The Peru Gazette

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

Source: Vermont reimposes hospital lockdowns; ramps up testing statewide – VTDigger

By John T. Ryan

Peru – The Peru Town Board passed a Final 2021 Town Budget at a Monday, November 16th Special Meeting. The Final Budget did not include the Preliminary Budget’s 18% pay raise for the town supervisor and 10% for town councilor positions. The supervisor and councilors also declined the 2.5% raise most other employees will receive. Youth Director John Flynn also notified the Board that he would not accept his 2.5% raise.

The highway superintendent, water-sewer superintendent, town clerk/tax collector, board secretary, codes/zoning/planning officer, dog control officer and codes/planning/zoning typist positions will still receive the raises included in the Preliminary Budget. They range from 3.7% to 7 %. (Click here to review Preliminary Budget raise details)

Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald and Counselors Jim Douglass, Melvin Irwin, Rick Barber and Kregg Bruno expressed the same theme. Given the pandemic and all that’s going on, 2021 is the wrong time to vote themselves a raise. Referring to the town’s upcoming significant projects, Councilman Rick Barber said, “I feel our actions this coming summer will speak for themselves.”

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

By John T. Ryan

November 9, 2020, Peru Town Board Meeting Highlights:

The estimated $5 million-plus District #1 sewer upgrade project will be the subject of a November 23, 5:45 p.m. Public Hearing. The Town has been awarded a $1 million grant and secured long-term low-interest financing; however, the cost is very high for a system with only about 550 users. Click here for an earlier story. 

After listening to the advantages and disadvantages of a concrete three-sided box culvert vs. aluminum tubing, the Board reached a consensus that concrete would be the best choice. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell determined that a 180-foot long culvert needs to be installed near the Telegraph-Sullivan Road intersection to prevent a road collapse. Engineering Ventures engineer Mark Decrescente stated that a $300,000+ concrete culvert would cost about 25% more than an aluminum structure. Still, the aluminum structure would have many more “unknowns” such as useful life.

The Board is weighing two alternatives for expanding Peru’s walking trail – A trail from the Buttonwood subdivision to Sullivan Park vs. extending the existing walking trail to Lapham Mills Park. Councilors plan to walk the routes and conduct a workshop on November 23. Grant monies may be available for the project.

A Christmas Tree lighting ceremony may be scheduled for December 4 at 7 p.m. at the Little Ausable River Park Gazebo. The Board will investigate COVID-19 restrictions before making a final decision.

Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup reported that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a host of outstanding issues with the Orchard View/Washington Street development. Guynup, Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell and developer William Sawyer participated in a 1.5-hour online meeting with NYS DEC and the Army Corps. Most issues involve disturbed wetlands and the phase #4 street connection near Maplewood Drive. Maplewood Guynup said the DEC made only a few comments. Guynup expects developer William Sawyer to submit amended plans to the Planning Board in January or February with all issues hopefully resolved by May.  Phase #2, the up–the-hill section where one home was constructed,  cannot be completed until Army Corps and DEC requirements have been satisfied.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell asked the Board to update the pay policy portion of the employee handbook. The Board scheduled a handbook workshop for December 7 at 5 p.m.

The Board scheduled a January 4, 2021 workshop to discuss the Town’s Emergency Health Plan. NYS requires that towns have a plan to keep services functioning during emergencies such as floods and pandemics.

Source: American Education Week: November 16-20, 2020

Source: National Fast Food Day: November 16, 2020

Source: Central NY’s positive coronavirus test rate is 2nd-highest in state – syracuse.com

Source: Charter claims Adirondack internet hookups it never made

To the Citizens of Clinton, Essex & Franklin Counties:

I have spent nearly all my memorable life in the North Country, and I feel blessed to still call this region my home. For me, it is not the mountains, the beautiful lake, or the nearly perfect proximity to adventure and big city lights. I must admit, those are some pretty sweet perks, but those things are not what makes our region one of a kind, in my opinion. Our most valuable asset is our people. All of us. Together.

We are the type of community that supports one another, even in the most grave, complicated, and difficult circumstances. Whatever the barriers in our way, we find ways to support each other… even if that means giving up some of our own comforts to help a neighbor in need. Therefore, my wife and I made the choice to raise our family here. This is also why I have chosen to support the 2021 United Way Campaign.

This year has been an incredibly tough year for many of us. People from all over our region have faced some of the greatest challenges of their lifetime. The need to support our neighbors has never been greater. By contributing to the United Way – even with just a small payroll deduction or one-time gift – we can, collectively, as a community, ensure our neighbors (young and old) are fed, foster parents are trained and available, sanitation supplies are distributed, youth programs like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts continue, physical fitness and recreation programs grow, affordable housing is available, mental health services are supported, weatherization of homes can continue, and so much more.

The local team at our United Way of the Adirondack Region is truly invested in being a key resource for coordinating these meaningful services with agencies throughout our region. These agencies include the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity (JCEO), Adirondack Community Action Programs (ACAP), Behavioral Health Service North (BHSN), Hospice of the North County, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI:CV), the Senior Citizens Council of Clinton County, and the YMCA, just to name a few.

The need has never been greater for us to support our region’s most valuable asset: Our people. By supporting our local United Way, you can ensure 100% of your donation is received by the organization(s) you choose, or you can give to the Community Impact Fund like I did. I find great satisfaction in knowing my 2021 gift will be managed by a small local team that truly has a pulse on the needs in our community. I know my dollars are being used to help a neighbor with the greatest need, and that is why I give to the United Way Campaign.

If you have contributed to the 2021 United Way Campaign already, thank you! If you have not contributed but would like to learn more about how you or your business can support this year’s campaign, I urge you to call Kathy Snow at our local United Way (518-563-0028) to learn more.

Rest assured, your dollars will be invested wisely to change lives right here in Clinton, Essex & Franklin Counties. Consider making an investment in our community’s most valuable asset.

My best,

Ryan C. Lee

Plattsburgh, NY

Source: UVM postpones all winter sports until Dec. 18

Source: Cyberattack ‘struck the nervous system’ of UVMMC – VTDigger

Source: Historic buildings and the Forest Preserve – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Dairy Cows, Milkmaids, and the First Vaccine  – – The Adirondack Almanack

Peru Gazette File Photo

By John T. Ryan 

Peru – The Peru Town Board will vote on the 2021 Town Budget at a Special Board Meeting on Monday, November 16th at 6 p.m. The budget projects a 2021 general fund tax rate decrease from $2.33/M this year to $2.2461/M and a highway tax rate decrease from $2.42/M this year to $2.269/M. The water and sewer districts will also see small declines. The budget projects general revenues/expenditures of $1,596,434, a decrease of $31,899 from this year and highway revenues/expenditures at $1,778,777, up $135,365 from this year. 

The Board included several salary increases in the 2021 budget. Councilors cite the supervisor’s outstanding performance, several years when they didn’t take raises, higher counselor salaries in similar-sized towns, and the many ongoing town projects resulting in frequent meetings and important decisions. 

Supervisor Brandy McDonald said, “The Board asked me to leave the room when they discussed my salary. They wanted to have it compared to other towns. They decided it. The Town Board went many years without a raise.”  

Councilor Jim Douglass said, “We looked at the supervisor’s salary. Brandy is working so hard, putting many hours in and working way above the call of duty. Our counselor salaries are low.  We looked at other towns like Beekmantown.* The counselors didn’t take raises in several years (2013,2017,2018,2019). We also have several ongoing projects requiring many, many meetings.” 

Councilor Melvin Irwin said, “The reassessment gave the town more than we expected. We were able to lower the tax rate. I favored an across the board increase. We ended up with a compromise.” 

Councilor Rick Barber said, “We as councilmen have to look at the time we will spend in the next two to three years on major infrastructure projects coming up which are in the millions of taxpayers dollars. I believe the Board knows that once these projects start, we will be in the town hall on these projects daily and probably be called on to make decisions daily. I looked at what Peru has in store in the next few years and knew l would be called on for more and more time. I believe the amount that we voted in as raises is small compared to the time we will have involved in these projects.” 

Councilor Kregg Bruno said he agreed with the words expressed by the other counselors. 

2021 Budgeted Annual Salaries 

Supervisor – $30,000 (18.4% or $4,662 increase from $25,338) 

Councilman – $8,500 (10% or $792.98 increase from $7,706.50)

Town Clerk/Tax Collector $27,918 (6.2% or $1,633 increase from $26,285)

Highway Superintendent – $63,500 (4.5% or $1,784 increase from $60,716)

Water/Sewer Superintendent – $63,500 (3.7% or $2,289.31 increase from $61,210.69)

Board Secretary – $48,000 (6.9% or $3,095 increase from $44,906)

Dog Control Officer – $14,481 (6.2% or $841 increase from $13,640)

Codes/Zoning/Planning Officer $50,897 (4.2% or $2,041 increase from $48,856) 

Codes/Zoning/Planning Typist $20,584 (7% or $666 increase from $9,361)

All other employees are budgeted for a 2.5% increase 

The above does not include social security, medicare, retirement, or health care costs. Councilors are not eligible for health care. 

Story corrected to include the Dog Control Officer and Codes/Zoning/Planning Typist Increases

*Town of Beekmantown 2020 (not 2021) budgeted salaries: Supervisor $21,695**, Town Council $10,226, Town Clerk/Tax Collector $28,745, Town Justice $16,803, Highway Superintendent $65,108. Total General Revenues $1,237,402, Highway Total Revenues $1,392,219. **According to Brandy McDonald, the Beekmantown Town Supervisor’s pay is low because the position was denied a pay raise for eight consecutive years.

Click here to review Budget – 2021 Preliminary Budget

Source: Harmful algal blooms found on Lake George, Mirror Lake – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: First Read

Source: Covid-19: Pandemic Shatters More Records in U.S., as States and Cities Tighten Restrictions – The New York Times