NORTH ATTLEBORO - Selectmen Chairman John Rhyno has begun soliciting opinions from residents about what the town should do with its million dollar Russian masterpiece.

And thus far, the results show that residents are just as divided as the school department and selectmen on what the town should do with the Alexandre Iacovleff painting known as "Afghans."

"Some days, the 'Sell Its' are ahead and other days the 'Keep Its' are ahead," he said.

Selectmen and the school committee have been at a stalemate for more than a year on the fate of the painting, which art experts have said could sell at auction for $800,000 to $1.2 million.

Rhyno said he wants to get a feel from the community, and has already received many letters on both sides of the issue. He plans to place advertisements in local newspapers asking residents to contact him with their thoughts on the matter.

While most residents are divided between the school department's decision to sell it and selectmen's decision to keep the art, there is a third group that would like it placed in a museum.

Local resident Peter Perez appeared before selectmen Thursday to suggest the town consider renting or leasing the painting to a museum or corporation or even an Afghan consulate.

He suggested that the town contact the fine arts department at the Rhode Island School of Design to see if someone there could help the town explore leasing options.

"A sale will permanently deprive the town of North Attleboro of the painting, and it may have a chilling effect on families that wish to give a gift in the future," Perez said.

Joann Cathcart, assistant to the town administrator, said she already has looked into leasing the painting to a museum, and has not found any takers. She contacted nine museums, half of which had a specialty in Russian art, and most did not respond.

"I've been told by museums that we would have to pay them to take the artwork," Cathcart said. "And it would be stored in their history departments for study."

Perez suggested that renting the painting to a corporation, rather than a museum, might be a way to generate some revenue for the town.

Representative Town Meeting members will have an opportunity to weigh in on the fate of the town's Russian masterpiece in October. Selectmen have placed an article on the town meeting warrant asking for the legislative body's opinion.