The Peru Gazette

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The Peru School Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM in the High School Community Room.  It is anticipated that the Board will immediately convene in Executive Session to conduct interviews for the position of District Treasurer.  At this time, no other District business is anticipated for this meeting.

The full Board agenda will be available on the District’s website (perucsd.org).

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By John T. Ryan 

Highlights of the Peru Town Board’s Monday, November 23, 2020 meeting:

Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald participated in the meeting online via Zoom.

Following a 5:45 p.m. public hearing where no one testified, the Board voted to proceed with the sewer line upgrade project. The Board will not know the exact cost per user until bids are received, and the project’s scope is finalized. Councilor Rick Barber recalled that it was last estimated at $80 per quarter for the typical user; however, the exact cost will depend on a property owner’s assessed value.  The Board approved a resolution to increase the project’s maximum “not to exceed” limit from $4.618,000 to $5,424,000. Engineers scheduled the bid opening for December 5; however, they notified the Board that they would delay it by about one week. Three contractors have expressed interest in bidding. 

Water-Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault noted that the 2021 budget includes metered water rate increases of $2 per quarter and metered sewer rate increases of $5 per quarter. This increase is not related to the $4 million to $5 million capital project. 

A passed resolution made the Town Supervisor, Town Board, and Youth Director salary freezes announced at the November 9th meeting official. The money will revert to the general fund balance.  

Thanks to Assemblyman Billy Jones, Peru was awarded a $125,000 grant to extend its walking trail.  Expanding the Heyworth-Mason Trail to Lapham Mills Park was considered, but that route would require a costly bridge. After walking the route before last night’s meeting, the Board decided that developing a route from Maiden Lane to Sullivan Park would be the most cost-effective.  The new trail would include portions of an existing trail.  It would traverse a small stream, but constructing a small bridge should not be expensive.

A new Volvo Model L110H Wheel Loader equipped with a road-sweeping broom should arrive at the Highway Department in a few months. The Town is purchasing the machine from Vantage Equipment at the cost of $234,877. Mike Farrell said the Volvo would simplify and speed up the street cleanup operation. It was purchased through a national contract at 42% below the list price. It replaces a 1997 loaded that had a $17,000 trade-in value.  Its primary work will be in the sand-salt storage building. 

Farrell took responsibility for not painting the highways his department paved this summer. He said that given the uncertainly of state funding, he decided he had to curtail some spending. At one point, he thought about painting the center lines, but Clinton County had run out of paint. 

The Peru Ski Club will not function until at least January 24. Whiteface notified Youth Director John Flynn that it would decide by the 24th if there is a Club Ski season. Whiteface is open on a limited basis for other skiers. 

Flynn reported that the Northern Extreme Women’s Softball Team donated $1,523.21 to the Youth Commission. The team is disbanding and wanted to express its thanks to Peru for its outstanding athletic fields and programs. 

There will be a low-key Christmas Tree lighting at Little Ausable River Park Gazebo on December 4 at 7 p.m. Councilman Jim Douglass remarked that gathering a large crowd during a pandemic would not make sense. 

Alison Webbinaro was appointed to the Planning Board to complete the term of Nicholas Zagrodzki who resigned from the Board. Her term of office will end on December 31, 2020. The Board sent Zagrodzki a letter of thanks for his service. 

The Board approved the Highway Department’s hiring of Andrew McLaughlin as a Motor Equipment Operator at an $18.43 hourly wage rate effective November 30, 2020. McLaughlin has a Class A Driver’s License. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said it shouldn’t take long to train McLaughlin to operate the snowplows. 

One or two residents inquired why the Town removed the Hometown Hero Banners before Veterans Day. Water-Sewer Superintendent Courtney said his personnel removed the banners because of the ongoing power pole replacement project on the Bear Swamp Road. It was also noted that the recent high winds would have damaged some banners.  

Note: Paragraph on pay freeze amended to specifically include Town Supervisor. He is not taking a raise.

12/11/20 Correction made to water & sewer rate increases. Original story attributed $5 to water and $2 to sewer. 

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From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C.  – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is now a cosponsor of the Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts Act. Pending changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule include improvements for maternity care and much-needed payment increases for physicians delivering primary and complex office-based care. In order to comply with the budget neutrality statute, however, Medicare offsets these increases by cutting reimbursements for other providers. This bipartisan legislation maintains the scheduled Medicare payment increases while holding health care providers harmless from Medicare payment cuts in 2021 and 2022.

“Our North Country provider practices provide essential, localized care to our communities and are facing an increase in their costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “This bipartisan legislation delays the Medicare offsets in order to ensure that provider practices do not face cuts to their Medicare reimbursements amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This, in turn, will ensure that patients are not facing increased costs for the essential services that they require from their medical providers. I am proud to support this important legislation and will continue to advocate for our provider practices and Medicare patients.”

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella, and Yates County Sherriff Ronald Spike announced the arrest of Julie Brown, former clerk of the Town of Potter.

Brown, 49, was arrested Friday for allegedly stealing nearly $24,000 in cash payments to the town. The thefts allegedly took place between January 1, 2018 and May 21, 2019.

“Ms. Brown violated the trust of her community by allegedly diverting nearly $24,000 in town funds to subsidize her personal lifestyle,” said State Comptroller DiNapoli. “Thanks to our partnership with Yates County District Attorney Casella and Sheriff Spike, Brown’s actions were exposed and she is now being held accountable for her abuse of taxpayer funds.”

“Yates County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division appreciates the professional assistance of the State Comptroller’s Office in this criminal investigation that has been ongoing since 2019 for embezzlement,” said Yates County Sheriff Spike. “A public office is a public trust, and when an official allegedly violates their oath of office for personal gain they must be brought to justice.”

Brown, of Middlesex, allegedly stole cash payments made to the town for property taxes and fees for marriage licenses, dog licenses, hunting permits, and building permits. She was employed by the town from January 1, 2018 until May 21, 2019, when she resigned.

Brown was charged with corrupting the government in the second degree (class C felony); grand larceny in the third degree/ public servant (class C Felony); two counts of tampering with public records in the first degree (class D felony); scheme to defraud in the first degree (class E felony) and official misconduct (class A misdemeanor). Brown was arraigned today in Yates County Court and was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on February 2, 2021.

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

Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at, investigations@osc.ny.gov, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.

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