As a Rumford citizen, I question the integrity of the Rumford Charter Commission.

First, the commission turned off the tape recorder at meetings. Members had set a precedent for taping their meetings, then turned it off at will.

The importance of recording committee meetings is best signified by the fact Rumford selectmen stop their meeting when a tape has run out. They have been taping their meetings for more than 30 years.

Most other official Rumford committees tape their meetings.

The meeting recordings are used by secretaries to confirm that meeting notes are accurate. If a recorder is turned off, the minutes of a meeting cannot be confirmed.

The recordings of committee meetings are used when a citizen challenges a vote or takes a committee to court. There can be no he said-she said statements because the tape recording tells the story. The tapes are a practical protection.

Second, commission meeting minutes were not turned in to the town clerk as the town charter specifies.

Third, there was a personal attack of an elected official on tape by two commission members. That person’s elected position was subsequently targeted for a change from election to appointment.

Fourth, the commission was reprimanded by the acting town manager.

After all these problems were made public, and commission members admitted they had taken place, there was no admission of wrongdoing or apology to citizens.

The Charter Commission’s actions prove its character. The commission should have been dismissed.

Tom Fallon, Rumford