RUMFORD — Following a lengthy discussion, Rumford selectmen voted 3-2 Thursday to approve a loader-mounted snowblower for the Highway Department.

Requests for proposals were sent to two companies, but only Viking Cives of Norway submitted a bid, which was for $105,493. It includes trade-in of the current snowblower and a 1977 John Deere bulldozer, according to Shawn Goodreau, head mechanic for the department.

“This is a pretty high-maintenance item,” Goodreau said. “It’s 11 years old, has 12,000 hours and needs $8,000 of work. That would get us through another season, maybe.”

He estimated they have put $35,000 to $40,000 into the snowblower so far.

Goodreau said this piece of equipment is on a 10-year program to be replaced in the department’s capital equipment account.

Selectman Jim Windover made a motion to rebuild the current snowblower instead of spending the $100,000 this year. That was seconded by Selectman Mark Belanger.

“Nurse it and rebuild it. Use the front-end loaders if needed,” Windover said.

Selectman Peter Chase expressed concern about taking the Band-Aid approach.

The board voted down the motion 3-2.

Selectman Chris Brennick made a new motion, which passed 3-2. Windover and Brennick voted against.

The board also discussed another bid item, a new copier for the Police Department.

Police Chief Stacy Carter said they are now using a household printer instead of their main copier/scanner, which is 11 years old.

He recommended the purchase of a Budget Business Technologies’ Konica, which does copying, scanning and faxing, for $5,520, adding that the town’s IT department recommended it over a Toshiba that was $1,000 less.

Windover made a motion for the Toshiba, but it failed 3-2, with Belanger siding with Windover.

Chase motioned for Konica because of the IT recommendation, which passed 3-2.

In other business, Len Greaney of Protect Rumford Water Alliance presented the board with a citizen petition with 28 signatures, requesting a special town meeting for a moratorium on large-volume water extraction in the town of Rumford.

Board Chairman Jeff Sterling said the signatures will be verified by Town Clerk Beth Bellegarde. He said the town charter states the board must take action on a legal petition within five days, so the board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Rumford Falls Auditorium to act.

He added that he has already submitted a copy of the petition for legal review by Kendall A. Ricker of Boothby Perry LLC of Turner.

This was the second petition on this matter turned in to selectmen. The first one was denied by a 3-2 vote on Jan. 10.

The current petition, read by alliance member Jon Starr, said a possible additional large-scale water extraction from the Ellis River Aquifer may place in peril:

* The aquifer itself;

* Private wells and water bodies near the proposed extraction line;

* The preservation of the public trust;

* The peace and quality of life of those affected by constant tanker traffic; and

* May well run counter to the goals of the town’s Comprehensive Plan concerning the protection of the Ellis River Aquifer.

The conclusion of petitioners is that this constitutes a critical circumstance, and therefore, a request is made for selectmen to schedule a special town meeting to discuss and vote on a 180-day moratorium on any large volume water extraction by any company, individual or municipality, for the purpose of reselling the water as “bottled drinking water” or to be resold for consumption or other use outside the town of Rumford.

The time during a moratorium, according to the petition, would be used to draft and create public support for a Land Use Ordinance to better define and regulate the large-scale extraction of water within Rumford, and to bring this ordinance to town officials and voters for consideration.

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