RUMFORD – Selectmen will grapple with complaints against the Charter Commission and its chairman, and one against the town manager when they meet tonight.

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

Town Manager Jim Doar said the board will take up complaints made by Tax Collector Carlo Puiia against the Charter Commission and its chairman, Walter Buotte. The discussion will be in open session, he said.

Puiia wants members of the Charter Commission removed because he said Chapter 11 of the town’s ordinances was violated when a tape recorder was turned off occasionally at the commission’s meetings. Chapter 11 calls for complete and accurate records of each meeting.

Puiia also claims that Buotte violated Chapter 38 of the town ordinances when Buotte wrote a letter to a local newspaper defending the commission. He said it violated the complaint procedure.

Doar said selectmen could take no action on either complaint, reprimand the commission and its chairman, or remove all members.

He said he has asked town attorney Tom Carey to attend the meeting to assure that actions are conducted legally.

In closed session, the board will take up a complaint by animal control officer Marsha McKenna against Doar. Doar declined to provide details.

Also on the agenda is a request by the Fire Department for extension of the date for filing for arbitration, establishing a salary increase for nonunion employees, an update on activities by the River Valley Growth Council from director Diane Ray, and a request for Moontide Water Festival fireworks funding by Eddie Shurtleff.

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