RUMFORD — Voters at town meeting elections on June 14 will get to decide if selectmen should get two chances per year to amend or change sections of the town charter.
Currently, state law only allows one change per year to town charters. In Rumford, that’s at town meeting in June.
But the proposal that selectmen unanimously approved Thursday night following a 9-minute public hearing, would give selectmen the authority to amend the Rumford Charter on a semiannual basis at elections in June and November.
Town Manager Carlo Puiia said the change would be more convenient for selectmen should something come up after the June meeting that needed to be changed right away rather than having to wait a year.
Puiia also clarified that the proposed change isn’t limited to selectmen. He said it gives residents the opportunity to approach the board and suggest changes.
“If you miss the opportunity in June, now you would have another opportunity in November,” he said.
The hearing was short because only one question was asked about the proposal.
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- Former Rumford Selectman Jolene Lovejoy seeks clarification Thursday night on the Board of Selectmen’s proposed amendment to the town charter. It would authorize selectmen to make two changes a year to the charter instead of one.
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- Rumford Town Manager Carlo Puiia, left, answers a question from Jolene Lovejoy (not shown) about why the Board of Selectmen want two chances a year to amend the charter. Listening at Thursday night’s public hearing is Selectman Mark Belanger.
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