RUMFORD – Lacking their president, who is on vacation, River Valley Chamber of Commerce officials hesitantly discussed the Taxpayer Bill of Rights at Tuesday morning’s directors’ meeting. Then, they decided not to take a stand on it.

After Director Jennifer Kreckel, a Rumford attorney, broached the topic during an open board forum, a brief discussion ensued, with nothing substantial shared.

Some said TABOR would be bad for schools and municipalities; another described a television commercial spoofing it. But Kreckel urged directors, chamber members and the public to fully read the proposal before making a decision or voting on it.

TABOR, which places strict limits on the ability of state and local government to raise and spend money, will appear on the November ballot as Question 1.

Acting chairman Second Vice President Sharon Manjourides and treasurer Catherine Johnson wanted to place the topic on the agenda for the board’s next meeting to allow chamber President Cheryl Dickson to decide the board’s stance.

However, Director Joe Roberts ended discussion, motioning that chamber officials encourage chamber members to educate themselves about TABOR and make their own decisions.

“We, as a board, cannot take a stand for our entire membership,” Roberts said.

Directors then approved the motion.

In other business, past president Peter Everett updated the board on Saturday’s Rumford Hospital Fitness and Fun Fair.

Everett, a member of the event’s committee, said 40 racers competed in the 1- and 5-kilometer running or walking competitions on Black Mountain of Maine’s Nordic ski trails. The chamber, which served a pasta dinner, even ran out of spaghetti, but the fair didn’t draw much of a crowd.

“There was only a handful of people there. I thought it went great. There was just a lack of people,” said Everett, spokesman for the event’s committee.

The event brought in $800 for the chamber, money that will be split with Black Mountain, which, in addition to hosting the fair, fielded 40 volunteers to help run things. Though discouraged, Everett wasn’t yet ready to dump the event from the chamber’s plate.

“I’d like to see it be a bigger fundraiser. We’re going to proceed to try to make it bigger and better,” he added.

Unlike the fitness fair, the River Valley Expo, another co-chamber event, was dropped this year. It showcases area businesses over a weekend in September.

Whether it gets revived or not depends on committee involvement, said Roberts, an Expo Committee member.

“We need more people on the committee. Everything’s really up in the air until we get things resolved. We do need help,” he said.

Anyone interested in serving on the committee, which typically has 20 or more people, should contact either the chamber or the Expo’s other co-organizer, the River Valley Growth Council, Roberts added.

Director Debra Brown said 20 crafters have registered so far for the two-day Christmas-in-the-Valley event on Dec. 2 and parade on Dec. 3. This year’s theme is “Frosty’s Christmas.”

Based on past experience, Brown, who said there is room for 60 crafters, expects the slots to be filled.

The board also learned that the chamber and growth council are sponsoring a meet the candidates event from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the River Valley Technology Center. There is a $3 donation requested to cover a catered breakfast. Seating is limited to 40 people, hence the need to reserve in advance, Manjourides said.