PERU — Longtime Selectman Laurieann Milligan has resigned, according to a letter read by Chairman Jim Pulsifer at Monday night’s board meeting.
Her term expires in 2015 and an election to replace her will be held in February.
Milligan was the only member of the board to survive a recall election in 2012. The recall effort, which ousted four selectmen, was led by Peruvians for Fair Government.
In other matters Monday, it was announced that the Androscoggin River bridge between Peru and Dixfield has been posted for a maximum 25-ton weight limit. Heavy vehicles should use the Route 2 bridge in Rumford or the Route 140 bridge through Canton.
The Friends of the Peru Elementary School have operated the old school building for nearly a year and selectmen will consider renewal of the agreement at their next meeting.
Town Clerk Vera Parent is obtaining estimates for programming the ballot-counting machine for the next election. The machine is leased from the state at no cost to the town. Parent said ballots in the Nov. 5 election were counted by 8:30 p.m. In past years, it has taken until 1 a.m. the next morning to count ballots by hand, she said.
Road Commissioner Joe Roach suggested revisions to a parking plan and selectmen will meet at 8 a.m. Monday to review his suggestions.
Roach also said there are two hazardous trees off Veterans Street. The large white pines are on private property, but parts of them extend over the road.
One of the trees is dead and will need to be removed this fall. He recommended the other be removed at the same time. He said he is working with Central Maine Power and the landowners to share the cost. If the town only removes the one that presents a road hazard, the other is sure to fall on nearby homes, he said.
The trees are more than 75 feet tall. Because of nearby obstructions, it will take a crane to help hold and lower each section as it’s cut, he said. Central Maine Power has said it is cheaper to relocate their line than pay the entire removal cost.
Selectmen will look at the trees Monday morning.
University of Maine student Eric Coffin has agreed to map the Mud Pond Road for the town as part of a class project. He said Geographic Information Systems are becoming more popular and his course will train him to take electronic information and show it graphically on computer-generated maps.
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