PERU — Selectmen were given two petitions Monday night that call for an end to town employees holding an elected town office simultaneously, and for the board’s secretary to be elected.

Approximately 30 people crowded into the small meeting room where Martha Witherell presented the documents. One had 161 signatures and the other 147. Both petitions asked that they be placed on the June town meeting warrant.

Board Chairman Tim Holland said they would, once the signatures of residents were verified.

The issue of town employees also holding a town office has been brewing since selectmen’s secretary Kathy Hussey was elected a selectman last year. Her brother Rick Vaughn is also a selectman and an employee of the highway department.

Neither of them said anything at the meeting.

The first petition asks voters to change the position of secretary to selectmen from hired to elected. The term would be three years and the hours would be 25 to 30 per work.

Hussey usually works between 37 to 40 hours per week, depending on the number of meetings. She also serves as secretary to several committees and does research.

The other petition presented Monday asks voters to prohibit town employees from simultaneously holding an elected office for the town.

Last week, Holland presented a similar petition, which prompted Hussey to accuse him and fellow board members Laurieann Milligan and Ed Ferland of going behind her back while she was on vacation. All three denied doing so and Milligan stressed the board needs five people to vote on issues and without conflicts of interest.

John Witherell requested Monday that each meeting be taped and or broadcast on the local cable TV public access Channel 7.

Kevin Saisi taped Monday’s meeting for the Channel 7.

Holland said the board would take his request under advisement.

In other business, former Selectman Dick Powell was concerned about the number of foreclosures pending for unpaid property taxes.

Holland said the board is following its past practice of sending notices and asking people to contact the office to make arrangements for payment. If there is no response, the properties will be foreclosed on May 1.

Powell said he questioned the board’s authority on the matter.

Dawna Kasregis complained about the letter selectmen sent in response to her concerns over an incident between her and Hussey at the town office. It implied she was hostile to Hussey, she said.

In an interview after the meeting, Kasregis said she was at the office with written requests for information and was met with what she considered an “attitude.” Words were exchanged, she said.

“I do talk loud, but I was not hostile,” Kasregis said.

She said her biggest complaint was that the incident was discussed in executive session by selectmen without her being present.

Holland apologized several times, saying he was at fault and it was a mistake not to have her there.

In other news, the board appointed wind committee members Bill Hine, J.R. Worthington, Warren MacFawn, Warren Oldham, Kevin Benedict, Philip Bretz, Jim Pulsifer, Larry Hansen, Rick Childs and Sean Calendar. They capped the number of members at 15.

The board reappointed Steve Fuller to the Planning Board retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012.