RUMFORD – Rumford selectmen agreed at Thursday night’s meeting to take a proactive approach toward figuring out how best to help landlords and tenants deal with a looming winter heating crisis.

Relating a recent conversation he had with Ernest Robichaud, Selectmen Mark Belanger said he is concerned that landlords who cannot afford to buy heating oil during the winter may choose to go through foreclosure, thus displacing tenants.

“His concern was that we look ahead now and not put all these people out in the street,” Belanger said.

Selectman Frank DiConzo agreed and said he would like to see selectmen convene a general meeting with landlords, Rumford police and fire departments to determine an action plan.

Interim Town Manager Len Greaney concurred, saying they need information ahead of time to brainstorm a viable plan.

Greaney said Robichaud, a member of a housing association, has been advocating doing this for the past two months.

“We need to move on this,” Selectman Brad Adley said prior to a unanimous vote authorizing Belanger and Adley to serve on a committee tasked with resolving the issue.

In other business, selectmen discussed the town’s interlocal agreement with Mexico-based Med-Care Ambulance for ambulance service coverage.

Belanger, Greaney said, wants Med-Care to reopen the contract so that a few “contentious” issues can be addressed and resolved.

One involves adding language that would require Med-Care’s directors to convene a referendum to approve capital improvement projects costing more than $250,000.

Selectmen also OK’d restricting parking on one side of Essex Avenue, which will affect four parking spots.