RUMFORD – Selectmen learned just a day before Thursday’s board meeting that plans to have voters make decisions on two major issues on Dec. 5 can’t happen because of time requirements called for in the town’s charter.

A special referendum election will be held on Dec. 5, but it will deal solely with whether residents want to amend the charter to allow the town manager, sealer of weights and measures, and town auditor to reside out of town if approved by selectmen.

Local lawyer Tom Carey and 19 other residents have filed a lawsuit against the town because the town manager does not live in Rumford, as the charter dictates. If the Dec. 5 amendment is passed, selectmen will be able to approve Town Manager Steve Eldridge’s Monmouth residence and the lawsuit could be moot.

A special town meeting will be held in January when townspeople will decide on one of two options to bring the Municipal Building into compliance with Office of the State Fire Marshal regulations.

Town attorney Jennifer Kreckel told the board that selectmen have to make a recommendation on whether to go with an approximate $828,000 project that would meet the basic requirements of the fire marshal, or about $1.2 million which would add greater handicapped accessibility and easier access to all three floors of the building. The board plans to make a recommendation at its Nov. 16 meeting.

The town’s Finance Committee must then hold a meeting and hearing, and make a recommendation on which of the two options to support, then at least 10 days must elapse before a special town meeting can be held.

The Municipal Building Committee recommended the higher figure at a meeting held earlier in the week.

Residents will then decide how to raise the funds for the necessary work at the annual town meeting in June.

Meanwhile, the board must get approval from the State Fire Marshal’s Office for an extension of the deadline to have a plan in place to meet regulations. A letter from the state fire marshal received by the town in September gave Dec. 11 as a cut-off date for the plan, or the town could face closure of the nearly century-old building.

Prior to Thursday’s board meeting, the first of two public hearings was held on the two proposals. About 20 people turned out.

Municipal Building Committee Chairman, Jim Thibodeau, told the small crowd that $10,000, as some had suggested several weeks ago, would not meet the requirements of the fire marshal.

“No one is trying to hide anything or rush anything,” he said, adding that controversy from some in town who questioned the need for the work had held up the town’s ability to get a plan in place that would meet the requirements.

Kevin Saisi said he was concerned about spending money with the current economic downturn.

“Another option would be spending $200,000 the first year, then work on the other parts in subsequent years. This would temporarily shut down the auditorium,” he said.

Board Chairman Jim Rinaldo said the committee was given the task of coming up with a viable option.

“If there was a $200,000 option, I haven’t heard of it,” he said.

Thibodeau added, “We have to have the courage and fortitude to do what is necessary. We could close the town hall and set up booths on the street. We should be making progress, not moving backward.”