Highlights of the Peru Town Board’s November 22, 2021 meeting. 

This year’s Christmas Tree lighting at the Little Ausable River Park Gazebo will take place on December 10th at 7 p.m.  (originally scheduled for Dec. 3rd) The Peru Fire Department will make its traditional appearance. Noting the public’s COVID concerns, the Board has not planned the traditional activities inside the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center. 

A few weeks ago, Peru deposited $353,274.55 of its $706,550 in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds. The remainder should arrive in mid-2022. The Board plans to use the money to help pay for the state-mandated wastewater treatment plant upgrades.  (Supervisor Brandy McDonald said the CARES Act news was reported at a previous meeting.  The Peru Gazette did not attend the October 25th meeting.) 

The City of Plattsburgh loaned Peru a used large capacity sidewalk plow. If it works, Peru may purchase it.   

In other actions, the Board: 

Accepted Keith Dew’s resignation as a highway department employee with thanks for his long service to the town. Dew will retire effective January 17, 2022.

Approved hiring Jason Burl as a highway department temporary full-time motor equipment operator at a $19.75 hourly wage. Burl has a Class A driver’s license, meaning he will operate all the department’s trucks. 

Approved a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan. Clinton County, Peru, and nearby communities formulated a cooperative hazard reaction strategy. Federal regulations require hazard mitigation strategies to be eligible for any federal funds. 

Approved a three-year snow and ice removal agreement with Clinton County. Peru plows and sands 30 miles of county highways for about $136,000 annually. The agreement includes 1%, 1.5%, and 2% price annual increases, plus extra monies if fuel prices increase. 

Accepted an R R Charlebois $252,500 bid for a 2023 Model 114D Freightliner dump truck outfitted with snowplow gear. Charlebois will not deliver the vehicle for at least twelve months. 

Discussed not permitting cannabis dispensaries and on-site cannabis consumption sites in the Town of Peru. Town Attorney Matt Favro will research the definition of dispensaries and on-site consumption sites. Favro said the Board might want to permit some cannabis sales while not permitting others. He said the Board should consider if it is willing to forgo potentially significant tax revenues. 

Noted that NYS DOT approved reduced a speed limit on Valley View Drive. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said Valley View Drive is a small residential area leading off the Signor Road. It’s a loop with sharp turns, making it very difficult to speed.  

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. to discuss new legal issues. 

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Graduate students at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) are asking for public assistance in the collection of samples as part of a study for an emerging zoonotic parasite. Samples for this study consist of gastrointestinal tracts from coyotes harvested within DEC Regions 3-7, which can be shipped to SUNY ESF where they will be screened for the parasite Echinococcus spp. The parasite is a tapeworm that typically infects wild canids (foxes, coyotes) but can infect domestic animals as well as humans. The goal of this study is to identify the distribution of the parasite throughout the sampling range, so that areas of high parasite levels and infection risk can be found. More information on the project can be found at the NY Echinococcus Project webpage or by emailing Corinne Conlon.

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Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Today, Monday, November 22nd from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru. 

Your neighbors need and appreciate your donation.

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[Glens Falls, NY] – Adirondack Health Institute honored six individuals as 2021 Rural Health Champions at the 2021 North Country Leadership Summit. The annual recognition is a collaborative effort of six of the North Country’s Rural Health Networks, including the Adirondack Rural Health Network (ARHN), a program of AHI, supported with funds from the NYS Department of Health Charles D. Cook Office of Rural Health.

Since 2015, the Rural Health Networks in Northern New York ask their network partners to nominate individuals who exemplify the selfless, community-minded, can-do spirit that prevails in rural America. This year, ARHN sought to identify individuals who showed exemplary selflessness, leadership, and continued delivery of outstanding care in the community during these unprecedented times.

2021 Rural Health Champions:

Barry Brogan, North Country Behavioral Healthcare Network

An excerpt from his nomination read: “Barry has been a leader in the field of behavioral health since before behavioral health was recognized by the medical community. He has strong skills as a collaborator and facilitator, helping Network members find common ground and shared strategic direction. A strong advocate, Barry has been a leader for advocacy in both Albany and Washington. He understands how government policies are developed and help both NCBHN and NYSARH members educate lawmakers more effectively. Barry is a staunch supporter of rural communities, people, and lifestyles. He understands that rural is not small urban, but rather has its own culture and values, which Barry shares. As Barry retires from NCBHN, I think it is appropriate to recognize him for ‘making a lasting contribution to the rural health care system’. I can think of few others who have done more.”

Brenda Stiles, Adirondacks ACO Read more »