The Peru Gazette

Source: Essex County DA says she never saw final police report on Elizabethtown incident | NCPR News

Source: North Syracuse school district releases fall reopening plan: How will it work? – syracuse.com

Source: The Plan for Imperial Dam – Mountain Lake PBS

Source: Dan Berggren’s live performance reflects on Adirondack life. – Mountain Lake PBS

* New York’s budget crisis means funding consequences for schools, local governments and hospitals, and now that list is growing. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the state will postpone a $3 billion environmental bond act that was set to appear on the ballot this November for at least one year. If passed, the Restore Mother Nature Bond Act would have funded a number of environmental projects aimed at goals like improving the quality of drinking water.

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

Source: New York spent millions on medical equipment that was never used

Here are today’s Clinton County COVID-19 case counts.

CCHD: As many of us are using hand sanitizer more frequently, we want to make you aware of a recent FDA warning on hand sanitizer. The FDA is warning consumers and health care providers that the agency has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested.

Source: GDP Drops At 32.9% Rate, The Worst U.S. Contraction Ever : Coronavirus Live Updates : NPR

Source: Catholic, private schools in Central NY expect to bring all students back into classrooms every day – syracuse.com

Source: Prison visits to resume | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

Source: Backcountry magic – – The Adirondack Almanack

     Pew Ranks Fund as Nation’s Second Best Funded

Fiduciary Review Gives Fund Management High Marks

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) had a -2.68 percent return on investments in the state fiscal year (SFY) that ended on March 31, 2020, reflecting a slight decrease as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund ended its fiscal year during the early outbreak of the pandemic in the United States with a value of $194.3 billion. Globally, assets swiftly recovered in the second quarter of 2020.

“Despite very solid returns through February, the coronavirus sent markets into a tailspin just as we were closing the books on our fiscal year,” DiNapoli said. “The Fund has already recovered much of those losses, but volatility and uncertainty will persist until our public health crisis is resolved. Fortunately, the state’s pension fund entered this crisis as one of the strongest in the nation, and remains well-positioned to weather these challenging times and provide retirement security for our members for years to come.”

In June, the Fund was ranked by Pew Charitable Trusts as the second best-funded pension fund in the nation with a funding ratio of 98 percent, based on 2018 data. An excellent funding ratio means the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) has the funds on hand to provide retirement security to its more than one million active state and local government employees, retirees and their beneficiaries. The Fund’s value reflects retirement and death benefits of $13.25 billion paid out during the fiscal year.

Employer contribution rates are determined by investment results over a multi-year period along with numerous other actuarial assumptions, including wage growth, inflation, age of retirement and mortality. Contribution rates are determined based on recommendations from the Actuary in September. Integral to the Fund’s strength have been state and local governments, who consistently pay their contributions in good times and bad.

Every three years the Fund is required to undergo an independent Fiduciary and Conflict of Interest Review. The Review, most recently performed by Duff & Phelps, examines the Fund to ensure it is well-governed and ethically and efficiently managed for the sole benefit of its members and beneficiaries.

The latest Review found that the Fund “has a strong governance framework with sound internal controls and is managed efficiently and effectively.” The report, which involved interviews with more than 30 staff, including Comptroller DiNapoli and the Fund’s Chief Investment Officer Anastasia Titarchuk, concluded that “The Fund is demonstrating a high level of operational transparency and in many cases appears to be in the vanguard of industry standards in this area.” Additionally, the report found “the Comptroller and the CRF Staff manage the Fund to the highest level of ethical standards.”

As of March 31, 2020, the Fund had 49.07 percent of its assets invested in publicly traded equities. The remaining Fund assets by allocation are invested in cash, bonds and mortgages (26.23 percent), private equity (11.19 percent), real estate and real assets (9.66 percent) and absolute return strategies and opportunistic alternatives (3.85 percent).

The Fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 6.8 percent. The Fund’s value and rate of return in prior years is available online: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/sites/default/files/press/documents/pdf/2020-07/nyscrf-values-chart-2020.pdf

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Review

Fiduciary and Conflict of Interest Review

Chart

New York state pension fund’s historical annual returns and value

About the New York State Common Retirement Fund 

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is the third largest public pension fund in the United States. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. The Fund has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation. The Fund’s fiscal year ends March 31.

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Find out how your government money is spent at Open Book New York. Track municipal spending, the state’s 170,000 contracts, billions in state payments and public authority data. Visit the Reading Room for contract FOIL requests, bid protest decisions and commonly requested data.

Source: Remaining furloughed Plattsburgh city employees will head back to work this week

Source: Churchill: In Cohoes, handling of cop’s case shows old rules still apply

Clinton County COVID-19 case updates.

We’ve received many questions and concerns about the Bass-Masters Elite fishing tournament. Please know:
– Prior to entering NYS, the Bass-Masters Elite was required to submit a safety plan, which was approved by the NYS Empire State Development (ESD) Corp.
– Due to previous stops in NYS before reaching Clinton County, anglers and staff have already been in NYS for 14 days or more before reaching Clinton County.

As part of their safety plan, anglers and staff are required to:
– Seek diagnostic testing for COVID-19 as soon as possible upon arrival (within 24 hours).
– Monitor themselves for a fever, or any other symptoms of COVID-19, wear a face covering when in public, maintain social distancing, clean and disinfect workspaces, equipment, and playing areas for a minimum of 14 days.
– Avoid extended periods in public, contact with strangers or anyone not associated with the team or league, and large congregate settings, except for the competitive activity for which they are traveling for a period of at least 14 days.

For concerns regarding violations of NY on PAUSE, please call 1-833-789-0470 or visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-pause.

By John T. Ryan 

The Peru Town Board made several significant decisions at its July 27 meeting. 

The Board: 

• Agreed to a contract with AES Northeast as its engineer to develop plans for the hamlet’s wastewater treatment plant. The NYS is requiring the Town to upgrade the plant and its infection control system no later than 2024. 
• Hired Primelink, Inc. of Plattsburgh as IT service provider effective August 1, 2020 – July 31 2023, at a rate of $2,499 monthly. The price includes approximately $11,000 of new equipment, including a server. The Board interviewed Primelink and Twinstate Technologies of Morrisonville. Supervisor Brandy McDonald said Twinstate was not ready to agree to a monthly agreement preferring to work on a case-by-case basis at a rate that worked out to be about $155 an hour. The Board preferred taking a more comprehensive IT management approach. The Board is very concerned with improving system security, system backup and improving day-to-day service. Prior to this decision, the Board had always hired one-person providers  citing lower cost. Serious service short-falls often resulted.  There are about 22 devices using the Town’s IT system. 
• Approved a $5,247.64 contract with Northern Blacktopping of Morrisonville to pave and color the Town Hall’s outside entrance area. Northern Blacktopping will out down base material,  apply asphalt, and color the surface. Salt deteriorated the pavers that the Town installed during the 2014 Town Hall entrance reconstruction project. 
• Hired Verizon has the Town’s primary internet provider at the Town Hall, the Highway Department and the Water/Sewer Department. Spectrum will still be used at the Courthouse and as a redundant Town Hall provider.  
• Scheduled a sewer system July 27 at 5 p.m. workshop to discuss the sewer projects at the beginning or final planning stages. The Board plans begin construction on the sewer line/lift station upgrade project in October. Upgrades at the wastewater plant and Valcour treatment facility are in the early planning stages.
• Other Items:

Dog Control Offer Dave Drollette reported a dog bite incident at a local daycare.  The owner’s dog nipped at a Child Protective Services employee during a facility inspection.  The same dog was involved in a similar incident about three months ago.  Drollette worked with the owner, the Clinton County Health Department, and Child Protective Services to remove the dog from the daycare.  The dog is currently at a Beekmantown rehabilitation facility. It will not be returning to the daycare. 

A local Solar Farm law should be ready for approval at the Board’s next meeting or soon after that.  Peru is using the Town of Plattsburgh’s law as a guide. 

The Board plans to amend the Zoning Law’s commercial sign provisions at its next meeting or soon after that. Replacement commercial signs would no longer require Planning Board approval.  The Board will schedule a public hearing. 

CEO Bob Guynup reported that his office has collected building $9,500 more in building permit fees than the same period last year. Homeowners are undertaking a wide range of projects ranging from decks to swimming pools. 

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell commented on several items.

• Farrell described two construction projects on Telegraph St. near the intersection of the Sullivan Rd. A new culvert and a new bridge are needed. Telegraph Street will be closed from 5 to 6 months during construction. He did not say when construction would be taking place. 
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is requiring the Orchard View/Washington St. developer to install a permanent drainage basin before any more construction can commence.
• A monarch butterfly protection program may require towns and counties to acquire permits before undertaking roadside mowing. The NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) has been conducting pilot projects on protecting the invaluable pollinators.  
• Courtney Tetrault reported 14 additional Hometown Hero banners were received last week. Tetrault’s Water/Sewer personnel have mounted more than 100 banners on downtown utility poles. The new banners will have to be installed on side streets or in rural areas.  

Youth Director John Flynn reported that the Youth Commission is conducting a baseball program and plans to hold a soccer program.  Participant numbers are low, but the Youth Commission is moving forward. 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue. 

Plattsburgh, NY – 7/29/20 – With approval from New York State and the Clinton County Health Department, the City of Plattsburgh and Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, a division of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, are happy to welcome the Bassmaster Elite Series back to Lake Champlain, July 30th to August 2nd. Although this year will look a lot different with no spectators, masks and a whole lot of hand sanitizer, all partners involved in this planning process have gone above and beyond in making sure all New York State guidelines have been followed and the health and safety of our community stays top priority. 

“The Safety Plan prepared by B.A.S.S., L.L.C., which was recently approved by the NYS Empire State Development (ESD) Corporation, is a thorough and comprehensive document,” says John Kanoza, Director of Public Health, Clinton County Health Department. “In addition to including a host of standard COVID-19 safety precautions, their Safety Plan also includes very specific conditions for the sport fisherman to be tested for COVID-19 in advance AND that they will additionally minimize their time in the public during their overnight stays in the North Country.” 

“We are very pleased to once again welcome the Bassmaster Elite Series to Clinton County and beautiful Lake Champlain,” says Clinton County Legislator, Mark Henry. “This welcomed event will not only showcase our beautiful region, but will also provide our local economy with a much-needed boost. I would like to thank all those involved with facilitating this tournament during these unusual times; especially B.A.S.S. for their willingness to adhere to all safety protocols prescribed by the State of New York.” 

In accordance with the Guidance for Professional Sports Teams traveling between states with significant community spread of COVID-19 and New York State, Bassmaster acknowledges that their anglers and staff will: 

 Seek diagnostic testing for COVID-19 at their first tournament stop in Clayton, NY to ensure that they are not positive – All anglers and staff have been tested and confirmed negative for COVID-19 

 Monitor themselves for a fever, or any other symptoms of COVID-19, wear a face covering, maintain social distancing, as well as clean and disinfect workspaces, equipment, and competition areas 

 Avoid extended periods in public, contact with strangers or anyone not associated with the tournament, as well as avoid large congregate settings, except for the competitive activity for which they are traveling 

Additionally, Bassmaster will not be allowing anyone other than staff or Elite anglers in or near the weigh-in area this year per New York State guidelines. “We have enjoyed record-breaking fan support in New York for years,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “While fans won’t be able to attend the events on-site this year, we are thankful to everyone who is helping B.A.S.S. to safely bring the fun of competition and beauty of these fisheries into the homes of millions of fans via our live, on-the-water coverage.” 

“This tournament and the comprehensive plan behind it provide a model of effective teamwork on behalf of the area,” states Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “The tournament organizers have wanted nothing less than a thoroughly safe plan and, with incredible teamwork involving them, Clinton County, the city and our Visitors Bureau, we have a safe opportunity to support our hospitality businesses while also enjoying extensive national media coverage that will serve to maintain our place in people’s minds as a fishing and recreational destination for the future. Our thanks to the entire team and to Bassmaster for their commitment and flexibility.” 

Source: Peru CS board: name is changing | Sun Community News PERU | The Peru Central School Board of Education released a statement July 27 making it clear they will not change their mind when it comes to changing the school nickname and mascot.

Source: Let’s be careful | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled a Workshop for Monday, August 24, 2020 at 5:00 PM.  The purpose of the workshop will be to discuss all town sewer projects.  The Workshop will take place at The Peru Town Hall.

The regular meeting of the Peru Town Board was held on Monday July 13, 2020 at the Peru Town Hall.  Those present were Mr. Brandy McDonald Supervisor; Mr. James Douglass, Councilman; Mr. Kregg Bruno, Councilman; Mr. Melvin Irwin, Councilman; Mr. Richard Barber, Councilman; Mrs. Dianne Miller, Town Clerk.  Also present were Mr. Courtney Tetrault, Water/Sewer Superintendent; Mr. Michael Farrell, Highway Superintendent; Mr. Bob Guynup, Zoning Officer;  Mr. Matthew Favro, Town Attorney, Ms. Pamela Barber, Confidential Secretary to the Board and Mr. Dave Drollette, Dog Control officer.

The meeting was called to order at 6:02 PM by Mr. McDonald, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion by Mr. Barber; seconded by Mr. Douglass to include the reports from the following departments into the official record of tonight’s meeting.  (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports). No JCEO Report 

 Ayes 5  Nays  0                                                                        Motion Carried 

Motion by Mr. Bruno; seconded by Mr. Irwin to approve the minutes from the June 22, 2020 meeting.

Ayes 5   Nays 0                                                                     Motion Carried

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