PERU — The Board of Selectmen continues to be troubled over unpaid taxes — some of which are years in arrears.

Town Clerk Vera Parent gave the board a partial list of those who have been foreclosed on and others who are not so delinquent.

Selectman Ed Ferland said, “I know times are tough, but we can’t continue like this. I get calls from people who pay their taxes and they are upset.”

Parent said that some are making a real effort to catch up, but the percentage is small. Selectman Kathy Hussey said that some make no effort.

Selectman Laurianne Milligan said they needed to try and come up with a consistent policy and asked Parent to try and come up with the liabilities of taking property. Ferland favors a payment plan.

The selectmen agreed that a policy was needed that would be consistent across the board. Letters have been sent before foreclosing. The next step would possibly be to take possession of the property and then sell it at auction. Hussey asked that the board look at policies from other towns.

In other news, a public hearing was scheduled for Sept. 10 on the public officer recall ordinance, the electronic sign ordinance and and informational meeting on the wind ordinance. There will be no selectmen's meeting on that day.

The public sign is located on the side of the fire station, and the ordinance is required by the state to insure that it is not a distraction to traffic on Route 108. The board voted to put the ordinance on the November ballot.

The recall ordinance states in part that an official can be recalled for failure to carry out duties and responsibilities of the office, for engaging in conduct that brings the office into disrepute or displays unfitness to hold the office, or conviction of a felony under Maine or U.S. law.

The informational meeting for the wind ordinance will be the final one before the ordinance will be reviewed by an attorney. The board will ask the Wind Committee for its input on the right attorney to choose.

The board voted to put out the bid to roof the Town Office again and said that the specs will be available in the office. The bid will be for a standing seam or standard metal roof.