The Peru Gazette

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By John T. Ryan 

Peru – The Peru Town Board passed Town Law #1 of 2020 at its Monday, September 14th meeting. The law is modeled after a law enacted by the Town of Plattsburgh.  Incorporated into the Zoning Law, it regulates large solar energy installations. The Peru Gazette asked for a brief overview of the law at the public hearing that preceded this meeting. Click here to view the public hearing overview. Click here to view Local Law #1 of 2020     Click here to view the public hearing. 

Counselor Rick Barber reported that DEC insists the Battle of Valcour Monument be moved to the Peru Boat Dock. The monument is located on the shores of Lake Champlain adjacent to Route 9. While it overlooks the battle scene, its parking area is tiny. DEC considers it to be a safety hazard. Town Historian Ron Allen has opposed the relocation for many years. Barber said Allen has now agreed to the relocation. The move is expected to happen in two to three weeks. The Town of Peru has no jurisdiction over the matter. 

In other actions, the Board: 

Discussed a “more refined” employee computer policy, meaning that department heads will be briefing employees on what is allowed and not allowed on town computers. For example, town computers are not to be used to play games. Each employee will be asked to agree in writing that they understand and will comply with the policy. 

Approved a sewer waste hauling and disposal contract with Cassella Organics. The contract included a $3 per ton increase. 

Reappointed Roy Perry to a five-year term on the Board of Assessment Review. Perry’s term begins on October 1, 2020. 

Approved a $300 contract for Adirondack Park Review Board services. The Review Board represents regional town interests in dealing with the Adirondack Park Agency. Peru has many square miles within the Adirondack Park. 

Mentioned that the price of the property being purchased from the Peru Community Church has increased by $500 to $9000.   The property will be used for a sewer system pump station. 

Noted that a beach volleyball court is being constructed at Laphams Mills Park. The Town Highway Department also paved the park’s major parking lot. 

Learned that Planning Board meetings will continue to be held via zoom. Three members do not feel comfortable with in-person meetings. 

Mentioned that both the Zoning and Planning Boards need new members. 

In other business:

Highway Superintendant Michael Farrell reported that repairing Telegraph Road near the intersection of the Sullivan Road will require both a culvert and a bridge. Farrell said he met with NYS DEC officials to discuss how to do the job at minimum cost. DEC had suggestions; however, the U.S Army Corp of Engineers must approve any work. The Army Corps does not coordinate with the DEC or towns. Farrell said its personnel rule how the job must be done regardless of cost. 

Farrell said he doesn’t expect extra NYS (CHIPS) highway paving money next year. He believes the Town will receive $174,400. At a paving cost of $60,000+ per mile, that money will pave just a little over one-half the mileage Farrell would like to pave. 

Dog Control Officer Dave Drollette reported a dog bite incident on the Laphams Mills Road. The owner will have the dog put down.

The Water and Sewer Department Budget workshop has been rescheduled from September 16 to September 30 at 6 p.m. 

Please note: The video ends about 10 minutes prior to the meeting’s conclusion.  The camera battery died.

Washington, D.C.  – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced that the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is seeking proposals for projects that aim to improve water quality and ecosystems along the Lake Champlain watershed. The LCBP will award more than $400,000 to qualified organizations, municipalities, and educational institutions. Projects located in the New York, Québec, and Vermont portions of Lake Champlain will be eligible for consideration. These grants will support projects that advance the goals of the long-term Lake Champlain management plan, and the funds are supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

“Lake Champlain is an important environmental resource in the North Country, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program coordinates and funds important efforts to protect its water quality, wildlife, and recreation, among other things,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “These important grants will provide many North Country communities along the Lake Champlain watershed with the necessary funding to complete essential water quality and conservation projects. I am a longtime supporter of the Lake Champlain Basin Program and advocate for its funding each year at the federal level. I look forward to seeing the completion of several projects that will help protect and restore the health of Lake Champlain, and I will continue to advocate for programs like these in Congress.”

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Volunteers are needed for both the Peru Zoning and Planning Boards. It’s important for the future of our community. Please consider volunteering. Call the Peru Town Hall Code Enforcement Office at 518-643-2745 x3 for more information.

Source: Report: Canada-US border closure will be extended to Oct. 21

Pete on his morning walk this past April

Maryann and Peter

Speaking at VFW Veterans Day Ceremonies

Presiding in Peru Town Court

A light conversation with his longtime fellow Justice of the Peace John Lawliss

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Peter Keenan is undoubtedly one of Peru’s best-known residents. Born in March 1930, Keenan has met many people over the past 90 years. To describe Keenan as active is an understatement. He was first known as a sports star at Peru High School, then as a player-manager for Adirondack League baseball teams, a baseball umpire, a 20-year Peru Central School bus driver, Knights of Columbus officer, hall/dinner/BBQ chairman, an active member of St. Augustine Church, Honor Flight participant, Justice of the Peace and Clinton County Legislator. Wintertime Champlain Centre shoppers recognize him on his 2.5-mile walks and Peru hamlet residents see him on his 1.5-mile vigorous walks.

A conversation with Peter Keenan is a lesson in local history and personalities.  He spent the first seven years of his life living in the Town of Schuyler Falls, World War II intervened. In 1937 the U.S. Army conducted maneuvers on Joseph and Gerald Keenan’s land in Shingle Street forcing them to move to Plattsburgh and then Peru.  At high school in Peru, Peter played five sports – soccer, baseball, basketball, track, and 6–man football. He was a baseball all-star four times, but today he says his best sport was basketball. Ironically, World War II impacted him a second time when he and other students picked apples after school. He recalled, “In 1944 we didn’t have any fall sports. There wasn’t anyone left to pick apples. Help was scarce.” Keenan relishes his memories of playing with or against outstanding athletes like Roy McGee, Bob Bruno, Bob Garrow and Urgil Votraw. Tony Papero was his coach during the last two years of high school.  In 2015, Peter joined some of his heroes when he was inducted into the Peru Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Following high school, Keenan got a job with Agway Petroleum. He recalled, “Donald Covel Sr. put in a good word for me.” A year later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. where he served for two years specializing in cryptology. Discharged in 1953, he returned to Agway Petroleum for several months before becoming a Correction Officer at Clinton Prison. He worked at the Dannemora prison for the next 26 years retiring in 1980. Keenan has good memories of being a Corrections Officers saying, “It was a good job. I worked with good people as a whole.”

In 1954 Keenan began his first “side-job” umpiring high school, college and Champlain Valley League baseball. He stated, “I enjoyed being able to stay in the game and doing what I could to further the sport.”  As an umpire, Keenan partnered with personalities like Wayne Labarge, Bobby Parker, Walt Vanderhoff, Roger Wright and Bernie Steuart. In 1987, he and several other umpires traveled to England with the Peru and AuSable Valley baseball teams on a month-long exhibition tour of England.  Peter’s umpiring career spanned 45 years.

Umpiring baseball led to the most significant event in Peter Keenan’s life, his marriage to Maryann King of Chazy Lake. After umpiring a game at the Dannemora playground, Peter and a few friends stopped at Tings Restaurant for a little libation. Maryann was working at Tings. The rest is history. The couple married in 1956 and enjoyed 54 years of happiness together. Maryann passed away in 2010. Anyone who knows Peter Keenan is well-aware of the mutual love and respect Maryann and Peter enjoyed. Asked what he considered to be his greatest accomplishment, Peter responded, “My wife’s accomplishments. Going through nursing school with four kids and a husband at home. It was a big accomplishment.” The couple’s four children Phillip, Phyllis, Paula and Peter all graduated from Peru High School. Today their father looks forward to their regular visits and help when he needs it. 

Along with baseball, Pete Keenan has another longtime interest – politics. He said, “I’ve always been interested in politics and I’ve always been a Democrat. I thought it would be nice if Peru could have a two-party system.” He ran for the Peru Town Council only to be defeated in what was a one-party Republican town. Nevertheless, he remained active in party politics. In 1986, when there was an open spot on the ticket, he decided to run for town justice. He not only won but was elected to six terms of office, retiring in 2010. He commented, “I was the only elected Democrat in the Town of Peru for 18 of those 24 years.”

In 2011, at age 80, Keenan ran for the Clinton County Legislature. Being elected didn’t come easily. Legislative Area Five takes one Peru district and all of the Town of Schuyler Falls. Keenan visited every residence often driven by his close friend former Clinton County District Attorney Joseph Kelley.  He was elected in 1981, reelected in 2015, and retired at the end of 2019 at age 89. He especially enjoyed working on the airport committee during the airport’s significant expansion and helping with funding for the North Country Honor Flight.

Peru Town Supervisor and Democratic Party Chairman Brandy McDonald said Pete and Maryann Keenan helped him get started in politics. He commented, “Pete’s a man of his word. If he says he’s going to do something he will do it.  He’s committed to the Democratic Party, but he even more committed to the people he serves.”

Former County Legislator Mark Dame, a Republican and solid fiscal conservative, commented, “Pete and I went into the Legislature in 1982. I didn’t know him real well. I’ve been exposed to a lot of people in my political career. Pete’s rock-solid. He has common sense. He’s not a grandstander. He doesn’t speak until he needs to speak. When he does, people listen, plus he’s a very nice man! I’ve never met anyone I respect more.” Former Clinton County Legislature Chairman Jimmy Langley, also a dedicated Republican, stated, “Pete’s a public servant through and through. He got into politics for the right reasons. He likes to stay busy. He’s not a sit around type of guy.”

Langley couldn’t be more correct. Pete Keenan is still active in the community and maintains his almost three-acre lawn. A few days ago, he used a chain saw to cut his ever-expanding sumac trees. He did get a little frustrated having to take a break after using the chainsaw for an hour. His most enjoyable activity is playing golf once a week with his longtime friend Gary Long. Pete says, “Gary spoils me. He even loads my bag into the car.”

Asked for the secret of his longevity, Keenan responded, “Good health, my wife Maryann, quitting smoking 60 years ago and staying active.” How does he want to be remembered?  He responded, “As I am now. I think people are very good.” 

4th Degree Knight of Columbus, devoted to patriotism

Barking a loud “YOU’RE OUT!”

Applefest Parade with Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald

Golfing for charity with Bernie Steuart, Gary Long, and Wayne Lebarge

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New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today said that state tax receipts are $3.2 billion lower than last year, as he released the State Cash Report for August. DiNapoli noted state tax receipts of $4.3 billion in August were $309.3 million above the latest projections by the state Division of Budget (DOB), but $219.1 million below collections in August 2019.

“Tax revenues continue to fall short of levels needed to fund education, health care and other vital services in this year’s budget,” DiNapoli said. “The revenue hole the pandemic created is getting deeper. Unless Washington acts to provide further fiscal relief for New York, painful budget decisions lie ahead.”

Other key numbers in the report:

• Personal income tax (PIT) collections totaled $2.7 billion in August, $157 million higher than anticipated, but $185.5 million, or 6.4 percent, lower than last year. Year to date collections were $1.6 billion, or 6.7 percent, lower than last year.
• Sales tax receipts totaled $5.1 billion through August, $1.3 billion, or 20.2 percent, lower than last year. August sales tax receipts were $97.2 million, or 7.8 percent, below those a year earlier.
• All Funds spending through August totaled $64.3 billion, down $2.5 billion, or 3.8 percent, from the previous year. Spending was $2.1 billion below the latest projections, primarily in local assistance grants ($1.4 billion below projections and $1.9 billion below last year). State operations spending was $369 million below projections through August.
• The General Fund ended the month with a balance of $13.5 billion, $972.7 million higher than projected and $6.6 billion higher than August 2019. This is partly due to $4.5 billion in short-term borrowing proceeds and delays in certain payments to local governments and other entities.

August Cash Report

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