PERU – Plumbing inspector Wayne Putnam left selectmen wondering if he intended to keep his position with the town Monday night. He walked out and left his book of permits after a long discussion over his recent bill of $125 for tending to plumbing issues at the Malchisky property on Ridge Road.

Putnam contends that Peru is the only town out of the five he serves that gives him a problem over his bill. The board wanted Putnam to bill residents, but he said he would not because he would never collect. He said the town should pay him and bill residents for his costs.

The long-discussed issue Monday night was whether Putnam was to paid $25 per visit or per hour. Minutes from June 2000 indicated he would be paid $25 per visit for site inspections.

Putnam said he only billed for three visits when he actually made four and didn’t charge for mileage or phone calls. He said he spent a lot of time on the Malchisky issue and expected to be paid.

Selectman Kathy Hussey pointed out that no other town employee received as much as $25 an hour. Putnam said that was his fee for other towns except for workshops where he only charged $12 an hour.

The board passed a motion to pay Putnam the requested $25 an hour and have the town bill residents. Selectmen appeared stunned when Putnam walked out leaving his book behind and telling selectmen to think about the situation for another week.

Road Commissioner David Gammon continues to come under fire for failing to put work signs on roads where he is working and for the condition of gravel roads.

Resident Nona Holland spoke to selectmen and Gammon over the fact that he had no signs to indicate there was work being done on the road and as a result, she almost had an accident involving another car. She asked, “Why were there no signs?” Gammon replied that the trucks had flashing lights that she could see and it was a safe stretch of road.

Selectman Jim Pulsifer said to Gammon, “If you are working on a road there should be signs. It isn’t fair to the public not to let them know.”

Improvements to tarred roads over the summer have at least one resident threatening to send their car alignment bills to the town. The board spoke to Gammon about the gravel road situation and Gammon said he couldn’t get the grader he normally used.

Pulsifer said if the roads weren’t graded by the end of the month, he was in favor of hiring someone to do the work and take it out of Gammon’s account. That will be discussed with Gammon at the next meeting.