RUMFORD – Since Town Manager Jim Doar’s contract expires on Election Day, selectmen voted Thursday night to convene a public hearing next week on two amendments to the charter, one of which would allow sharing Mexico’s town manager.

That hearing is Wednesday, June 18, in the town hall regarding Mexico Town Manager John Madigan of Rumford.

A 3-2 decision Thursday night OK’d the proposal. The second amendment is to change the wording that states the town manager needs to be available for full-time service to say selectmen are allowed to determine available services.

Selectmen Frank DiConzo and Mark Belanger dissented because both believed the changes should be done by the new board after Election Day balloting, Doar said Monday afternoon at the town office.

However, town meeting voters won’t be taking this amendment up at Tuesday’s polls. Instead, selectmen must wait 30 days after the public hearing before scheduling a special town meeting to decide the matter, Doar said.

Doar, an Aroostook County native, left a position as financial analyst for the state of New York to take a job as Rumford’s town manager in June 2007.

In April, he opted not to renew his contract.

In other business, selectmen OK’d replacing a 2006 police cruiser with a 2008 Ford Expedition sport-utility vehicle from Rowe Ford Auburn for just over $22,000, Doar said.

“We can keep an SUV for four years, but, typically, we have to replace a cruiser every three years, so this will save taxpayers $1,000 a year,” he said.

The new Economic Development Committee will convene its first meeting on Monday, June 16. It’s an informational session that’s open to the public.