RUMFORD — Political signs bore the brunt of discussion Thursday night between selectmen and code enforcement officer Rick Kent on a town ordinance regulating signs.

At issue are restrictions on where signs can be and how long they can remain up, Town Manager Carlo Puiia said.

Kent said that when he looks at the Political and Yard Sales Signs and Advertisement Banners Ordinance, it is broken down into each of the categories.

However, he said he’s received phone calls from a confused public trying to determine just what size signs are allowed and where.

“It needs to be fine-tuned . . . so that it’s a little more clear so people don’t think they can put signs in front of businesses,” Kent said.

Another section, he said, “looks like you’re telling people that all signs are restricted to a certain size.”

“I believe that size was actually an error,” Puiia said without mentioning the measurement. “It was supposed to be larger than that. It was probably for temporary signs, such as yard sales.”

Puiia said the ordinance will come before selectmen for review in April, which is why he asked Kent to share his concerns.

He then said that people are not supposed to place yard sale signs on utility poles, but they do.

Selectmen Chairman Greg Buccina recognized the continued need to educate residents about the ordinance.

Selectman Jeff Sterling also had an issue with certain sizes of signs, suggesting that 3 square feet be used instead and that the ordinance limit the number of signs that people seeking political or municipal office can place at any one location.

Selectman Jolene Lovejoy then said she doesn’t think that selectmen “should make ordinances we don’t intend to enforce.”

In other business, General Assistance Manager Thelma Giberson updated the board on decreased funding from the state despite increasing need.

She said she had 53 cases in November and December. Of those, 10 people lost their TANF or are about to lose it, while 20 cases involved people trying to get disability and another 20 who want to keep disability.

Additionally, she said 13 of the 53 people who came into her office she didn’t need to help at all.

“They didn’t want to follow what they needed to do,” Giberson said.

Fourteen of the 53 cases were from neighboring Mexico, which pays Rumford $5,000 annually to have Giberson handle their General Assistance program.

When asked by Selectman Brad Adley if she is seeing an increase in need, Giberson said 57 people came into her office seeking help one week when normally she gets 29 to 40 applicants.

She also said that Maine’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program heating oil funding has yet to arrive. That, she said, usually starts coming in by the end of December.

Giberson said she also can’t provide 50 gallons of oil to qualified people, because dealers don’t want to provide that without charging extra money to deliver it.

“Tough times,” Adley said.

“It’s very tough times,” Giberson said. “I think people need to start budgeting better, and they need to look at their situation.”

When asked by Buccina if her budget needs review for adjustments due to an increase in need, Giberson said no.

“We’ve never had to, because I get reimbursed 50 percent from the state,” she said.

“But we have to take care of the people no matter what, right?” Adley asked.

“Yes,” Giberson said.

Lovejoy then pitched to selectmen that they change Giberson’s office time from four to five days a week. In recent years, voters pared that, her hours and her wages.

Lovejoy said Mexico recently recognized Giberson for saving them $25,000. She said the $5,000 stipend Mexico pays should cover the extra day rather than go into the General Fund.

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