PERU – Voters here Monday unanimously approved receipt of a $197,600 federal grant and added $10,400 to it from town surplus to allow the town to purchase a new firetruck.

Approximately 37 people attended a special town meeting to accept the Department of Homeland Security Firefighters Grant, to OK the local matching funds, and approve Fire Chief Bill Hussey as grant administrator.

Hussey said the special town meeting was necessary because of a time line in securing the grant. Also, he said, by the time he was notified the town had received grant, it was too late to get the question on the November ballot.

Hussey said he was pleased that Peru received funding in the first round of grants awarded. Peru, he added, received one of seven first-round grants awarded in the state.

He estimates they will have the new engine within a year’s time.

At a public hearing before the town meeting Monday, residents had an opportunity to discuss changing the fiscal year. An article will appear on the November ballot which would change the fiscal year to July 1 through June 30, effective July 1, 2008. The town’s current fiscal year coincides with the calendar year.

Pulsifer asked Selectman Board Chairman Bill Hine why the selectmen had not followed the recommendation of the Finance Committee, which did not support the change.

Hine replied that it was a cash flow issue tied into the school year so they could better prepare the town’s budget. Pulsifer said he didn’t think there would be any difference in the cash flow either way.

Questions arose as to whether the town meeting would change from March to June. Hine said it would. Some residents said that had been tried before, and fewer people came out. Hine reminded the group that voting will be done by referendum and people can vote by absentee ballot.

According to Town Clerk Vera Parent, next year taxes will be collected as they were this year, with taxes due on Aug. 1. Starting in 2008, 6 months of taxes will be due in February; the catch-up will be from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. This bill can be split if people choose, it was noted.