Town of Rumford selectpersons approve licenses, award sewer and fire-alarm contracts and set dangerous-building hearing

The Town of Rumford Board of Selectpersons, meeting June 18, 2025, at the Rumford Falls Auditorium approved a series of routine licenses, contract awards and administrative actions, and set a dangerous-building hearing for 128 Penobscot Street.

In roll-call business, the board approved innkeepers and victualer licenses for River Valley Sunset Home, Rumford Hospital and Treehouse Mountain Escape, and a hawking and peddling license for This & That (applicant Laurie Milledge). Selectperson Brennick moved to approve the licenses; Selectperson DiConzo seconded, and the board voted 5-0 to approve the applications.

The board awarded a sewer repair contract for work between Prospect Avenue and U.S. Route 2 to Vortex for $45,150.00. Selectperson DiConzo moved the award; Selectperson Theriault seconded, and the motion passed 5-0. The same meeting approved contracting with Johnson Controls for a fire-alarm system at the Town Garage for $76,505.59 on a DiConzo motion, seconded by Theriault; vote 5-0.

On tax matters, the board considered personal property tax abatements pursuant to 36 M.R.S.A. §841 for filings by John Zenonos (doing business as The Mad Grower and Green Purp Medicinal Center) and the Sons of Italy Gorizia Lodge #467. The minutes record a motion by Brennick to approve the abatement for the Sons of Italy Gorizia Lodge #467, seconded by DiConzo; the motion passed 5-0.

The board approved using miscellaneous town funds to pay $6,900.00 to move the bandstand, directing the remainder of the listed funds to the undesignated fund balance. Brennick moved the allocation; DiConzo seconded, and the motion passed 5-0.

Selectperson Brennick announced that the board has extended Town Manager George O'Keefe’s contract for three years; the extension was presented as a board action during selectboard remarks. In his Town Manager’s report, O'Keefe thanked Public Works (Roberts and crew) for relocating the bandstand and said the town agreed to remove debris and fill at the Linnell Motel site at town expense after the buyer said the debris had not been disclosed.

The board set a new date of July 17, 2025 for a dangerous-building hearing concerning 128 Penobscot Street after Brennick moved to set the date and Theriault seconded; the motion passed 5-0.

Other actions included approving Warrant #51 (vote 5-0), authorizing the Town Manager to sign a Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Certification for Black Mountain of Maine (motion by DiConzo, seconded by Pepin; vote 5-0), and approving an agreement for services with the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society (motion by DiConzo, seconded by Theriault; vote 5-0). The board also approved a temporary suspension of termination of the 1915 Hydrant Agreement with the Rumford Water District (motion passed 5-0).

The meeting included public comment from Seth Carey, who asked the board to help clarify why the town had sent him a letter ordering him to stop work and remove a stage he constructed behind the Rumford Point Fire Station. The Town Manager said town crews were at the Linnell Motel site to remove debris not disclosed to the buyer, and to take some free asphalt the town could reuse.

The board entered three executive sessions—two for personnel matters under 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(A) and one for economic development under 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(C)—and adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Licenses (River Valley Sunset Home; Rumford Hospital; Treehouse Mountain Escape; This & That/Laurie Milledge): approved 5-0 (motion: Brennick; second: DiConzo). - Warrant #51: approved 5-0 (motion: Theriault; second: DiConzo). - Dangerous-building hearing date (128 Penobscot St.): set to July 17, 2025 — approved 5-0 (motion: Brennick; second: Theriault). - Sewer repair contract (Vortex): approved $45,150.00 — 5-0 (motion: DiConzo; second: Theriault). - Personal property tax abatement (Sons of Italy Gorizia Lodge #467): approved 5-0 (motion: Brennick; second: DiConzo). - Fire-alarm system (Town Garage) — Johnson Controls: approved $76,505.59 — 5-0 (motion: DiConzo; second: Theriault). - $6,900 to move bandstand from miscellaneous funds: approved 5-0 (motion: Brennick; second: DiConzo). - Temporary suspension of termination of 1915 Hydrant Agreement with Rumford Water District: approved 5-0 (motion: Brennick; second: DiConzo). - Authorize signing Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Certification for Black Mountain of Maine: approved 5-0 (motion: DiConzo; second: Pepin). - Agreement with Greater Androscoggin Humane Society: approved 5-0 (motion: DiConzo; second: Theriault).

Next steps: The board will hold the dangerous-building hearing for 128 Penobscot Street on July 17, 2025. Several administrative contracts and agreements approved at this meeting will proceed through their respective implementation steps.