RUMFORD – The Charter Commission devoted 90 minutes Monday night to getting itself organized, setting dates for future meetings and a public hearing, and electing officers.

It took two votes to elect a chairman because only eight of the nine members attended. Selectmen’s appointee Walter Buotte, a retired educator, and elected member Joseph Roberts each received four votes. Fifteen minutes later and after a second vote, Buotte took the chairmanship, 5-3. Absent was former selectman and selectmen’s appointee James Thibodeau.

Roberts was elected vice-chairman and Linda Couture was elected secretary. The commission voted to hire a recording secretary, Marcia Chiasson, who had served in the same capacity several years ago when another Charter Commission was formed.

The new commission is charged with revising the 50-year-old, 28-page charter, a document described by some as the town’s constitution. The preliminary report must be prepared in nine months and a final document ready for selectmen review within a year. Residents will decide whether they want to adopt the final draft at a regular or special election.

Authority to establish a Charter Commission was granted by residents during the June 13 election.

Although many of the potential changes are purely updates, such as eliminating the wording, “Rumford School Department,” and replacing it with the “SAD 43 school district,” at least a few potential entirely new changes may be considered.

Commission member Eugene Boivin, who had served on the earlier charter panel, said he wants to see provisions included that would limit terms for selectmen and for removing elected officials. Other suggestions include the possibility of changing the positions of town clerk, treasurer, and tax collector from elected to appointed.

A mandated public hearing to take questions, comments, concerns and proposed changes from residents was set for 7 p.m., Oct. 2, in the Municipal Building Auditorium. Written and signed comments for the commission to consider will also be taken at the Municipal Building until the public hearing.

The commission decided to meet twice a month, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of most months in the Municipal Building conference room. Additional meetings will be held as needed. Sessions are open to the public.

The commission agreed to make a $2,500 request to pay for operational costs at a special selectmen’s meeting set for 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The funds will be used for all but legal costs.

Once the public hearing is held, commission members will begin poring through the document. The next three meetings are set for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 12, Oct. 26 and Nov. 9.

Other commission members are Richard Lovejoy, Carlo Puiia, Linda French and Ron Theriault.