RUMFORD — In an unprecedented action at Tuesday’s annual town meeting referendum polls, residents overwhelmingly rejected the proposed $8 million municipal budget.

They also wiped out organized recreation for children and adults by defeating two initiated articles that would have funded the Greater Rumford Community Center, its rental businesses and its summer programs.

By 21 votes, residents OK’d a new, stricter fireworks ordinance. It was the only proposed town law change approved. The tally was 738-717.

“A few years ago, the General Assistance budget was defeated, but this is all new,” Carlo Puiia, town manager, said Wednesday afternoon of the overall budget rejection.

He said tallies on the ballots clearly revealed that people hit the polls in a ‘no’ frame of mind.

“The board said they wanted to hear from and let the citizens decide, and the citizens sent a clear message,” Puiia said.

That means there will be a special selectmen meeting with department heads to discuss a reduced municipal budget proposal. It will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, in Rumford Falls Auditorium.

“Their intent is to try and get a budget that the citizens will accept,” Puiia said.

The Finance Committee will then meet and determine its new recommendation. Then, a public hearing on the new budget will be scheduled before the matter again goes before voters.

Official budget recommendations and tallies are as follows. When selectmen and the Finance Committee recommendations differed, voters were given the option to choose neither:

* General Government, $861,264 — 457 to 1,037

* Public Safety (emergency management, utilities, pension-retirement and code enforcement): $691,452 selectmen — 204 votes; $691,283 Finance Committee —347 votes; neither — 932 votes

* Police Department, $817,656 — 489-993

* Fire Department: $733,850 selectmen — 213 votes; $7214,827 FC — 382; neither — 889

* Health and Sanitation, $678,571 — 580-923

* Public Works, $1,134,969 — 541-957

* General Assistance, $83,137 — 432 to 1,057

* Public Library: $227,589 selectmen — 239 votes; $225,000 FC — 405; neither — 827

* Public Service, $234,013 — 503-987

* Debt Service, $156,685 — 575-887

* Capital Accounts, $511,146 — 479 to1,012

* Unclassified Accounts (contingency, insurance and Social Security), $1,390,700 — 488-998

Of the proposed $259,335 for initiated articles’ requests for social services donations, voters only approved raising and appropriating  $12,875 on four articles.

These were:

* $3,200 for Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice; 762-692

* $5500 for Hope Association; 757-693

* $4,000 for Rumford Senior Citizens; 785-684

* $175 for Western Maine Veterans Advisory Committee; 728-716

Puiia said there is no recourse for defeated initiated article requests now, because voters previously approved a charter change after Black Mountain ski area successfully petitioned in 2010 for a revote of its funding request that voters initially defeated.

Those voting ‘yes’ on initiated articles that selectmen and the committee split on recommendations, were asked to choose which option they liked. Not everyone did. Defeated initiated articles were:

* American Legion Auxiliary Unit 24 for Girls State, $275 FC — 651-768. Selectmen had recommended no funding, which got 50 votes.

* American Legion Napoleon Ouellette Post 24 Boys State, $275 — 670-784

* American Red Cross, $3,000 — 683-781

* Black Mountain of Maine, $51,000 FC — 497-939. Selectmen recommended $51,700, which got 200 votes.

* Chisholm Ski Club, $1,540 — 492-974

* Community Concepts Inc., $1,500 — 542-929

* Greater Rumford Community Center, $138,100 — 657-829

* Greater Rumford Community Center Summer Programs, $22,720 — 607-845

* Holy Savior School textbooks, $1,250 — 509-934

* Holy Savior School testing, $1,500 FC — 476-926. Selectmen recommended $750, which got 152 votes.

* Holy Savior School health services, $550 — 489-954

* Oxford County Mental Health, $2,500 — 607-842

* River Valley Animal Advocates, $1,000 — 543-909

* River Valley Chamber of Commerce, $2,500 — 462-980

* River Valley Growth Council, $6,000 selectmen — 420 to 1,005. The Finance Committee recommended $8,000, which got 122 votes.

* River Valley Healthy Communities, $1,250 selectmen — 453-500. The Finance Committee recommended $1,750, which got 125 votes.

* Rumford Group Homes, $500 selectmen — 561-898. The Finance Committee recommended $750, which got 182 votes.

* Safe Voices (formerly known as Abused Women’s Advocacy Project), $2,000 — 646-819

* Seniors Plus, $2,500 selectmen — 694-744. The Finance Committee recommended $3,500, which got 220 votes.

* Tri-County Mental Health, $4,500 — 548-915

* Western Maine Transportation, $2,000 — 623-843

Of the proposed ordinances and amendments:

* Allowing the Finance Committee to set the dates and number of its meetings annually, was defeated 690-754.

* Allowing police officers to live 40 miles and/or 45 minutes from Rumford, was defeated 465-990.

* Requiring people applying for hawkers and peddlers licenses with Rumford to have liability insurance, listing the town as an additionally insured party, and allowing selectmen to grant licenses to a group association if the board deems it’s in the best interest of the town, was defeated 713-732.

* Establishing standards to maintain buildings in town with enforcement provisions, was defeated 540-912.

By a tally of 642-862, residents also voted not to accept the Revised Comprehensive Plan.

In the five-way race for two selectmen seats, Brad Adley won re-election with 733 votes and Frank DiConzo won the other with 653 votes. Tallies for other selectmen candidates were Christopher Brennick, 612; Lynden Clarke Jr., 375; and Mary E. McPherson, 359.

Linda French was re-elected to the Board of Assessors, getting 1,292 votes.

Of the several write-ins for one RSU 10 board seat, DiConzo got 17 votes, Rumford police officer Bradlee Gallant got 14 votes, and Kelly Gorham got six votes.

Town Clerk Beth Bellegarde said DiConzo can’t accept the position since he won the selectman election. That leaves the seat open to Gallant if he wants it, and if not, to Gorham, she said.

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