Town officials have interviewed seven applicants interested in becoming a part time animal control officer at the Warren Animal Shelter.

The applicants were interviewed after funds were put into the 2015-16 budget for the $12-per-hour position; the part time officer will help maintain a weekend presence at the shelter. Warren Deputy Police Chief Joseph Loiselle, who supervises the animal control officer, said the applicants’ information was forwarded to Warren Town Manager Thomas Gordon over the past few days. He expects the new part time position will be filled “soon.”

Meanwhile, animal control officer Gary Violett will retain his post for at least another six months, police chief Peter Achilli said Tuesday. Mr. Violett, a member of the United Steelworkers’ Union, was named to the post six months ago. Per union rules that allow members to apply for the temporary position every six months, he applied for and was given the role earlier this year, supplanting former temporary ACO Mike Briggs, who has less seniority.

Chief Achilli said Mr. Violett re-applied for the position as required under union rules; nobody else applied, he said.

Technically, Heidi Garrity is still Warren’s animal control officer, though she was suspended without pay last month after she was charged with embezzling thousands from the shelter. She faces a court date in August.