Peru selectmen gives self-assessment

To the Editor:

When I ran for selectman in 2009, I ran with the intent to represent the townspeople and do what was best for our community.

When I first began my term, I was new. I kind of sat back and tried to understand why things were done the way they were. I listened and thought that since the other members had been in office longer than me, I thought they knew what they were doing.

Once I figured out that the best interest of the townspeople was not being taken into consideration when making some decisions, I spoke up and voted against the majority. I didn't want to go along with things just because that's how they have always been done.

I was later asked by a member of the board at one meeting why when I first came on board, I went with the flow and didn't make any waves and was asked what happened? I said that I finally figured out what was going on and felt I needed to take a stand on some issues and vote the way I felt was in the best interest of the town.

If that meant I was voting against the majority, then I guess I was. I had a good reason to do that and stood up for what I believed was the right thing to do.

I have tried my best to be fair, impartial, ethical and professional. I have been honest and open with the public. I have not withheld any public documents or information from the citizens. I have never benefited personally, politically or financially from my position nor have I ever been disrespectful or intimidating to any taxpayer of Peru.

I know that it is you, the taxpayers that elected me and it is you that I work for. Several of our taxpayers are on fixed incomes and cannot afford their tax bills going up every year.

I can honestly say that I have been dedicated and have done my best to do what is right for our town.

Ed Ferland,

Peru Selectman