The police chief
says his department is short staffed.
RUMFORD – Selectmen narrowly turned down a motion to hire people to ticket parking violators in the downtown area.
They also approved a parking lot amendment that will allow construction of a temporary building to house a new ladder truck for the Fire Department.
Selectmen Jolene Lovejoy and Eugene Boivin voted to hire from one to three part-time people to ticket vehicles. Selectmen Jim Peterson and Jim Thibodeau voted against the motion. Selectman Bob Bradley was absent.
Lovejoy said a major concern of downtown business owners has been the lack of parking, and many people park all day in the business district.
“What’s the point of having signs if no one is going to enforce it?” Lovejoy asked.
Rumford Police Chief Tim Bourassa said his officers are unable to closely monitor vehicles that may exceed the time limit because the department has been short staffed and the remaining officers have so many other duties.
Thibodeau said the town has no money to hire part-time meter people.
Town Manager Robert Welch said not only does the town not have money for them, but there is about $5,000 in outstanding ticket fines due the town.
Thibodeau maintained that the business owners and their employees were largely responsible for a lack of downtown parking for customers.
“Business owners and their employees need to park in the parking lots. The culprits are the business people themselves,” said Thibodeau.
Lovejoy said the board has a responsibility to Congress Street and the rest of the downtown area.
“Unless we do something, more and more businesses are going to leave,” she said.
Before any action is taken to try to solve the parking situation, Welch suggested the board wait until he and Lovejoy finish canvassing the downtown business to learn of their concerns about the town’s business climate.
A temporary structure to house a firetruck that is too large for the existing fire station may or may not be built this year. Selectmen approved an amendment that would allow such construction at the municipal lot located at the rear of the fire station. The lot is owned by MeadWestvaco Corp. and leased to the town.
The original lease allowed parking, but no temporary structures. Now, with the amendment, a temporary structure would be allowed.
Fire Chief John Woulfe said he will meet with those who plan to erect the building to decide whether the weather will permit construction this year. If not, he said the department will have to find an alternate site to house the truck.
Right now, it is parked adjacent to the fire station.
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