PERU — Selectmen learned Monday night that the new boat launch on Worthley Pond opened Saturday and boaters are already using it.

Chairman Tim Holland suggested that a sign was needed at the old beach and boat launch for people to go a half mile south on Lakeshore Drive and use the new launch site.

Boat inspectors from the Worthley Pond Association will be checking boats for invasive plants only at the new site.

Former Selectman Dickie Powell said it might be a hard sell because the old beach is a public launch site with longstanding use.

In other news, Selectman Ed Ferland voiced dissatisfaction over the special town meeting scheduled for Aug. 29, asking voters to give selectman authority to accept and spend a $10,000 grant for operation and maintenance of the former Peru Elementary School.

Ferland said he had not been aware that a selectmen applied for the grant and thought the warrant had not been approved at a selectmen’s meeting.

Powell asked Holland if Selectman Laurie Ann Milligan had board approval to apply for the grant.

Holland said, “No.”

Selectman Kathy Hussey said Milligan told the board she would look into applying for the grant and advised her it might take board approval.

Holland told Ferland the board unanimously approved the warrant at their Aug. 15 meeting.

Marie Eastman wanted clarification on who would spend the money.

Holland said the Friends of the Elementary School would manage the use of the building, but selectmen would manage the funds.

The money is from the Marshall L. and Ruth-Anne Gibson Municipal Charitable Program. Marshall “Jack” Gibson, who operated Commercial Paving and Recycling Group of Scarborough for 59 years, created the trust to help municipalities he worked in during that time.

The five-year grant program, which began this summer, is for 12 towns to be selected each year to receive one-time grants of $10,000. Gibson said it was his way of giving back, and he wanted to see the funds used to help build positive community-based projects.