RUMFORD — Selectmen on Thursday unanimously approved Harrison M. Burns as Rumford Citizen of the Year for 2015.
He will receive official recognition next month.
Selectman Frank DiConzo nominated Burns. Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Jeff Sterling read the letter written by Elliot “Bud” Burns also nominating his brother.
Harrison Burns has held many positions in Rumford and served as a member of many committees working for the betterment of Rumford for the past 40 years, Sterling said.
Harrison Burns serves on the Rumford Board of Appeals and the Rumford Water District Board, of which he has been a member for 21 years and president for 14 of them. He is also a 22-year member of SCORE, nine of them as chairman. He helps others get started in creating small business plans, Sterling said.
Sterling cited Burns’ past service on the Charter Commission, helping with the Enhanced 911 system for street numbering, the Route 2 Corridor Committee, Rumford Point Fire Department, on which he served for many years as the Engine 6 captain, acting town manager between Leo Morency and Daniel C. MacDonald II in 1970, and under Morency, the Rumford engineer.
Sterling said Harrison Burns also helped organize Rumford Point Little League Baseball for many years.
The board approved DiConzo’s motion, 3-0. Selectmen Mark Belanger and Greg Buccina were absent.
In other business, selectmen unanimously approved liquor licenses for VFW Post 1641 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Christopher Brennick, chairman of the Charter Commission, asked the board to reconsider its recent vote not to extend Charter Commission appointments. It effectively killed further work to correct the charter.
“It’s not beneficial for the community for you to stop us in the ‘Red Zone,'” Brennick said. The commission’s yearlong endeavor needed a few more months to complete its work.
Sterling took Brennick’s concern under advisement and hinted that it may be on the board’s next meeting agenda.
The meeting lasted 17 minutes, which selectmen said they thought was a record.
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- Rumford Town Manager John Madigan, right, listens to Rumford Selectman Vice Chairman Jeff Sterling read the nomination letter Thursday night for Harrison Burns, whom selectmen voted 3-0 to recognize as Rumford’s Citizen of the Year.
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