RUMFORD – Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday night to acknowledge by letter that Med-Care Ambulance Service is going after a loan to build a new facility, but they were adamant that they are against it.

The opposition will be part of the letter Med-Care has requested from the town.

“They can go forward with the loan with or without a letter, but the June vote will decide whether (Rumford) will renew the contract,” board Chairman Greg Buccina said. “If we say no to a new contract, then no ambulance service, but there are options out there for us.”

The reasons for opposing the construction of a $2 million Med-Care facility ranged from the estimated cost to Rumford taxpayers of about $47,000 a year for about 30 years and the need for a new facility, to calls by some to construct a public safety building that could encompass police and fire as well, serving several towns.

Selectman Arthur Boivin suggested increasing the training by Rumford firefighters so they could respond to additional medical emergencies. Most professional, full-time firefighters are trained to act as first responders until Med-Care personnel arrive.

“I’ll not be held hostage. I’m not voting (for a new facility) without voter approval,” he said. “I’ll not support any amount of money above what is now paid.”

Former Selectman Eugene Boivin suggested moving the ambulance service to the Rumford fire station, then building a new station at a new location.

Resident Judy O’Neil said she wants to see what the numbers would look like if the Rumford Fire Department received sufficient training to respond as a first class service.

“I want to know what this would cost us,” she said.

Selectman Mark Belanger, who later in the meeting called for exploring further ways area communities can work together, questioned why the town’s three members of the Med-Care board were not at Thursday’s meeting.

“Maybe a selectman should be sitting on that board. Out of courtesy, they should be here,” he said.

Rumford’s Med-Care board representatives are fire Chief John Woulfe, Duane Phelps and Cheryl Dickson.

The contract with the 11 towns that make up the regional Med-Care Ambulance Service is up for renewal in June 2008.

Med-Care spokesmen have said at previous meetings that a new facility is necessary to provide housing for the agency’s growing number of vehicles as well as for the staff that remains at the building 24 hours a day. The current building in downtown Mexico is a former Dairy Queen restaurant that has been expanded at least twice in the past few years.

The agency wants to build a structure on land along Route 2 next to the Region 9 School of Applied Technology.

In other matters, the board honored former Selectmen Jim Rinaldo and Jolene Lovejoy for their years of work on behalf of the town.

“I want to thank Jolene for her years of service, which was second to none. Her heart was in Rumford,” Buccina said. “I have a lot of admiration and respect for Jim. He stepped up to the plate during (this town’s) trials and tribulations.”

Lovejoy was unable to be present, but both former selectmen will receive clocks from the town.