PERU — Selectmen and the Demerritt Cemetery Association came to an agreement Monday night that the association will put up a new fence and the town will pay for it in the new fiscal year.

Bob Dolloff, chairman of the association, said he thought the town should pay to replace a fence, which is in disrepair.

However, Chairman Jim Pulsifer of the Board of Selectmen said there wasn’t much fence left to repair.

 Dolloff then said the association would put erect a new one if the town paid the bill. The board voted to do so.

The board voted to support Safe Routes to School after a presentation by Laurie Soucy on sidewalks to the school. Soucy said she would write the grant application, which is due by July 1.

 Soucy said the grant is from Maine Department of Transportation Quality Community Programs, which encourages children, including those with disabilities to walk and bicycle to school. The move would address health issues, particularly childhood obesity.

 A permit was approved for a ranch house on Valley Road for Raymond Wentzell.

 The board approved sending a letter to Richard Powell to repair the fence around his junkyard or have the town take action.

 The board approved sending a report to all residents explaining why the tax rate is expected to go from $16.20 to about $17.50.

The causes for the increase are attributed to a $20,000 hike in the school budget, higher health insurance costs, less state revenue from excise taxes, paving on Gammon and Mineral Spring roads and updated software for town computers.

 There is a public informational hearing Wednesday, May 26, on the warrant.

 The board’s next meeting is Tuesday, June 1.

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