MEXICO – New carpeting will soon be installed in three sections of the first floor of the Mexico Recreation Center building.

At Wednesday night’s selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager John Madigan said the existing carpet’s condition could become a liability issue. The town owns the building.

“The whole first-floor carpet is terrible, except where the wellness center is,” he said. “These three sections are a must.”

New carpeting and labor was estimated at roughly $3,000, Madigan added. The money would come from a balance of $6,000 in the building maintenance account.

“It’s money well spent, because it is getting dangerous,” he said.

Carpeting on 44 steps of stairs also needed to be replaced to remedy additional safety issues, Madigan said.

With little discussion, selectmen agreed to both projects.

In other business, selectmen also voted unanimously to buy turkeys to give to the town’s 25 full-time employees for Christmas, something done last year for $285.

The board also authorized police Chief Jim Theriault to hire Jennifer Cramer of Mexico as a reserve officer.

Theriault said she served seven years in the Marine Corps, completed at least four years of college and is an intermediate-rated emergency medical technician. On Friday, she also completed the 100-hour police academy course required for reserve officers.

“We really need another person,” he said. Later in the meeting, the chief said full-time Patrolman Dean Benson is out indefinitely on a medical leave.