RUMFORD — Rumford and Mexico selectmen have rescheduled a special joint meeting for an executive session to review police department union contracts.
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in the Jury Room at the Rumford Municipal Building.
Both boards have been debating whether to merge police departments, but wages remain a contentious point.
Rumford Selectman Mark Belanger said he wanted to see if the Rumford and Mexico unions would be willing to consider renegotiating certain sections of their police contracts, including wages, benefits, health insurance and overtime.
During previous meetings, some Mexico selectmen said if the departments merge they would not support a budget that involved using Rumford’s wages and benefits.
There are 13 union members in Rumford and Mexico.
Sgt. Tracey Higley is the Rumford union vice president.
Officers Dan Carrier and Josh Aylward represent the Mexico police union.
If the departments merge, they would serve a combined population of 8,500.
At the last meeting of the Rumford and Mexico boards, Mexico Selectman Byron Ouellette stipulated that after the Rumford and Mexico selectmen agreed on a savings figure, they would choose two selectmen from each town to approach the Rumford and Mexico union, schedule a meeting, and discuss the figure.
For nearly two years, both towns have been discussing whether to consolidate services.
During a Nov. 24, 2014, meeting in Mexico, Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant presented a two-year contract proposal for coverage of Rumford and Mexico.
Gallant said it would cost the towns more than $1.3 million for the first year and $1.18 million the second year. The proposal would provide 12 deputies to cover both towns.
Following Gallant’s presentation, Rumford police Chief Stacy Carter and Mexico police Chief Roy Hodsdon presented a proposal to combine departments and work out of the Mexico police station, which is more spacious than Rumford’s station.
In the first year, their $1,454,856 proposal would save Rumford $66,045, and Mexico $44,237. There would be 15 officers. Currently, Rumford has 12 and Mexico has five.
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