Groton — Citing a work performance that "exceeds expectations" and lack of a pay raise in three of the last four years, the Town Council on Tuesday agreed to boost Town Manager Mark Oefinger's salary by $6,500.

Oefinger, who has served as the town manager since 2002 and has gone without an assistant manager for the past two years, will now earn a $136,675 annual salary, according to a resolution passed by a 6 to 1 vote by the council. Council member Bruce Flax was the lone dissenting vote.

Councilors had spent the last several months using executive sessions to evaluate Oefinger's work performance. There was no discussion at Tuesday's meeting. Oefinger was evaluated in categories that included: planning and management; finance and budget; professionalism, image and integrity; communication; and staff development.

Oefinger earned an average of four, "exceeds expectations," on a one though five ranking scale. His work with the town dates back to 1978 when he started as a town planner.