Town Supervisor
Peter Glushko
My name is Peter Glushko and I am a candidate for Peru Town Supervisor from the Republican and Conservative Parties. I have served the Town 11 ½ years as a Town Board member, beginning in 1998. I held the office of Deputy Supervisor for three years beginning in 2002.
I graduated from St Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, PA in 1972 with a BS in Accounting. I served as a US Air Force officer from 1972 through 2005, when I retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I earned a Masters Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Management and Leadership from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1986. I earned a second Masters Degree in Teaching from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2001 and I am a certified Pre-K through 6th Grade teacher.
My wife Karen, my daughter Elizabeth and I moved to Peru in 1983 and I have been active in the community ever since. I joined the Peru Lions Club in 1985 and have twice been Club President. I also served the Peru Community Church as the Finance Committee Chairman and Treasurer.
I am a member of the St Augustine’s Knights of Columbus and was recently elected Chancellor of that organization.
It is because I want to continue to be involved in our town’s future and feel that my considerable managerial, leadership, financial and educational, and town government experience could be put to good use in bringing respectability and effectiveness back to Peru Town government operations that I seek the office of Town Supervisor.
Thomas Powers
I’m running for the office of Town Supervisor because I believe in our town and its capability to improve our life style and our children’s. I was born here, and have had a Peru address my entire life. I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1999 with just under 25 years of service. My entire life has been one of service. I believe in the meaning of “public servant” to be exactly that, “serving the public”. But to serve the public and be a “public servant” you must first be accessible and have the time to devote to our town and our residents. To that end, I’ve continually reviewed all of the town’s insurance policies. This has resulted in saving hundreds of thousands of tax payers’ dollars. Often I have had to be the dissenting vote to force fellow councilors to discuss an issue with the hope of promoting effective changes; sometimes with success, other times just to plant a thought for the future. The Town Board should put high expense projects, like the trail walk, on a referendum vote. This project will cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands dollars and benefit very few. The voters should decide projects like this, not just 3, 4 or 5 individuals. There is no value in change merely for the sake of change. Effective change is achieved through working with others for the benefit of all the citizens of our great town – without personal benefit or taking it personally. Visit WWW.PARTNERSFORPERU.ORG for additional information.
Posted: October 5th, 2009 under General News.
Comments
Comment from Kathy Flynn
Time October 5, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Adele
Thank you so much for pointing out the facts regarding the grant that the town board secured for the Town of Peru. The truth of the matter is that town residents do hope for a better community. One that can be utilized in a positive, cost effective manner. Your assistance to our town is invaluable. As time progresses and the trail becomes a reality EVERYONE that was involved in this decision will be patting themsevles on the back. You have assisted our town in many ways. The most recent being the comments that you made. Thank you so much for being an employee and caring citizen for our town.
Comment from Garry Douglas
Time October 16, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Someone who thinks the town board shouldn’t make major decisions shouldn’t run for Supervisor. Peru needs vision, long-term thinking, teamwork and leadership, now more than ever. Saying you care about “quality of life” but then ignorantly harping about one of the forward-looking projects that can be part of positioning Peru to be healthy, family friendly and attractive to future growth is bizarre. I have never before expressed an opinion about my town’s politics but I’ve had enough. Let’s get back to the sort of quiet, thoughtful, progressive leadership we had in Peru until four years ago.
Comment from Adele Douglas
Time October 5, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I’d like to make a comment on Tom Powers’ precis for the position of Supervisor.
Tom states that “The Town Board should put high expense projects, like the trail walk, on a referendum vote. This project will cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands dollars and benefit very few.”
Regarding the trail costs: Yes it’s an expensive project ($655,000), which is why the Town chose to apply for, and was awarded, a grant for 80% of the cost of development and construction ($525,000). The 20% balance, which the Town must pay, will in large part be made up by in-kind services, for the Highway Department will construct the trail, this, plus fund raising, leaves the amount of cash the Town must put towards this project at about $20,000 per year for three years.
Tom did vote “yes” on the resolution authorizing the implementation and funding of this grant.
Regarding who will benefit from the trail: Well, anyone who can walk, run, ride a bicycle or is in a wheel chair will be able to use and benefit from the trail. More particulary, the Little Ausable River Trail:
Will encourage healthy lifestyles. People who have access to sidewalks and trails are more likely to be physically active.
Will provide Peru’s x-country teams with a safe, off road, training route.
Will give kids of all ages a safe, off-road, place to ride their bikes.
Will help preserve and interpret the historic A. Mason and Sons Lumber Mill site and D&H railroad, and
Will provide opportunities for nature appreciation and interpretation, as well as protection, along riverbank, wetland and forest ecosystems.
Regarding a referendum vote: I believe the Town Board took the following into consideration when determining whether or not to pursue the development of a trail system:
For the survey that was conducted among Peru residents for the Comprehensive Plan over 600 questionnaires were completed and returned. There was a wide range of questions regarding how the Town should develop. These are the ones that relate to the trail:
“Is there additional need in the Town for the following types of land use?”
Given a list of 22 choices, from senior housing to a variety of retail and commercial uses, the highest rating was given to: Public Recreation Areas. 75% of respondents said additional public recreation areas were needed in Peru.
When asked “what additional recreation opportunities are needed in the Town”, 70% of respondents said that dedicated bicycle paths were “needed”, this was the most popular response after a community/teen center.
Would residents be willing to pay for a trail? More than 50% of respondents said they would be willing to pay additional property taxes or user fees to “establish a recreation trail for walking and biking”.
Finally, the trail project has been deliberated, agreed upon, and progressed for six years now. Tom’s endless negative comments serve no purpose other than to create animosity.