The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board conducted its regular business meeting on Monday, January 11, 2010 following the annual Organizational Meeting. The highlight of the meeting was the recognition of Lisa Gonyo for her service as Chairperson of the Peru Youth Commission. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko thanked Lisa for her dedicated service and presented her with a “Key to the Town.” Gonyo served on the Youth Commission for twelve years.  She will be succeeded by Greg Mills. 

Town department heads submitted their monthly reports which will be posted on the town website.  Town Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said the recent fire at the Dannemora Town Highway Garage has caused him to consider proposing the purchase of a fire-security alarm system for the Peru garage. Greg Timmons is interested in an alarm system for the Water and Sewer Department Building. A system for the Town Hall will also be investigated.

The Peru Town Board conducted its 2010 Organizational Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2010.  In approximately twenty minutes the Board approved the required official salaries/appointments for the year. The appointments included the naming of Counselor Brandy McDonald as Deputy Supervisor. Supervisor Peter Glushko stated that Town Law gives the Town Supervisor the authority to name the Deputy Supervisor and McDonald was his choice for the position. Cortland Forrence had resigned effective January 11th stating that he believed that a sitting member of the Town Board should hold the position. Greg Mills was appointed to succeed Lisa Gonyo as Chairperson of the Youth Commission. At the conclusion of the meeting Counselor Kregg Bruno said he wanted the people of Peru to know that Republicans and Democrats on the Board had just worked together without any arguments in a bipartisan manner. He thought they had set a good example for Albany political leaders.

Organization Meeting approved items with the exception of the items with an *: Read more »

By John T. Ryan

Peru fire fighters have chosen Brian Westover as their Chief. Westover was elected on December 5^th and took over leadership of the Department on January 5th.  He succeeds Chad Frechette who served as Chief for the past three years.  Westover, a Westport native, was a member of that community’s department for eight years.  He moved to Peru ten years ago and joined the Peru Department. Westover and his wife Christine have two children, Ian (5) and Alexandria (8).  Asked about his goals for the Department Westover said, “As Chief I hope to keep the department growing and meeting the ever changing needs of the community.” Westover serves his community twenty-four hours a day. He is employed as an Emergency Medical Technician at the CVPH Medical Center.

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING January 11, 2009 7:00 PM Read more »

The Post Star reports 

The Post-Standard reports

The adirondack almanack reports  (Great Story)

 Click here for agenda of School Board’s January 12, 2010 meeting

The Clinton County Health Department will be offering an H1N1 vaccination clinic for Clinton County residents. The H1N1 vaccine is FREE of charge for all residents on Thursday, January 14, 2010 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. It is being held at the South Plattsburgh Fire Station (Route 22 and Northway Exit 36). Read more »

The Press Republican reports 

The Times Union reports

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The adirondack almanack reports

AGENDA PERU ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Wednesday January 20, 2010 7:00 p.m. Peru Town Hall Read more »

 AGENDA PERU PLANNING BOARD  Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Peru Town Hall

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“The Peru Community Church is hosting a Talent Show to benefit the local Food Shelf this Friday, January 8th at 7:30 at the Fellowship Center.  Admission is a “free-will” monetary donation or non-perishable food item.  A beautiful handmade quilt will be available for raffle and great local musical talent will entertain you.  Come in from the cold and join us for an evening of fun!  Please call Carla Brassard at 643-9402 if you have any questions.” 

By John T. Ryan

News articles published today included recommendations from a report issued by the Empire Center for New York Policy recommending several cutbacks in New York State government programs. Here is the text of that report.

The New York Observer reports

The adirondack almanack reports

By John T. Ryan

Most taxpayers undoubtedly received their 2010 County and Town tax bills in today’s mail. The only significant increase in tax levies appeared to be in water districts #1 and #2 where the levies increased by 36% and that is related to financing capital improvements made to the water plant. The complete Town of Peru 2010 budget is available for review on the town’s website. (Click here for a direct link)

The Press Republican reports

By John T. Ryan 

Clinton County sales of existing single-family home continued their strong rebound in November with a 108% increase compared to November 2008. Clinton County’s increase in New York State was the third highest increase reported by the NYS Association of Realtors (NYSAR). Fifty-two homes were sold in the county compared to twenty-five last year. Median home prices increased from $115,000 to $125,000 or back to 2007 levels. NYSAR said the sales rebound returned real estate sales to more normal levels. They credited the federal first-time homebuyer tax credit with driving the housing market.

Here are the sales statistics for Clinton, Essex, Jefferson and Warren Counties: 

Richard Williams, Vice Chair of the Town of Peru Planning Board, called the meeting of Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 7:02 pm, to order.

Read more »

Walter Russell, Chair of the Town of Peru Zoning Board of Appeals, called the meeting of November 18, 2009 to order at 7:03 p.m. 

Read more »

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board completed its 2009 business at an 8 a.m. December 31^st Special Meeting at the Peru Town Hall.  Supervisor Peter Glushko and Counselors Brandy McDonald and Jim Douglass were present. Counselors Tom Powers and Kregg Bruno were absent. End of year fund transfers were quickly approved and thirty bills approved for payment. 

Supervisor Peter Glushko took advantage of Cortland Forrence’s presence to give the Deputy Supervisor a “Key to the Town of Peru.” Glushko said, “We owe Cortland for the pro-bono work he did for the insurance change and all his work on the budget. It’s good to see we have citizens willing to do things like this for the good of the town.”  Forrence became Deputy Supervisor in September 2009 at a time when the supervisor’s position was vacant and the budgeting process needed to move forward.  In November the town was notified that it faced a 35% increase in health increase rates. Forrence worked with the board to find an alternative insurance program resulting in no rate increase.

After expressing his thanks to the Board for the award Forrence said he had come to the meeting to discuss the town’s health insurance buy-out program.  He said the Town Board had discussed raising the town’s employee buy-out (currently at $2,000) for several years and had not taken action. An employee can take advantage of the buy-out if they are eligible for the town’s health insurance and chooses to not take the insurance. This usually happens when an employee’s spouse has better coverage through his or her place of employment. Five employees currently take advantage of the buy-out program. Forrence said he was concerned that if the buy-out amount is not increased more employees will choose the town’s health insurance program at a cost to the town of approximately $11,000 per employee for family coverage. Counselor Brandy McDonald said he has checked with other communities and they offer significantly higher buy-out amounts.  He said Beekmantown offers a $3,500 buy-out and is in the process of increasing it to $4,000.  After discussion the Board voted 3-0 to increase the 2009 buy-out from $2,000 to $2,500 pending review by legal counsel.  A possible increase in 2010 will be discussed at future meetings.

Supervisor Glushko noted the favorable comments residents have made about the town plowing hamlet sidewalks. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that the plow borrowed from the Town of Ausable has a broken part and that the part is no longer manufactured. He hopes to have the part welded before the next snow storm.

Supervisor Glushko concluded the meeting by wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

The meeting adjourned at about 8:45 a.m.