RUMFORD – Working as a region can lead to lower costs for common services and better identify the area as a destination point.

Those are the thoughts behind a first of its kind summit set for town managers and selectmen from the River Valley’s 10 towns set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, in the community room of Dirigo High School in Dixfield. It is the brainchild of the River Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“I hope town officials will be excited and rejuvenated and understand that regionalism isn’t a bad word,” said Rosie Bradley, the chamber’s president.

The chamber won’t play a part in the session other than providing a facilitator to help guide discussions by town officials.

The municipal summit is the first of several forums the RVCC hopes to call each year. The first, and possibly the second, will be directed at towns and town officials. Perhaps opening communication can lead to joint purchasing of items all towns need, or perhaps just sitting down together can enable officials to realize that all towns may be experiencing some of the same problems and issues, suggested Bradley.

“The state is saying regionalize. We want the towns to know how the Chamber and the River Valley Growth Council can help,” she said. “Purchasing power in bulk is huge for fuel, office supplies and other things. It just makes sense. We’re not looking for towns to lose their identity. We just want to see where they can collaborate and save money. We really want the towns to get involved and see how important it is.”

Once ideas have been voiced and recorded, copies will be sent to all participating towns. Then, a second forum to follow up on suggestions will be held in June.

Later forums will eventually be opened up to area organizations and to the public at large to gather their ideas on how to work together for the benefit of the area.

“We’re hoping to make this a quarterly event,” said Bradley.

Town officials from the towns of Andover, Byron, Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Hanover, Mexico, Peru, Roxbury and Rumford have been invited.

Bradley said it is essential that at least one official attend Wednesday’s summit.

A light supper will precede the discussion.

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