RUMFORD – Selectmen have decided to give regionalism and even a possible merger with neighboring Mexico another chance for discussion.

The board Thursday decided to start by inviting the Mexico town manager and selectmen to their Nov. 1 meeting.

“Maybe a strategic plan, then put it out to voters,” Selectman Mark Belanger said. “If we don’t have a plan, nothing is going to happen.”

Selectman Frank Diconzo even went so far as to resurrect an idea that was presented years ago that the two sides of the river should merge into one town, similar to what happened in Dover-Foxcroft in 1922.

“If we are now one town, that will bring business here,” he said. “More people are thinking of one town.”

Chairman Greg Buccina wasn’t so sure about merging services or towns, but is willing to listen.

“Our taxpayers are happy with what we have, and Mexico is happy with what they have,” he said. “I am not going to vote to share my tax base – the mill – we are blessed. We sat down with Mexico and Dixfield two years ago and went through the figures.”

Mexico Town Manager John Madigan was involved in a study several years ago that had proposed merging Rumford and Mexico.

“We were to review every aspect of municipal services. The facts take some study,” he said, adding that he has been an advocate of working together, and perhaps even merging towns if the figures are friendly to both municipalities.

During the study committee of several years ago, he said such things as financial responsibility for state highway maintenance and the school funding formula was different for towns as large in population as Rumford and as small as Mexico.

“There’s no reason why these towns can’t work together,” he added.

Other studies, completed a couple of years ago, presented figures for merging police and fire departments.

“The biggest problems we found with merging fire and police was a (potential) reduction is services or higher taxes,” Belanger said.

The board voted to pursue any grant money that could be used for writing a regional plan.

Town Manager Jim Doar said money and/or services could become available from the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, a Community Development Block Grant, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development program, or from the state regional partnership.

Madigan is willing to give it another try.

“Anytime towns sit down to talk is good,” he said.