Rifenburg Contracting will continue to have Elm Street closed from this evening (May 27th) til 5 pm tomorrow (May 28th) from Sanborn Lane to 22B intersection (Town Park entrance) with heavy construction. There will be NO through traffic.  Emergency vehicles will have limited access to that section of the road.  

Any questions, please call the W/S Superintendent @ 643-8125

At its May 24, 2021 regular meeting the Peru Town Board: 

• Conducted a 20-minute discussion with four members of the Peru Youth Commission. Youth Commission Chairman Greg Mills recently submitted his resignation and Councilmen Rick Barber and Jim Douglass have both bowed out as the town board’s liaison to the commission. Councilmen Melvin Irwin and Kregg Bruno have been appointed as their successors. Youth Commission spokesperson Jonathan Whitmarsh noted that the commission members are all unpaid volunteers. They include Greg Mills. Emile Sypek, Brian Marino, Jim Buskey, Bill Myers, Carrie Beattie, Krista Blair and Krista Bell.  Whitmarsh outlined their qualifications and commitment to Peru, its youth and community. He also mentioned Greg Mill’s resignation and a town board decision to reverse a youth commission decision. Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald responded, “It’s a communications gap. It’s been happening for years… We’ve got to work together.” Councilman Mel Irwin said the recent decision to reactivate the youth commission’s by-laws should help solve the problem. The by-laws have existed since the 1980s, but for some reason, they have not been followed for several years. Henceforth, the youth commission’s meeting minutes will be submitted to the town board and meeting dates, times and locations will be posted at least five days prior to meetings. Councilman Rick Barber emphasized that a youth commission representative should attend town board meetings. Barber doesn’t perceive the liaison’s role as representing the youth commission. He said the spokesperson doesn’t have to be John Flynn; it could be any board member. The by-laws call for commission members to have terms of office with three members coming up for reappointment each year. Brandy McDonald said a simple hand-written note of interest in continuing would be sufficient. Town attorney Matt Favro said the planning and zoning boards have similar requirements and emphasized that he welcomes phone calls about any significant questions, changes, or issues. Councilman Kregg Bruno, referring to the instance when the board reversed a youth commission decision, said the town wouldn’t have taken the action it did if it had known all the facts. The discussion appeared to conclude with a better understanding on both sides and a more congenial atmosphere.  (See the discussion between the 23:35 and 43:20 minute marks of the Peru Gazette video). 
• Accepted Greg Mill’s resignation as Youth Commission Chairman. The board voted to accept the resignation and to send Mills a letter thanking him for his long service. 
• Discussed having the summertime music concert at Heyworth-Mason Park. The Little Ausable Park Gazebo isn’t available because of disruptions related to the ongoing sewer system upgrade project. The town needs to acquire a stage and stage covering at a reasonable cost if Heyworth-Mason Park is to be utilized. An increment weather location also needs to be found. It doesn’t appear the Peru Community Church’s Fellowship Hall will be available. 
• Approved purchasing a Caterpillar 307.5 mini excavator from Milton CAT at a $98,307 national contract purchase price. Machines from two other manufacturers were higher. The highway and water-sewer departments will have joint use of the machine and share equally in the cost. A mini-excavator is very maneuverable. It will be used in restricted space areas, such as digging up someone’s yard. The highway department will use it on sidewalks and similar jobs. 
• Accepted a New York State $30,000 engineering planning grant for the wastewater system on the south side of the Little Ausable River. The town will contribute a $6,000 local match. 
• Authorized hiring Christine Crawford as the temporary part-time Codes Office Secretary at a pay rate of $16.64. 
• Authorized hiring Kaleb Martineau as a parks department seasonal employee at a $14 per hour pay rate. 
• Scheduled a sewer upgrade workshop for June 28 at 5 p.m. 

In other reports: 

Town Clerk-Tax Collector Dianne Miller stated she has closed her tax collection books for this year and that all went well. Miller also filed the recently passed 2021 Local Law #1 with New York State. The state accepted it and Miller indexed it in the town’s local law records. 

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell’s staff has the town’s new paver ready after solving a few technical issues. Farrell is still concerned about the local asphalt supply given the airport runway construction. He can delay paving until fall if necessary. The Brand Hollow Rd, Nelson Road, and Lyons Road will be his first paving priorities. His staff has begun roadside mowing. 

Water-Sewer Department Superintendent Courtney Tetrault reported that the sewer upgrade project is going well. One of his department’s new trucks struck a small deer on the River Road. The front bumper of the involved truck will have to be replaced. The wastewater treatment plant’s new clarifier equipment has arrived. 

Source: Syracuse native Eric Carle, author of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’ dies at age 91 – syracuse.com

Source: Conroy still hopes to get on Area 4 ballot | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Weather: Strong thunderstorms expected across northern New York, Vermont

Source: Extra, Extra, Read All About it! Lake Placid girl writes, delivers Averyville Press to neighbors | NCPR News

Boat Stewards to Conduct Boat Inspections and Educate Recreating Public at Boat Launches Statewide

As this year’s boating season officially kicks off, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today reminded water recreationists to do their part in protecting New York’s waters from aquatic invasive species (AIS) by remembering to clean, drain, and dry watercraft and equipment. Last year, boater traffic increased by nearly 20 percent at some launches and boat stewards counted more than 390,000 boats at launches across the state, a significant increase from the 276,515 watercraft counted in 2019. DEC anticipates more boaters will hit the water this season and with them an increased risk of introducing AIS to New York’s waters. Taking proactive steps such as cleaning off fishing tackle, removing aquatic vegetation from rudders, disinfecting boat hulls and water compartments, and properly disposing of bait, significantly reduces that risk.

“Aquatic invasive species like zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, hydrilla, and others can be easily transported from one waterbody to another on boats, trailers, and fishing equipment,” said Commissioner Seggos. “Protecting New York’s waters is a high priority for DEC. Our lakes and ponds are invaluable in providing wildlife habitat, sustaining our state’s fisheries and fishing industry, and offering opportunities for recreation.”

Over the last few years, DEC has expanded its boat steward coverage through the Watercraft Inspection Stewardship Program, reaching additional recreationists with the Clean, Drain, Dry message. Boat stewards demonstrate how to conduct boat and trailer inspections prior to launching into a new waterbody and provide basic facts about AIS. In 2020, DEC’s boat stewards talked with more than 30,000 boaters who were unfamiliar with the boat steward program. These stewards also intercepted more than 19,000 AIS on boats and equipment, including hydrilla, which was removed from boats headed into Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario. Existing hydrilla infestations in Cayuga, Erie, Tioga, Tompkins, and Westchester counties are currently costing New Yorkers more than one million dollars a year in control and mitigation.

“Last fall we opened the new boat launch at Otisco Lake. We are thrilled that this will be one of more than 200 locations participating in the New York State Watercraft Inspection Steward Program,” said Matthew Marko, DEC Region 7 Director. “We ask that all recreationists clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and equipment to help protect New York’s waters.”

“The Finger Lakes Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) is looking forward to providing education and outreach at the new Otisco Lake launch and hopes to reach more new boaters,” said Hilary Mosher, Coordinator, Finger Lakes PRISM.

To help protect New York’s lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, visit DEC’s website for more information on AIS and a step by step guide for ridding boats and equipment of AIS. Today, DEC also released a newly developed public service announcement (PSA) to air across the state reminding boaters to clean, drain, and dry their watercrafts in order to protect state waters. The PSA is now available on DEC’s YouTube page.

Source: New York’s latest vaccine incentive: A raffle for free SUNY, CUNY education

“Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who died in service to their country. The holiday was officially proclaimed in 1868 to honor Union and Confederate soldiers and was expanded after World War I to honor those who died in all wars. It became an official federal holiday in 1971, known as Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day. Today, Memorial Day honors over 1 million men and women who have died in military service since the Civil War began in 1861.” Source: Memorial Day: May 31, 2021

Former Town of Potter Clerk Julie Brown was sentenced to six months in Yates County jail today for stealing nearly $27,000 in public funds for her personal use. Her thefts were discovered during a joint investigation by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office, Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella’s office and Yates County Sheriff Ronald Spike’s office.

Annual Return Raises Fund’s Estimated Value to $254.8 Billion

Source: Biden administration reins in street-level enforcement by ICE – The Washington Post

Source: Applauding the Plattsburgh Compact – – The Adirondack Almanack

“For children who are afraid of needles stinging them, a bee named Buzzy at Kinney Drugs stores may help them work through that fear and get them vaccinated against COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has opened up the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12 and up, and Kinney Drugs is bringing Buzzy in to help ease the pain and make the experience less scary.”

Source: Vaccine buzz at Kinney Drugs | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

The Adirondack Experience (ADKX), a sprawling 121-acre campus in the heart of the Adirondacks, will open its 2021 summer season in two phases.

Source: ADKX to reopen May 28 to members; fully open July 1 – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: NY prepares to give out $3.5B to renters and small businesses hit by pandemic – syracuse.com

Source: Covid in NY: New cases fall to new low since September – syracuse.com

Source: Feds say less than 1% of fully-vaccinated adults get Covid ‘breakthrough infections’ – syracuse.com

Source: ‘Only going to get harder’ to be unvaccinated, expert on NY Covid rules says – syracuse.com