The Peru Gazette

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, December 4, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.

All blood collected is utilized in our local trl-county region. What a great Christmas Gift for your neighbors – life-saving blood.

The blood drive is coordinated by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273.

Program protects dairy farmers when cost of feed narrows profit margin

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Peru, Ny Nov. 18, 2023 – The Nighthawk football team gathered in the Middle School cafeteria to enjoy a hearty breakfast before departing to the Class B Quarterfinals in Mechanicville. Several local restaurants and businesses provided the food. Cheerleaders, family members, friends and community members were on hand to wish the team success.

Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Cashman, “With immense pride, we commemorate the completion of Phase I at the Battlefield Memorial Gateway.”

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The Advancing Success in Associate Pathways program also raises graduation rates for first-time students

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Beta also has a facility in Plattsburgh 

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1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Special Meeting to Adopt Budget and Special Meeting to Accept the Relevy List of November 14, 2023 and Regular Meeting of November 6, 2023.

5. MOTION:   Acceptance of the Youth Report for October.

6. Community Input.

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   To Amend Employee Handbook.

8. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Posting of 2024 Tax Notice and Hours. 

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   To Approve the Purchase and Implementation of New Edmunds Payroll and H/R  Software Due to Support Ending.

10. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

11. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay November 2023 Bills.

13. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

14. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

15. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

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First time in a decade year-to-year total system-wide enrollment increased

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Major funding announced to support Rouses Point and Trout River crossings

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Proceeds will support Thera-Pets work with special-needs kids

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Peru Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Michael Langlois with the jackets and boots the Knights brought to Peru Elementary School

Peru, November 14, 2023 – St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 presented fifteen new children’s winter coats to Peru’s primary and intermediate schools, plus several pairs of boys’ and girls’ boots. Intermediate School Nurse Kathy Bedard thanked the Knights, stating, “We already know kids who need coats. Thank you so much for doing this each year.” 

Since 2013, the Peru Knights have donated 253 new children’s winter jackets to the Peru Elementary School. The Knights of Columbus Councils in the United States and Canada have distributed over 1 million new winter coats for children since the Coats For Kids program’s inception in 2009. 

By John T Ryan 

Peru, NY November 14 Special Town Board Meeting – The Peru Town Board approved the town’s $5.3 million 2024 budget. After multiple workshops, the board stayed under the state-mandated 2% tax cap. Its most significant challenge was dealing with projected Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance cost increases ranging from 26% to 29%. It reacted by changing providers. MVP will be the town’s new healthcare provider. Pay increases related to the rising cost of living and employee retention also had to be determined. The board settled on a 5% across-the-board increase. Unless a property’s assessed value increases by 15 to 20% (or more), people’s 2024 town tax burden should be relatively stable. 

2024 Tax Rates per thousand dollars of taxable value 

• Town General – $1.636 
• Town Highway – $1.783
• Town Water, #1,#2,#3 – $1.12
• Town Sewer #1 – $2.07 
• Valcour Sewer #1 – $.332
• Valcour Sewer #2- $.332 

2023 Tax Rates 

• Town General – $1.756
• Town Highway – $2.239
• Town Water, #1,#2,#3 – $1.038
• Town Sewer #1 – $2.304
• Valcour Sewer #1 – $.296
• Valcour Sewer #2- $.534

The General Budget totals $1,943,895. Primary revenue sources include property taxes – $1,046,475, sales taxes – $60,000, cable TV franchise fees – $77,750, fines, forfeited bail – $85,000, NYS mortgage tax – $80,950, and a 2023 fund balance totaling $490,184. Expenses include items such as the town board & town supervisor, town clerk, planning, zoning, data processing, town court, assessment, park maintenance, dog control, and highway department management salaries. Sales tax income is tough to budget. Clinton County doesn’t notify the towns if or how much sales tax money they will receive until late in the calendar year. Peru’s amount received ranged from $0 in 2020, $325,143 in 2021 to $620,650 in 2022. The amount the town will receive in 2023 is unknown. 

The highway department’s $1,956,032 primary budgeted expenses are paving – $404,795, general repairs – $159,303, machinery – $583,060, and snow removal – $354,221. Its primary revenue sources are real property taxes – $1,140,197, services to other governments – $133,285, sales of gas & diesel fuel – $273,863, and NYS Consolidates Local Street and Highway Improvement Program monies (CHIPS) – $404,795. The other government income relates to payment from Clinton County for plowing 30 miles of its highways. The fuel sales revenue is related to sales to Peru Central School and other town departments.

November 15, 2023 – Peru, NY Shoppers walking between Kinney Drugs and Aubuchon Hardware will have a better experience in a few days. Mossbrook Landscaping is installing a new sidewalk between the stores. The work should be completed sometime next week.

November 15, 2023 – Peru is preparing for the Holiday Season. Today, town parks/water/sewer personnel are busy erecting holiday banners along Main St. Luke Fessette (Santa) and Chris Martineau are on the lift and Matt Hauser is helping out on the ground.

Anyone with information is asked to call State Police

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Press-Republican story 

Click here for the Press-Republican story 

View from the Jabex Allen Rd.

View from the Route 9 – Jabez Allen Rd. Intersection

Peru, November 14, 2023 – Route 9 Carpenter’s Flat Bridge construction is moving toward completion. Luck Bros. Project Manager Walter Tupper said December 5 is the target reopening date. Luck Bro. raised the bridge 3.5 feet and rebuilt the existing pedestals. It’s currently at road level but supported by temporary supports.

November 13, 2023 — Stewart’s Shops Corp. is closing its store at the corner of Manning Boulevard and Central Avenue in Albany following a surge in theft, robberies and threats of violence that have created an unsafe environment for our customers and our partners who work there. This unfortunate decision is driven by the need to ensure the safety of everyone who steps inside a Stewart’s. The decision was made as similar dynamics are prompting a growing number of national retailers to shut down stores in cities across the country.

“We pride ourselves on being part of the fabric of the communities we serve, and we worked closely with Albany Police and City of Albany officials in attempt to resolve concerns at our Manning Boulevard shop,” said Stewart’s Shops president Gary Dake. “The safety of our partners and loyal customers remains an issue at this location.” Over the past two years, the number and severity of incidents at the Manning Boulevard shop have increased, ranging from robberies and theft to verbal and physical assaults. This has created an unsustainable business environment. This has not been the case at our shops on Henry Johnson Boulevard, New Scotland Avenue, Northern Boulevard and Western Avenue. Stewart’s is continuing to look for opportunities to expand our presence in the city.

The Manning Boulevard shop will close on Nov. 16. Our partners at this location have been offered positions at other Stewart’s Shops. We thank our customers for their patronage and encourage them to shop at our other locations at 204 Henry Johnson Blvd. in Albany and nearby 19 Fuller Road in Colonie.