PERU – Selectmen got an earful from Road Commissioner David Gammon at Monday night’s board meeting.

While complaints continue from residents on Main Street who say their driveways are washing away because of poor ditching, Gammon said he gets no support from selectmen and feels like he is being stabbed in the back. None of the selectmen ever come and inspect his work, he claims.

Selectmen disagreed that they do not support him.

Selectman Norman DeRoche told Gammon that when he gave his reports everything sounded good so they saw no need to go and check. DeRoche added that when they get complaints they have to address them. “We have to show people that we are doing something,” he said.

Selectman Jim Pulsifer asked Gammon if he had ditched Main Street where one of the the problems is occurring. Gammon replied that he does it every year but not too deep because he didn’t feel it was safe. Pulsifer replied that six inches was not enough to ditch and the roads were 21 feet wide and walkers would have to watch out for themselves.

Gammon said he couldn’t run to every water problem. But Pulsifer said he should fix some of them. DeRoche said to ditch the problem areas again and if the water problems continue, residents must deal with them.

Selectman Andy St. Pierre asked Gammon if he was serious about resigning. Gammon said he has received little support from boards over the last 10 years and that it was on his mind. However, no action was taken.

Gammon also said the sand pile on Pleasant Street still had a problem with ATVs scattering sand down the embankment.

In other news: Selectmen were given a confirmation of the state valuation for the town at $80,900,000. A Tree Growth application was approved for Eric Barbato. There was a consensus of the board that it would recommend to the River Valley Growth Council that the school property be disregarded in the current proposal and that the Pine Tree Zone would be confined to the area of old Diamond Mill.

Town Clerk Vera Parent gave an update on delinquent taxes. For one resident who is behind several thousand dollars, the board voted to have Parent write up a firm monthly payment plan. If the taxpayer falls behind one month, the selectmen would begin a process of collection.

Another delinquent resident has been unresponsive to a payment request, so the board voted to send a letter stating it would start proceedings on selling a lot to collect taxes if no arrangement was made.

The board adjourned into executive session to discuss the legal issue of the neighborhood leach field.

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