Six months have passed without voter approval of a Rumford budget. The voters have expected cost reductions through consolidation of services, which have not been adequately addressed. Preliminary discussions regarding the merger of Mexico and Rumford have been underway for several years without progress. Trust issues have been discussed and argued without resolution.

Now, the Rumford town manager has resigned after four years “treading water,” without answers to the need to prepare for the inevitable loss of revenue with the downturn in the paper industry and non-existent revenue-generating new businesses. Any rush to judgment to hire a new permanent town manager is not viewed as a productive idea. Let’s take a few planned and deliberate steps on that journey.

It’s unclear how the voters will respond to the fourth Rumford proposal to pass a spending plan. They may decide to reject portions of the budget and expect increased cooperation between Mexico and Rumford to reduce the cost of services in their respective towns.

Direct, honest and civil discussion is positive even when we disagree.

It is time for the towns of Rumford and Mexico to take steps on the way to a town merger to support municipal government continuous improvement.

Since 2004, we have discussed the need to consolidate services and occasionally it is mentioned that the two towns should become one town. What about “Mountain Valley?” It has a nice ring to it. All of our high school students attend Mountain Valley High School.

Len Greaney, Rumford Center

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