PERU -Jim Pulsifer said his small town once had a shortage of buildings. Now, it has too many.

That’s the result, at least partially, of the construction of the new $14 million SAD 21 elementary school in town, leaving the old one without a use.

The chairman of the town’s selectmen said the 55-year-old school is expected to be turned over to the town by September. That was part of the agreement when Peru joined SAD 21 several years ago.

Town officials, though, aren’t waiting until then to try to find an alternative use for the building and a brick building behind it used to house kindergartners and first-graders.

The smaller building will become the new town office over the next few months.

“It’s more centrally located and more convenient for most people,” said Pulsifer.

The current town office, located in Peru Center, was originally a school, built in late 1800s and has served as the town office for years.

It’s too small.

Pulsifer said the former Rockemeka Grange Hall, located across the street from the town office, has had to serve as a polling place. When the town offices move into the brick building, all municipal services will be concentrated in one location.

But the town will then have two more buildings on its hands.

Pulsifer said selectmen will likely decide on Monday, Aug. 4, at their regular weekly board meeting, if and when to set a special town meeting to ask voters what to do with the old town office and former Grange hall.

In the meantime, officials and a committee charged with looking for uses for the Peru school will continue searching for a use for the school.

Pulsifer said the school is in great condition and is wired for cable and computers and since it is located in West Peru, is in an ideal location.

“We have a couple of options right now,” he said.

These include use as an outreach center for the University of Maine System or for some other college. But that plan is far from certain, he said.

One thing is certain: He doesn’t want the town to keep the former elementary school open with no use. He said it costs $15,000 to $20,000 a year to heat and maintain it.

The selectmen’s meeting begins at 6 p.m.