Swinging into Action

This site has been created by a group of Peru residents with two goals in mind:

1. To increase citizens' awareness of issues affecting the Town.
2. To ensure that actions taken by town officers closely reflect the wishes of the townspeople.

Recent actions by the Peru Board of Selectmen have generated considerable concern that citizens are not being heard. First, the Board ignored a vote by the townspeople on June 8, 2010, to keep municipal spending for the 2010-11 fiscal year under the so-called LD 1 tax cap. The tally for that referendum vote was 271 AGAINST increasing the cap (a 57% majority) vs. 207 FOR. Second, the Board decided that a re-vote of the same tax-cap article would be done not by referendum, but by a special town meeting, a process known to suppress voter turnout. The result of that vote (on June 28, 2010) was 32 FOR the increase vs. 30 AGAINST. Third, the Board rejected a petition signed by 217 voters to add a referendum article to the November ballot to see if the Town might wish to restore the original tax cap. If the Selectmen are confident that they are acting according to the townspeople's wishes, why would they fear one more vote?

The denial of the citizens' petition was the proverbial last straw. A group of concerned citizens met for the first time on Wednesday evening, September 15, at the home of Bill and Marie Eastman to discuss how best to prepare Peru's voters for upcoming elections. Next on tap is the general election on November 2. There will be a local ballot to do two things:

1. To elect a new Selectman to fill the seat just vacated by Corey Jacques.
2. To see if the Town will approve the purchase of new computer hardware and software for the Town Clerk's office, with up to $27,000 to be taken from the Capital Reserve Account.

Our group came up with a list of names of people who might be willing to finish Corey's term, which will expire next June. Any candidate wishing to get his/her name on the ballot must return nomination papers to the Town Clerk by September 30.

The Finance Committee is being asked to review the proposed spending article at a meeting at the Town Office on September 23 at 6 p.m. Peru Concerned Citizens will meet next on Wednesday, September 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Eastmans' on Pleasant Street to discuss the Finance Committee's recommendation. Those who would like to become more involved are welcome to attend.

During October, Peru Concerned Citizens will be disseminating information to residents about the November ballot. Updates will be posted at this site on a regular basis. Anyone wishing to receive updates by e-mail should contact Marie at 562-7357 or at maeastman@hotmail.com. Voters will be encouraged to vote by absentee ballot in advance of Election Day.

Looking ahead, the Selectmen will begin work on the FY2012 budget in February, and the Finance Committee will likely meet in March to review the budget. There are openings on the Finance Committee; anyone wishing to join should contact Kathy Hussey at the Town Office (562-4627).

In June, aside from the vote on the annual budget, there will be elections for the Road Commissioner and two Selectmen.

Please note that there is room below for citizen comments. Feel free to share your comments and concerns with the rest of our community.