RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted Wednesday evening to approve an amendment to the town’s General Assistance ordinance that would increase the amount of money households could receive.

Town Manager John Madigan said the amendment would “slightly raise the maximum amount of help we’re allowed to give a person, other than an emergency.”

The increases are:

* One-person household: $551,  $8 increase.

* Two-person household: $610, $8 increase.

* Three-person household: $735, $9 increase.

* Four-person household: $992, $13 increase.

* Five-person household: $1,284, $14 increase.

Madigan said the town would add $68 to the total, for each additional member in the family.

“The way this is set up, if someone living alone came to us and asked for $100 for help with food, $500 for help with rent, and an additional amount of money for electricity, we’d only be able to provide up to the $551 maximum allowed by the ordinance,” Madigan said.

In other business, the board unanimously voted to approve a request from Holy Savior School to close a section of Maine Avenue for the Holy Savior Fall Festival.

Chairman Greg Buccina said police Chief Stacy Carter “gave the school his blessing, in regards to shutting down that section of the street.”

Fire Chief Robert Chase said the street would be closed from Franklin Avenue to Washington Street, which would allow residents safe access to the nearby parking lot.

“I looked over their proposal, and I have no reservations about closing that section either,” Chase said.

Selectmen also unanimously approved the 5K Run for Black Mountain of Maine.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com