RUMFORD – A 10-person Downtown Revitalization Committee was appointed at Thursday night’s selectmen’s meeting.
Town Manager Steve Eldridge said the group, chosen from 17 applicants, will begin its duties on Tuesday at 9 a.m. when it meets with representatives from Kent Associates of Gardiner.
The consulting firm was awarded the $25,000 contract earlier this month to develop a blueprint for improving traffic flow and parking, bringing new businesses to town, upgrading storefront facades, and beautifying the gateway entrances, among other economically related projects.
The newly appointed committee will walk around town with Kent Associates, ask questions and offer ideas on the revitalization project. An organizational meeting is expected to be set for later in the week, said Eldridge.
The committee is expected to work with the consultants throughout the seven-month study, then will make recommendations for projects to be put into action.
Eldridge said he hopes all study and recommendation work will be completed in time for applications to be made for Community Development Block Grant funds in January.
Appointed to the new committee are: Linda French, Rotary member; Curtis Rice, a local attorney and architecture enthusiast; Becky Welsh, River Valley Arts Initiative coordinator; Greg Buccina, River Valley Growth Council member; Lem Cissel, local businessman and entrepreneur; William French, retired attorney and member of the Town Manager Search Committee; Jennifer Stowell, intern with former Town Manager Robert Welch and a public policy student; Elizabeth Penney, recent Mountain Valley High School graduate and community activist; Elliot “Bud” Burns, former school board and planning board member, and a historical writer; and Linda Macgregor, chairwoman of the River Park Committee and a historical writer.
All Downtown Revitalization Committee meetings are open to the public.
Also on Thursday, selectmen awarded the contract for painting the Municipal Building cupola, doors and window trim to Harville Painting, Skowhegan, at a cost of $22,530.
Eldridge said the Municipal Building face-lift is part of the overall downtown revitalization project as well as part of routine maintenance.
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