RUMFORD — Residents voted to reduce salaries of the selectmen and assessors at the annual town meeting Monday night at Mountain Valley High School.

Moderator Rob Cameron asked voters to decide on the salaries of town officers for the 2013-14 year. Mark Belanger made a motion that the salaries be amended as follows:

* Selectmen and overseers of General Assistance reduced from $1,500 a year to $1,000 for the chairman and  from $1,250 a year to $900 for the others.

* Assessors reduced from $1,450 a year to $1,000 for the chairman and from $950 a year to $900 for the others.

* Town clerk/treasurer reduced from $41,600 a year to $40,000.

* Tax collector/constable reduced from $41,600 a year to $40,000.

Initially, the amendment failed by a 109-120 vote. They then voted on the original article, which also failed by a vote of 108-117.

With no article on the floor, Cameron asked if there was a motion for town officers salaries. Jolan Ippolito made a motion that the town clerk/treasurer and the tax collector/constable salaries be $41,600. The motion passed.

Belanger made a motion to approve the amended salaries he suggested for selectmen and assessors. Voters overwhelmingly approved the motion.

In other business, townspeople overwhelmingly voted to authorize the town’s tax collector to institute an eight-month payment plan known as the Rumford Tax Club.

According to Cameron, the proposal would “allow individuals to make arrangements with the tax collector to make tax payments under an eight-month payment plan instead of a lump sum twice a year.

“It makes things a little easier for folks who are having a hard time paying their taxes,” Cameron added. “It makes things a little easier for folks to manage so they don’t lose their properties.”

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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