The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The Board appointed Bruce R. Germain, Timothy St. Pierre and Steve LaBounty to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Nicholas J. Zagrodzki and Kim Budwick to the Planning Board. Counselor Donald McBrayer favored tabling a vote stating that the Zoning Board members had indicated that they would like to see prospective board members attend at least one Board meeting and if possible they would like to meet prospective members. McBrayer said that to the best of his knowledge the candidates had not attended meetings and had not met with either board. Supervisor Peter Glushko said that Code Enforcement Officer Frank Slycord, Zoning Board Chairman Rob Bashaw and Planning Board Chairman Richard Williams recommended approval. Counselor Jim Douglas said that it was hard to get volunteers for any position, therefore he would not be in favor of delaying the vote. Counselor Kregg Bruno concurred. Glushko, Douglass and Bruno voted yes. McBrayer voted no saying he had no objection to any of the appointees, but objected to the boards not having input.

A new tandem dump truck/snow plow will be arriving in Peru this spring. The Peru Town Board approved the truck’s purchase at its Monday, February 24, 2013 meeting.  The winning bid of $120,435 submitted by R.R. Charlebois Inc. of Milton, Vt. Clark’s Truck Center of Plattsburgh was the only other bidder.  The Freightliner truck will be outfitted with a snowplow package, which the town purchased in November 2013 at a cost of $71,231. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said he expects the truck will be delivered in May.

Bids will be advertised this week for construction of the Heyworth/Mason Park to Sullivan Park Walking Trail.  They will be opened on March 19^th and awarded on March 24^th.  Grants are expected to fund 80% of the project cost. Walking Trail Map

The Town’s procurement policy was changed with the passage of 2014 Local Law #2. Referred to as the Best Value Law, it will permit the Board to accept a bid, which is not necessarily the lowest bid, if the Board determines that the higher bid represents a better value to the town. Supervisor Glushko cited the example of a geographically distant bidder submitting a low bid but not being in a position to provide prompt maintenance or service.

Section 1.2 of the law reads: “Goods and services procured and awarded on the basis of best value are those that the Town Board determines will be of the highest quality while being the most cost efficient. The determination of quality and cost efficiency shall be based on objectively quantified and clearly described and documented criteria, which may include, but shall not be limited to, any or all of the following: cost of maintenance; proximity to the end user if distance or response time is a significant term; durability; availability of replacement parts or maintenance contractors; and longer product life; product performance criteria; and quality of craftsmanship.” Local Law #2 of 2014

Security cameras will be installed at the Little Ausable River Park and Heyworth/Mason Park in the very near future. Electrical service will have to be installed at Heyworth/Mason Park to power the cameras.

Contract engineer Peter Gibbs is still working plans and specifications for the New Town Hall entrance stairs. Counselor Jim Douglas said, “I’d like to get moving on that project as soon as possible.”

The Board held a twelve-minute executive meeting to discuss an individual’s employment history.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.