I have had several individuals approach me since the recent Rumford selectmen’s workshop meeting, in reference to a Sun Journal article that implied that I challenged a firefighter to a fight. (Aug. 22) This implication was incorrect.

If anyone had been seated alongside me, looking at the audience, they would have seen what I saw – a Rumford firefighter sarcastically smiling at the board, as it discussed the fiscal instability of the Rumford Fire Department.

The board was asking questions regarding potential abuses of overtime expenses, travel expenses and the department’s continued practice of responding with Med-Care Ambulance. What I saw was a town employee smirking at the board, as if to say “There’s nothing you or anyone else can do about our budget.”

What I saw was blatant disrespect of the board’s authority and its responsibility to be fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ money. I responded by telling him to take his attitude outside. I did not challenge him to a fight.

Having clarified that, let me say that given the behavior of some of the members of the Rumford Fire Department at that meeting, I am now more concerned about the department’s budget than I was before. I am also more willing to share with fellow citizens some of the facts that they need to consider between now and the next budget cycle.

Rumford once had more than 30 call-force members; there are now 11. In 2006, the Mexico Fire Department responded to 28 calls within the town of Mexico and 47 calls in Rumford. The town of Jay has a paper mill and approximately 4,800 citizens. Jay has a fire department budget of about $250,000. Rumford has a paper mill and approximately 6,000 people; we have a fire department budget of $900,000, and growing.

I ran for selectman on the need for fiscal responsibility. It is my intention to carry out my duties with that theme in mind, and for that, I will not apologize.

Frank DiConzo, selectman, Rumford