RUMFORD – An apparent lack of communication between the River Valley Growth Council and the Board of Selectmen came to a head Thursday night when the two faced each other over a variety of development plans for buildings in town.

Selectmen said they were upset that the growth council board appeared to have ignored a letter asking that decisions on accepting a grant and a building be delayed until the two selectmen who normally sit on the board could attend a council meeting.

The council decided to accept the $100,000 grant from the State Planning Office and to accept ownership of the former J.A. Thurston building at their Wednesday board meeting, despite a letter from Town Manager Robert Welch asking that they wait.

Greg Buccina, a growth council member, said the council believed the letter may not have been accurate and that the board was qualified to make decisions. Rich Allen, also a growth council member, agreed.

“Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve heard of personality conflicts between the selectmen and this board,” said Lem Cissel, who has developed two businesses and invested in several hundred acres in town. “The Rumford selectmen won’t give the growth council the time of day and the growth council won’t give the selectmen the time of day,” he said.

At issue were actions taken by selectmen and growth council executive director Scott Christiansen concerning the Abbott Farm Plaza, which was recently donated to the town, and the Thurston building, which will soon be given to the growth council.

Selectman Jolene Lovejoy and Christiansen had talked with the owners of the Abbott Farm Plaza, and both had differing stories on whether the town or the growth council would receive the building from the Boston owners. The town and the growth council had worked to bring development to both buildings, often without discussing potential dealings with each other.

“We never get the same story twice out of you,” Lovejoy told Christiansen.

Selectman Jim Rinaldo, a member of the growth council who could not attend Wednesday’s meeting, said he was upset that the grant and Thurston building were acted on when the council was asked not to.

“We are a major player and we deserved the courtesy. It fell on deaf ears. You had every right to do what you did, but it leaves a sour taste in our mouths,” he said.

Seth Carey, a growth council member, said action on the building was time-sensitive. “We wanted to snatch it up,” he said.

Christiansen said he plans to meet with potential biomass industry investors Friday morning to discuss the possible use of the Thurston building.

A portion of the grant money will go toward the salary for Joseph Derouche, president of the growth council and soon-to-be part-time economic developer, taking over Christiansen’s job. Deroche is leaving his job as Mexico town manager next month. Christiansen will receive another portion of the grant that will go toward his salary as primary developer of a biomass research center at the River Valley Technology Center.

Derouche also appeared before selectmen to try to strengthen communication.

“We have to work together. We’ve got to find a way to communicate with each other,” he said, adding that many projects are or will be worked on in the River Valley towns.

Buccina asked that the two boards look at how working together could help everyone in the area.

“We’ve got our dirty laundry out. We need to do some soul searching,” he said.