RUMFORD — A motion to extend Charter Commission appointments failed in a 2-2 vote by selectmen Thursday night, Town Manager John Madigan said Friday.

Selectman Jeff Sterling made a motion to extend appointments for a year, but that was amended to three months.

“When it came time to vote, Jeff Sterling and Greg Buccina voted yes, while Frank DiConzo and Mark Belanger voted no,” Madigan said. “The other selectman was not at the meeting, so the motion was not approved.”

The nine-member Charter Commission, chaired by Christopher Brennick, was formed in the fall of 2013 to review the 1951 document and recommend changes.

“I advised the Charter Commission to not meet until the issue can be resolved,” Madigan said. “They had told us that they needed about three more months to get the proper legal opinions and make sure their recommendations were ready to put before the people.”

In other business Thursday, selectmen approved a request by resident Eric Giroux to remove 15 minute parking signs from Canal Street. Madigan said the signs were installed many years ago when Bartash’s Card and Gift had a video store.

“The store is no longer there, so there’s no reason for the 15 minute parking signs to be there,” Madigan said. “There’s also red paint on the curb that indicates no parking that we’re going to try to paint over, but it may be too cold right now for us to do that.”

The board also voted to change the start of the winter parking ban from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1 or the first plowable snow.

“The board has the right to extend the start of the winter parking ban to Dec. 1 and no later than that date,” Madigan said. “If a snowstorm hits us before that date, the winter parking ban would start at the time of the snowstorm.”

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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