RUMFORD – Selectmen set a special meeting for Nov. 9 with boards from other towns to learn about the duties and responsibilities of elected officials.

Town Manager Steve Eldridge said Thursday night that several lawyers and Sun Journal daytime managing editor Judy Meyer, who is also vice president of the statewide Freedom of Information Coalition, will make a four-hour presentation beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium.

Among the topics to be discussed is public access to meetings and documents.

Eldridge said information on the elected officials workshop has been sent to nine local communities.

Selectmen also awarded contracts for new signs designating the gateways to the town and for a new police cruiser, and heard an update on activities by the Rumford Library Expansion Committee.

The board learned from Rumford police Chief Stacy Carter that efforts to purchase a new cruiser from a group bid sponsored by the Androscoggin Valley of Governments proved to be higher than the town going out for bid on their own.

The board accepted a bid from Farmington Ford for the purchase of a 2007 Crown Victoria at a cost of $14,625. They also awarded the contract for three new town entrance signs to Erik Designs of Rumford at a cost of $625 each.

Eldridge told the board that the library committee has received a $10,000 grant that will pay for an architect or engineer to create several conceptual designs for a library expansion or for an entirely new structure.

He said several public hearings on the proposals will be held during the next few months, with the goal of a vote on whether to adopt one of them in June.

In other matters, the board: •

• get public hearings for a proposal to raise funds to bring the Municipal Building into code compliance for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 and Nov. 16;

• agreed to interview applicants for a position on the River Valley Growth Council at the Nov. 2 board meeting;

• agreed to discuss the proposed Oxford County budget during the next board meeting; Selectman Greg Buccina, who has been attending the county budget sessions, said the proposal shows a 10 percent increase;

• heard a complaint from Kevin Saisi that he should be allowed to outline a variety of objections to the way the board conducts business; board Chairman Jim Rinaldo asked him to be placed on the agenda for a future meeting; and

• appointed Selectman Mark Belanger as election warden and Selectman Arthur Boivin as deputy election warden for the Nov. 7 election.