RUMFORD – Selectmen voted to dismiss the Charter Commission on Thursday night following a hearing prompted by complaints by tax collector Carlo Puiia that the group had suppressed information and violated a warning by selectmen to confine discussions to issues, not municipal employees.

“I’m grateful that the board saw through their hypocrisy, that they tried to fool the board and the public,” Puiia said after the decision.

Puiia’s job is one of two that the commission had planned to recommend to voters to be changed from elective to appointive. The other is the town clerk.

The dismissals were based on violating Chapter 11 of the town’s ordinances, which calls for complete and accurate records of meetings, and on Chapter 38, which outlines the complaint procedure.

Commission Chairman Walter Buotte said the group planned to challenge the selectmen’s decision through the Board of Appeals.

“There’s some anger and frustration when one’s self-interest can ruin the work of a committee of volunteers. It’s frustrating. It’s just raw political power,” he said of the selectmen who voted to dismiss the eight commission members.

Joining Selectman Frank DiConzo, who motioned to dismiss the commission, and Selectman Mark Belanger, who seconded the motion, was Selectman Arthur Boivin.

Voting not to dismiss was Selectman Brad Adley.

Chairman Greg Buccina does not vote unless there is a tie.

Puiia said the commission’s decision to occasionally turn off the tape recorder at meetings concealed discussions that “would get them in trouble.”

Commission member Rob Cameron said that although it was a mistake to have turned off the recorder, that action did not change the way members voted on issues, nor did it affect the final revision of the 50-year-old document. He said no votes were taken when the recorder was off.

Dick Lovejoy, another commission member, said the group had violated no rules.

Earlier in the meeting, town lawyer Tom Carey said tape recordings were not required. Written minutes are required, although the completeness and accuracy of any minutes are subject to interpretation, he said.

“The requirement is to keep accurate notes – what did we violate?” asked Lovejoy.

Buotte also argued that Robert’s Rules of Order, which the commission adopted when it started meeting 18 months ago, requires minutes that indicate what action was taken, not what was said. He said the recorder shouldn’t have been turned off, not because the action was illegal or that the members were dishonest, but because it looked bad.

Resident Vince Caruso suggested that selectmen write a letter of reprimand to commission members.

“We have two selectmen that made a mistake (and they got letters of reprimand last year). We have eight people who are trying to do what they can to help the town. If selectmen throw them off, who is going to volunteer?” he said.

Following the decision, Carey said the commission is not dissolved. He said selectmen can appoint three new members, then those three commission members can choose the remaining members.