Rumford board opts not to permanently close McKenzie Hill road; OKs used street sweeper buy

RUMFORD — Selectmen decided Thursday night not to permanently close the road on McKenzie Hill and approved purchase of a used street sweeper.

The board also revisited the Festival Event License Fee, approved a skating rink paving bid, and approved donation agreements for two properties.

At the board’s Aug. 7 meeting, Dunton Road resident Peter Orino asked selectmen to permanently close the road on McKenzie Hill. He said the steep road in Virginia neighborhood hasn’t been maintained and is hazardous because of potholes and washouts. He said that during the last big rainstorm, the ditches washed out and road material came into his yard.

Orino said he wants it shut down completely before someone is injured. Selectmen already close the road in the winter to allow children to slide down it.

Selectmen will examine the road and revisit the request at their next meeting.

Town Manager John Madigan said the road isn’t in great shape, but some residents use it. However, he said the town can’t close the road permanently even though nobody lives on it, because there is sewer infrastructure along it.

“It’s always been closed in the winter since I came here in the 1980s,” Madigan said.

Selectman Brad Adley agreed. “I don’t see the need to change the way it is.”

Madigan said it needs minor road work to shim depressions.

The board voted 5-0 to continue closing the road only in the winter.

Selectmen discussed buying a 2007 Johnson street sweeper that has a stainless steel body and very low mileage. Madigan said mechanics from Public Works looked it over and advised buying it.

After some discussion, Adley motioned to buy it for $67,576, using money from Public Works’ capital equipment account.

At a previous board meeting, selectmen approved new fees for hawker’s and peddler’s licensing. Envision Rumford President Jennifer Kreckel asked if they could change the festival event fee to a straight $125 plus one advertisement in local newspapers. Currently, it’s $25 per vendor plus one advertisement.

Kreckel said they want to have more vendors for Envision Rumford’s downtown area festivals. But as the fee rule is written now, “it will hamper our ability to get more vendors,” she said.

“We want to have them on the streets to make it look a lot more festive and lively,” she said.

Kreckel suggested limiting the festival event fee change to charitable organizations and from one to four events per year. Envision Rumford has held annual Pumpkin Festivals in the fall and a Lumberjack Festival in the spring. They’re also considering holding a Sportsmen’s Expo, she said.

Selectmen approved the change, 5-0.

The board also approved a bid of $22,359 from the Spencer Group of Turner to pave the skating rink for the Parks and Recreation Department, and approved two donation agreements with Wells Fargo for 127 Washington St. and 239 Penobscot St.

Kreckel advised the board to get title insurance, which she said costs $189, for both properties.

Earlier this year, Wells Fargo offered the town a 0.09-acre parcel and building at 127 Washington St., along with a $19,000 donation to rehabilitate the house.

Later, it offered a 0.18-acre parcel and building at 239 Penobscot St. and a donation of $27,500 to use toward demolishing the building.

Residents at a special town meeting last month approved accepting the offers and authorized selectmen to dispose of the properties either by demolishing the buildings or selling, donating or developing the properties.

On Thursday night, the board was asked to approve the donation agreements from Wells Fargo and authorize the town manager to sign them as amended. Both were unanimously OK’d.

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