PERU — Proposed state legislation regulating the qualifications for municipal officers could affect several town employees and caused considerable debate among the Board of Selectman Monday night.

If LD 1297 is enacted, a municipal officer may not concurrently be an employee of the town for which that person serves as a municipal officer, except for towns organized under a town manager.

Under the proposed law, two selectmen would be unable to serve on the board. Selectman Kathy Hussey also serves as a full-time employee of the town as secretary to the selectmen.

Selectman Rick Vaughn is also an employee of the town Road Department.

Hussey composed a letter stating why the board should not support the bill.

Former Selectman Bill Hine said the letter written by Hussey was not proper and if any letter went to the state, it should come from the other three selectmen. There are five selectman, and Hussey and Vaughn are brother and sister.

Board Chairwoman Laurieann Milligan asked where the Maine Municipal Association stood and was provided a letter that said MMA is not supporting the bill.

One of the reasons MMA does not support the bill is that it would tie the hands of small towns who have trouble getting enough people to serve their communities.

The bill further states that upon passage of the bill, the municipal officer may serve out the remainder of their term.

Hussey’s seat on the board is up for re-election, and she has taken out papers along with former Selectman Jim Pulsifer. Milligan’s term will also end, and she has taken out nomination papers.

Selectman Ed Ferland said he did not support sending the letter. He said, “It is legal to have a brother and sister serving together, but it’s not right.”

Selectman Tim Holland moved that the board take no position in the matter and not send a letter. The motion passed with three votes. Hussey abstained, and Vaughn didn’t vote.

Milligan said the issue of a title change for Hussey from secretary to the selectman to administrative assistant needed to be addressed before the budget informational hearing on May 24.

Ferland said he favors changing her title to anything but administrative assistant. He said Hussey does a good job, and normally people did not ask to have their job titles changed.

Resident Marie Eastman said she knew of many times job titles had changed to reflect changed duties. “Kathy is an assistant to all boards and committees. She is not just a secretary.”

Milligan said she wanted the board to finish the agenda and then go into a workshop to discuss the issue further. “We need to address this issue in light of an overall plan for our town,” Milligan said.

In other news, Holland said they needed some decent furniture in a meeting room in the old school to make it more usable. Milligan said maybe someone could come up with some chairs and a desk. “I plan to put in some plants and hang some pictures,” she said.

Building permits were approved for adding a porch to the Quirion residence on Hutchinson Road and a shed to the Delano residence on Auburn Road.