Answer
(Fatwa: 203/174=D)
A person who is pious, aware of salah related issues, is well versed in reciting the Quran and keeps beard (at least one fist or more) should be appointed as imam. If there is none to shoulder this duty voluntarily then paying salary is also allowed. The Shariah allows employing imam with a fixed salary.
By your words “the Imam does not follow Sunnah“, if you mean that he does not have sunnah beard or he is clean shaven then his imamah is extremely undesirable. And, in case there is any other pious person who is capable of leading salah then his imamah is more sinful act. The muqtadis (people praying salah in the mosque) should appoint an imam meeting all conditions of imamah, otherwise all of them will be sinful if they will fail to fulfill this duty. Appointing imam is the best solution to put an end to the controversy.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband