RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 Thursday evening to appoint an Otisfield woman to a vacant position in the Police Department.

Police Chief Stacy Carter recommended Michelle Cooper to the position. She will begin her duties the week of Dec. 9.

“This is not replacing one of the positions that was cut due to our budget,” Carter said. “This is a vacant position that we’re trying to fill.”

Carter said he’s been filling the position with officers working overtime.

“As we know, when we get into the budget season, there’s a lot of discussion about the use of our department’s overtime,” Carter said. “I’m asking this position be filled as part of our approved operating budget. We’re overworking our current staff, and I don’t know at any given time if I’m going to have another officer needing to take time off due to injury or illness. If that would happen, it would deplete our numbers and would just add to the amount of overtime being used.”

Chairman Greg Buccina asked Carter how long the position had been vacant.

“It’s been vacant since September,” Carter said.

“And how much overtime has been accrued because of that vacancy,” Buccina asked.

Carter said he was not sure.

“Do you think maybe it’d be wise to hold off on this until we hear back from the regionalization committee?” Buccina asked. “That way, we could see if they recommend that we merge with the Mexico Police Department. It’s only a few months away.”

Carter said, “I would say no. I have no idea if an injury or illness will happen, and in my estimation, even if we do regionalize, the amount of officers that we have and that Mexico has would be the number of officers we’d need if we were to combine.”

Rumford fire Chief Robert Chase agreed with Carter’s assessment of accounting for injuries or illnesses.

“It’s true in my department, and I’m assuming it must be true with Chief Carter’s department,” Chase said. “After the budget process brought our staffing down to critical mass, our ability to absorb in the event of an unforeseen illness or injury decreased. We can’t be working our guys that much. The fact that we can absorb those unknowns, like unforeseen illnesses, with officers has to carry some value when deciding.”

The board voted 4-1 to approve Cooper’s appointment, with Selectman Frank DiConzo dissenting.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com