RUMFORD -Local lawyer Thomas Carey charged the Board of Selectmen by letter on Thursday with using an improper procedure for appointing a new town manager.

In his letter dated May 10, the day board Chairman Jim Rinaldo notified the press that James G. Doar of Watervliet, N.Y., had been chosen, Carey asserts that an advisory committee having a vote in the process violates the town charter.

“The end result,” he wrote, “is that the involvement of the advisory committee narrows the choices available to selectmen by usurping their responsibility and authority.”

He further states, “Unless compelling contrary authority is furnished to me before that date (the date of the appointment of a new town manager) I will be filing suit to enjoin the appointment of the town manager when, and until, the Charter provisions respecting the appointment of town manager are adhered to.”

He asked to be placed on the agenda for the next selectmen’s meeting, which is set for May 17.

At a special selectmen’s meeting on Friday, town lawyer Jennifer Kreckel asserted that there is nothing in the Charter that prohibits the selectmen from having the assistance of a search committee for town manager or from that committee recommending a candidate for town manager.

She further writes, “The selectmen are the only officials authorized by the Charter to ‘appoint’ a Town Manager. The Board can consider the recommendation of the town manager search committee; but in the end, the Selectmen are the only town officials who are authorized to ‘appoint’ the town manager.”

She said many towns involve a citizen search committee when they are looking to fill a top position.

“If you feel inclined to file a lawsuit to prevent the Selectmen from fulfilling their lawful duty of ‘appointing’ a town manager, that is your decision to make,” she wrote.

Selectman Greg Buccina questioned Carey’s letter.

“Where does he get the idea the charter wasn’t followed? Here we are to get our business done and every time we turn around, this guy is in our face. I don’t understand what’s going on here,” he said.

Selectman Jolene Lovejoy asked the remaining board members whether they were having conversations with Carey. No one replied.

“It’s very apparent things are coming out of that (conversations). We cannot vote in executive session, but opinions are asked for. No one but selectmen have voting authority,” she said.

Carey was not available Friday night to reply to Kreckel’s assertions.

Although Doar was announced as the new town leader on Thursday, selectmen Friday night made the appointment official.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Doar from June 7 through June 12, the night of the annual reorganization meeting following the elections, at which time he will be subject to reappointment for up to a year’s probation. The charter states that the town manager must be appointed at the annual reorganization meeting.

His compensation will be $1,250 a week, and he will receive 1.25 days per month to be used for vacation or personal time. Also, he will receive the same health and dental benefits as other non-union municipal employees, and will be allowed up to $3,000 toward moving expenses.

Although it is understood that he will be appointed for the probationary period during the June 12 reorganization meeting, if the board changes due to elections, it is possible that he may not receive that appointment, said Kreckel.

Two seats are up for election: Lovejoy’s, who is running again, and Rinaldo’s, who is not. Four people are running for the two seats.

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