RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen on Thursday unanimously approved Police Chief Stacy Carter’s recommendation to hire Patrolman Ashley Rich as a full-time officer.
Carter said Rich started with the department as the administrative assistant in September 2016. “Since then she has excelled as an employee,” he said.
She completed a 100-hour course to become a part-time officer and was appointed a reserve officer in February 2017.
“She has excelled in all parts of her training and will be a very good addition to the department,” Carter said.
He said when a utility position is filled, he will advertise for a new administrative assistant.
In other business, Town Manager Linda “L-J” Briggs said she was advised that state loan officials for the $4 million Island infrastructure work this year are requiring a change in the water pipes. As a result, bidders were contacted, the specs were revised and the deadline for offers was pushed out two weeks, she said.
Selectmen will open bids at 1 p.m. April 18 and make a decision at their April 20 meeting.
In another matter, Regional School Unit 10 Director Frank DiConzo of Rumford advised selectmen that the 12 RSU 10 towns will vote on a $900,250 bond to replace the Mountain Valley High School roof. The vote and ratification by the school board must be done before July 31.
The towns that have withdrawn from the district — Byron, Dixfield, Canton, Carthage and Peru — will not be responsible for the payback, DiConzo said. The amount to be repaid is $343,085 over 10 years at no interest.
“That’s a heck of a bond,” he said. It will, once and for all, take care of the Mountain Valley roof. No more Band-Aiding,” he said.
Also on Thursday, the board:
• Unanimously approved a bid of $11,612 from Community Energy of Rumford for a boiler for the Central Fire Station;
• Voted 4-0 to approve a $9,500 request from the Parks Department for the Fourth of July fireworks; the money will come from the cable franchise fees.
bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net
Rumford
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