RUMFORD – Eugene Boivin is the second Charter Commission member to resign in just over a month.

Boivin tendered his resignation in anger Friday, saying he was bothered by a majority vote of other commissioners on Thursday evening to support a selectmen’s amendment to the charter before the commission’s work is complete. He feels strongly that the commissioners should remain neutral on all changes to the charter until they consider final recommendations later this year.

Charter Commission Chairman Walter Buotte broke the commission’s 4-4 tie on the motion to support the amendment because, he said, he believes townspeople ought to know how the commission feels about the issue, having so recently studied the charter document and discussed its contents more than residents have.

Voters are going to the polls Tuesday to decide the amendment question at a special election.

On Oct. 23, Ron Theriault resigned when selectmen first introduced their amendment to the charter while the commission was in session. He felt it was an infringement on the commission’s authority and was insulted by the input. “If the current administration feels that the charter is such a malleable document, their calling for a commission to retool it is a charade. I have neither the time nor the desire to participate in such an activity,” he said at the time.

The charter commission was barely three months ago, charged with revising the 50-year-old, 28-page document. Commission members were given nine months to prepare a report and tasked with drafting a final document for selectmen’s review within a year.

The controversial amendment, if passed, would permit selectmen to hire people who live outside Rumford for several appointed positions, including that of town manager, sealer of weights and measures and town auditor.

None of the current employees who hold these positions are Rumford residents. A lawsuit challenging Town Manager Stephen Eldridge’s employment since he doesn’t live in town, is pending.

When he was appointed to the commission, Boivin – who had served on an earlier charter panel – said he wanted to see term limits for selectmen and establish a provision for removing elected officials. The commission has discussed some of these suggestions, but made no recommendations.

Theriault was replaced by Harry Burns, appointed by the commission under rules that allow commissioners to replace elected members. Selectmen are authorized to replace appointed members, but Boivin is elected so his replacement must come from the remaining commissioners.

According to Buotte, if members of the commission are available to schedule a special meeting before the next regularly scheduled meeting of Dec. 14, they will do so to appoint a replacement for Boivin. If a quorom of commissioners is not available, they will take up the item at their Dec. 14 meeting.