PERU – Selectmen agreed Monday to urge voters at the annual town meeting to defeat an article amending the shoreland zoning ordinance.
Former Selectman Jim Pulsifer said Monday night that the wording is faulty.
The amendment was intended to correct a problem inadvertently introduced in a prior rewrite of the ordinance.
Selectman Kathy Hussey said the amendment should be rewritten and presented to voters at the June elections.
The proposal to make the road commissioner an appointed position, rather than elected, has generated much interest, according to Road Commissioner David Gammon.
“It is right and fair that people stay in those jobs. There will be no wholesale firings” if this proposal is approved, board Chairman Andy St. Pierre said.
Other members of the board agreed, stating that this was not a personal issue, and there was no intent to replace any of the present road crew.
Selectman Bill Hine said the change would let the road department work more like a business.
The selectmen voted to obtain a lien on the property of residents of an adjoining town whose dog crossed the river and bit a child in Peru over a year ago. The town has spent more than $500 in animal control officer fees and having the dog killed and checked for rabies.
An attorney will be retained on a contingency fee basis to pursue five other dog cases where owners have not paid their fines.
Townspeople will be asked if they want to allow discussion of items at the town meeting. Selectmen indicated that since there had been ample opportunity for public discussion at well-advertised hearings, any additional discussion would be an undue burden on voters.
The town meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 18, in the Peru School auditorium.
Comments are no longer available on this story