PERU — State Rep. Richard Pickett, R-Dixfield, visited the Peru Town Hall on Monday night to present a Governor’s Award for Service and Volunteerism to Dirigo High School sophomore Sophie Jacques before selectmen met.
This summer, Jacques volunteered over 50 hours at the Rumford Hospital in various departments to see in which one she would like to pursue a career.
“I thought I wanted to do something in the medical field, and this was a great opportunity to explore what was available and see what I liked,” Jacques said.
Now that she has explored her options, Jacques said she has decided on a career as a dermatologist.
Pickett said he was honored to present the award.
“I like to recognize extraordinary young people,” Pickett said. “We don’t just give out these awards like candy.”
After the ceremony, Chairwoman Carol Roach began the meeting by sharing the most recent legal advice from town attorney Amanda Meader concerning the ongoing budget battle with Road Commissioner Lee Merrill.
Merrill told selectmen Jan. 16 that he would shut down the community sandbox at 85 Peru Center Road as of Feb. 1. Merrill was concerned the town would run out of sand before the winter was over, mostly because of overuse and abuse of sandbox privileges by residents and people from out of town.
Selectmen later decided the road commissioner does not have the authority to close the sandbox to the public, and voted to instead buy more sand and to install video cameras using money from the Road Operations budget to monitor traffic at the sandbox.
Last week, Roach shared a letter she received from Merrill’s attorney that read, “I caution you that the infringement of (Merrill’s) authority would be legally actionable if you intend to proceed with the purchase (of the security cameras).”
Roach and the other selectmen decided last Wednesday to go forward with the purchase, and asked Meader to send a letter to Merrill’s attorney informing him of the decision.
Meader, however, advised the board against sending a letter back, saying it would just continue the discussion unnecessarily because the board’s actions are on “sound legal ground.”
Former Peru Selectman Jim Pulsifer brought up the question of how the board plans to use the security cameras efficiently and enforce the sandbox ordinance, which limits residents to two 5-gallon buckets of sand per storm.
“I don’t see how you can use (the cameras) to improve the situation,” Pulsifer said. “You’re talking about such a low-cost item — the cost of sand per yard is maybe $25. The price of the cameras, which is $2,000 — that’s an awful lot of sand.”
Selectman John Witherell cited the sandbox policy, which allows selectmen to issue a fine of up to $500 for abusing the free sand.
Roach has contacted Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant to discuss enforcing the policy. She was waiting for a return call on the matter.
From left, Spencer, Corey, Stephanie and Sophie Jacques stand with State Rep. Richard Pickett, R-Dixfield. Sophie Jacques, a sophomore at Dirigo High School, received a legislative award Monday evening at the Peru Town Hall in celebration of 50 hours of community service at Rumford Hospital last summer.
From left, board members Raquel Welch, Wendy Henderson and Carol Roach discuss the budget battle between the board and Road Commissioner Lee Merrill at Monday night’s selectmen’s meeting in the Peru Town Hall.