RUMFORD – Jim Thibodeau returned the token of appreciation for his 50 years of service to the town to selectmen Thursday night.

“I am returning this clock,” he said as he passed it to the chairman. “To trade in for courage to stand up and explain your rationale.”

“I don’t feel I deserve this; that I couldn’t serve on another committee,” he said, referring to the majority of the board not reappointing him to another term on the Rumford Water Board after serving on it for six years.

At the July 19 board meeting, he inferred that his non-reappointment was a personal vendetta by some on the board, something he restated at Thursday’s meeting.

Thibodeau had been honored with a clock and certificate of appreciation on July 5 for his 50 years of service, which included 15 years as selectman with most of that as chairman, service on the Med-Care Ambulance Board, Board of Assessors, Finance Committee and water district board.

He is an alternate on the Planning Board and Municipal Building Committee chairman now.

Also during the July 19 meeting, 19-year veteran of the Parks Commission Rick White was passed over for someone else.

The board occasionally recognizes residents who have volunteered many hours on behalf of the town with a certificate and clock. This is the first time board Chairman Greg Buccina is aware of that anyone has returned the gift.