RUMFORD – Selectmen chose Albert “Red” Paul as the town’s Citizen of the Year Thursday night, appointed more than a dozen people to various boards and committees, and heard comments and requests from nearly a dozen residents.
Paul, 87, has been an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1641 for more than 50 years and has held numerous veterans-related state and national offices.
He will be honored with a plaque and have his name engraved on the town’s Citizen of the Year placard in the Municipal Building.
He was chosen from three nominations.
Several residents expressed concerns about tractor-trailer or other heavy truck use along the South Rumford Road.
Resident Michael Keeley presented a petition he said was signed by 78 people living on the road asking to have the road improved or such trucks banned.
Selectman Jolene Lovejoy said Keeley must first go to the Maine Department of Transportation with the request. She suggested that he place the petition on Norman Haggan’s desk. Haggan is the supervisor of Division 7 of the MDOT in Dixfield.
She said the board had requested that Haggan appear at Thursday’s meeting but was unable to because of a prior commitment. She said he generally calls a public hearing to gather input before taking steps on any request.
“We’re willing to work (on the matter) but first the request has to go to the state,” she said.
“It’s scary walking on the road when a tractor-trailer is coming,” said Keeley.
Resident Len Greaney said he believed getting selectmen support would create more power when residents go to the state for a traffic change.
When board Chairman Jim Thibodeau ended discussion on the issue, he said it would be on a future agenda.
The board’s policy calls for discussions on issues only placed on the agenda.
In a related matter, a representative from a chemical company responsible for a red dye spill two weeks ago on the South Rumford Road, appeared before the board to answer questions about the substance. The dye was on its way to NewPage Inc. in Rumford where it is used in the paper-making process. The 37-gallon barrel tipped and spilled along several miles of the road.
The dye has caused concern among gardeners and pet owners about possible effects.
The company representative said the dye was not toxic, and at the time of the incident, a spokesman from the Rumford Fire Department said he believed it was nontoxic as well. The company responsible for the spill has been cleaning up the dye this week.
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