I don't know what those perl scripts are doing, but still...

• Use cron, and write your perl scripts to be one-shot deals. cron will run your script on time every time, so you don't have to fork 'em.
• Have your Perl scripts check for a lock file. If it exists, delay for a whort while with sleep to make sure the other finishes. When there's no lock file, write one, do what you need to do, and then delete it.

Simple is best in Perl... and Junkyard Wars...

--
$Stalag99{"URL"}="http://stalag99.keenspace.com";