RUMFORD — Selectmen decided Monday night that they will not consider extending the terms of Charter Commission members, as previously requested, without receipt of a preliminary progress report by Nov. 1, Selectman Brad Adley said late Tuesday afternoon.
That report was supposed to be provided to selectmen by the commission nine months after it formed. Six members were elected in November; the other three were appointed by selectmen in October.
Adley said they could extend the terms of the latter three selectmen because the board had appointed them, but not the other six.
He said the board would only extend the terms if it decides the commission “is going in the right direction.”
Adley said the board is concerned that work to review and amend the 1951 charter is proceeding haphazardly. He also said he received a notice Tuesday morning from Kevin Saisi that Saisi had resigned as co-chairman.
The board also withheld action on a previous request to extend the commission’s time frame for completion.
In other business, selectmen spent an hour discussing a request for signage on Knox Street to allow funeral service parking near Holy Savior Church, but took no action, Adley said.
The board voted 5-0 on Sept. 4 to table erecting signs on Knox Street to allow for funeral parking near Holy Savior Church so the Fire Department could determine if its ladder truck could safely fit between parked cars along both sides of the street.
Selectman Mark Belanger brought the issue to the board’s attention on Aug. 21, but had to wait until the Sept. 4 meeting to discuss it, because it had to be on the agenda.
Belanger said residents along the narrow street brought past concerns, complaining that funeral attendees at the church were blocking their driveways.
At that Sept. 4 meeting, police Chief Stacy Carter said there are four parking spots by the church, two handicap spots and two parking spaces between each driveway. The parking problem is exacerbated in winter due to snowbanks and parking on both sides of the road.
Adley said the board also agreed to a request by Envision Rumford! to close certain downtown streets on Oct. 11 for its annual Pumpkin Fest and granted a liquor license extension to Hotel Rumford during the festival.
Selectmen approved granting a quitclaim deed for 215 Penobscot St. to Tom Bordeau after receiving a check for $5,729.49 that covered property taxes and a sewer bill, Adley said.
“He bought it back from us,” he said.
Adley also said no action was taken following two executive sessions, the first of which dealt with an economic development matter; the second, with a personnel matter.
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