RUMFORD – A temporary building to house a new ladder truck looks like a go.

Selectmen authorized Town Manager Robert Welch to continue work that would amend a 50-year-old agreement with MeadWestvaco Corp. to allow building the temporary structure in the municipal parking lot on River Street.

The property is owned by the paper company and leased to the town.

The current agreement allows parking only. An amendment is needed before the Rumford Fire Department can build the structure to house the newly acquired 1990 ladder truck. The fire fighting apparatus is too large to fit into the 1925 Congress Street fire station.

Selectman Jim Peterson abstained from the vote, commenting that some people are concerned about the loss of parking spaces.

Lawyer Curtis Rice, representing Seth Carey, asked the board why they approved the truck’s purchase when they knew it wouldn’t fit into the existing fire station. Carey has objected to the construction of a new fire station.

Board Chairman Jim Thibodeau said the truck was available at the right price and at the right time. The department’s previous ladder truck could no longer pass inspection.

He said plans are in the works for a new fire station, although whether or when has not yet been determined.

Welch said a new pumper, planned for purchase within the next year or so, will not fit into the old station as well. Firefighters have said that current equipment is too large to fit into the station that was built to accommodate horse-drawn firefighting apparatus.

But Welch also said that the new firetruck was not purchased to force construction of a new fire station. “The old truck had to be replaced,” he said.

Firefighters hope to get the temporary structure up before winter.

In another Fire Department matter, the board approved a policy governing when and how the department’s extrication tool, known as the Jaws of Life, can be used.

Fire Chief John Woulfe said the document is the first time the policy has been put into writing.

Now, the tool is part of the department’s mutual aid agreement with several towns. It is also requested occasionally by other towns.

The agreement assures that only Rumford firefighters will use the tool, no matter where it is used.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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