The previous Rumford board of selectmen voted no money for fireworks out of the cable franchise fees, which doesn’t affect taxes because it’s not tax money. Many years ago, I believe that voters at a town meeting approved of funding the fireworks out of that fund because of the early deadlines for permits and licenses.

That vote forced our committee to refund all business donations for this year’s fireworks because we were unable to raise the $12,000 by May 15. We had asked for that amount so we could ask businesses to add to it. That worked well in the past. Last year, the town gave $12,500 and there was a $23,000 display.

The selectmen then told us to go through the initiated article process to get money, which we did. The problem with that is articles are voted on in June, way past the May deadline for permits. That means that money approved in June would have to be spent in May of the next year to provide that year’s fireworks. That was questioned for legality as money given in 2008 is supposed to be spent in 2008.

The selectmen voted to give us no money this year for next year’s fireworks. They didn’t even put the request on the ballot. They killed funding and fundraising choices. That forced the committee to disband, ending more than 20 years of fireworks.

Eddie Shurtleff, Rumford