RUMFORD – Selectmen unanimously voted to hire the Maine Municipal Association to help with their search for a new town manager.

The decision was made after the board heard a presentation by MMA representative David Barrett.

Town Manager Robert Welch said the cost for the MMA help will be $4,500 plus advertising and other fees.

Selectmen held a special meeting with Barrett last Tuesday, then took the vote at their regular meeting on Thursday.

Selectman Jolene Lovejoy said the board’s meeting room was packed with residents curious about how a new town manager will be chosen. She said the board will decide whether to include one or two members of the public in the town manager search at the board’s Aug. 5 meeting. The final decision on a new town leader will be made by selectmen.

In the meantime, Barrett will conduct a so-called needs assessment at a public meeting in late July or early August. That meeting will allow public comment, said Lovejoy.

Welch submitted his resignation last month after 12 years of service as town manager. The resignation is effective as soon as a suitable replacement can be found, and no later than Dec. 31.

Growth council

Also at Thursday’s board meeting, selectmen agreed to attend a River Valley Growth Council orientation workshop, after a presentation by the group’s economic developer, Scott Christiansen.

The growth council’s assistant to Christiansen, Rosie Bradley, said she is working to set up an orientation meeting for Rumford selectmen and several council members. The aim would be to clarify the roles of the RVGC board and the member towns’ boards of selectmen. Two orientation meetings have already been held for RVGC board members. A fourth session will be scheduled in the future for all other boards of selectmen.

“They are wondering what we are doing, and we’re doing a great deal,” said Christiansen.

It’s likely that the session for Rumford selectmen will take place in early August.

In other business, selectmen awarded the contract for the purchase of a new front-end loader to Chadwick-BaRoss of Westbrook at a cost of $98,000, which includes the trade-in of the town’s 1989 model.