PERU – Stolen road signs are costing towns and creating a safety hazard, officials told selectmen Monday night.

“It’s not just our town, but signs are disappearing in towns all over and it’s costing taxpayers money,” Selectman Rodney Jamison said.

Road Commissioner David Gammon said signs are missing on Byron, Dickvale, Hammond Hill, Gammon, Mountain View, Magoon Way and Mineral Springs roads.

“It really is a safety hazard because emergency vehicles are unable to locate roads,” he said.

Board secretary Kathy Hussey commented that it would be helpful if parents were more aware of any road signs on their property and report them to the town so they could be retrieved.

Board Chairman Bill Hine asked Gammon how much it would cost to replace the missing signs, and Gammon said close to $500 for signs, posts and installation. He was told to proceed with buying them.

The previous week’s minutes were not approved because Jamison said some things were said about Gammon that were missing

Questions have arisen over Gammon’s time sheets and lack of clear documentation of work done.

Selectman Dennis Thibodeau said he checked with the Maine Municipal Association, which advised that as an elected official he had to provide documentation on where he worked each week to the town office, but not to selectmen.

Selectman Norman DeRoche said it was not a matter of Gammon answering to the board but rather they should try to work together more.

“We really need to work together,” Gammon said.

He and selectmen agreed to finish work on Brown Road and others that were damaged in the 2005 storm as part of a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant before the grant expires. He will be working to pave Brown Road soon.

Dawna Kazregis said she had checked on swimming possibilities at the proposed boat ramp and was meeting with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. However, she didn’t think this would be a possibility, she said.

Hine thanked her for looking into the issue.