Peru voting again on spending cap article

PERU — Officials at Monday night's selectmen's meeting urged residents to attend next week's meeting to revote an article authorizing the town to exceed the state spending limit law.

The article was rejected at the June 8 annual town meeting, even though voters passed all spending articles, which totaled more than allowed under the spending limit law. If the article fails this time, officials will have to cut spending to come under the cap set by the state law.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday, June 28, in the old Peru school gym. It will be a secret ballot vote.

Selectman Corey Jacques asked Town Clerk Vera Parent what would happen if the vote failed again.

"We will have to bring the budget under the LDI cap, and we'll start cutting everywhere to reduce the budget. This will include cuts in the roads, and everywhere we went over," she said. She emphasized there will be plenty of discussion time before the vote.

Road Commissioner Joe Roach reported that Sicotte Road would be closed Wednesday, June 23, to replace the deck of the Sicotte bridge. The rain date will be Thursday, June 24.

The board accepted a building permit for Tom Jobe for a garage at 789 Green Woods Road.

The board is still finalizing the guidelines for the use of the old Peru school as a community center. Rental rates and rules on smoking and concealed weapons have not been set.