RUMFORD – Fire Chief John Woulfe really wasn’t surprised that an article that would have funded a new fire station was resoundingly defeated at Monday’s annual town meeting.

But he said he was pleased that the selectmen admitted that a new station was needed.

Voters overwhelmingly voted not to fund a new station. Woulfe had asked for $1.9 million.

“It’s in the selectmen’s lap now. The Fire Station Task Force has done what was expected,” he said.

A task force was formed two years ago to seek a solution to the town’s historic, but antiquated, circa 1925 downtown fire station. The task force recommended replacement.

The town and Fire Department had been looking into a possible land swap with MeadWestvaco, which would result in a lot on which a two-story, modern facility could be built.

The land swap was not completed as of town meeting night, and it is uncertain whether it will be.

However, Woulfe said the town is looking at several other potential sites, including the former Agway lot off Railroad Street and the former Puiia hardware lot off Bridge Street.

An architectural drawing of a proposed fire station shows a two-story building. Woulfe said if a sufficiently large piece of property is secured, the building could be reconfigured into a one-story station that could cost less.

If land is found, Woulfe said a special town meeting could be called later in the year, most likely after the November general election.

Concerns expressed by townspeople and some of the selectmen included the so-called Palesky tax initiative, which is on the November ballot. If the measure is passed, many town officials say the town would find itself with a severe shortage of property tax money.

Although Woulfe said he understood the thinking behind Monday’s defeat, he said the longer the town waits to build a new station, the more expensive it will be.

He said the department will keep the Board of Selectmen updated on the building’s design.

Once a piece of land and confirmed building design is ready, the department will take the plans before the public to try to get support.

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