RUMFORD – Selectmen want to know how much police and fire service the residents of the town want. And to find out, they scheduled a poll at the June election.

The board’s decision to poll the public came after a special workshop before Thursday’s selectmen’s meeting.

“We want to ask about the level of service,” Selectman Mark Belanger said. “Do they want the same level as now, a reduction or expanded?”

Currently, each department operates on a million-dollar annual budget and employs about 14 full-time people.

“Jay did this (reduced their departments). We need input from the people and from the chiefs,” Belanger said.

The board has set a special workshop session with Rumford fire Chief John Woulfe and police Chief Stacy Carter for 6 p.m. March 1, which is just before the board’s next regular meeting.

The look at the amount of service provided by both public safety departments was prompted by the town’s budget development process, as well as by complaints by some selectmen and some residents that Rumford spends too much money on the services compared with towns of similar size.

“If this board feels the budgets are too high, we need to define the level of service,” said board Chairman Jim Rinaldo.

Prior to the June poll, Rinaldo said public meetings would be held that would show the result of a reduction or expansion of the police and fire departments.

For example, Rinaldo said, how would the level of service change with a cut of 20 percent, 30 percent, 50 percent?

In the short term, the board wants to advertise for additional call force members for the fire department. In recent months, too few with the proper skills have turned out for specific fires or other emergencies without having to call on the neighboring Mexico Fire Department for help.

Also as part of the budgeting process, Rinaldo said Woulfe is putting together a pay schedule for call force members according the level of the firefighting expertise and training.