PERU — Voters approved all seven articles at a special town meeting Monday night, including one to take $5,000 from surplus to pay for an engineer to inspect the Friends of Peru Elementary School building.

The building, which was being used as a community center, was inspected in May by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and found to be in violation of its education occupancy permit. There were also several safety concerns. The inspection is required before a change of use permit can be obtained, and the repairs further assessed.

The change of use permit will allow the building to function as a multiuse community center.

According to Selectman Kevin Taylor, the inspection will cost approximately $2,500. The $5,000 requested was based on a verbal estimate given to selectmen.

Board member Carol Roach said whatever funds aren’t used for the inspection will go back into the surplus fund, which board members announced is at $600,000.

In other business, residents voted to take $38,000 from surplus to correct errors in the tax rate computation stemming from an overstated amount for tree growth.

Another $2,400 will be taken from surplus to replace the fire alarm system motherboard and off-site monitoring system for the Friends of Peru Elementary School building and the Town Office.

Multiple donations were accepted, including $2,500 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation to purchase two automatic external defibrillators and a Knox box, which will allow the Fire Department to access the Town Office and the Friends of Peru Elementary School building without breaking doors or windows.

The Fire Department will receive a 2005 Ford F465, formerly an ambulance, to to transport extra gear and supplies that won’t fit in the firetrucks. Voters accepted the donation from Professional Vehicle Corp.

Finally, several pieces of equipment from the Road Department will be up for sale via sealed bid, including a 1956 International Cub tractor with a sickle bar mower, a 2006 Atmax Grandmax tow-behind road grader and a rolling 18-drawer tool chest.

emarquis@sunmediagroup.net

 

Richard Pickett of Dixfield is sworn in as moderator by Peru Town Clerk Vera Parent at the start of a special town meeting Monday night at the Peru Town Office. (Liz Marquis/Sun Journal)