By John T. Ryan (The Peru Gazette did not video this meeting)

The Board voted to approve the revised employee handbook updating several rules and policies. Each employee must sign for a copy. 

The town may be acquiring a used excavator for use by the highway and water-sewer departments. Councilman Rick Barber said, “I’m thinking in the 60 to 80 horsepower range. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell mentioned using it for sidewalk construction. Farrell and Water-Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault will determine the percentage of use by each department, other details, and the need for accessories.  

The Town Hall’s front door locks need to be replaced.  Apparently, the tumblers are not functioning correctly.   The Board is requesting the price on a secure combination lock from Calongne Security Systems of Plattsburgh. 

Replacing the security cameras at the Little Ausable River Park Gazebo and under the Route 22 Bridge is under discussion.  The movies taken by the current cameras take an inordinate amount of time to review.  Better cameras are available.  

Water-Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault negotiated a revised lease agreement at $2,200 monthly for additional water tower space. T-Mobile needs additional space for transmitters and a generator.

The seasonal Water-Sewer Department job is still open. It appears no one wants to work given today’s generous unemployment benefits. 

The sewer upgrade project is progressing, but the contractor may have to delay some work because the NYS Department of Transportation has not issued a work permit. 

Town Clerk Dianne Miller participated in an online NYS Comptroller’s workshop covering many aspects of her job, including audits.  She said it was very informative.  

The Board would like to make several small changes in Peru’s Zoning Law, but it wants to approve them all at once rather than piecemeal.  Supervisor Brandy McDonald asked Town Attorney Matt Favro to review the proposed changes ASAP. The Board will conduct a public hearing before voting to approve or disapprove them. 

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that his staff completed the street sweeping.  Paving is next on his agenda. He has plenty of state monies for asphalt, but he’s concerned about enough asphalt being available. The Clinton County Airport runway repaving project will use about 120,000 tons. Since all towns have extra state money, the asphalt demand will be much greater than usual.  There are only two asphalt plants in the area. 

The Board would like to hold town-sponsored summer concerts at Hayworth-Mason Park rather than the Little Ausable River Park Gazebo. Board members agreed to go to the park to look over the situation after this meeting. 

The meeting adjourned at about 7:02 p.m. 

Source: Investigation into Plattsburgh crossing guard

On Monday, the community surprised the same crossing guard with $2,000 for his 20 years of service, working the crosswalk in front of Stafford Middle School.

Source: Crete Center’s future questionable | Local News | pressrepublican.com

PERU — The Peru Central School District’s proposed 2021-2022 budget would fall within the tax levy limit. The $49,982,897 spending plan would mark a 2.25 percent increase over last year’s, and include a tax levy increase of 1.74 percent, or $315,067, according to the district’s May community report. Noted additions aimed at improving instruction and operations are the restoration of a special education teacher position, the addition of a teaching assistant to the English as a New Language program and the

Source: Proposed Peru CSD budget falls within tax levy cap | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Stefanik emerges as frontrunner to replace Cheney | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Man used PPP loan to start alpaca farm in Vermont, authorities allege – VTDigger

Source: Chemically contaminated Burlington High School needs to be rebuilt, superintendent says – VTDigger

Source: NY lawmakers extend Covid eviction moratorium through August – syracuse.com

Source: Pfizer Says FDA Will Soon Authorize COVID-19 Vaccine For 12-15 Age Group | Vermont Public Radio

Source: Hunters in New York Harvested More than 253,000 Deer in 2020-21 – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Tree cutting lawsuit: A timeline and background – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Low police vaccination rates pose public safety concerns – The Washington Post

Lawmakers from both parties pass ‘safe staffing’ bills for hospitals and nursing homes

Source: “Safe Staffing” Bills Pass NYS Legislature

Source: Governor Cuomo Announces FY 2022 Budget Invests an Historic $5 Billion in Child Care, Fulfilling Many Recommendations Included in Child Care Availability Task Force Report

Source: In historic decision, court rules for trees over snowmobile trails | Sun Community News ALBANY | On a 4-2 vote announced Tuesday, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that 27 miles of state-planned snowmobile trails intended to connect towns in the Central

Source: Local reps weigh in on eviction moratorium extension | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | On May 3 the Senate voted on the extension of the “COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020” and the “COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Bus

Source: Children Now Account For 22% Of New U.S. COVID Cases. Why Is That? | NCPR News

Source: SUNY campuses allow vaccinated to go mask-free | NCPR News

Source: Hiking reservations begin at a popular Adirondack trailhead | NCPR News

Source: Clinton County paves the way towards summer  | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | As summer is fast approaching, road construction is about to be underway. 

Source: Stafford Middle School crossing guard surprised by students with $2,000 gift

More Than $850M Paid Out, Overtime Hours Up Almost 40 Percent Over Last Decade

The total cost of overtime in 2020 at state agencies reached an all-time high at more than $850 million, continuing an upward trend over the last decade and spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Total overtime hours of 19 million increased 3.9 percent and total overtime earnings increased 5.5 percent from 2019. Overtime earnings comprised 4.8 percent of total payroll spending in 2020, an increase from the 4.2 percent average from 2011 through 2019.

“State agency overtime reached a record level last year,” DiNapoli said. “The COVID-19 pandemic required state workers across New York to work long, grueling hours to deal with a crisis never before seen during our lifetime. The pandemic touched nearly every aspect of our lives and the men and women in public employment stepped up to help keep the public safe and get critical benefits.”

Three agencies performed most of the overtime in 2020: The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (Corrections) and the Office of Mental Health (Mental Health) made up 25 percent of the workforce but accounted for 62.9 percent of overtime hours and 59.9 percent of the overtime earnings in 2020. While these three agencies typically lead all others in overtime usage, overtime hours and earnings at Mental Health and OPWDD increased at a slower rate than state agencies overall in 2020.

In contrast, overtime increased dramatically at agencies that don’t typically incur it, because their staff served essential roles in addressing issues related to the pandemic. Hours soared at the Department of Labor (+17,908 percent), Department of Health (+288 percent), Department of Taxation and Finance (+243 percent) and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (+70 percent).

Across all state agencies, employees working overtime worked 16.3 more hours per a two-week pay period on average, an increase of 8.9 percent in 2020. The statewide average of overtime earnings per pay period went up 10.7 percent to $727.

Since 2011, the average annual number of state employees, not including SUNY and CUNY, has declined by 6.1 percent to just below 154,000. They include full-time, part-time and temporary staff per pay period throughout the year. With limited exceptions, a hiring freeze has been in effect for all Executive Branch departments and agencies since April 28, 2020. Due to staffing constraints, some agencies may be relying increasingly on overtime to accomplish objectives.

Report

New York State Agency Use of Overtime – 2020

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