RUMFORD — Tasked earlier this year by selectmen with drafting a plan for approval by residents to guide Rumford for the next 10 years, the Comprehensive Plan Committee now needs input from the public.

Chairman Kevin N. Saisi said Friday that over the next 9 months the committee will work to draft a plan for the future of Rumford.

“This plan will include not only actions that the town itself should take, but also collaborations that should take place with other towns, nonprofit agencies, businesses (including the NewPage Corp. paper mill) and contracted experts,” he said.

“The committee needs to hear from the public as to their vision. Our town is at a turning point — we can either stay the way we are or work toward a bright, vibrant future.”

The Rumford Comprehensive Plan Committee consists of three members of the Planning Board — Kenrick Thibodeau, Dennis Breton and James Windover — and seven members of the public — Rita Aaroma, Peter Buotte, Frank DiConzo, Phillip Blampied, Chairman Saisi, Jim Thibodeau and Jesse Heath.

Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month in the Municipal Building Conference Room across from the police station. The public is welcome to attend, Saisi said.

Assisted by John Maloney of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments of Auburn, the committee’s task is to review and revise the Rumford Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in June 1998. It is available for download from Rumford’s website at www.rumfordmaine.net.

Saisi said the plan includes consideration of housing, economic factors, municipal services and facilities, transportation, recreation, natural resources, land use and development, and fiscal capacity.

The committee has identified additional topics to include: health, commerce, historic places and social services. The plan is not regulatory and does not itself impose any rules, regulations nor policies, Saisi said.

Facilitator Maloney has said that Rumford has achieved 80 percent of the previous plan. This was achieved despite a number of changes to members of the board of selectmen and multiple town manager changes, Saisi said.

“Now is the time to set our town’s course for the future,” he said.

Citizens, business owners and organizations are encouraged to submit their ideas, thoughts and visions, either online using the Contact Form link on the website or via postal mail at Town Of Rumford, Attn: Comprehensive Plan Committee, 145 Congress St., Rumford, ME 04276.

If using the Contact Form link, click the down arrow in the Subject line at the top of the form and select “Comprehensive Plan Committee.”

Those interested in being advised of the committee’s progress can request to be put on the mailing list.

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