PERU – The $400,000 bond issue to improve town roads passed 135-73 at Monday’s first referendum that has replaced the traditional annual town meeting.

In all, 213 people cast ballots.

The bond will pay for rebuilding Pleasant Street for $115,000 and a portion of Main Street connecting to Dickvale Road from the area of the Post Office to McDonald’s farm for $140,000.

It will also finance paving areas of Gammon Road for $40,000, Ridge Road for $38,000, Peru Center Road for $24,000 and Valley Road for $20,000.

It will also pay for replacing the manhole system in the area of Main Street by Mrs. B’s Store for $50,000.

Only three of the 61 articles failed to pass: $3,163 that was requested for the Rumford Public Library, $250 requested for the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, and $1,000 sought for United Cerebral Palsy of Maine.

Norman DeRoche Jr. was re-elected selectman; Patricia Hunt re-elected to the SAD 21 Board of Directors; and Richard Colpitts written in for a second seat on the SAD 21 board.