RUMFORD — Rather than transfer $1.58 million in designated fund balances from 22 municipal accounts into the general fund Thursday night, selectmen decided to leave them where they are.

Town Manager Carlo Puiia told selectmen the monies have been appropriated over the years, but not spent.

“Again, these are designated, so they must be used for these specific purposes,” he said.

Puiia said Rumford’s auditors have recommended that “it would be very wise” to carry the amounts forward.

“It keeps us in a healthy financial position and it allows some of them, for example, bituminous surfacing, to remain for a number of years and let that accumulate until we can do a re-top, rather than do it in patches,” Puiia said.

Selectmen Chairman Greg Buccina asked Puiia to read the accounts and amounts into record. They are:

* Economic Development, $67,863.68.

* Economic Development — Performing Arts, $1,245.50.

* Municipal Building — Capital Improvements, $20,000.

* Tax Assessor — Revaluation, $30,000.

* Sealer of Weights and Measures, $679.50.

* Police Department — Maintenance and Repairs — Radios, $1,400.

* Police Dept. — Byrne Jag Grant, $5,399.66.

* Public Works — Bituminous Surfacing, $466,564.71.

* Permanent Roads — $221,196.06.

* State Aid Road Construction — $260,749.99.

* Public Works — Sidewalk Repairs, $56,451.34.

* Public Works — Bridges, $150,861.76.

* Building Demolition, $27,488.18.

* Puiia Business Park, $36,772.90.

* Equipment Maintenance, $49,484.92.

* Municipal Planning — Industrial, $2,200.

* Municipal Planning — Comprehensive Plan, $4,163.16.

* Library — $15,579.82.

* Debt Service — Pension Bond, $75,000.

* Debt Service — Pension Bond, $18,167.50.

* Capital Improvements — Parks, $10,015.21.

* Cable TV Franchise — $58,964.40.

Selectman Jolene Lovejoy asked Puiia if the cable TV franchise amount was designated for a new sound system for Rumford Falls Auditorium where selectmen’s meetings are held.

Puiia said it is.

Answering a question from Selectman Jeff Sterling, Puiia said money from the Economic Development account can be used to make improvements at the Puiia Business Park should someone want to put a business there.

After selectmen sought more clarification from Puiia, they voted unanimously to carry over all of the amounts.

In other municipal business, the board reappointed lawyer Jennifer Kreckel as the town attorney for another year.

Chairman Buccina also asked Puiia to speak with Public Works about creating a crosswalk for the River Valley Technology Center.

Puiia also told the board that he continues to field complaints about fireworks, ranging from pets being bothered by the explosions to fireworks debris littering residents’ yards.

He said Rumford doesn’t have a noise ordinance other than a special amusement permit.

He said residents only can shoot off legal fireworks between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

“Even though the Fourth of July is gone, this is becoming a routine for some people to have fireworks on weekends,” Puiia said.

He said he recently explained to a complainant that Rumford has an ordinance that regulates fireworks’ businesses and is basically running by state rules.

Last summer, the Legislature ended Maine’s longtime ban on the use of personal fireworks.

“So, we will have to live with this for a year unless the board wants to consider putting a moratorium on it, and that would require a special town meeting,” Puiia said.

“So it’s something that this board could consider if they wanted to do that, otherwise, next year, we’ll be looking at ordinance changes again, if we want to put an ordinance in for the personal use of fireworks,” he said.

[email protected]