PERU — Selectmen on Monday tabled an application to renew a junkyard permit for JC Demolition Recycling until they meet with the Planning Board, inspect the site and watch a video of the meeting where the permit was originally approved.

Selectmen do not record or videotape their meetings. However, after finding what they considered errors in the official minutes, the group Peruvians for Honest Government began videotaping every meeting. Members offered to show selectmen the meeting where the former board originally approved the permit.

The original permit was issued to Jesse Childs and Lori Labbe to convert the old Diamond Match plant into an automobile demolition and recycling facility. Selectmen approved the application in July 2012. They included restrictions issued by the Planning Board. While the plant is in the floodplain, it complied with the shoreland zoning ordinance.

There has been no action on complying with the restrictions or starting a junkyard at the site.

Selectmen Chairman Jim Pulsifer recommended renewing the permit with the same restrictions as before.

Selectman Larry Snowman said he was not happy in renewing the permit since the developers have made no progress on meeting the restrictions.

Selectman Danny Wing said selectmen and Planning Board members should inspect the site and study it further before approving the renewal.

Selectman Lee Merrill said he thinks the facility is too close to the river. “We have worked too hard for too many years to get decent fishing in the river,” he said.

The facility would be recovering mercury-containing and petroleum-contaminated parts and could be a source of pollution, he said.

Resident Dawana Kazrigis pointed out that it will be expensive for the town to clean up the site if the firm goes out of business.

In other business, Pulsifer said work on cleaning and repair on the town well was complete. The Department of Environmental Protection requires that the well pass three weekly tests before the water is declared safe for drinking.

If the well fails the test, further action will be required by the town. This action could include closing the well, relocating it or adding chlorine.

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