RUMFORD – Selectmen clarified the mission of the Land Use Ordinance Committee Thursday night that now allows the group to review and make recommended changes to a section that would have identified and defined districts within the town.

The action came as a result of a request by the committee’s chairman, Joseph Roberts. He said some on the committee members were unclear as to whether they should look at all the town’s ordinances or just the newest one that was defeated by selectmen a few months ago.

“We want to eliminate any doubt,” Roberts said.

At least one committee member, Phil Blampied, believes all ordinances should be reviewed.

“Zoning needs to be updated somewhat, but not overhauled. The new proposal (defeated earlier this year) regulates the town in a minute way. I want a practical and conservative solution, not something taken from a textbook,” he said, referring to sections written by the committee’s consultant, John Maloney of Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.

Maloney said the town does not have zoning except for the shoreland, wellhead protection and the newly adopted Scotty Brook ordinance that focuses on a proposed 300-unit development.

“All the other ordinances were already on the books,” he said.

Selectman Mark Belanger said ordinances that support guidelines presented in the town’s 1998-adopted Comprehensive Plan were long overdue.

The defeated, so-called Chapter 4, had designated districts or zones such as industrial, historic, medical, residential and agricultural. The zones outlined followed closely existing uses.

Blampied argued that using the regulations in the defeated Chapter 4 would force development to go out of town because of the restrictions outlined in it.

Selectmen directed the committee to deal with Chapter 4 only, then to look at other town ordinances if they would be affected by recommendations made from that study.

Roberts asked the board to authorize the town manager to put the clarification in writing.

The Land Use Committee meets once a month. Tentative plans are to have revised ordinance recommendations ready for selectmen review sometime in late spring or early summer.