The Peru Gazette

Source: Scott extends Vermont’s Covid-19 state of emergency to July 15 – VTDigger

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 8:00 AM.  The main focus of the meeting is to accept the results of the June 9^th budget vote & board election (canvassed June 16^th).  Due to current COVID-19 conditions, the meeting will be held remotely via Google Meet.  The public may view the meeting live at http://meet.google.com/kth-iudv-orf.  The meeting will also be recorded and will be available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.

The full agenda will be available on the District’s website.

The regular meeting of the Peru Town Board was held on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at the Peru Town Hall.  Those present were Mr. Brandy McDonald, Supervisor; Mr. Richard Barber, Councilman; Mr. Kregg Bruno, Councilman; Mr. James Douglass, Councilman; Mr. Mel Irwin, Councilman; Mrs. Dianne Miller, Town Clerk and Ms. Pamela Barber, Confidential Secretary to the Board. Also present Mr. Courtney Tetrault, Water/Sewer Superintendent and Greg Swart, AES representative.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mr. McDonald, with the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Motion by Mr. Bruno seconded by Mr. Douglass to accept the minutes from the May 11, 2020, Regular Meeting.

Ayes 5 Nays 0                                                                                                 Motion Carried 

Sewer Project Bid Results

Greg Swart, AES representative presented two possible options to accept the one bid submitted with negotiations or to rebid in the Fall of 2020 due to over budget bid submitted.

Motion by Mr. Barber; seconded by Mr. Irwin for a workshop on June 22, 2020, at 5:00 PM to discuss the “Wastewater Disinfection Project”.

The annual concert series will not be held this year.

Hometown Hero banners will be placed randomly effective 2021.

Effective June 8, 2020, the Town Hall employees will return on a full-time basis. Safety guidelines will be followed.

Source: Free milk giveaway aids hundreds of households | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

Source: Low-risk youth sports to resume July 6 | WHEC.com

A message from Peru Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald 

We received the news that playgrounds, including swings and tennis courts, can be open now !! By Monday all the yellow tape will be taken down from them. The walking trail has always been open to get out and enjoy the outdoors as much as you can. Everyone Stay Healthy ❤️

***Please, note that ball fields and basketball courts will remain closed for now!!! Until we get the word from the State to reopen them We are hoping to see those re-open during Phase 4. Everyone have a great weekend!!!

Source: Unprepared hikers get lost outside of Marcy Dam – – The Adirondack Almanack

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I hope you’ve found these nightly emails useful and informative. Going forward, the NYS Coronavirus Update will publish on weekday evenings only. We’ll be back on Monday.

Cases of COVID-19 are increasing in nearly two dozen states that have begun reopening, and 15 states have seen record highs in the past two days. As New York reopens, however, we are continuing to see a decline in the number of daily new COVID cases.

One remarkable fact: Our state, which once had the highest number of cases in the nation, now has the nation’s lowest rate of transmission (Rt) — at just 0.77. An Rt of 1 or higher means that COVID-19 is increasing — an Rt of below 1 means it is decreasing.

Why is our state one of the rare few where case numbers continue to decline even as the state reopens? I believe it’s because of New Yorkers’ discipline and caution — including the widespread wearing of face masks. We must continue to be disciplined. If we stay the course, we will avoid the “second waves” that other countries are now grappling with.

Here’s what else you need to know tonight:

1. The news is still good regarding testing. Yesterday, we tested an extraordinary 72,395 New Yorkers for COVID. Of those tested, only 822 people were positive — or 1.1% of the total. This is great news: Even as New York has increased testing over the past few weeks, the number and percentage of positive results have stayed extremely low.

2. The deadline for the special enrollment period for health insurance is Monday, June 15th. New Yorkers who lost their health insurance this year can apply for a health plan through the NY State of Health Marketplace.

3. This Sunday, June 14th, is World Blood Donor Day. This is a day to raise awareness of the need for safe blood donations, to thank those who have donated and to encourage others to consider donating. Due to Coronavirus, there is a shortage of blood, and blood donations are urgently needed across New York State. Learn how and where you can donate at http://ny.gov/donateblood.

4. The number of COVID hospitalizations continues to decline. Yesterday total hospitalizations fell to 1,898, from 2,042 the day before. Sadly we lost 42 New Yorkers to the virus. Our thoughts are with their families.

5. Progress on police reform. Today I signed landmark legislation to improve transparency in police disciplinary records and ban police chokeholds, among other reforms that will help restore trust and improve the relationship between police and the communities they serve.

6. Remember to respond to the Census. Every New Yorker can now respond to the Census — it is safe, easy and can be done online from the comfort of your own home. See the response rate in your city or town here and if you haven’t already, complete the Census today at my2020census.gov.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

From Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

As a proud resident and the Congressional Representative of Schuylerville in Saratoga County, I am deeply opposed to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s recent executive action to take down the historic statue of Revolutionary War hero Philip Schuyler. I have the honor of living in the historic cradle of the Revolutionary War – just minutes away from the Saratoga Battlefield and the Schuyler House – important sites that our community has worked hard to preserve, commemorate, and honor our region and founding leaders.

Growing up in Upstate New York as a student at Albany Academy for Girls, I vividly remember participating in a Middle School project called “Project Albany” where we were assigned various historic sites to research. My student group was assigned Schuyler Mansion – and even at that young age, we learned not only about how the Schuyler family lived, their family’s military service, and the important role Philip Schuyler played in providing critical financing for the Revolution, but we also learned about the family’s deeply disturbing use of slavery.

This was an important lesson at a young age that our American history is simultaneously exceptional and complex. It is true that the United States of America has been blessed with extraordinary leaders – especially our founding generation who envisioned the world’s greatest experiment of a nation based on the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is also true that like all leaders, our founding visionaries like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Philip Schuyler, had deep imperfections including the inhumane embrace of slavery.

Interestingly, when my younger brother was in Middle School, he was also assigned a similar project, but he could choose to study any historically important figure in Albany. After researching, he chose to highlight the lesser-known local figure Henry Johnson, an African-American hero who served in the U.S. Army in World War I. Private Henry Johnson served on the Western Front in France where he fought off a German raid in hand-to-hand combat, saving fellow soldiers’ lives while being wounded. I remember discussing this project with my brother and parents at the dinner table as my brother reflected that it was wrong that Private Johnson was not honored and was overlooked by the arc and authors of our national, state, and local history. It took almost 100 years for the United States to bestow Private Henry Johnson with his belated and deserved Medal of Honor. Years after learning about Private Henry Johnson from my brother at our kitchen table, I was honored to attend the historic and overdue ceremony at the White House at President Obama’s invitation in 2015 as a newly elected Member of Congress from Upstate New York.

The vibrant fabric of our history is rich with extraordinary, yet flawed leaders and disturbing chapters. Read more »

From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C. – Congressmembers Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Brian Higgins (NY-26), who serve as Co-Chairs of the House of Representatives Northern Border Caucus, are calling on the U.S. and Canadian governments to develop nuanced and particularized guidance for reopening the northern border.

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary and the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, Reps. Higgins and Stefanik write, “We appreciate that the incidence of COVID-19 at communities along the border varies and we respect the public health imperative; yet, a one-size-fits-all approach toward allowing travel across the border has the impact of keeping communities apart. There must be bi-national coordination to develop a plan to safely allow for reasonable travel taking into account public health considerations but acknowledging our unique interconnected economies.”

On March 24 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) imposed travel restrictions at Land Ports of Entry between the United States and Canada, limiting crossings to “essential travel” due to the ongoing pandemic. A second notice extended travel restrictions through May 20. A third agreement extended northern border restrictions through 11:59 pm on June 22, 2020.  Published reports indicate restrictions will be extended again into July.

Under the current order, “essential travel” includes:

• US citizens returning to the US
• Individuals traveling for medical purposes
• Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions  or work
• Individuals traveling for emergency or government response
• Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g. cargo drivers)
• Members of the military

Earlier this week the government of Canada indicated that they would allow individuals to reunite with their spouses, parents and dependent children if visitors observed a 14-day quarantine.

Higgins & Stefanik serve as co-chairs of the Northern Border Caucus, Congress’s oldest and largest Congressional Member organization dealing with the U.S. – Canada relationship.  Founded in 1994, this bipartisan group of Members has acted to highlight policy concerns and issues affecting the economic, cultural, and political partnership between the United States and Canada.

Opportunities Abound for New York’s Most Popular Freshwater Sportfish

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner (DEC) Basil Seggos announced today that the traditional harvest season for Largemouth and Smallmouth bass opens on June 20 and closes Nov. 30. In most waters, there is also a catch and release season starting on Dec. 1, and continuing until the start of the regular season, during which anglers can fish for bass using artificial lures. There are special fishing regulations for some waters, and York anglers should check the current fishing regulations guide before heading out to fish.

“New York provides some of the best bass fishing in the country, including the St. Lawrence River, which in 2019 was named the top bass ‘lake’ in the country by Bassmaster Magazine,” Commissioner Seggos said. “As New Yorkers start heading outdoors for the summer season after months of staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there’s nothing better than spending time with family and friends on the water pursuing these exciting sportfish while still recreating responsibly and practicing social distancing.”

Black bass is New York’s number one freshwater sport fish because they are aggressive, typically abundant, and are found in waters throughout New York. Big bass can be caught in small neighborhood ponds, warm water rivers and streams, and lakes of all sizes. Read more »

Sales tax revenue for local governments in May fell 32.3 percent compared to the same period last year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Sales tax collections for counties and cities in May totaled $918 million, or $437 million less than 2019.

The sharp decline in revenues was widespread around the state, ranging from a drop of 19.5 percent in Westchester County to a 41.5 percent decline in Tioga County. Nearly every county in every region of the state saw a large drop in overall collections. New York City experienced a 31.9 percent decline, amounting to $196 million in lost revenues for a single month. One major influence is consumers’ online spending, now largely subject to the sales tax. Detail on this activity is not currently available.

“We anticipated that sales tax revenues would continue to drop because of COVID-19 but the May sales tax figures show just how deep it is cutting into municipal finances,” DiNapoli said. “Sales tax revenues are vital funding not only for the state but for municipalities like counties and cities as well. The federal government needs to step up and provide financial help to states and local governments hit hard by this virus to avoid severe cuts to critical services.”

DiNapoli reported that local sales tax collections dropped 24.4 percent in April, or $327 million less than collected in that month a year ago, after relatively modest losses in March collections.

Over the three-month period of the pandemic’s effects, local governments have received $824 million (19.2 percent) less in sales tax revenue than they did during that same period in 2019.

Table:

Monthly Local Sales Tax Collections by Region

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: Covid-19 Roundup: State’s cases at 1,110; prisons test Covid-free – VTDigger

Source: Where are the fastest-growing cities and towns in New York state? (Map, lookup) – syracuse.com