RUMFORD – Selectmen will deal with a wide gamut of issues when they meet Thursday night, ranging from trying to settle an ongoing issue of firefighter overtime and appointments to a cable franchise committee, to updates on the River Valley Growth Council and Black Mountain of Maine.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium.

Town Manager Jim Doar said he will provide a variety of options for curbing what some believe to be excessive overtime pay for firefighters, including hiring additional staff or operating the department with just three firefighters when the fourth is out on sick time or vacation.

He said 90 percent of the overtime is the result of vacations or sick time. He will recommend that the board lift the freeze on hiring a so-called utility firefighter who would likely absorb most of the department’s overtime.

Among the updates are those from Diane Ray, director of the River Valley Growth Council, who will report on the council’s strategic plan for economic development in the region. Roger Arsenault, chairman of the board for Black Mountain, will also provide selectmen with the latest figures for operation of the small resort.

Other agenda items include appointment of five people to an ad hoc cable franchise committee to work with the cable television supplier on a new contract; and bid openings for masonry at the now-under-construction River Walk Park and for cemetery and gravestone cleaning.

A closed session also has been scheduled to discuss a personnel matter.