RUMFORD – Selectmen unanimously voted this week to have the former town attorney’s municipal files turned over to the new appointee, Thomas Carey.

Jennifer Kreckel had served the town for more than 15 years. During the Aug. 2 meeting, selectmen chose to appoint Carey, a Rumford resident, to the position for a year.

Town Manager Jim Doar said Kreckel checked with the Board of Overseers of the Maine Bar Association to learn whether the transfer of documents was appropriate since Carey had been involved in lawsuits against the town involving the charter and the residency requirement for former Town Manager Stephen Eldridge.

Doar said the files can be turned over to Carey providing selectmen grant approval in writing.

Selectman Frank DiConzo moved to turn over the files and Selectman Mark Belanger seconded the motion.

In other matters, after a short executive session before the regular board meeting, selectmen named Harry Powers to finish the one-year term started by Ron Theriault on the Board of Appeals. They also appointed businesswoman Cheryl Dickson to a three-year term on the Med-Care Ambulance Service board, and reappointed Sue Milligan as the town’s alternate animal control officer.

The board also directed Doar to check with the Maine Department of Transportation on the safety of Morse Bridge and Veterans Bridge as requested by resident Tom Fallon.

Fallon said he was concerned with the amount of rust on Morse Bridge, particularly after the collapse of a bridge in Minnesota earlier this month that carried interstate traffic.