RUMFORD – Selectmen narrowly endorsed the idea of building a resort casino in northern Oxford County following a presentation by Seth Carey on Thursday night.

Carey, spearheading a signature drive to put the casino question on the state’s 2008 referendum ballot, said his plan calls for building a casino on 10 to 100 acres that would blend into the Western Maine landscape.

The matter will be heard by the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee in Augusta today. Carey, a Rumford attorney, said part of that hearing will include a request to get the question on the ballot this November, rather than next year.

Board Chairman Jim Rinaldo broke the 2-2 tie to endorse the casino proposal.

He joined Selectmen Arthur Boivin and Mark Belanger. Opposing were Selectmen Jolene Lovejoy and Greg Buccina.

Carey said he wants the casino as a concrete measure to help the area’s economy, rather than hope for better times.

“We need to take advantage before another town or state does it. We could catch people coming through on their way to Sunday River or Old Orchard Beach, or to see the foliage,” he said.

Buccina opposed the casino because he doesn’t see it doing any good for the area.

“It won’t do anything for downtown Congress Street,” he said, later adding, “We’d have to create more infrastructure, more red lights. If I want to gamble, I don’t mind going to Bangor or Foxwoods. I don’t think a casino is Rumford.”

“What is Rumford?” Carey asked. “What will Rumford be in five years? What if there is no mill? Should we wait for that to happen?”

Lovejoy asked why Carey’s proposal included a caveat banning development of other Maine casinos for 10 years.

“It’s a big state. Competition is great, and Rumford wouldn’t be the choice. I feel you might be leaning toward Bethel,” she said.

Carey said the prohibition would give his plan a chance to be successful.

“Do we really want more competition?” he asked. “A 10-year moratorium would protect our investment for 10 years.”

When questioned about finances to build a resort casino that he said could cost between $100 million and $200 million, Carey said he had no doubt that the money would be there.

“The 10-year moratorium will guarantee we’ll get the money we need to convince financial institutions,” he said.

Carey said he plans to seek support for building a casino in Oxford County from every county town.

In a related matter, selectmen rejected a request by acting police Chief Mark Cayer to testify at today’s hearing on the proposed casino.

Cayer said a resident had asked him to appear at the hearing to provide details on the impact such a business would have on police services.

Boivin moved to allow him to go, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Rinaldo said the impact of casinos is available from other sources and information provided by Cayer would be speculative.