The Peru Gazette

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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

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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

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