Highlights of the Monday, February 13, 2023 Peru Town Board Meeting
Road dispute on the Connors Rd.
Four apply for Recreation Director position
Planned road paving may be cut back
Culvert replacement is expensive
And More
By John T. Ryan
John Helmer addressed the board regarding the Davis Pond Rd. that borders his Connors Road property. Helmer wanted to know if the Davis Pond Rd. was a town or private road and if he has the right to block the road to snowmobiles and vehicular traffic. Helmer contends Clinton County maps indicate that it is a town road connecting Connors Rd. and Campsite Rd. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said the town abandoned the road many years ago and that County maps may not reflect the change. Town officials will discuss Mr. Helmer’s concerns and have an answer by the board’s next meeting. They told Helmer they believe he has not right to block the road as he has done in the past. There are other property owners adjacent to the road.
Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said the NYS highway improvement (CHIPS) monies might not increase this year, meaning paving would have to be reduced by about 25% because of increased costs.
Strict U.S. Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers regulations require that the town install an expensive box culvert on Cook Rd. The rules involve fish being able to swim through road culverts. Unfortunately, the less expensive metal culverts do not comply with regulations. The expensive culvert will serve just one home.
The Highway Department ordered a new plow truck in November 2021, fifteen months ago. Delivery should happen in March. Farrell said the same truck if ordered today, would cost about $80,000 more.
One of the Highway Department’s snow plows recently encountered severe ice on Patent Road hill leading to St. Patrick Oratory, resulting in its sliding backward down the hill. Fortunately, the experienced driver maintained control with no truck damage. However, Farrell reacted by ordering several new studded tires. a new plow truck tire costs $800. About three years ago, a Peru plow truck sustained severe damage when it tipped on its side on the same hill. The driver was not injured.
Four individuals applied for the permanent Recreation Director position. Town Attorney Matt Favro suggested that the board include three or four members of the general public in the selection process. The board may conduct interviews before its February 26 regular meeting.
The Peru Town Market will start an hour earlier than last year and end an hour earlier. The market requested and received permission to use Heyworth-Mason Park this year.
Interim Recreation Director Kristen Marino reported that winter basketball is going exceptionally well and that planning is underway for summer programs.
Town Historian Helen Allen Nerska hopes to set up history displays at the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum and the Peru Free Library. Nerska also thanked Dog Control Officer T’Chaka Sikelianos for his help in cleaning and organizing the historian’s storage room.
The 2023 town budget includes $80,000 for the Peru Free Library. The board amended the budget to include $5,000 in extra funding contingent on the library’s receiving a $5,000 grant from another party.
The board authorized a final payment to Rifenburg Construction of $226,721.06 for phase #1 of the hamlet’s sewer line upgrade project. A February 15 phone conference will hopefully determine when the project can be officially closed out and total construction, engineering, and borrowing costs calculated.
Posted: February 15th, 2023 under Highway Dept. News, Peru News, Town Board News.
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