served on the finance committee in the 1980s.

This was prior to the adoption of unions, it was important for employees to have some security, he said. This was also an effort to keep people in their jobs as long as possible.

The conversation came up at the boards April 11 meeting because an article is set to appear on the Town Meeting warrant in May asking voters to increase the amount of longevity pay town employees receive.

Currently the town pays the following in longevity pay in annual installments, after five years of working for the town an employee receives $150, after 10 years, $200, after 15 years, $250, after 20 years, $300 and after 25 years, $350.

The article is asking to change the compensation amounts to the following, after five years, $550, after 10 years, $650, after 15 years, $750 and after 20 years $850.

I dont believe in longevity pay, I think its a waste of taxpayers dollars, Kimball said. Im not going to support it because in a year from now well be back negotiating contracts. I dont think this is a good idea.

Selectman Bradford Bramwell said employees should be compensated based on their performance, not how long they have worked for the town.

Its nice to have people stay around for a long time, but its also nice for them to have job security for a long time, he said.

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Norton board questions longevity pay