Highlights of the Peru Town Board’s May 22, 2023 meeting
By John T. Ryan
Deputy Supervisor Jim Douglass chaired the meeting of May 22, 2023
General Town News
J. Hogan Refrigeration will provide and install a new electric-powered heat pump heating and air conditioning system. The board deemed Hogan’s $18,996 bid to be the most responsible.
Peru will host nine Heyworth-Mason Park summer concerts.
Bids will be advertised to stump and chip the town’s forty-one acre parcel adjacent to Brand Hollow Rd. The board plans to sell the property since the sewer plant no longer utilizes it as a filtration basin. The bid opening is scheduled for June 12 at 10 a.m.
The board amended a portion of the town’s employee handbook to suspend nepotism rules permitting the town to hire a part-time seasonal junior employee ages 18 or under, provided an unrelated person does not apply for the position.
Jim Douglass noted that Kravitz Landscaping of Keeseville cut, chipped, and hauled away 135 trees along the John Boswell, Mannix, and Lapham Mills Roads. The highway department wanted the large trees cut because they shaded the highways resulting in snow-covered, icy conditions during winter months. Douglas said Kravitz has a county contract that extends to towns. Its prices are based on stump diameter. The cost totaled $70,600.
The Hometown Hero Banners should be up in time for Memorial Day.
Highway Department News
Paving the Dashnaw Road was accomplished on Thursday, May 18. Unfortunately, the town’s paver broke down the previous day. Burnell Paving provided a paver and operating personnel to get the job done. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said Burnell’s $600,000 paver and experienced personnel did an excellent job. Mannix Road is the next road to be paved.
Kyle Spear is the town’s newest equipment operator. Michael Farrell said Spear comes highly recommended. He has worked for the NYS Department of Transportation operating snow plows and heavy equipment. He starts at $22.34 hourly with a one-year probationary period.
Farrell said his department is back at full staffing levels. He thanked Darrell Martineau, who returned to work temporarily last winter after retiring. His help was invaluable.
Water-Sewer-Parks Department News
The department’s twenty-four foot Haulmark maintenance trailer was declared as surplus equipment. It will be advertised for sale in as-is condition, with no warranties, with a minimum bid of $25,000. The bid opening is scheduled for June 12 at 10 a.m.
A 2000 backhoe was declared to be surplus equipment. As a result, auction International will offer it in as-is condition, with no warranties with a $25,000 minimum bid.
The board accepted Jonathan Babbie’s $4,250 bid for a surplus 1985 Model 1710 Ford tractor. Five bids were received. The town recently purchased a new John Deere tractor.
The meeting adjourned at 7:01 p.m.
Posted: May 31st, 2023 under Heathcare News, Peru News, Town Board News, Water & Sewer Dept. News.