The Peru Gazette

Source: A rural approach to affordable housing – Adirondack Explorer

From the office of NYS Comptroller DiNapoli

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that, as result of recent shareholder proposals he has filed on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund), companies are taking action to address investment risks posed by climate change and impacts of environmental justice.

“The climate emergency presents enormous risks and opportunities for investors, but corporate America has to step up, adapt and address the challenges they’re facing,” DiNapoli said. “As the state pension fund’s trustee, it’s my responsibility to protect and strengthen our investments. Making sure our investments—and the retirement security of our 1.1 million members, retirees and beneficiaries—are protected from the impact of climate change is a top priority.”

The Fund engages with portfolio companies on a range of issues to address investment risks and opportunities, including climate issues. It encourages companies to adopt robust climate policies, practices, and disclosures. Shareholder proposals can be an effective way to directly communicate with portfolio companies, their boards and fellow shareholders about transitioning to the low-carbon economy and protecting shareholder value. When filing a shareholder proposal, the Fund seeks a productive dialogue with the company. If the company agrees to implement the proposal’s request, it is withdrawn by the Fund.

Climate Risk Shareholder Proposals in 2022 Read more »

Source: Plattsburgh artist with national ties featured in next Strand exhibit | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | The Strand Center for the Arts will soon host “The New Surreal,” artwork created by artist, Alex Reiter, in the Main Gallery.

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Source: Heavy snow in the North Country damages powerlines, downs trees | NCPR News

Assemblyman Billy Jones: Over $9 million in state funding coming to Assembly District 115 for water infrastructure projects

“North Country towns and municipalities are working hard to ensure that all North Country residents have access to clean water, but they need state support to make necessary repairs to the infrastructure. Today the awardees of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grants were announced, and it is great news that over $9 million will be coming to the North Country to assist local governments for water projects. More funding will continue to come to our region as a result of the enacted budget that allocated $5oo million in clean water infrastructure funding on top of $400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund. It’s important to me to protect our natural resources and our waterways and I will continue to advocate for more funding for water infrastructure to protect the North Country and the Adirondack regions for generations to come.”

By John T. Ryan

Residents John Ryan and Alex Gibson addressed the board during the community input section of the April 11, 20022 Peru Town Board meeting. 

John Ryan (Peru Gazette Editor) addressed the board on two issues: Attracting new residents and zoning law enforcement related to two abandoned, deteriorating homes. 

Ryan expressed his belief that Peru is competing with the Town of Plattsburgh to attract new residents and growing families. Both communities offer all the services people seek. Peru is currently upgrading its sewer system, in part, to accommodate future growth; however, the expansion is being financed by long-term borrowing, making an expanding tax base essential. 

Peru’s population declined 3.1%, from 6,990 (2010) to 6,772 (2020), while the Town of Plattsburgh held steady at 11, 870 (2010) vs, 11,896 (2020). 

Ryan gave the counselors handouts stating the following:  

• In 2020 Peru issued eighteen single-family residential building permits 
• In 2020 Plattsburgh issued twenty-two similar permits 
• In 2021 Peru issued eight single-family residential permits (-55.5%)
• In 2021 Plattsburgh issued twenty single-family permits (-9%), plus multiple affordable housing permits. 

Most children residing in the Town of Plattsburgh attend schools in either Peru, Beekmantown, or Saranac. 

Over the past four years:

Beekmantown Central School District K-12 enrollment increased 2.1%, from 1,871 to 1,910. 

Saranac School District enrollment has held steady at about 1,422 and 1,423. 

Peru Central School District enrollment decreased by 5.6%, from 1,877 to 1,772. 

Ryan noted that Peru’s subdivision growth is at a virtual standstill, especially at Orchard View (Washington Street). Ryan asked the board to be proactive in reaching out to new developers and to encourage current developers. He asked the board to research if affordable housing would be a good match for Peru. Many workers in our region’s growing industries might qualify for affordable housing. Today’s affordable housing is attractive and could be a community asset. Zoning-Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup commented that not long ago the town changed the zoning classification of a property adjacent to the Dashnaw Road in hopes of encouraging residential development. Guynup said that a group that is meeting to discuss changes in the zoning law might discuss affordable housing. Counselor Kregg Bruno said he has spoken to Mark Hamilton, who heads affordable housing in the City of Plattsburgh, about affordable housing. Bruno plans to continue that conversation. 

Ryan also discussed the deteriorating homes on School Street and North Bend Street presenting photos of the properties to the counselors. Bob Guynup stated that he issued a citation to the School Street property owner; however, the property owner failed to appear in Peru Town Court. Supervisor Brandy McDonald said the Peru Town Court gave the town a copy of a letter from the NYS Office of Court Administration advising that the Court should not issue arrest warrants for misdemeanor charges. Ryan said he consulted a local attorney who believed that the town could directly petition the NYS Supreme Court on zoning enforcement issues. 

Supervisor McDonald stated some time ago an asbestos assessment firm examined the North Bend Street home and deemed the building in such disrepair that it would be treated as all asbestos meaning It would cost approximately $30,000 for monitoring the asbestos removal and disposal. Ryan said it might be worth $30,000 to get rid of the situation. Michael Farrell interjected that he would be very concerned about setting a precedent. Counselors Kregg Bruno and Rick Barber cited similar situations in other towns where buildings have been deteriorating for many years. Ryan urged the counselors to continue researching remedies to the problem.  

Alex Gibson, who owns property at the dead-end of McGarr Road in West Peru, addressed the board. Gibson is concerned about Peru Highway Department’s truck turnaround area, which he believes is on his property. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said town snowplows had used the turnaround area since the early 1980s. Gibson said he wants to reach an amicable settlement with the town. The board referred the matter to Town Attorney Matt Favro for his opinion. 

In other town news:

The board is scheduling ten Sunday evening concerts at Heyworth-Mason Park beginning June 26 through August 28th, 6 to 8 p.m.

Mike Farrell plans to introduce a road salt reduction program next winter. Salt reduction reduces groundwater, stream, and lake contamination. Farrell recently visited Lake George and Hague, which have implemented the program. Now, he’s a believer commenting, “It works!” Hague reduced its salt usage from 400 tons to 150 tons per lane mile and might be able to go to 100 tons. Farrell cautioned that the equipment needed to start the program would be expensive; however, he’s confident that savings would be considerable over time. 

The board accepted Luck Brothers’ $1,257,000 bid to construct culvert wing walls at the intersection of Telegraph and Sullivan Roads. However, it does not include the needed 185 ft. long box culvert. Luck Brothers was the only bidder. 

The board also accepted Luck Brothers $1,000,505 bid for the Elm Street portion/or phase #2 of the sewer line upgrade project. Once again, Luck Brothers was the only bidder. Rifenburg Construction should complete phase #1 soon. The Maiden Lane pump station is online and the Sanborn Lane pump station will soon be online. 

The Peru Lions Club is organizing an April 23rd community-wide cleanup connected with Earth Day and the United Way’s Day of Caring Day. Casella Sanitation is donating bags and equipment for roadside pickup. (The Peru Gazette plans to publish a future story on the cleanup plans)

Councilman Melvin Irwin, the board’s Youth Commission liaison, has been working on improving the grounds at Sullivan Park. Irwin thanked Adirondack Farms for contributing “natural” fertilizer and said grass seeding would occur very soon.

Source: Dannemora escapee David Sweat on hunger strike; official seeks to force feed – syracuse.com

The state Department of Health (DOH) made $965 million in payments to providers, including facilities, for services ordered, prescribed, referred, and attended by practitioners who were not enrolled in the health care program, including those who had been barred due to misconduct, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Two other audits released today found an additional $17 million in overpayments.

“Medicaid is a critically important program, but its payment system is rife with errors,” DiNapoli said. “My auditors found the system was allowing payments on claims involving providers who were not certified to treat Medicaid patients. This not only costs taxpayers, but also allows providers who should be excluded, and may be unqualified, to treat patients. DOH must improve its efforts to fix the shortcomings with its billing system.”

The New York State Medicaid program provides a wide range of medical services to low-income New Yorkers or to those who have special health care needs. For the state Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2021, New York’s Medicaid program had approximately 7.3 million recipients and Medicaid claim costs totaled $68.1 billion.

Auditors found eMedNY, DOH’s Medicaid claims processing system, allowed improper payments for services involving ordering, prescribing, referring, and attending providers who were no longer actively enrolled in the Medicaid program at the time of the service. The improper payments included $5.8 million for services involving providers who were excluded from participating in Medicaid due to past improper behavior or wrongdoing.

The audit covered the period of January 2015 to December 2019. DiNapoli noted DOH made changes to eMedNY in February 2018 which led to a significant drop in the amount of improper payments. However, for the period March 2018 through December 2019, auditors still identified about $45.6 million in claim payments for 135,476 services by ineligible providers.

DiNapoli’s auditors noted that when inactive providers are included on Medicaid claims, DOH lacks assurance those providers can furnish such services, and it increases the risk that excluded, or otherwise unqualified, providers are treating Medicaid enrollees.

DiNapoli recommended DOH:

• Review the $965 million in payments for Medicaid claims involving inactive providers and determine an appropriate course of action;
• Enhance controls to prevent improper Medicaid payments for claims that do not report an active provider; and
• Update guidelines to clarify billing requirements.

Department officials generally agreed with most of the audit recommendations and indicated that certain actions have been and will be taken to address them. DOH’s full response is included in the audit.

A second audit found that from January 2016 through December 2020, DOH potentially overpaid $9.6 million for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies that likely should have been provided by nursing homes as part of the daily all-inclusive rate paid to those facilities.

A third audit covering Medicaid claims processing for the six months ended March 31, 2021 found nearly $7.4 million in improper Medicaid payments, including $3.3 million paid for fee-for-service inpatient claims that should have been paid by managed care or that were also reimbursed by managed care, and $1.5 million paid for inpatient claims that were billed at a higher level of care than what was actually provided. Auditors contacted providers and by the end of the audit fieldwork, about $5.6 million of the improper payments had been recovered.

Audits

Medicaid Program: Improper Payments for Services Related to Ordering, Prescribing, Referring, or Attending Providers No Longer Participating in the Medicaid Program.

Medicaid Program: Improper Medicaid Managed Care Payments for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies on Behalf of Recipients in Nursing Homes.

Medicaid Program: Claims Processing Activity October 1, 2020 Through March 31, 2021.

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April 19, 2022 – 7 a.m., Peru, NY 

Click here to review the minutes.

357 AM EDT Mon Apr 18 2022

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM
EDT TUESDAY…

* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10
inches. Higher amounts are likely for mountain summits.

* WHERE…Western Clinton and Western Essex Counties in New York.

* WHEN…From 11 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour
are expected during the overnight hours.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Please allow extra time if travel is necessary.

The clean-up will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on April 22, 2022, with registration opening at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the Wilmington Town Beach at Lake Everest for the Wilmington event, or the parking lot on the corner of NY-9 and Bear Swamp Road for the Au Sable Point event. For more information, visit the Ausable River Association website: https://www.ausableriver.org/events/earth-month-ausable-river-cleanup.

WILMINGTON, NY — The Ausable River Association (AsRA) and three regional Rotary Clubs are partnering to host an Ausable River cleanup on Saturday, April 23. This year, The Rotary Club of the Au Sable Valley and Lake Placid Rotary Club will focus on roadways and riverbanks in the Lake Placid, Wilmington, Jay, Upper Jay, and Keene Communities. The Plattsburgh Rotary Club is hosting a simultaneous cleanup event in and around Ausable Point near Peru, NY.

AsRA invites all community members who want to restore and protect the beauty of the Ausable River to attend. “Last year, about 100 people joined us on a sunny Saturday to remove approximately 2,000 pounds of trash along Route 86, 9N, River Road, and other locations” said Tyler Merriam, Donor Outreach Manager at AsRA. “We’re thrilled to partner with more organizations this year and offer a second cleanup location lead by the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh.”

The clean-up will take place along the roadside in an effort to remove trash built up over the winter. The West Branch portion will cover the roadside from Wilmington to the Ski Jumps in Lake Placid. The East Branch portion will cover the roadside from the hamlet of Jay to the hamlet of Keene. AsRA has added additional sections of road to the cleanup plan this year to accommodate feedback from last year’s participants and other community groups.

Joining AsRA and Rotary Clubs this year are additional sponsors of the Wilmington event location. One Tree Planted, an international environmental organization, is providing financial and logistical support for the event. NRS, an international outdoor equipment business with a strong regional presence, is providing lunch for all cleanup volunteers. Revo, an international sunglasses company, is donating several pairs of sunglasses as a door prize raffle for cleanup volunteers. Several local municipalities and individuals have also joined in the effort by picking up trash, disposing of waste free of charge, and providing other services that will make the event run smoothly.

“The clean-up is intended to engage the community in protecting and restoring the Ausable River and its watershed,” said Liz Metzger, Research Associate and event coordinator at AsRA. “The Ausable River faces many challenges, including climate change, road salt pollution, invasive species, undersized culverts, and bank erosion. Clean-up participants will be improving the health of the river and allowing it to better manage and survive these challenges.”

The clean-up will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on April 22, 2022, with registration opening at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the Wilmington Town Beach at Lake Everest for the Wilmington event, or the parking lot on the corner of NY-9 and Bear Swamp Road for the Au Sable Point event. For more information, visit the Ausable River Association website: https://www.ausableriver.org/events/earth-month-ausable-river-cleanup.

Photo caption: Volunteers at the 2021 Earth Month Ausable River Cleanup removed 2,000 pounds of trash that would have ended up in the Ausable River. Photo provided – John DiGiacomo, Placid Times Photography.

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Posting because Syracuse is OVERCOME with very frequesnt shootings. Source: Shots, screams, partiers run: Witnesses describe Armory Square shooting that killed 1, injured 4 – syracuse.com

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St. Augustine’s Church wishes everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter. Hallelujah expresses our praise, joy and thanks on this day!

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