RUMFORD — Passions collided Thursday night when two groups tried to get selectmen to accept their petitions for changes in town law.

The first group, SAVE Rumford, brought forth a revised tax-relief petition that seeks to impose a spending cap of $6.2 million. Several members spoke on its behalf, including former Selectman Mark Belanger.

He said he firmly believes that capping spending would save the town in the future should the paper mill shut down for good.

Belanger said the spending cap would give taxpayers a 16 percent tax break and would help businesses. He said he believed a critical circumstance exists for selectmen accept the petition and put it before voters at a special town meeting.

Fire Chief Bob Chase spoke against the spending cap, saying it circumvents the democratic process and labeled it “un-American.”

Resident Kelly Gorham wanted the town to return to a town meeting style of government rather than voting on the budget by secret ballot via the referendum process.

Gary Dolloff, chairman of the Greater Rumford Community Center board of directors, asked selectmen not to accept the spending cap petition.

“It’s going to put our families and children at risk,” he said. “I hope you stick to your guns.”

Former Town Manager Len Greaney argued for the spending cap, saying it would open up the area for regionalization.

Megean Bourgeois, who said she grew up in Rumford but now lives in Portland, objected to the cap.

“The spending cap takes the responsibility away from the people,” Bourgeois said, to loud applause.

Selectmen disagreed with Belanger’s assessment of the spending cap. They rejected the petition, 4-0. Selectman Frank DiConzo was absent.

Dolloff then presented an impassioned plea to selectmen and the large crowd to find a way to help the GRCC remain open and serve its communities and their children.

“I came here with a bunch of people in white shirts that support the GRCC and I believe the people that held the signs telling people to ‘Vote No’ on the budget played a big role in defeating it,” Dolloff said. “We need the town to come together, but right now, I’m speaking for the children. Put money in to keep that building open.”

Dolloff said that in defeating the center’s funding requests, it would put four businesses at or beside the center out of business. The owners pay rent to the center.

“Closing four businesses by (defeating the funding requests), how is that saving Rumford?” Dolloff asked and received a standing ovation from the crowd and Selectman Jolene Lovejoy.

After more testimony, selectmen unanimously accepted the center’s petition for review, saying they have to verify its signatures first before considering to accept or reject it.

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