RUMFORD – Selectmen unanimously decided Thursday to place a question on November’s ballot asking if residents want to change the way the town adopts its annual budget from a show of hands at the town meeting, to voting on articles by secret ballot at the polls.
The action followed an advisory vote taken at the June 13 primary that gave people a chance to decide on four options, including retaining the traditional annual town meeting.
If a majority of residents decide to go with the secret ballot, then the annual town meeting would be eliminated, an action that neighboring Mexico and Peru have recently adopted.
Selectman Mark Belanger, an advocate for the change, said public hearings would be held prior to November’s vote that would give people a chance to learn about the ballot question.
The possibility for change was introduced a few months ago when Seth Carey and others circulated a petition asking that the question be placed on the ballot. About 1,200 signatures were gathered and presented to selectmen.
The board also narrowly agreed to retain the method for running meetings devised by the board, rather than go to Robert’s Rules of Order. Selectmen Belanger and Arthur Boivin voted to change to Robert’s Rules, while Selectmen Greg Buccina, Jolene Lovejoy and Chairman Jim Rinaldo voted against the change.
Ron Theriault argued that Robert’s Rules should be used because the procedure allows more public input.
“Robert’s Rules are very clear on how to conduct business,” Theriault said.
Former Selectman Jim Thibodeau said if a system isn’t broken, then it shouldn’t be changed.
“Don’t listen to one person,” Thibodeau told the board. “Once a motion is made and seconded, it’s your business.”
Town Manager Steve Eldridge said the only real difference between Robert’s Rules and the method used by the board is the board doesn’t allow people to speak after a motion is made and seconded. There is plenty of opportunity to give their opinions before that, he said.
In a related matter, the board appointed the first three of what will be nine members to a newly created Charter Commission. The charter provides regulations for how the town is operated, and it will likely have to deal with a change in how budgets are adopted and business is run.
Linda Couture, an artist and retired teacher, Thibodeau, the former selectman who was recently defeated in his run for another term by Boivin, and Walter Buotte, a retired school principal, were appointed to the commission. The remaining positions will be chosen during a special election Aug. 29. Those interested in running must take out nomination papers, gather the signatures of 50 registered voters, and return them by July 31. Residents approved establishing a charter commission to update the 50-year-old document during the June 13 primary.
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