RUMFORD – Four former selectmen are among the 20 plaintiffs named in a complaint filed against the town and selectmen over Town Manager Stephen Eldridge’s contract.

Local attorney Thomas Carey, representing the 20 residents, filed the amended complaint Friday after Oxford County Superior Court Justice Robert E. Crowley ruled that he must name those challenging the town and its selectmen.

The complaint was filed on Oct. 16 asking that selectmen be ordered to declare the manager’s position vacant and that Eldridge be barred from serving because his appointment and contract violate the town charter. Carey said Tuesday night that several people came to his office to sign on as plaintiffs, while several others circulated petitions asking for signatures of people who would serve as plaintiffs.

Former Selectman Eugene Boivin, a vocal contributor to the ongoing battle swirling around the town charter, was one who circulated a petition.

Other former selectmen whose names are on the complaint are Robert Bradley, Kevin Saisi and Eddie Shurtleff.

When contacted by telephone Tuesday night to confirm that the name on the suit was that of former Selectman Bradley, he said he wanted nothing to do with the complaint.

Other named plaintiffs are: Claire Bradley, retired mill worker Edgar Bernard, Thomas Carey’s son and lawyer Seth Carey, Carey employee Carol Cottrill, former Bicentennial Committee member Bernice DiConzo, retired mill worker Thomas Fallon, Land Use Committee member Kevin Knox, retired mill worker Frank Koris, Navy veteran Matthew Plante, retired millwright Richard Pratt and his wife, Diana, small business owner Patrick Ryan, retired educator Robert Saisi and his wife, Joyce, and former part-time assessor office employee Marie Woods.

Carey said the main focus of the complaint is on Eldridge’s residency, although the amended version alleges Eldridge has an illegal contract and that his actions as town manager could be invalidated.

Carey said he plans to file arguments in the case Wednesday.

Town attorney Jennifer Kreckel said Tuesday afternoon that the town will oppose Carey’s requests. She said a simple solution to the complaint would be to amend the charter, giving selectmen discretion on whether to allow the town manager, sealer of weights and measures, and town auditor to live out of town. The charter calls for the people in these three positions to live in Rumford, but none do.

The proposed charter amendment goes before residents at a special election on Dec. 5.

Eldridge said late Tuesday afternoon that he doesn’t know most of the people whose names appear on the complaint.

“What is the motive? Why did this come up now? There hasn’t been a sealer of weights and measures or an auditor living in town for years,” he said.

Eldridge, who lives in Monmouth, began his duties in Rumford on Jan. 3, 2005.

According to the complaint, on Jan. 7, 2005, selectmen executed a three-year contract with him, effective from Dec. 31, 2004, to Dec. 31, 2007, violating the charter’s provision that the manager serve one year before getting a multi-year agreement, according to the complaint.