RUMFORD — Saying they had little choice, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 Thursday to spend an additional $33,560 for exterior work at the Rumford Public Library.

The money is in addition to the $106,000 the board approved earlier for H.E. Callahan of Auburn to replace rotted wood and gutters and to repair the roof. In three areas, the roof tiles were installed incorrectly so Hahnel Bros. Co. of Lewiston is being subcontracted to fix them.

“We’re investing a lot of money to improve and keep that library going,” Town Manager John Madigan said. “It’s an historic building. These things come up all the time. There’s always unforeseen issues. I don’t see how you can’t continue. We’re deep into it right now.”

Board of Selectmen Chairman Brad Adley asked, “Do we have the money to do it?”

“We will have if the town votes for the capital budget,” Madigan said.

Adley and Selectman Jeff Sterling said they didn’t think the board had any option but to fix the tiles, which will add three weeks to the construction schedule.

Madigan said there will still be enough money in the library’s capital budget in case other issues come up, such as replacing the old furnace.

In other business:

* Sterling said the detour through the downtown for the two bridge projects seemed to be working well.

The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing the deck of the Upper Canal Bridge, which carries Route 108 over the mill canal in Rumford. The work began May 9 and will take two to three months.

Traffic from Route 108 is being rerouted through the town parking lot by the old Agway building by the Hartford Street Bridge to Hartford Street to get to the downtown.

Nearby Morse Bridge is being painted.

Regarding the newly paved section from Route 108 past the old Agway building to the bridge, Sterling said, “I would like to see us keep that after the project.”

* It was noted that the three large boulders at the site of the Mountain Valley Variety expansion had been removed at the request of business owner Richard Breau. Madigan said Steve Swasey Excavation carried the rocks to the snow dump.

* The board approved closing Exchange Street between Canal and Congress streets from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 24, for a Beacon House block party fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. It will include music, games and contests. The rain date is June 25.

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