RUMFORD – Town Manager Stephen Eldridge had never had his job contract bought out, but considering the political atmosphere that has swirled around the selectmen, the town and his family, it was the best option, he said Wednesday.

Selectmen, after a two-hour closed session Tuesday night, agreed to buy out the remaining 11 months-plus of Eldridge’s three-year contract for $69,000. They also agreed to pay up to $5,000 for his legal expenses.

On the surface, the issue was one of residency. Eldridge lives in Monmouth, and the town charter dictates that the manager and three other appointed officials live in town.

An Oxford County Superior Court justice ordered on Jan. 23 that Eldridge move to Rumford immediately or lose his job. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit against the town asking that the charter provision be upheld. The suit was brought by 19 residents and filed by local lawyer Thomas Carey.

Eldridge said he felt badly about what he termed the crucifixion of the Board of Selectmen “because of an oversight they never had to deal with before. It’s not about residency. It’s a political power struggle. Some people had other people they felt should be in control,” he said.

Eldridge said suing the town was not a consideration for him.

“I wouldn’t do that. That’s not who I am,” he said.

Appealing the judge’s ruling, he said, would tear the town apart even more and was too expensive to consider.

The last alternative to a buyout, he said, was moving to Rumford.

“Move here and be stalked? This would never end,” he said.

“What this has done to my family is not fair. I came here in good faith,” he added.

For these reasons, he said the buyout was the best choice.

Selectman Board Chairman Jim Rinaldo agreed with Eldridge that residency was the issue.

“I don’t think this was ever about the charter. They would have been concerned with all the positions,” he said Wednesday afternoon just before he was to meet with the department heads to review individual tasks. “They say one thing and do another. What it really was about will never be known.”

Selectman Greg Buccina said asking Eldridge to move to the town would not have caused those who filed the lawsuit to lighten up.

“The vultures would have continued to feed,” he said. “Things happened (Tuesday) as they did because we had to look out for the best interest of the town. I’m very disappointed. I think he was doing a decent job, and I believe there was more to it than the charter.”

Selectman Jolene Lovejoy said she voted in favor of the buyout because she felt it was important to honor the contract.

“The error was ours. We made the offer knowing he wouldn’t move here,” he said.

Selectman Arthur Boivin, who made the motion for the buyout Tuesday night, said issues in town had to be resolved, acknowledging that it was a difficult thing to do.

Selectman Mark Belanger did not return calls for comment.

On Wednesday, Eldridge, who has served the community for a little more than two years, was spending his last day in his office tying up loose ends and saying goodbye to one of the best staffs he said he has ever had.

“This town should consider themselves extremely fortunate to have such committed people and department heads who are so professional. I can’t say enough. They made coming here so easy. And all the committee people here have a vision. That’s the part I will miss most,” he said in the afternoon after a group of 22 supporters had taken him to lunch.

Residents popped into his office all day, saying goodbye and thanking him for all he had done for the town.

“I think it’s a shame,” said Charley LeDuke, who had come by to say good luck.

Terri Palmer, secretary to Eldridge and the Board of Selectmen, said she has worked in many places and for many people throughout the years.

“I’ve never felt more valued than I have working for Steve. No one has ever come close to supporting me as he has,” she said. “He builds people up.”

Dennis Breton, a member of the Planning Board, said he expected the town would bumble through until a new manager is hired.

“I like Steve. I think he’s a great town manager. That such a thing would happen in our town is horrifying,” he said.

Eldridge’s departure is at a time when several grant applications are either in or received and need management, as well as during the start of the budget-development process. He said he plans to use his connections during the next few days to line up expertise on the status of several town grants.

Fire Chief John Woulfe III said he hopes Eldridge’s departure won’t upset the mission of the Fire Department and the level of service.

“I was surprised at the board’s decision. For the best interest of the town, I hope they try to work something out, especially regarding the budget process,” he said.

Linda French, a member of at least two committees, including the Downtown Revitalization Committee, along with her husband, William, said she was extremely disappointed in the buyout.

“We had a professional person who was handling all kinds of good things in town. There are a lot of short-sighted folks who are not looking at the future of Rumford,” she said, adding that it was ironic that announcements of an Olympia Sports and Marden’s moving to Rumford appeared in a local newspaper the same day as news of Eldridge’s termination. Eldridge has worked for months to bring the two businesses to the area.

Eldridge said he plans to enjoy some time off, perhaps take a course or two, and send out resumes.

“I think my reputation is pretty much intact throughout the state. The thing that has been hurt the most, besides my family, is the town,” he said.

Rinaldo, who recently retired from NewPage Corp. paper mill in Rumford, said he plans to hold office hours from 9 a.m. to noon each day, as well as make other arrangements if necessary. The town will rely more on Palmer and finance officer Debbie Laurinaitis, as well as Finance Committee Chairwoman Jolan Ippolito, until a new town manager is hired.

The board plans to begin the process for a replacement at its regular meeting tonight.

“We’ll continue to try to continue as best we can,” Rinaldo said.

Buccina agreed.

“We’ll get through this one small step at a time. We need to get Rumford on solid ground, and we’ve got to persevere and hopefully get the monkeys off our backs,” he said.