RUMFORD — A public hearing for taxicab licenses for new company Private Taxi and EZ Taxi, a cab service that changed ownership, will precede Thursday night’s selectmen meeting.

The board will vote on those licenses at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, in Rumford Falls Auditorium.

Len Greaney has previously proposed that selectmen add a form to the town’s website so residents can submit ideas and proposals to town officials.

In a July 24 meeting handout, Greaney said town officials have asked residents in the past few years to provide ideas supportive of economic development. But the current process doesn’t work, he said.

“All too often, the residents have approached the select board from the podium during a ‘Citizen’s Request’ portion of the meeting in their attempt to plant a seed or an idea for consideration,” Greaney said. “This approach has not worked well.”

He said that although Rumford and Mexico officials have started a process to consolidate several service functions to promote efficiency and cost reductions, it has taken 15 months since both agreed to undertake the task.

Selectmen in both towns formed consolidation subcommittees to analyze current operations and provide recommendations for selectmen and voters.

“Although the select boards have hired a consultant, the towns should support and encourage ideas from the residents to supplement or stimulate any improvement process discussions within the ‘Consolidation Committees,'” Greaney said.

Under new business, the board will:

* Discuss equipment needs for Public Works.

* Discuss and/or approve the new Tax-Acquired Property Policy proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee. This document provides selectmen with guidelines to follow to dispose of tax-acquired property.

* Consider a request from Steven Shearer for a tax-acquired property at 16 Free St.

* Discuss an offer from Mark St. Cyr for tax-acquired property at 447 Swain Road. This was tabled from the July 24 meeting for information from the town attorney.

* Discuss an offer from Don and Michelle Boucher for tax-acquired property at 21 Falmouth St. They are proposing to buy the property and convert it to a commercial building, such as a thrift store or resale shop, renovate it to code, remove trash and make the yard presentable, according to their letter to selectmen. This was tabled from the July 24 meeting to await adoption of the new Tax-Acquired Property Policy.

* Consider approving a quitclaim deed for Thomas Bordeau for a tax-acquired property at 215 Penobscot St.

* Hear a request from Peter Orino to permanently close McKenzie Hill in Rumford’s Virginia neighborhood. Two residents, so far, wrote letters to selectmen opposing closing the road on the hill.

* Consider approving a taxicab license for Gilbert Scott, who is doing business as Private Taxi.

* Consider approving a taxicab license for Charles Proffit, who is doing business as EZ Taxi.

* Appoint a town attorney per Town Manager John Madigan’s recommendation. Madigan has recommended the board keep its town attorney, Jennifer Kreckel. This is an annual decision.

* Discuss the town website and placing board agendas on it in a timely manner.

* Consider appointments to boards and committees.

The board will enter an executive session for an economic development matter before adjourning.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com