CANTON – Selectmen on Wednesday gave the green light to a Boy Scout from nearby Livermore to work toward Eagle Scout status by cleaning up and restoring a tiny family cemetery thought to have both Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans buried in it.

They also agreed to invite SAD 21’s new superintendent to their next board meeting to discuss that district’s possible merger with Peru, and to invite state Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, and River Valley Economic Developer Scott Christiansen to a future meeting to discuss the benefit s of being part of a Pine Tree Zone.

The letter given to selectmen from the Livermore Cemetery Committee asked that Keith Smith, a Livermore teenager, be allowed to clean up a small cemetery that served as the burial place for members of the Coolidge family located off the Tessier Road. He will clear the abandoned cemetery of brush and large trees, and rake the grass and take on other tasks required to make the cemetery presentable. Once the cemetery is in good shape, plans are for veterans’ groups to hold a ceremony to which the selectmen from Canton and Livermore will be invited.

Although the board granted permission to Smith to undertake the project, they want a letter from the future Eagle Scout as well.

Selectman Chris Wainwright suggested that Smith let the Canton board know what materials he may need to clean up the cemetery.

The board wants to sit down and talk with newly hired SAD 21 Superintendent Tom Ward about the possible merger with the Peru School District, as well as other matters of interest to both the town and the school district, including the threat by the state to close Canton Elementary School.

The meeting with Bryant and Christiansen will include talks about the direction Canton should take with the state’s newly established Pine Tree Zone tax incentive plan for boosting the economy of several regions in the state.

Selectman Susan Gannon also wants to discuss with Bryant a proposed property tax cap Gov. John Baldacci has suggested.

“People vote for what they want. A tax cap would take rights away from towns. We already have a bare-bones budget and we can’t do an arbitrary tax cap,” she said.

In other matters, the board voted to ask for more patrols from the Maine State Police to help ward off future acts of vandalism.

About 10 days ago, several buildings in and around the downtown area and a Porta Potti at the ball field were spray-painted.

The board also appointed David Heath to the Planning Board to replace Rob Riggs.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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