RUMFORD — Selectmen conditionally approved two requests Thursday night linked to Envision Rumford’s debut Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Festival set for May 4.

The first, pitched by Jim Rinaldo and Rumford lawyer Thomas Carey, sought permission to do brush and trail work on the town-owned Chisholm Park Trail for the zip line event.

Rinaldo said they need a safe route for zip line riders to walk up or be carried up on all-terrain vehicles owned by the local ATV club to the town snow dump lot after completing their ride across the Androscoggin River.

He said the snow dump currently has a large amount of snow that’s not expected to melt until July, which raises safety concerns about walking up it.

Rinaldo said the trail is a former road that hasn’t been used for about 100 years.

He said the group will clear out the trail at no charge and install a culvert and gravel provided by the state transportation department. They intend to use a backhoe for the heavy work.

“I think that if we can’t put that road in, it will cut down on the activity,” Rinaldo said.

Selectmen and Town Manager Carlo Puiia were concerned about volunteers using chain saws and a backhoe and didn’t want the town held liable.

Carey said the volunteers are loggers. After more discussion, the board OK’d the request, provided the group gets approval from Code Enforcement Officer Rick Kent and gets insurance coverage.

In the other request, Kevin Kaulback, owner of Hotel Rumford, wants to extend his liquor license to the outside area for the festival. At first, the board tabled it because Kaulback wasn’t at the meeting to answer questions from the board and police Chief Stacy Carter.

Kaulback arrived late in the meeting, however, and the board took up the matter without Carter present.

Kaulback said he needed selectmen’s approval before he could go to the state liquor board for permitting. Outside alcohol consumption would be from noon to midnight in a dirt parking lot accessible by going through Hotel Rumford.

He said he would have barricades up preventing people from accessing the location and leaving it to walk in traffic on Canal Street and would get permission from the lot’s owner.

Selectmen OK’d the extension contingent on Kaulback meeting with Chief Carter and resolving his concerns.

In other business, by 3-0 tallies, selectmen approved:

* Selectman Jeremy Volkernick’s April 10 resignation.

* A $4,253.88 bid by The Sign Store & Flag Center of Auburn for three flag poles for the Parks Commission to erect in Rumford Point, Rumford Center and Veterans Park at the end of Congress Street. Parks and Recreation Department manager Mike Mills said they will wait to install the Rumford Point pole until after the state transportation department constructs the new Route 232 bridge.

* A $8,759.34 bid by Highway Safety Systems Inc. of Rockland, Mass., for the centerline and fog line painting for Public Works.

* A parade permit for the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Festival.

* The Children’s Miracle Network 5K Race for Rite Aid. Chief Carter said the race is a fun run and walk at Hosmer Field that’s dedicated to Nate Gallant, who began his treatment for childhood leukemia at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.

* Rite Aid placing two storage containers and a trash receptacle in Upper Congress Street parking spaces for extensive store remodeling being done at night.

* Allowing the Peak-A-Week Hiking Group to park after hours at the Information Center parking lot. Puiia said he could create a parking pass for the group to display in their vehicles.

The board also authorized the Rumford ATV Riders Club to use trails across town property.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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