RUMFORD – The three candidates for selectman who turned out for a public forum to discuss town issues Thursday night had few disagreements. And all three agreed that more efforts should be made to try to regionalize purchases and services if savings can be made.
About 30 people attended the first-ever selectmen candidate forum in the Community Room of Scrappers Domaine.
Taking part were Mark Belanger, an organist and self-employed carpenter; Gregory Buccina, a River Valley Growth Council member and employee of NewPage Corp.; and Joseph Roberts, a local businessman and Moontide Water Festival Committee chairman.
Absent were incumbent Selectman Robert Bradley Sr. and American Legion Commander Joseph Martineau.
All three support the appointment of a Downtown Revitalization Committee.
“Let the committee do its work without undue participation by selectmen,” said Roberts. “Then act on recommendations.”
Buccina, a member of that committee, cited selectmen’s support for progress already made, such as the development of Black Mountain of Maine. He also wants selectmen to “step up and set priorities and goals.”
Belanger suggested the brick-and-mortar revitalization. “We want to create a place where people want to come. There are new faces with new ideas, with a new set of eyes,” he said.
While Roberts supports the development of a contingency plan if the local paper mill ever ends its presence in town, he also believes growth is coming to the area.
“I don’t believe Black Mountain even scratches the surface of what will happen,” he said, adding that he is a progressive. “If we don’t progress, we digress.”
Buccina agreed. “If we (selectmen) stay stagnant as a board, there will be no progress.”
All three agreed that the appointment of Steve Eldridge as the new town manager is a positive step in Rumford’s development.
Roberts said, “No matter how good he is, he can only do as good a job as selectmen will allow him to do. Back him up, let him do his job. I don’t see selectmen micromanaging.”
Belanger advocated a team approach. “The only way to progress is to work together.”
All three candidates want the Fire Department to have up-to-date equipment and would consider some kind of reconfiguration.
Buccina said he might consider a regional fire department with satellite stations in member towns, If a new fire station is built, he believes it should include Med-Care Ambulance Service.
“We need to look at what will benefit the area,” he said.
Belanger also advocates pooling resources, and Roberts agrees, but said the size and possible relocation of a fire station should be subject to budget constraints, as well.
While all three support the River Valley Growth Council, Buccina wants projects that are what he considers more realistic.
“People are working very hard, some on long-term projects. We need to direct them to the needs of the town,” he said. Buccina is a member of the council.
The three also supported some form of zoning as a tool that could boost the business climate.
“Zoning could give people more security,” said Belanger.
Two seats on the board will be chosen on June 14. Selectman Jim Peterson is not running for another three-year term.
Norman Ferguson Jr., a former state senator, served as moderator.
Comments are no longer available on this story