RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 Thursday to support a request from EnvisionRumford to build a bandstand in the downtown Veterans Memorial Park.

As part of the Making Headway In Your Community program, residents voted May 23 for the bandstand. It was among 10 ideas pitched for a community project.

The Making Headway program will provide $1,000 in cash toward the project. There will be a local match, which can be met with labor and materials, as well as donations.

Rumford is one of the five selected communities for the program this year, which is a funded program from the Maine Development Foundation and Grow Smart. Rumford was selected for its demonstrated readiness to begin this process and the compatible timing of related community development efforts in the communities.

EnvisionRumford is the local partner for this effort.

Spokesman Jennifer Kreckel said, “It goes along with revitalizing our downtown, and if we do have that up and running, maybe some of the people in the hotel would come down and say, ‘Isn’t this a lovely activity to do on a Sunday afternoon?'”

However, before it can be built, Kreckel said permission is also needed from Brookfield Power.

“Probably our biggest stumbling block is going to see if we can get Brookfield to cooperate with this community project.”

The company has the right of way to the area near the park.

Selectman Peter Chase said the bandstand in Turner Center “works out fabulously down there. It’s something for the people to do in the evenings.”

As for as the size and whether or not it would have a roof, Kreckel said they haven’t gotten that far because the first step is to get approval for the project.

She said Randy Therrien, the project manager, has already reached out to the veterans about the project.

“We think that this would be a great way to honor our veterans further,” Kreckel said. “Our town would have the ability to put on concerts in the park. It would be great if we could invite one of our military bands to be the inaugural event for the bandstand.”

She said supporters of the project believe this is the ideal location for a bandstand.

“It’s a central location,” she said. “You can see it from Route 2.”

Kreckel said the Making Headway In Your Community program stipulates that they have to get the project done this summer.

In other business, selectmen approved:

• The office furniture bid of $20,761 by W.B. Mason for the tax office and town clerk’s office;

• The gravel and winter sand bid of $46,550 by Knox Loam and Gravel of Rumford;

• The tennis court paving bid of $21,270 by Bruce Manzer Paving of North Anson;

• The tennis court resurfacing/painting bid of $11,543 by Vermont Tennis Court;

• The contractor bid of $4,375 by Complete And Affordable  Construction/Excavation of Lewiston for repairs of a dangerous building at
240 Pine St.

This was the final board meeting for Chairman Brad Adley and Frank DiConzo, who are not seeking re-election.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net

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