PERU — The Board of Selectmen heard a request Monday evening from Road Commissioner Lee Merrill to buy uniforms for the three Road Department employees.

Merrill said he thought it was important for he and his employees to have uniforms to wear while on the job, since it looked “more professional” and “makes it easier for people to recognize us.”

“Each of us would get 11 uniforms, for 33 uniforms total,” Merrill said. “I was thinking that we could pay the cost of the uniforms for the first six months by having it taken out of our paychecks, and after that, we could work the cost into our budget.”

He estimated that it would cost $1,680 a year.

“$1,680?” Selectman Jim Pulsifer asked in an incredulous voice. “I don’t spend that much money on clothes in five years, let alone one year.”

Merrill said $1,680 is a good deal.

Chairman Larry Snowman asked Merrill why he wanted to pay for the uniforms out of their paychecks for the first six months.

“I’m not sure what the Road Department budget will be, so I figured this would be the best way to go,” Merrill said. “I think it’s important that we have the uniforms to wear to show people who we are. The cars driving by don’t slow down when we’re working on the road, so this will help them see us a little better.”

Snowman said that he thought it was a good idea and told Merrill that the board would consider it during budget work.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a building permit for Edmond Berry for a 12- by 20-foot shed at 79 Auburn Road.

“He started building the shed and said that he didn’t realize he needed a permit,” Snowman said. “He’s from Carthage, and I don’t think that they need a building permit for sheds in that town. They stopped work on the shed until they got a permit approval.”

Pulsifer asked how close the shed is to the road.

It’s “pretty far off the road,” Snowman said.

Pulsifer made a motion to approve the building permit and the board approved by a vote of 4-0.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net