RUMFORD – Selectmen on Thursday took action to make entering Lincoln Avenue from Waldo Street easier.

They also granted permission for a local businessman to build a ramp and landing at the rear of his office on Congress Street.

The board unanimously approved a plan by Selectman Eugene Boivin that would create clearly marked travel lane lines that would allow motorists to cross Lincoln Avenue or go straight from the Hannaford side of Waldo Street.

The new configuration of travel lanes would each be 10-feet wide. The third lane, that would allow large trucks and other vehicles to turn from Lincoln Avenue into the Hannaford parking lot, would be 17 feet wide.

About three parking spaces would be lost due to the new configuration along Waldo Street.

The action was taken as an effort to relieve sometimes difficult entrances onto Lincoln Avenue. The board had declined an offer by the Maine Department of Transportation last year for the installation of a traffic signal.

The remarking of the lanes should be complete within a month.

“We’ll try this, then listen to the public (for reaction),” said Board Chairman Jim Thibodeau. The board also granted business owner Ron Theriault permission to build a handicapped-accessible ramp and a landing at the rear entrance to Advantage Insurances Services.

Approval was granted providing Theriault appeals a requirement from the building codes that the landing be 5-by-5 feet. The board wants it reduced to 4.5-by-4.5 feet, so that the adjacent sidewalk will retain a greater width.

In other matters, the board approved a Planning Board request to assess applicants for commercial site plan reviews to pay an $85 application fee. In addition, the board authorized the Planning Board to require up to 2 percent of the proposed project cost from the developer to be placed in an escrow account. These funds would be used by the Planning Board if consultants must be called in to help the board review a project.

The contract for the purchase of about 39,000 cubic yards of sand, gravel and stone was awarded to Knox Loam and Gravel at a cost of $206,975. The materials will be used over a two-year period.

The contract for the purchase of hot mix asphalt and base went to Pike Industries of Lewiston at a cost of $37.48 per ton.

Selectmen entered a closed-door session following the regular meeting with Town Manager Robert Welch and town attorney Jennifer Kreckel to discuss negotiations for the local fire department union. The three-year contract ends on June 30.

eadams@sunjournal.com