The Peru Gazette

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By Donald McBrayer

The Town Board held it’s regular meeting on Monday, March 14th. Everyone but the town attorney was present.

• A discussion on the Youth Meeting revealed consideration of possible cuts to the swimming and arts & crafts programs. The addition of golf, Zumba, and tennis programs are also being considered. No definite decisions have been made regarding any youth program. Counselor Kregg Bruno is replacing Counselor Brandy McDonald as liaison to the Youth Commission. Counselor Jim Douglass will remain the other liaison.

• The Board passed a motion to advertise for the full-time Codes Enforcement Officer position. The annual salary will start at $30,000, and will increase by $2000 for passing of the civil service exam, and another $2000 for certification. A committee is being formed for interviews, and will consist of the liaisons (Jim Douglass and Sue Polhemus), the Planning and Zoning Board Chairs (Richard Williams and Leon Blair), and a representative from the Comprehensive Planning Committee (yet to be named). Interviews are expected to start March 30th. The Board was asked if they had considered reverting the position back to part-time. Town Supervisor Pete Glushko said it was considered, but with the job demands, and the coming changes to zoning, it was determined best to keep it full-time.

• Resolutions to accept the deed for the Rock Road schoolhouse and placing a streetlight on Alicia Drive were unanimously passed.

• The Board also approved a logo design for the Heyworth/Mason Park signage. The logo can be viewed at: http://www.perutown.com/h-m-logo.jpg

• Minutes for February 23 and February 28 were approved and can be viewed at: http://www.perutown.com/min11.htm

• Department Reports were also submitted and can be viewed at: http://www.perutown.com/town.htm
  

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.

Peru Central School District’s exterior flags are at half-mast the rest of this week to commemorate the death of Peru CSD employee Fred Schaefer, a long-term district employee who had served in recent years as Middle School Assistant Principal. Mr. Schaefer was on long-term leave this school year, according to Peru Central Superintendent of Schools, A. Paul Scott.

Fred Schaefer’s public service at Peru Central was honorable and consistently team-oriented. He started service as a grade six classroom teacher in the fall of 1999 at our Northside Elementary School, on the former Air Base. Scott said Fred Schaefer’s instructional practices were documented as ‘models of excellent teaching’. Schaefer earned his tenure appointment as a faculty member. He was a valued colleague and a friend to dozens and dozens of Peru teachers, support staff and administrators.

Mr. Schaefer was ‘called to service’ at Peru Central and left his tenured teaching position to become an administrator at Peru Central, according to Scott. Schaefer served as Middle School Assistant Principal since fall 2006. Fred Schaefer was a valued member of the Peru administrative team, the Peru Association of Teachers and his school community.

Scott said there will be details in the news during days ahead regarding a funeral service. Fred’s family, his students, his colleagues, his Board of Education, his school district and his Superintendent will miss him.

In the days ahead, many employees at Peru Central will take a moment or two to reflect on the solid public service Fred Schaefer provided, and how he had a positive and lasting impact on the lives of children at Peru Central. He left Peru Central with an honorable and extended legacy of school work.

The Press Republican reports

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From the office of Congressman Owens

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Owens announced today that he will return more than $230,000 of his 2010 Congressional office budget to the United States Treasury to help pay down the federal deficit.  This is the second consecutive year that Owens has returned in excess of 15 percent of his annual allotment to the treasury.

“As Upstate New York families and small business owners continue to tighten their belts, so too must every member of Congress,” said Owens  “We cannot seriously talk about reducing the national debt and deficit without first operating our own offices in a fiscally responsible manner.  I am pleased to return this portion of my office budget to the treasury and plan on returning funds again next year.”

When Members of Congress produce a budget surplus by the end of a calendar year, they have the option to return the overage to the United States Treasury.  Owens’ return of more than $230,000 is consistent with his fiscally responsible voting record. Since being elected to Congress in November of 2009, Owens has twice voted against raising the debt ceiling, helped to pass the IMPROVE Act <http://owens.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=183459> , and introduced a key piece of legislation aimed at debt reduction, the War on Debt Act <http://owens.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=218978> .

This year, Owens also voted to pass H.Res 22, which reduced the 2011 office budget for every member of Congress by five percent.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

Please be advised that the NYSDOT will be closing I-87 near Peru, Exit 35 to allow for the erection of Stage 1 structural steel for the Bear Swamp Road bridge replacements per the schedule below:

Interstate 87 closure at Exit 35 on Tuesday and Thursday, March 15th and 17th.

On  Tuesday,  March 15th,  Interstate 87 South will be closed at Exit 35  between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m..  Traffic will be detoured off I-87 South at Exit 35 using the southbound exit ramp and routed back onto I-87 South via Exit 35 southbound entrance ramp.

On  Thursday,  March 17th,  Interstate 87 North will be closed at Exit 35  between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m..  Traffic will be detoured off I-87 North at Exit 35 using the northbound exit ramp and routed back onto I-87 North via Exit 35 northbound entrance ramp.

Traffic will be controlled by flaggers at both I-87/Bear Swamp Road intersections and motorists should only encounter minimal delays.

Brian Mann of NCPR comments

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The adirondack almanac reports