RUMFORD – A request by the chairman of the Charter Commission for a hearing on the dismissal of the commission’s eight members is being presented today to the town manager, the selectmen’s chairmen and the Board of Appeals.

“We know intuitively that we’ve been wronged,” Charter Commission Chairman Walter Buotte said Monday night.

Commission members were dismissed by a majority of selectmen on Feb. 7, an action based on violating Chapter 11 of the town’s ordinances, which calls for maintaining complete and accurate records of meetings, and on Chapter 38, which outlines the complaint procedure.

The commission admitted to turning off its tape recorder at times during 18 months of meetings.

Buotte said that action was taken because “we were trying to avoid throwing more fuel on the flames that characterize Rumford, Maine, politically.”

One of the recommendations the commission had made was to change the positions of town clerk and tax collector from elected to appointed.

Tax Collector Carlo Puiia filed the complaint against the commission.

Selectman Frank DiConzo, the board member who made the motion last week to dismiss the commission, said Monday night that the commission’s choice to file for an appeal was up to its members.

He said he motioned to dismiss them because the tape recorder had been turned off. He also disagrees with the recommendation to change the two elected positions.

“We just changed to the secret ballot (from open town meeting format) so people would have more say. Changing the positions from elective to appointive would take rights away. With elective, it’s up to the people. It keeps a checks and balance,” he said.

Board of Appeals Chairman Joseph Roberts was also a Charter Commission member. He said Monday night that he believes he could preside fairly over the board, although he will not vote.

“I will remain on the (appeals) board unless I am removed by the other members. I won’t voluntarily step down,” he said.

He said town ordinances allow him to remain on that board.

Buotte’s request asks that the Board of Appeals overrule the selectmen’s vote to dismiss the commission.

“And to allow us to finish our work,” he said.

The first draft of the revision of the 53-year-old charter, which has been amended dozens of times in the past, is available for public review at the town office, Rumford Public Library, and on the town’s Web site, Rumford.org.

Other Board of Appeals members are Vice Chairman Kevin Saisi, Leonard McKenna, Robert Richard and Harry Powers.

Voting with DiConzo to dismiss the Charter Commission were Selectmen Mark Belanger and Arthur Boivin.