RUMFORD — During a special board meeting Wednesday evening, selectmen unanimously OK’d taking $175,000 from undesignated funds to cover costs for Swain Road damage from Tropical Storm Irene.
They also unanimously approved a second motion to add an article on the Dec. 15 special town meeting warrant. It would authorize selectmen to accept reimbursement funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Before these two items go before voters for final approval on Dec. 15, the Finance Committee will consider both for recommendations at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in the municipal building conference room.
After board Chairman Greg Buccina opened Wednesday night’s meeting, Selectmen Jolene Lovejoy motioned that the board OK a request to remove $175,000 from undesignated funds.
The money, she said, would be used to replace the damaged culvert and repair damage to Swain Road caused by flooding earlier this year.
She concluded the motion asking that the recommendation be placed before voters at the upcoming special town meeting.
“That number’s going to be enough?” Selectman Brad Adley asked of the $175,000.
“Yes, that will cover the project,” Town Manager Carlo Puiia said.
“The Finance Committee is meeting on this as well,” Buccina asked Puiia.
“Yes, by ordinance they have to make a recommendation on any expenditure as well,” Puiia said.
“So, is there a possibility of a different recommendation?” Buccina asked.
“They could, but I don’t see why they would,” Puiia said. “They’re going to have to hopefully accept what we would recommend. If there is, then the warrant will reflect that, but again, we’ll vote on it at the special town meeting.”
“So the one that gets passed will be the one that gets accepted?” Buccina asked.
“Right,” Puiia said.
“I think you’re right, Greg,” Adley said. “We can’t tie their hands, but if we had the same number, it would be a little more streamlined.”
The board then voted 4-0 to approve Lovejoy’s motion.
Lovejoy then motioned to place on the special town meeting warrant an article asking voters to authorize selectmen to apply for and accept any funds from FEMA for which Rumford is eligible, because of damage the town experienced from natural disasters this year.
Puiia told the board that because FEMA will reimburse the town, town law requires the board to add that article to the warrant.
That motion was also unanimously approved.
The previous bridge of metal culverts in Bean Brook on Swain Road was washed out on Aug. 29 by Irene. Rumford logger Jim Nicols of Nicols Brothers Logging Inc. donated and installed a logging bridge to temporarily span the gap on Sept. 2.
On Oct. 20, selectmen approved a twin box culvert bid for Swain Road at a cost of $99,855 from the George O. Roberts Precast Concrete Products of Alfred.
They voted 5-0 to hold a special town meeting to authorize use of undesignated funds to buy and install the culvert.
Pending voter approval on Dec. 15, the project will go out to bid. The work is expected to be completed this winter.
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- Rumford Selectman Brad Adley, left foreground, and Jeff Sterling, and Chairman Greg Buccina, left background, listen Wednesday evening as Selectman Jolene Lovejoy motions to take $175,000 from the Undesignated Fund balance to replace the damaged culvert and repair Swain Road. Town Manager Carlo Puiia, back center, records the special board meeting.
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