RUMFORD – Selectmen approved the formation of an Economic Development Committee that will depend on the hard work of volunteers as well as paid consultants.

The action, in a unanimous vote, followed a proposal presented by Grow Rumford director and local businessman Phil Blampied. He said efforts to acquire new businesses should change from passive to active.

“We need to go to a sales model of economic development,” he said.

A volunteer committee would research potential business possibilities, then a paid consultant would “bring a project to fruition,” Blampied said.

He said active economic development means someone should be making phone calls to potential businesses virtually everyday. The committee would provide oversight of any contractual work bid out.

“There’s a lot of volunteer energy in this area,” he said, citing community participation in such events as the recent economic development workshop and the River Valley Healthy Communities forum held earlier this week. “This is a good time for research, to prepare the groundwork.”

Several members of the current Downtown Revitalization Committee pledged support to the evolution of their committee into the new Economic Development Committee. They also expressed interest in becoming members of the new committee.

Selectmen will advertise for volunteers. The committee will be accountable to the Board of Selectmen.

Blampied said he wants all selectmen to take part in the new committee.

He will submit a draft of potential goals for the committee to selectmen at their May 15 board meeting.

In other matters, the board agreed to assign the public works department to a highway construction project on Hancock Street as well as to finish up the necessary paving and electrical connections to the town’s business park off Route 108.

At an earlier meeting, the board had directed public works to finish the business park; however, several residents of Hancock Street complained.

Work on Hancock Street is expected to take about three years.

Town Manager Jim Doar said several businesses have expressed interest in relocating to Rumford. The business park is one site that could be used in a package for presenting to these businesses.

In other action the board:

• instructed Doar to take whatever steps are necessary to bring an unsafe building on Prospect Avenue into building code compliance;

• delayed a request by FairPoint Communications for installation of a utility pole at the rotary until further details are submitted; and

• approved a parade permit for the American Legion event May 26.