PERU — Voters rejected a $10,000 grant to operate and maintain the former school building for community use at a special town meeting Monday night.

Moderator Don Roach had to intervene several times to keep order because emotions ran high.

Friends of the Peru Elementary School Committee were instrumental in getting the grant and Chairman Nick Waugh said, “It’s a sad day,” after the grant was rejected by a vote of 55-36.

Pat Goudin asked if the grant had actually been approved by the selectmen. Selectman Laurie Ann Milligan responded by saying she had asked permission of the board to get further information on the grant.

Milligan said that her letter of inquiry turned into an application and though she had shared all communications with the board, they didn’t actually take a vote.

Selectman Ed Ferland read from his notes, which were taken from July 25 minutes, stating that the grant had been applied for.

“I’m not against the grant, I’m against the process that took place. The whole board should have voted,” Ferland said.

The town had voted to appropriate no funds for upkeep of the school in June, and the largest concern of the crowd of nearly 100 people was: What would happen if the committee spent the $10,000 and then couldn’t fund it any more?

Waugh asked that the people give them a chance to get paying groups to use the building and see what fundraisers the group could come up with. Waugh said there were 25 or 30 people interested in helping.

Former selectman Jim Pulsifer said the town had voted to keep the building open a few years ago and felt that vote still stood. “Let the whole town vote again in a referendum election,” he said.

Some people suggested using the new school for clubs and Scout meetings. Rick Childs suggested they fix the power and water issue that is needed for the town office and shut the building down.

The consensus of the group was to close the building and leave it closed