PERHAM, Maine — The Perham Select Board approved an extension to use American Rescue Plan Act funding for a road project that is on hold until a contractor finishes another job. The board voted 2-0 for the extension during Monday night’s meeting.
The town hired Trombley Industries of Limestone to handle the Tangle Ridge Road project but the company is still doing paving work for the city of Caribou and didn’t provide a time frame for starting the Perham work.
The project uses ARPA money from the town and the Aroostook County Commissioners. The deadline to use the ARPA funds was set for December 31, 2023 with an option for an extension between the town and the contractor. Total costs for the Tangle Ridge Road project is $193,500 with half being paid for by the ARPA grant in the amount of $56,750, according to Perham town administrator Sue Skidgell.
“I know some of the other hot top plants are shutting down on Nov. 3,” said selectman Anthony Huston.
ARPA grant administrator Steve Pelletier recommended an extension be filed so Perham doesn’t lose out on the funding for the project. The Perham Select Board approved the extension for the ARPA funds into summer 2024, and signed the extension after the vote.
In other business, a resident in Perham living on Tupper Road had put in a driveway culvert without submitting an application. The issue was brought up to the Select Board and they contacted the owner to have the culvert removed, which the owner agreed to do.
Perham Logging Corporation also had a request to put in an 18-inch driveway culvert with one condition being no headwalls near the right of way that was approved by the Select Board in a 2-0 vote.
The Select Board members approved the appointments of election warden Sherry McLaughlin and election clerks Cynthia Richendollar and Sarah Plummer for the Nov. 7 election in a 2-0 vote. The polls will open at 9 a.m. at the Perham Town Office building.
The Select Board voted 2-0 to approve purchasing an updated scanner to be used for the recording of the warrants as part of a recommendation from the Maine Municipal Association, along with an amended motion to get IT services to link it to the computer in the town office.
Perham town administrator Sue Skidgell applied for a scholarship at the New England Association of town and city clerks conference. The Select Board members voted 2-0 to promptly deny payment for the scholarship that is needed in order to receive the scholarship.
The Select Board set the next meeting for Monday, Oct. 30 with one order of business being the town’s tax commitments.
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