PERU – The Board of Selectmen agreed Monday night to wait until after town elections June 9 to decide whether to allow 18-wheeler trucks to park in the Town Office parking lot.
Resident Joe Brissette told the board Monday that he read about the board’s discussions on the topic and didn’t understand why they would want to prevent trucks from parking in the lot on Main Street.
“I’ve been parking there for the last two years, and I thought I’d come in tonight and let you guys know my reasoning for it,” Brissette said. “I only park there during mud season, so that probably explains a lot of it. I’m not sure why this issue came about, because I’ve never had a problem with parking there or had a complaint.”
Selectman Jim Pulsifer said at a previous board meeting that he wanted the board to consider a policy to prevent drivers from leaving their 18-wheelers in the lot.
Brissette said Monday that he lives a mile away from the lot and would normally park his truck near his house.
“I choose not to, because by backing my trailer in, I’d be in both shoulders of the road and would wreck the road,” Brissette said. “That would mean more work for (Road Commissioner) Joe (Roach) and the rest of the town.”
Board Chairman Lee Merrill said the town “didn’t want anybody making a habit” of parking at the Town Office.
“We also need that space for the Rumford Senior Citizens group,” hel said. “They pay rent at the building, so we want to make sure there’s enough parking.”
“There’s enough parking in this parking lot for six towns,” Brissette said. “I don’t see why all that parking is needed for just the Town Office. I don’t think a few trucks parking there now and then is going to be a problem.”
“It’s not just you guys,” Merrill said. “It’s everybody. We just don’t want everybody thinking that it’s a free-for-all, and that anybody can leave their car parked there all day.”
Selectman Larry Snowman said the board had not officially made a decision on what they wanted to do about the situation, and wanted to wait until they had a full board before doing so.
Selectman Wendy Henderson attended Monday’s meeting; Jim Pulsifer was absent. The fifth seat on the board is vacant and is expected to be filled during elections June 9.
In other business, the board unanimously voted to approve a building permit for Edwin Child for a 26 by 28-foot garage next to his Mineral Spring Road home. It also approved a real estate abatement for resident Keith Dayon.
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