Rumford fills two police slots

RUMFORD -- After some discussion, the Board of Selectmen approved the recommendation Thursday by Police Chief Stacy Carter to fill two vacant police positions.

Hired were Dan Carrier of Peru and Joshua Holland of Massachusetts, who will begin working on Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, respectively.

Carter said there were 11 applicants for the positions, but these two men were the only two who are academy trained.

Carrier had been working with the Mexico Police Department since June of 2009. Carter said the town will have to pay a buy out of $18,000 to Mexico as that town paid for his academy training.

Holland graduated from a Massachusetts academy in 2006 and has five years of police experience.

In other business, Tax Collector Tom Bourret, in his department manager's report, noted that the town excise tax collections are up 90 percent over the previous year in which the total was "dismal." A major part of the increase is a trucking company moving its fleet of 29 vehicles to Rumford.

The Greater Rumford Community Center provided an overview of their programs and facility, led by Steve Casey and Bob Anderson.

Town Manager Carlo Puiia told the board that the stumps on the sidewalk along Congress Street will not be removed until the spring because removing them now would damage the sidewalk.

He also reported that the new speaker system for the Rumford Falls Auditorium is expected to be installed by mid-January.

The Fourth of July committee will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8 in the conference room by the police department. Volunteers are encouraged to attend.