RUMFORD – During a nearly three-hour closed session Thursday night, selectmen hammered out a contract offer for the Fire Department union. They also discussed potential liability matters resulting from the recent inspection of municipal buildings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Town Manager Steve Eldridge said Friday that the town’s offer to the Fire Department will be discussed by the fire union at a meeting Wednesday.
“We’re looking for a middle ground,” said Eldridge.
The most recent three-year contract expires June 30. The bargaining unit represents just over a dozen firefighters.
As a result of the closed session to discuss potential liability issues, Eldridge said the board will likely authorize a request for proposals from engineers or architects to bring the Municipal Building up to code, particularly as it relates to entrances and exits.
He said the requested proposals will explore the elevator location, access to the auditorium balcony, exits from all floors of the building and other related issues.
“We’ll need someone with knowledge of historic buildings,” Eldridge said.
He said he had applied for grant funding to address some of the issues in the past but was turned down. With a plan devised by a professional engineer or architect, chances are better that a similar application in the future would be successful.
The request for proposals will go before selectmen at their March 2 meeting.
Funding for an architectural study/design may have to go before residents at the annual town meeting in June, contingent upon the cost, he said.
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