The Peru Gazette

By John T Ryan 

Peru, NY – Appointing a deputy town clerk and approving a new building permit fee schedule were the major topics at the Peru Town Board’s July 27 meeting. 

On March 23, the Town Board appointed part-time Code Enforcement Secretary Taylor Jo Swan to the deputy town clerk position at a pay rate of $1,250 per year. Subsequently, the council learned that NYS town law requires deputy town clerks to reside in the town where they hold office; however, boards have the authority to pass a local law permitting someone who is a non-resident to hold the position. Swan resides in Keeseville. Town Supervisor Craig Randall said several area communities have made similar changes and that it’s good to have the deputy working at the town hall if the town clerk is unavailable for a short period of time. The public will have an opportunity to comment at a public hearing scheduled for August 10 at 5:45 p.m. 

The board approved the building permit fee schedules that were the subject of the public hearing preceding this meeting. At that hearing, CEO Duane Bibeau explained that the new fees are commensurate with a project’s complexity and size. Larger jobs require more inspections. Bibeau and Planning Board Chairman Garrett Mastic suggested the changes. Many fees are not being increased.

When the board hired Duane Bibeau as Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) effective February 1, 2026, it agreed to increase his annual salary from $56,000 to $63,000 when he passed the State’s CEO’s Principles and Practices exam. Bibeau passed the exam recently so the board approved granting the salary increase. When the board hired Bibeau, it also retained its Acting CEO, Town of Plattsburgh CEO Steve Imhoff, to work a few hours weekly to assist and train him. At this meeting Bibeau told the board he currently sees Imhoff at least twice a week and talks with him three to four times daily, and while he’s passed the required exam, he doesn’t have experience with large jobs such as the Peru Fire Station upgrade project. Citing core and safety inspections, Bibeau would like to keep Imhoff on staff for 90 days. The suggested pay rate is $750 per week. Counselor Melvin Irwin said this is the first time he’s heard about this idea and asked if Imhoff could be employed on a per diem basis rather than a flat weekly rate. Irwin motioned that the issue be tabled; the board approved. (Counselor Kregg Bruno was not present at this meeting.)

At its last meeting, the board tabled a resolution to purchase a $5,700 roadside sign for the town’s Route 22 disc golf course pending a determination if the town could seek sponsors. At this meeting, Supervisor Craig Randall said there is sufficient money in this year’s budge to pay for the sign. The board voted to purchase the sign from Signs Now with the possibility of getting sponsors and donors next year. Located near a dip in the highway, the course’s entrance road is very difficult to see. Drivers sometimes stop quickly, resulting in what some people regard as a traffic hazard.

The board also: 

Approved three work change directives requested by Murnane Building Contractors related to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.

Approved hiring a diver to inspect and remove sediment at the town’s Cross Street and Reservoir Road water tanks for $8.700. 

Approved transferring funds from general savings to pay Luck Brothers for work performed at the Telegraph Road Dry Mill Brook project.  

In other business: 

Counselors Irwin and Rick Barber said five paintings will soon be installed in the window casings at Hayworth-Park’s historic stone building, completing the goal of filling all the window casings.  

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that work on Lyon’s Road 17-foot box culvert is underway. Earlier in the week, Farrell published a notice stating that the road would be closed from July 21 to approximately September 21. Residents have access from Rock Road and South Junction Road. 

Farrell received a complaint that snow plows are pushing sand and salt through the Peasleeville Cemetery fence, damaging gravestones. Farrell reported the situation to Clinton County Highway,  which is responsible for the road. 

Farrell is anxiously awaiting the salt prices that are expected on July 29. 

The Lapham Mills Road paving will exhaust Peru’s 2026 paving budget, so that will be the last road paved this year. The project’s flaggers encountered lawless and rude drivers. One driver sped through the work zone at very high speed and ignored flaggers on at least one other occasion. Other motorists raised a middle finger to the flaggers. Farrell said he told the men, “All I need is a license number!” 

Historian Helen Nerska said 14 people participated in the July 18 Peasleeville History Tour. On July 20, Nerska participated in the Battle of Valcour Bay cannon fragment unveiling at the Peru Dock. On August 15, her office will host an Open House at the Lyons Street School. The school’s interior will be set up with desks and other early 20th-century schoolhouse memorabilia. 

Recreation Director Kristen Marino said the baseball-softball season is done. Basketball is underway, as is tennis, pickleball, and arts and crafts. Soccer registration is underway with 201 youth registering, including 81 peewees, 72 mites, and 41 mini-mites.  With numbers that large, Marino is looking for a soccer program assistant.  

CEO Duane Bibeau reported that three new residential structures are underway and four more are pending. 

Click here to view the Peru Gazette’s Meeting Video.