RUMFORD – While most businesses remained open, schools in the region closed and many scheduled municipal and school district meetings were canceled by the second major snow storm in as many weeks on Monday.
Public works departments and individually owned snowplowing businesses were out in full force from Sunday night to Monday night.
The National Weather Service predicted up to 24 additional inches of snow would fall on the River Valley by Monday night. At times Monday, snow fell at a rate of about two inches an hour.
All three school boards that had planned regular or special meetings were canceled, including a scheduled meeting of Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron with SAD 21 and others involved in a proposed merger with Peru.
Rumford Town Manager Robert Welch said his entire public works crew had been out since about 6 p.m. Sunday. Workers have faced exceptionally long hours because the usual 14-member crew is down to 12.
The snow clearing season started earlier this year than usual, he said, referring to last weekend’s 31 inches of snow in the Rumford area. “And it was a good thing it rained the other day. That would have been another two feet of snow,” he said.
While Rumford’s municipal offices remained open during its usual hours on Monday, other offices didn’t, including Dixfield’s, which closed early. The River Valley Business Resource Center closed in early afternoon. Joe Sirois, the adult activities center director for the Oxford County Association for Retarded Citizens, was on the job all day but the nearly 40 residents remained home.
Children had an extra day to get outside and play when classes were canceled at SADs 21, 43, 44 and Peru. The school board meeting scheduled for SAD 43 was postponed until 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22. The SAD 21 board meeting, which had planned a meeting with Gendron, was also postponed until 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22. The Bethel district decided to cancel its board meeting, opting to wait until its next regular one set for Jan. 12.
Bethel and Dixfield selectmen planned to meet as scheduled Monday night, but Peru selectmen canceled their meeting and will meet next on Dec. 22. The Peru Planning Board also canceled its meeting.
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