MEXICO — The resignation of Amanda Hamner from the town’s recreation board sparked a debate on the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Nov. 26.
In her letter of resignation, Hamner wrote she was resigning due to “personal conflict amongst the board.”
The board accepted her resignation with regret, but it was only 3-2, as board members Reggie Arsenault and Peter Merrill voted against, feeling that perhaps she was forced off the board. Arsenault said when he talked with Hamner in the town office earlier in the day, she told him she was forced off the board because she did a fundraiser for the Greater Rumford Community Center.
Selectman George Byam responded, “The board didn’t tell her. Richie (board chairman Philbrick) was there, too. That’s not how it went down.”
Merrill agreed with Arsenault. “That’s how it came to me also. If that did happen, we’re kind of defeating the purpose of trying to join services with Rumford.”
Selectman Byron Ouellette asked if there was a conversation asking her not to participate in a GRCC fundraiser. “What’s the problem with her doing that?”
Byam said, “She didn’t have enough time to devote to both places and do a good job.”
Philbrick said that she was working with both Mexico Rec and GRCC and “didn’t think she’d have enough time to do both, or enough commitment to do both of them, so she made a decision.”
He added, “And if she has enough time, she more than welcome to come back because we don’t want to lose people when we’re trying to merge. I’d accept her back on the board anytime.”
Arsenault said if she was forced off the board, “we, as a Board of Selectmen, appoint who’s going to be on that board. They shouldn’t force people off it, if that’s what happened.”
Philbrick added, “We need all the help we can. We don’t need to force people off.”
In other business, selectmen appointed Dwight Murphy as the fire department constable and approved a taxi license for Mountain Valley Taxi following a public hearing.
The board also approved placing a “No Parking” sign between the driveway of Art Gardner and Burton Street following a public hearing. Gardner has had trouble getting out of his driveway and asked selectmen for a sign.
Arsenault mentioned that someone selling Christmas trees in Dixfield illegally placed a business sign on Mexico’s Memorial Green. Because that is considered sacred ground, the sign was removed. Madigan and Arsenault reminded the public that signs cannot be placed there.
“The Memorial Green is where we honor our veterans who gave their lives for our country,” said Madigan, a Vietnam War veteran.
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