RUMFORD — Depending on the whims of voters, selectmen could put months of multiple meetings behind them this week and finalize the 2010-11 budget that is normally set after the June town meeting.
This year’s anomalies are a proposed welfare budget that’s twice been rejected and a petition-initiated revote on funding for Black Mountain ski resort. Those issues could be decided at the polls from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, in the American Legion on upper Congress Street.
Selectmen and the Finance Committee have recommended a $35,000 welfare budget and a $51,000 donation to the nonprofit ski resort, which failed to get any funding through the initiated-article process at town meeting in June.
Voters have rejected raising and appropriating $70,021 and $60,000 for the welfare budget. Selectmen then pared the amount to $35,000 for a third try.
Should voters again reject the welfare budget, selectmen and the committee would have to repeat the process to recommend an amount and try again. State law requires towns to have general assistance budgets.
Other meetings this week include a special business meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in Muskie Auditorium at Mountain Valley High School on a proposed wind ordinance with which to regulate wind farm development and a proposed charter change to simplify the initiated-articles ballot when selectmen and the committee do not agree on an amount to recommend.
After discussion is completed, the meeting will adjourn to Nov. 2 for balloting.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, selectmen will hold the second of two public hearings on the proposed wind ordinance.
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