RUMFORD – Selectmen learned last week that a petition requesting a change in the way people vote at town meeting cannot be accepted as written.
They also decided to hold off on appointing a Charter Commission until the full board has a chance to discuss the formation of one and the petition at its Jan. 19 meeting.
Town Manager Stephen Eldridge said Friday that the town’s legal counsel advised the board that the wording on the petition is not legally correct. Among the deficiencies, he said, is a section of the charter that would be changed if residents no longer voted at town meeting by a show of hands, but by referendum ballot.
He said the petition is also unclear about whether secret ballots would be cast at town meeting or in a special referendum.
If the board decides to go ahead with the change in town meeting voting, residents would elect people to serve on the Charter Commission during the June primary election.
In other matters from Thursday’s board meeting, selectmen held an executive session to discuss the possible acquisition of land for public parking. Eldridge declined to offer further details.
The board also voted to solicit bids on the 1986 utility truck once used by the Rumford Fire Department.
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