PERU — Former selectman Bill Hines brought to the board’s attention Monday that he felt the revote to override LD1 was not legal because it was not the same process as the referendum vote on June 8 when the measure failed.

A Maine Municipal Association representative, however, said the action was legal.

Becky Seel, of the MMA said she thought the special town meeting vote met the spirit and letter of the law because the June 28 revote was done by paper ballot rather than by voice or a show of hands.

A petition was presented to the board to have voters reaffirm the original vote on June 8 and the request was denied.

“I believe the board acted properly in voting not to honor the request of the petitioners,” Seel said.

Hines said he felt that MMA would say what they thought the board wanted to hear.

But board Chairman Laurieann Milligan disagreed.

“MMA has a code of ethics they must follow,” Milligan said. “If voters want to change a budget, do it next year. For this budget, it is too late.”

Selectman Corey Jacques noted that some try to implement change after the horse has left the barn.

“I understand you all are frustrated. We are frustrated as well,” Jacques said. “We hold informational meetings, cards are mailed out for people to attend and no one comes. Now after the fact, people act.”

Marie Eastman asked, “How soon can we get our hands on the warrant for the next referendum so we can study the questions?”

Town Clerk Vera Parent responded by saying warrants are available as soon as the board approves them and they are typed up, which has to be 30 days before an election.

Milligan said the board was open to working on more information, but, “Let’s learn from this and move on.”

In other news, the board decided to put the bids out again for two digging buckets after Road Commissioner Joe Roach said he had no bids. Roach also said he had no bids on winter sand and asked that it go out to bid again.

There was some discussion over whether Jim Pulsifer should remain on the Med-Care Ambulance board since he was no longer a selectmen. Selectman Rick Vaughn said he felt a sitting board member should serve on the Med-Care board and he was willing.

The vote was two for Pulsifer to remain, one against and one abstaining.

The board settled on an asking price of $64,900 for the Grange building.

Selectman Tim Holland expressed thanks for the board to the 22 people who came to clean up the Worthly Pond outlet on Saturday. Vaughn said they hauled over four truckloads of debris out of the stream.

There will be no meeting next Monday due to Labor Day.