Found a pocke*censored*ch with John E. Stephens name on face of watch along with Rumford Falls Me. Anyone ever heard of this person?

As most of you know I will not be seeking to renew my contract when it expires on June 10th. I am honored to have served as Town Manager; it is a post I am sad to leave. However, it is time for me to pursue other opportunities and let someone else take over the reigns. It’s important for me to take this opportunity to thank the people of Rumford for their continued support, for the opportunity to try and make a difference, and for welcoming my family to the community as though we were natives. We will have great memories of Rumford and the people will always remain close to our hearts. As I said last night, my only significant regret is that I will no longer be able to work alongside some of the most dedicated people I have ever served with.

As Promised. I was hoping to be able to post the spreadsheet, but either the blog format won't allow it, or I'm just not smart enough to do it. The total budget to be presented to the finance committee after the Department Heads and I cut 1.5% out of the operating budgets and about another $103,000 out of capital is $7,533,288. This includes $233,560 for Initiated Articles. A breakdown of some of the bigger changes follows.

Town Manager increased $82,800 due to a $90,000 increase in economic development over last year, and a cut in overtime.

Town Clerk increased $4,500 due to the need for a new copier machine and employee COLA raises.

Tax Collector increased $2,700 due to employee COLA raises.

Tax Assessor decreased $5,300 due to a reduction in legal fees.

Computer Account decreased $4,300 due to a reduction in license fees.

The Police Department budget decreased $137 mostly due to COLA and fuel prices offset by eliminating some crossing guards, a reduction in capital, and a reduction in training.

The Fire Department budget decreased $100,100 due to a reduction in staff through attrition and reducing capital by $32,000.

Solid Waste decreased $4,300 due to decreased funding for Spring Clean-up.

The amount budgeted for State Aid Construction decreased $21,000; we will have to rely more on carry-over balances and hope to put it back next year.

We took $49,200 out of Public Works capital.

We also transferred $100,000 out of sewer maintenance into the new industrial park.

Welfare increased $2,000 mostly due to employee COLA and increases in fuel prices.

We cut the library $17,000 by reducing extra and part time wages, children's programs, building maintenance, the library video account, the computer account, and capital reserve necessary to replace the other half of the slate roof.

The Municipal Planning account is $2,500 less because of a reduction in dues for AVCOG and MMA, and we took money from the Planning Board.

The Charter Commission will no longer exist for a savings of $2,500.

Parks were able to save a total of $18,611 by reducing capital and realizing some efficiencies.

Debt Service increased $164,880 due to the municipal building renovation. This represents principal due this year that was not due last year - we paid only interest last year. The total debt service due on that bond is $198,600.

We saved approximately $54,000 in insurances because there is a reduction in payroll taxes due to fewer staff, and we adjusted our estimates for future premium increases for health insurance. Hopefully health care won't go up!

We saved $11,500 from Veteran's Graves, Parks will now will be responsible, and we cut $5,000 from the contingency budget.

I should have been posting budget updates periodically as we moved through the process, but it’s never too late to do the right thing, right?!

The budget was misreported elsewhere and I want to set the record straight here. I requested $7,407,334 to operate the municipal government. This was approximately 2.24% more than last year, or $165,732. I will post the proposed budget separately so I don’t compound the desire to fall asleep here! The short version, though, is the budget I requested added 3% for employee raises, $198,000 in debt service for the municipal bond, $50,000 for Med-Care, and added money for economic development and money for building demolition so that we can begin tearing down some dilapidated properties. If we ignore the debt service on the municipal building and MedCare (two things we have zero control over) the municipal budget I requested would have been approximately $50,000 less than last year’s. Was it a perfect budget? No. Did I expect changes? Of course I did. That’s why we scheduled four budget workshops.

At those workshops the Selectboard added $98,640, to bring the total budget discussed, and voted on, last Thursday to $7,505,974. This budget included an $85,000 increase in Economic Development, about $2,000 in overtime wages for the Tax Collector’s Office, and adjusted my assumption for fuel from $3/gallon to $3.15/gallon. I thought this was a good budget. Understand that none of this includes Initiated Articles. Which impacts LD1.

Up next: The budget as proposed and a LD1 overview, the ultimate soporifics!

I haven't been on the blog in too long, and I hoped to make my first post in a while different than this one, but the reason for starting a blog in the first place was to counter some of the half-truths and misperceptions, like in the email below (which I get far too often!).

I have been accused of having a personal agenda. I would like to know what that agenda is. If you think I have a personal agenda I’d like to hear it. For the record, I do have a personal agenda. It’s to be the best husband and father I can be. One part of that is to be successful in my career, so that I can best provide for my family. My wife and I moved to Rumford not knowing anyone. We don’t have friends in the area, nor family. I want Rumford to be successful because I want to be successful. If Rumford is successful while I’m here it reflects well on me. To think that I have any other motive or that I make decisions based on which side I “like” and which I don’t is ludicrous. When my wife and I move on, and let’s be realistic, it will happen sooner or later, I want to be able to look back and say, “We accomplished this while I was there. I was involved in that, and it was great.” I want what’s best for Rumford because it is what’s best for me at this point in my career. In addition, I would like to assure the citizens of Rumford that I am entirely qualified in my current position; despite the misconception this is not my first "real" job.


Jim,
When watching the interaction between you and the board, it is obvious that you are working your own path. Despite the fact that it was made quite clear at a previous meeting that the board would like to stay under LD1, you presented a budget that met your criteria. Over the past year it has appeared that you have continually bucked the board. You appear to be under the impression that the board needs to be working for you, when the fact is you are their employee. You are supposed to be following through on what they want, not pushing for what you want. Don't get me wrong, you are supposed to advise them based upon your training and experience, but when they decide to go another way, it is your duty to work with them, not against them.

One of the areas where this is clearly defined is the regionalization project. The board voted to form a committee with Mexico, and possibly Dixfield, but you didn't follow up on the motion. I spoke with the Chairman of the Mexico Board of Selectmen weeks after the motion was made, and she stated that their board had not been contacted at all. I know that Mr. Buccina does not support this effort, but you don't work for Mr. Buccina, you work for the entire board. Mr. Buccina has no power outside of the board meeting. His job is to run the meetings. I know that this is your first real job, but I feel you need to learn to follow the chain of command. The selectmen have been more than generous in letting you make mistakes without consequence. Perhaps they have been too loose with you, and need to be more ascertive. I know that I would have handled things differently if I had been on the board, but unfortunately, my schedule doesn't permit me to run for office at this time.

Have a GREAT 2008
Kevin N. Saisi
Citizen

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Doar
To: Kevin N. Saisi, CADC, EMT-B
Cc: Brad Adley (home) ; Brad Adley (work) ; Frank DiConzo ; Gregory Buccina (home) ; Gregory Buccina (work) ; Mark Belanger
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 9:05 AM
Subject: SunJournal comment

Posted By:Kevin N. Saisi at March 29, 2008 4:04 PM (Suggest Removal)
Mr. Doar seems to be working his own agenda. He was given direction weeks ago, but chose to ignore it.

What direction did I ignore exactly, Mr. Saisi? Furthermore, what “personal agenda” am I pursuing?

Thank you,

James G. Doar

Town Manager
Town of Rumford, Maine
207.364.4576 (Office)
207.357.7188 (Cellular)
207.364.5642 (Facsimile)
jdoar@rumfordmaine.net


Please note: Most written communications to or from Town of Rumford employees are public records, available to the public and media upon request.

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The town is moving toward having money in the budget for economic development. I have a strong opinion about how the money should be spent: not to hire a developer and trust that he/she works miracles, but to set up a structured program of marketing with goals and incentives.

What's that mean? First, not to hire someone who gets a guaranteed paycheck just to sit in an office and report back to the selectmen every few months. This is what often happens when a community hires an economic developer. If the town is lucky, they may get someone who gets results. Usually, they don't.

Instead, before hiring anybody, the town needs to clarify exactly what tasks need to be done. Then hire people to accomplish those tasks. Give them incentives - more money - if they accomplish the tasks assigned, give them the boot if they don't.

It might make sense to parcel out the tasks and solicit bids for outside contractors to perform them. The Growth Council would be welcome to bid, as long as they agreed to submit to meeting goals. Such a task-by-task contractor system would allow the town to cut the ties with any contractor who didn't perform, whereas it would be traumatic and difficult to fire someone brought in to work full time. It would also save the town the costs of FICA, workmen's comp and health insurance.

There have been three examples of successful economic development in the area in recent years, and they all have one thing in common: a dogged sales effort by a determined individual. WalMart came to town after years of pestering by Joe Derouche. Mardens came to town after pestering by real estate agent Jay Wise helped by Steve Eldredge. The dental clinic came to town after pestering by Rumford Hospital CEO John Walsh.

This kind of sales effort isn't much fun. You wind up listening to music on hold a lot. That's why sales people are given call lists and are required to make the calls as part of their jobs. You need sticks and carrots to motivate anyone to do this kind of work. If you leave them to their own devices, they wind up playing solitaire on the computer. In government, a similar thing is when the economic developer spends a lot of time schmoozing with other government and non-profit peers ("partnering") rather than doing the unpleasant task of calling businesspeople, who are often not as much fun to talk with.

We are heading into an economic downturn. If Rumford can get $100,000 in the economic development fund, it should be structured so that it doesn't all have to be spent this year, but some can be held over for when the economy begins to rebound and the fishing will be more productive. Perhaps the first step would be to use the Revitalization Committee, who work for free, to hammer out some of the tasks that might be contracted out before any money is spent.

Phil Blampied
http://www.growrumford.com

It would be nice to see the Moontide Festival take on a life of it's own and become self supportive. Can it be or is it already a non-profit entity? I'm thinking we could try to post some ideas here in this thread on ways to raise money for the festival.
I have a few ideas:

Auction or raffle off prime seating/viewing areas for the fireworks display

sell advertising banners or something similar

Put something on the tax bill with the option for donation

fundraising buckets at local businesses

have individual fireworks sponsored or dedicated

hold a couple of benefit dances or events

rent info booth space during the summer to artists and vendors with money collected going toward the festival.

Are the vendors such as Mr. & Mrs. Sausage paying for their space at the info booth that day? I'll add a few more ideas as I have time- hopefully others here will add some as well. :)

It was with some hesitation that I voted not to support the town appropriating 12,000 dollars to the Moontide festival for fireworks. I'm comfortable as to why I did not support the money, but my family and I have enjoyed the fire works over the years. Last year we spent most of the day at the event and up until the fire works were was less than impressed. Basically we have several vendors set up along Congress Street and the food vendors at the information booth lot. I fully enjoy the food vendors. The merchandise vendors in my opinion did not have much that I wanted to purchase for an exaggerated price. But more importantly my hope is that we could put an event together that would draw more Rumford people home and involve more Rumford people during the festivities besides just the fireworks. The only time during the event that I saw local people was for the fireworks, the rest of the day I knew very few. There really has not been an overflow of people during the day events up until the fireworks. I guess I would like to be part of something that would possibly be geared to Rumford people and people from immediate surrounding areas, for example a firemen's muster on Congress Street or on Main Street in Andover, a fiddler's contest , look at all the musicians we are blessed with in this area. To walk down to Congress street on a hot July afternoon to buy overpriced goods from someone I have never seen before, just doesn't make me want to hang around long. Let's put together a celebration and an event people want to come home for. Something that we can build on. Something that people would be glad to pay for. I guess ideas or suggestions on this issue would be a start Greg B.

Ask most business leaders what one of their major concerns are as employers and inevitably, lack of work skills and more specifically, applicants having a readiness for work, will be near the top of the list.

WorkReady, a collaborative training program involving the Central/Western Maine Workforce Investment Board, the River Valley Growth Council, the Rumford CareerCenter, Region 9 Adult Learning Center and Coastal Enterprises, Inc., is a unique training initiative designed to provide businesses with applicants possessing the soft skills they’re looking for when hiring new employees. This employer-driven training initiative began in 2006, as a pilot program in Lewiston-Auburn. Since its inception, the Lewiston-Auburn program has progressed beyond the pilot phase and has now held five graduations, with nearly 60 participants receiving a credential, which is endorsed by Maine Adult Education.

Rumford/Mexico is one of two new pilot sites outside of Androscoggin County, which are offering the WorkReady Program through funding available from the Betterment Foundation. The Rumford/Mexico program is set to begin March 24th.

WorkReady is structured around a core group of local employers who are willing to endorse and support the program by guaranteeing participants interviews, if they have open positions. In addition to interviewing graduates, endorsing employers provide various other in-kind support for the program.

There will be an informational breakfast meeting for area business people on February 6th, in Mexico, from 7:30 am to 9:00 am. This will be held at Oxford Federal Credit Union, 255 River Road.

“The key to WorkReady being successful is tied to employer involvement,” says Jim Baumer, director of business services for the Central/Western Maine Workforce Investment Board. “We’ve had real success in Lewiston/Auburn, because our businesses in those communities recognize that there is a direct tie-in between economic success and the skills of the local workforce. I’m hoping that employers in the River Valley area will get behind the Rumford/Mexico pilot in similar ways,” says Baumer.

Projects like these are part of a targeted five-county strategy that includes Oxford County and are designed to invest in job-generating small businesses in rural Maine. The goal is the creation of new jobs and job training opportunities for county residents.

Nancy Allen, director for Region 9 Learning Center knows the area benefits from opportunities like WorkReady, which builds the skills of the local workforce, which will help attract new employers to the area.

“WorkReady is a great program, which can only help to strengthen our local workforce,” said Allen.

In addition to building skills that make participants more employable, the curriculum, which is based upon seven very specific standards, helping participants to take an inventory of where they are at and how to take the important next step.

FMI about WorkReady and how to get into the upcoming program, as well as how to be involved as a business partner, contact the Nancy Allen, at Region 9, at 364-2012, or Baumer, at 753-9026.

WorkReady website:

www.workreadyforme.com

People don’t seem to realize that Rumford, Maine was once a huge hot spot for tourists and Congress St. was filled with shops. Today you drive on the island and it’s just another small town in Maine that people never notice. We are slowly bringing new places to our community such as the Boiler Room but what if that is not the first step to making our town more noticeable? For some, they like our town the way it is but have you ever stopped to ask the kids how they feel? Many adults think they don’t have a say and that just because we have a great football field they’ll be happy.

The point I am trying to make is that any town could have a taco bell or something of the sort….the fact is there has to be a reason for people to eat there. If you were to ask students at Mountain Valley I’m sure you’d hear them mention a skate park or movie theater. Truthfully those two things would probably do great and attract people from other towns as well. Rumford once had a theater so you can’t say that’s out of the question. So what is the true problem with Rumford? None of these 100 ideas are making the community a better place (just hiding the big problems) and truthfully we need more activities for the kids in this town.

Rumford is just a mill town and we are no longer recognized as the hot spot. Why is this not changing? Maybe because our town just is not spending our money wisely? Look next to Hannaford for example…how many electronic signs tell you at the least what time it is in a .2 mile radius? More than one! The G.R.C.C. used to be a great place for kids but there are not as many kids going there and it needs more money. I believe it is the people of Rumford responsibility to change this and get our kids more active again. Skateboarding is looked at as though it’s the worst sport around but it is actually quite difficult to do and keeps a lot of these kids away from drugs and alcohol. The River Valley area is known to have the most bars than any other area in Maine and truthfully that’s not much to be proud of. Ever been to the new lodge at Black Mountain of Maine? It is amazing how much that mountain has changed over the past 6 years but they still have money problems as well.

We aren’t a town anymore…look in the Rumford Falls Times and notice how much our town argues. Our selectman point the finger to whom ever they choose rather than seeing these real issues it seems. For them to try and make a rule that people can not directly say something to them at a town meeting just shows they are not respectful to our rights as citizens…ever heard of freedom of speech? The way I see it, they are not doing their jobs correctly. The Rumford Fire Department building is not up to code and it’s the town’s job to fix that instead they don’t even have enough money to pay for over time for the workers there. They think it’s a great idea to cut down a few trees in front of the town hall as though they did our community a big favor. Are they considering taking just as much time to plant a new one? I think this tree issue is a perfect analogy of our selectman. They remove something from our town and do not replace it. They let it sit and make an uproar which just leads to another angered group of people that can not do anything to change it.

Some people in this town try to make it a better place by what little resources we have but at this rate it will be a lost cause. Truthfully there is not enough people helping and we need those who run the town to figure out how to start this town up again. At the moment we just have a bunch of kids either running around partying or having kids stay at home to get good enough grades to get out of this town. We have people working in the mill and people loose their jobs there all the time. Truthfully it’s not healthy and there are not enough places for people to work.

The 100 ideas it not all bad because it gets people thinking…it just does not motivate people enough because we are used to nothing changing. It is so easy for our town to raise money to make things such as a skate park, but we do not bother thinking about that do we? We just complain and nothing is accomplished. So instead of listing ideas of what we could do shouldn’t we make a list of 100 ways to raise money first? Then we would have a way to accomplish James Doar’s 100 Progressive Ideas for Rumford’s Revitalization.

-Anna B.