The Peru Gazette

Outgoing Councilman Rick Barber praised for dedicated service

In the first action of the evening, the board tabled Agenda #10 concerning Town Clerk Dianne Miller’s suggestion that the board only meet once a month in 2024. The board doesn’t appear to have reached a consensus on the issue. 

JCEO has not been staffing its town hall office, claiming a personnel shortage. The office is important, especially critical on Mondays when the JCEO food truck usually brings in a food shipment. Peru pays $33,000+ a year for JCEO services. Supervisor Brandy McDonald will inform JCEO that the town will not pay for days the office isn’t staffed. McDonald said many people have been calling the JCEO phone. JCEO has not been forwarding the calls to its Plattsburgh office. 

Two of Peru’s snowplows are inoperable because of maintenance issues. One, awaiting parts, should be repaired in a few days; however, the other truck has serious engine issues. The board gave Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell authority to purchase a used plow truck from Braintree, Vermont, for $93,175. Farrell said it’s in good shape with 57,000 miles. 

The Grand Union Plaza and Lakeshore Pediatric Dentistry are interested in privately funding community-focused murals on their buildings rather than being part of a lengthy grant application process. 

The board is hiring Liz Tedford again to update its community income survey in hopes of qualifying for much-needed grant monies. If household incomes within the water and sewer districts fall below a specific number, the town may be eligible for more grants at lower interest rates. Peru is under a mandate from the Clinton County Health Department and NYS DEC to upgrade its wastewater facility at a cost of millions of dollars. 

Water-Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault said the vast majority of Peru’s business and household water meters can now be radio-read, enabling his personnel to read the meters from their trucks with a slow drive-by. 

Several board members, Town Justice Scott Thurber, Town Historian Helen Nerska, and department heads Michael Farrell and Courtney Tetreault, extended best wishes and thanks to Councilman Rick Barber for this service on the town board, hard work, and cooperation. Elected in 2018, Barber did not seek reelection this year. Farrell called Barber progressive, someone who looks to the town’s future needs. Barber was emotional in his closing remarks. He recalled calling Brandy McDonald five years ago to suggest that the board move the Sunday concerts from Little Ausable River Park to Heyworth Mason Park. Barber went on to oversee and help construct the performance stage. A descendant of the Heyworth family, Barber donated the bell that, in the mid-19th century, signaled lunchtime to workers at the Heyworth woolen mill and later starch mill. Then, he oversaw the construction of the bell tower that holds the bell today.