The duties of Freeport’s shellfish warden would change and so would the job title if the Town Council accepts the recommendations of the town’s Shellfish Conservation Commission.

The commission decided at a meeting Jan. 8 that the shellfish warden’s position should henceforth be called the “marine resource officer,” and that the duties of the person who holds the job should involve more resource protection and less enforcement.

Those changes, pending Town Council approval, would kick in with the hiring of the replacement for Tom Kay, who retires as shellfish warden on Feb. 6.

The Town Council will consider the Shellfish Conservation Commission’s recommendations when it meets on Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m. The proposed changes would require an amendment to the town’s administrative code.

Town Manager Peter Joseph and Town Councilor Andy Wellen attended the Jan. 8 meeting. Wellen said later that the commission left room for member Doug Leland to “tweak” the proposal, based on public input.

“I don’t think there’s going to be much tweaking,” Wellen said. “They want policing to be minimal.”

The commission, concerned with the impact of green crabs on the softshell clam population, has targeted enforcement for the past year. The commission and the Maine Clammers Association agree that the municipal officer should be doing more conservation work.

Commission member Eric Horne said at the Thursday night meeting that the evolution of the position is going away from strict enforcement to water quality and resource protection.

“That’s the upshot,” Horne said.

Joseph advised the commission that the new job description would require a change in the town’s administrative code. As is, the Town Council appoints the shellfish warden. According to the new plans, Joseph would appoint the marine resource officer, with input from police Chief Jerry Schofield and a Shellfish Commission member.

Commission member Nora Healy voiced her approval of that change, which would treat the marine resource officer like any other town position.

Joseph then referred to a recommendation from the Department of Marine Resources that a full-time municipal marine officer spend about 20 hours a week on enforcement.

Healy suggested that a police officer might be able to handle the enforcement duties until a hire is made. The shellfish warden is part of the police department.

“That’s sort of a test, to see if we could move (enforcement) into some sort of a police position,” Healy said.

The commission batted around possible names for the position, first considering “shellfish conservation officer.” Horne and the commission then settled on “marine resource officer.”

“I like the bigger tent,” he said.

The shellfish warden is paid $45,000, and there might be leeway for the Town Council to increase the salary for the new job description. Last summer, the council allocated $15,000 to the shellfish commission to help in its resource protection efforts. The commission has used some of that money to hire consultants for scientific research.

The job description for the marine resource officer is divided into three general categories: strategic planning and science and research; program management and administration; and regulatory enforcement. The successful applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in marine biology, with a master’s preferred.