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The “I HAVE A DREAM” Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration on January 16, 2023, at St. John XXXIII Newman Center began with a prelude by the MLK Singers. Town of Plattsburgh Michael Cashman was the Master of Ceremonies. Janice Tobin read excerpts from Dr. King’s “I HAVE A DREAM speech. Ms. Allison Heard, Vice-President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SUNY Plattsburgh, was the guest speaker. Assemblyman Billy Jones and the City of Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquist spoke briefly. Beautiful songs were sung by the MLK Singers, Andrea Ogle, Desiree Terrell & Mrs. Bobbi Criss, and the Plattsburgh High School Select Vocal Ensemble directed by Bill Verity.
Peru – The Peru Town Board held a regular meeting on Monday, January 9, 2023, immediately following its annual organizational meeting. Supervisor Brandy McDonald and Councilman Melvin Irwin were excused.
Highway Superintendent Farrell projects $73,000 in salt savings this year thanks to his department’s salt reduction program. He said a truck uses only 106 pounds of salt per road mile utilizing a salt slurry vs. a much higher cost for a salt-sand mixture. Farrell also said not using sand should save approximately $560 in sand costs each time the town’s seven trucks cover 100+ miles. Farrell believes more local communities will adopt the new system once they see Peru’s success.
Town Clerk/Tax Collector Dianne Miller reported that the town is saving approximately $1,000 annually in postage costs by utilizing a postage meter vs. postage stamps.
The board denied Luck Brothers’ request for a $6,936.02 payment related to the recently completed Elm Street Sewer upgrade project. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said it was his understanding that Luck Brothers incurred higher than expected asphalt costs; however, Farrell noted that contractors usually include potential material cost increases when bidding on a project. All the board members felt that Luck Brother bid a specific amount and that the town should pay that amount and no more. Therefore, the board took no action on the request.
The board reappointed board chairpersons and vice-chairpersons:
Planning Board – Chairman Richard Williams, Vice-Chairman – Ryan Davies
Zoning Board – Chairman James Falvo, Vice-Chairman Sean Lukas
Following a brief executive session, the board voted to set the Recreation Director’s salary at $18,000.
Proceeds benefit Cardiology patients across the region
PLATTSBURGH, NY (1/13/2023) – The Foundation of Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is asking businesses and residents across the North Country to wear red and be one step ahead of cardiovascular disease.
National Wear Red Day activities are happening across the country on February 3. The Foundation is joining the effort to raise awareness and funds in support of cardiology patients and those at risk for heart attack or stroke in the region.
“Who will you wear red for? Heart disease is the number one killer of women, taking away 500,000 lives nationally each year. Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by heart disease, from loved ones to co-workers, friends and neighbors. Together, we can do something about it and make a difference for thousands of people right here in our community,” Foundation of CVPH Events and Special Projects Manager Michelle Senecal offered.
Senecal said The Foundation is hoping people across northern New York will show their support on February 3 by wearing red and donating $5. It is also offering a “Stepping out for Your Heart” pin for $10. Individuals can donate by visiting UVMHealth.org/CVPHHeart. Businesses interested in participating or getting more information can contact Senecal at (518) 314-3359 or email her at msenecal@cvph.org. Money raised through this National Wear Red Day event will benefit the CVPH Heart Center and directly impact the care of cardiology patients in the North Country.
In the past year, generous Foundation supporters have helped bring a new monitor to the hospital’s Alice T. Miner Women and Children’s Center that tracks cardiac rhythms in infants. Donations have also supported the purchases of these items:
Additional 4-day Holter Recorders, which decrease the wait times for patients requiring cardiac rhythm tracking.
A new EKG machine.
Home sleep study kits.
“Our donors have such a tremendous impact on the health of the community, helping us touch thousands of lives each year,” Senecal added. “With 100 percent of the funds raised staying right here in the North Country, every dollar given truly matters. And those $5 gifts add up quickly when you have a lot of people contributing. Every donation counts, and our staff are incredibly grateful for the support they receive because they know the difference it makes for their patients.”
The Peru Town Board conducted its annual organizational meeting on Monday, January 9, 2023, before its regular meeting.
The board passed resolutions for the following: Salaries for Elected Positions,Appointees, Appointee salaries and frequency of payments,Department Liaisons, Regular Meeting dates and times, Mileage Reimbursement Rate, Town Depositories, Town Newspaper, and Town Procurement Policy.Click here to view the resolutions.
The Town of Peru is seeking a Part-time Recreation Director at $18,000 per year.Please see the attached job description and requirements.The attached application (or pick up at the Town Hall) must be fully filled out and returned to secretary@perutown.com or dropped off at the Peru Town Hall to Pamela Barber. Applications must be at the Town Hall no later than February 4, 2023.
Prekindergarten registration is now open! Applications are due by April 1, 2023, at 3 pm. Students must be four on or before December 1, 2023, to qualify for our Pre-K program.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that online registration for the 2023 Summer Camps program will open Sunday, April 2, 2023, at 1 p.m. Applications should be submitted through the online registration program available through a link from the Summer Camps website. Parents and guardians are also advised to monitor this site to complete registration forms and are encouraged to register early since spaces fill up quickly.
“DEC’s Summer Camps program has a long tradition of introducing youth to the outdoors through fun, hands-on, minds-on activities that create life-long connections to nature,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Our camps provide increasingly rare opportunities for children to unplug and immerse themselves in the natural world. Kids at DEC Summer Camps are guided by highly qualified staff in hiking, canoeing, and overnight camping adventures each week.”
Now in its 76th year, the Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11-17. DEC operates four residential camps for children: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor (Sullivan County); Camp Rushford in Caneadea (Allegany County), and Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg (Warren County). Opening specific camps is dependent on staff availability.
Camp capacities will be reduced again this next year to provide the safest experience possible. Read more »
January 12, 2023 – Property tax levy growth for school districts and the state’s biggest cities will be capped at 2%, the same as last year, according to data released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The tax cap, which first applied to local governments and school districts in 2012, limits annual tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2% with certain exceptions, including a provision that allows school districts to override the cap with 60% voter approval of their budget. DiNapoli’s office calculated the inflation factor at 8% for those with a June 30, 2024 fiscal year end.
“School and local communities are still navigating the post-pandemic needs of their students and residents while dealing with high rates of inflation and employee turnover,” DiNapoli said. “School district and municipal officials must exercise fiscal prudence to stay under the cap amid these challenges as they prepare their budgets.”
The 2% allowable levy growth affects the tax cap calculations for 676 school districts and 10 cities with fiscal years starting July 1, 2023, including the “Big Four” cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.
Track state and local government spending at Open Book New York. Under State Comptroller DiNapoli’s open data initiative, search millions of state and local government financial records, track state contracts, and find commonly requested data.
