Warren’s town manager has turned down a request from the Warren Police Department to hire an additional part time animal control officer.

Shelter workers and volunteers had sought an additional $17,000 this coming year to pay for the additional officer, who would presumably spend time at the shelter when other workers were gone. Volunteer Karen Lynch said earlier this month that animal control officer Mike was coming in on his own, at night, to check on the animals, as they are often left for long stretches.

“He worries about them but he can’t keep doing that,” she said. “We need more people.”

But in a budget plan presented to the Warren Town Council earlier this month, town manager Thomas Gordon recommended against the department’s request for $27,000 for assistants. Instead, he recommended $13,325 — $325 more than the department is spending this current year.

Other line items received modest increases as well, though by lesser amounts than were requested by the department. They include a 6.9 percent hike in overtime and a 1.8 percent increase in general and operating expenses. The manager also recommended doubling the shelter’s repair budget, from the current $5,000 to $10,000.

Budget review coming up

Mr. Gordon’s numbers are not set in stone. The Warren Town Council will soon begin reviewing the budget and making its own recommendations. After that, public hearings will be held and the final budget plan will be put to a public vote at the Warren Financial Town Meeting in May.

The council’s first budget review session begins at 9 a.m. this Saturdya, March 1, at Warren Town Hall. Though the police department budget will not be reviewed Saturday, it is scheduled to be the following Saturday, March8.  This Saturday’s review schedule includes:

9 a.m.: Harbormaster

9:15 a.m.: Recreation

9:30 a.m.: Library

9:45 a.m.: Social Services

10 a.m.: Senior Center

10:15 a.m.: Tax Assessor

10:30 a.m.: Municipal Court

10:45 a.m.: Finance Department

11 a.m.: Town Manager

11:15 a.m.: Grants and Contributions