PERU – The bid for for cemetery work next year was granted to Tim Holland Monday for $4,300 after considerable discussion about the bidding process.

Holland had taken care of the cemeteries last year and Wayne Putnam from the Cemetery Committee was present to voice his concerns about the possibility of going with another bidder. He said that Holland had done a first-rate job and the committee was satisfied with his work.

Discussions arose about the fact that Holland was not the lowest bidder and Selectman Andy St. Pierre questioned why they went through the bidding process if the lowest bid was not taken. He contended that they could have just extended Holland’s contract if they intended to go with the same person. The vote was 2-to-1 with two abstentions in favor of Holland’s bid.

The Cemetery Committee presented information on how many broken stones and stones that needed leveling were in the town cemeteries. The total was over 100 in need of serious repair. The town voted at the town meeting for cemetery repairs not to exceed $2,500. St. Pierre moved to have the committee seek bids for the repair of stones and leveling to the amount of $2,100. After more discussion, it was decided that the worst stones would be taken care of first and they would concentrate on stones from the early 1900s.

In other news, a building permit was approved for Scott Oldham to add a 14-by-40-foot deck to his home on Valley Road.

Road Commissioner David Gammon reported that he had ordered culverts and was working on the dirt roads to get them in better shape. He will be cutting trees and brush next week.

There was discussion over what could be done on Dolloff Street near the store as it was sometimes blocked by trucks getting fuel.

Selectmen voted to go into executive session for two discussions.

Scott Gunther on behalf of Families in Crisis Task Force was bringing a grievance against a town employee and the other was a discussion of the neighborhood leach field that is in litigation.

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