RUMFORD – Selectmen on Thursday took a first look at a design for a proposed new fire station, that if approved by townspeople, would provide a facility suitable for the needs of a modern fire department.

The board may decide at a June board meeting whether to recommend it for a public vote.

If that happens, Chief John Woulfe would begin a series of public informational meetings.

Proposed by Enterprise Engineering of Freeport and Port City Architecture of Portland is a 14,500-square-foot, two-story facility with an estimated price tag of about $2.5 million.

As presented, it would be constructed of metal with a brick facade along a portion of the first floor. It would be handicap accessible and provide interior security, two things that aren’t available in the current downtown brick structure.

But perhaps more importantly, it would provide sufficient space for a new ladder truck as well as for increasingly larger pieces of fire-fighting apparatus along with space for training, meetings and other rooms needed by a department that does more than fight fires.

A Fire Station Task Force has been studying the needs of the Rumford Fire Department for about two years. An expert in the fire-fighting requirements recommended construction of a new building. The current structure was originally built for use by horse-drawn, fire-fighting apparatus.

A new fire station is a long way from approval, however.

Selectmen want a chance to study the design and accompanying report before deciding whether to recommend its construction.

They have set June 5 as the next date for the proposal’s review.

“This is the first round of presentation,” said Chief John Woulfe. “A special town meeting would be held after feedback from the public.”

If a design gets the recommendation of the board, a series of public informational meetings would be held. Changes to the initial proposal could be made at any time from now until it goes before the public for a vote.

Town Manager Robert Welch said he is working with MeadWestvaco Corp. representatives on a possible land swap for a parcel on which the fire station could be built. The design plan uses a portion of MeadWestvaco land located across from the Eagles Hall on Rumford Avenue for siting the new station.

The town is searching for possible grant money to pay for at least a part of the cost. Welch also determined the cost to taxpayers if most of the funds had to be financed. Right now, with current valuations, he said the home valued at $50,000 would pay an additional $16 per year to pay for a new fire station. This is based on a 15-year loan of $2 million.

Welch cautioned, however, that the town’s valuation has been steadily decreasing, which could mean the actual cost to property owners would be higher.