PERHAM, Maine — The Perham Select Board heard residents’ concerns about taxes during an April 24 meeting.
Around 11 residents attended the session, which included public comments about tax assessment and questions related to the proposed resignation of selectman David Heald, which the board rejected on April 10.
The Select Board voted to reject the resignation of selectman David Heald because the letter wasn’t signed, said selectman John Rasmussen. A special election to fill David Heald’s role will be held at a date to be determined.
Due to a state audit citing assessment irregularities, Perham has been asked to hire an independent tax assessor to examine its records. The choice is being narrowed down, Rasmussen said.
“We haven’t done any tax assessing since the [annual] town meeting. We were not authorized to do it so we are not doing it,” said selectman Anthony Huston.
In other business, two highway projects are in the works for Perham on Tangle Ridge. The town approved $147,000 for the highway projects at annual town meeting, which represents $73,500 in town funds and $73,500 in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act and Local Roads Assistance Program, among others.
Roger Connolly offered written comments over highway emergency services. A client asked if he could clean up trees as part of on-call emergency services due to Perham not having a Highway Department.
Steve Pelletier has the necessary requirements to do summer highway maintenance while Connolly does not, according to town officials.
The Select Board approved rule enforcements for people living in campers without proper sewers and wells.
The planning board reported an issue with farmers extending over their headlands or road edges with their farm equipment. Case and Blackstone roads experienced problems in the past, Rasmussen said.
Selectmen voted to have the planning board send a letter to farmers who regularly rent land in Perham to address the issue before plowing and planting gets underway.
A permanent weight restriction was brought up for Nutting Road, where logging trucks have used the road and damaged it after the road became soft in the spring but wasn’t further discussed by the Select Board.
The Select Board approved a Freedom of Access request from a resident with the Perham town office that would close the town office in the morning on May 4. Town clerk Sue Skidgel will locate the requested papers and the office will then reopen.
The office will be closed on May 8 and 9 for Skidgel’s vacation. Skidgel also requested vacation for May 11 to May 18. The town office will close unless John Hedman can open it during that week.
