The Peru Gazette

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a fully remote special meeting on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 7:30 AM.  The sole purpose of this meeting is to further discuss 2020-2021 high-risk sports.  At this time, no other action items are anticipated.  The public may view the meeting live via Zoom at https://E2CCB-GST.zoom.us/j/94129332356.  This meeting will also be recorded and available on the District’s website.

The full agenda will be available on the District’s website.–

Peru Central School District

District Office

Sherri Provost,

District Clerk, Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, Records Management Officer

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TOWN OF PERU

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of February 17, 2021 minutes.
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing via Zoom meeting application (Covid-19)
6. APPLICATION:

1. Area Variance with SEQR: Z-2020-055 Dean and Kimberly Lincoln

Area Variance – for a 15 foot rear setback variance for the placement of a pool

267.-1-6.3

216 John Boswell Rd.

Peru, NY 12972

7. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
8. CEO REPORT:
9. ADJOURNMENT

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Worker-owned cooperative is first of its kind in the region

Jay, N.Y and Malone, N.Y. — The employees of Ward Lumber have made history by purchasing the 130-year-old business as a worker-owned cooperative. The transaction marks the first employee ownership transition of its kind in the North Country region of New York State.

The lumber products and hardware store, which has locations in Jay and Malone, N.Y. and employs over 50 local people, has been in Jay Ward’s family for four generations. Ward, who will continue his leadership role as the company’s chief executive officer, completed a contract with his employee team that makes Ward Lumber the largest worker-owned cooperative in the region.

“Every business is going to go through a transition, whether that is by design or default,” said Ward. “Rather than choose liquidation or selling to some other business that would change the culture, I wanted to look at employee ownership. 

“Employee ownership vests the control of the company in the hands of the people that work it every day, who live in the communities that we serve, and have that vested interest in ownership,” Ward said. “I really wanted to empower the employee team to make decisions on their behalf and for their benefit.” 

Ward Lumber has been a business pillar in the community since 1890, providing local jobs, supporting the region’s farm and construction industries, and having direct and indirect economic impacts on area businesses and communities.

Ward Pine Mill, the manufacturing division of the Ward Lumber family enterprise, is operated by Jay’s brother Jeff Ward. Ward Pine Mill became an independent business in 2017 and is not included in the employee ownership transaction.

“The main thing that’s changing is I’ll be reporting to a board of directors of our employee team,” Ward said, noting they have been working on the transition process for over three years. Ward will remain heavily involved operating the business for the foreseeable future.

Alex Pond, a board member who has been employed with the company for over six years, said, “This co-op is more than a change in ownership. It’s an opportunity to shape a future for Ward Lumber that is best for the business, our staff and the community. It’s an amazing way for people like me to help carry Ward Lumber into the next generation.”

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State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Clinton County District Attorney Andrew J. Wylie, announced the arrest of Mary L. Bell, Clerk of the Town of Saranac. Bell, 54, was arrested Thursday for allegedly falsifying records to hide her failure to deposit more than $800 in cash payments to the town that she collected as Clerk. Her actions allegedly took place from April 2017 to August 2017.

“Ms. Bell, as an elected official, swore to act with honesty and integrity. Instead, she took advantage of her position to manipulate the town’s records to cover for missing cash she was supposed to deposit.” said State Comptroller DiNapoli. “Thanks to our partnership with Clinton County District Andrew Wylie and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Bell’s actions were exposed and she is now being held accountable.”

Bell’s actions were brought to light by the State Comptroller’s office during the course of a routine examination. Bell, of Redford, allegedly collected $1,203 in cash for various clerk fees including dog licenses, marriage licenses, building permits and a death certificate, but deposited only $392 of that cash into the public coffers. To hide the more than $800 in missing cash, Bell substituted funds leftover in a dormant town clerk bank account.

Bell was charged with five counts of falsifying business records in the first degree (class E felony), one count of corrupting the government in the fourth degree (class E felony) and official misconduct (class A misdemeanor). Bell was arraigned Thursday in Clinton County Court and was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on May 27.

The arrest was a result of a joint investigation between the State Comptroller’s Office the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.

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