The Peru Gazette

Blue line outlines the area when zoning classification was changed.

By John T. Ryan

Zoning Map Change Approved; New IT Specialist Hired; Snowplow Insurance Allowance Learned; Six to eight applicants to be Interviewed for Water/Sewer Department Position; Washington Street Road Acceptance Still on Hold; NYS Silent on Main Street Upgrade Project Requests

Peru – The Peru Town Board meeting of Monday, February 25, 2019 was a routine, but important meeting. Acting on a Planning Board recommendation, a pubic hearing and an environmental review the Board approved changing the zoning classification of 8 parcels east of the Town Court Building from a commercial classification to neighborhood commercial. The change will permit more uses including multi-family housing. The Planning Board recommended the change after receiving an application for construction of four 4-plex residential units along an extension to Davey Drive.. Harney Davey owns the property. Davey’s son-in-law Nathan Wilson would be developing the units. Davey Drive would still be a dead-end street. Councilman Rick Barber said he would prefer that Davey Drive loop back to Bear Swamp Road providing better access and improved safety. Eighteen wheelers trying to access Town Court have to park on the Bear Swamp Rd. shoulder. Zoning Officer Bob Guynup pointed out that the street would have to be routed around a wetland. The zoning map change was approved as proposed.

The Board hired Peru resident Tom Lemieux as its new IT specialist replacing Patrick Garsaw who has provided service since March 29, 2017. Garsaw did not have an ongoing contract with the Town and has several other clients. Asked by the Peru Gazette if the counselors have considered hiring a larger company that could provide more than one technician McDonald said the Board considered that a few years ago, but the cost would be $150 to $175 an hour or $40,000 to $70,000 per year, plus mileage. Lemieux, a retired Clinton County employee, will be paid $50 an hour. Counselor Jimmy Langley said the Town will be Lemieux’s only client. The need to hire a new IT specialist had not been made public prior to this meeting.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said the Town’s insurance carrier will allow $66,290 for the snowplow that was totaled in a January 4, 2019 rollover accident on the steep Patent Road hill leading to the St. Patrick’s Oratory/Mother Cabrini Shrine. A replacement truck will cost about $211,000.

Water/Sewer/Parks Superintendent Courtney Tetrault reported that he will be interviewing 6 to 8 people for the open Water-Sewer Department position. More than 50 applications were received; however, very few met the job qualifications requirements. No applicants are NYS licensed water/sewer plant operators. Three applicants have a four-year college degree.

Supervisor McDonald said there’s no news on the shoulder-sidewalk width dispute between Washington Street developer William Sawyer and the Town of Peru. He said, “They withdrew their last request and said they would get back to us.” Meanwhile, Peru’s only new major development is in limbo.

The New York State has not responded to Peru’s request to extend the time to use its Main Street improvement grant and to exempt the Town from the State’s minority participation requirements. The requests were made last fall. Supervisor McDonald and Counselor Jim Douglass told the Gazette that contact is being made with NYS officials.

The meeting concluded at about 7:45 p.m. when the Board adjourned to an Executive Session for personnel matters.