The Peru Gazette

ATTICA, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s correctional officer’s union says Attica Correctional Facility was placed on lockdown after five fights involving illegal weapons broke out in the span of two days. The western New York maximum security prison has been on lockdown since Sunday while officials search the facility for weapons and other contraband.

Source: Attica prison in lockdown after prisoner fights – Times Union

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) enforce the 71 Chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York.
In November, ECO Jennifer Okonuk began an investigation into the complaint of waste tires being stored at an auto repair facility in the town of Dickinson. After an inspection was completed with assistance from DEC staff, multiple Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) violations were documented in addition to more than 1,000 waste tires being stored on site. In December, ECO Okonuk and DEC staff conducted a follow-up site inspection and discovered additional violations, including the illegal disposal of lead-acid batteries, which had been buried on the property. The case is now being handled jointly by the Division of Law Enforcement and DEC’s Office of General Counsel.
In 2015, the 268 ECOs across the state responded to 25,000 calls and issued 22,000 tickets for crimes ranging from deer poaching to corporate toxic dumping and illegal mining, black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

Source: Chip firms walking away from landmark SUNY Poly program – Times Union

Peru, NY – Based on the weather advisory for the Champlain Valley the Peru Knights of Columbus bingo scheduled for tonight (Tuesday, January 10th) is cancelled.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Peru Town Court invites everyone to an Open House on Saturday, January 14th from 9 till noon. The recently opened Town Court building is located at 22 Davey Lane, behind Langley Insurance and McDonald’s. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and see all aspects of the beautiful facility. Click here to see the Peru Gazette’s December 6, 2016 story.

AGENDA – ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, WEDNESDAY, January 18, 2017 @ 7:00 PM, TOWN OF PERU
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL of December 21, 2016 minutes.
OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
APPLICATIONS:

1. Area Variance Z-2016-018: Forrence Orchards Inc.
2731 Route 22
Peru NY 12972

ANY FURTHER BUSINESS: Introduction of Matt Favro, Town Attorney/Planning & Zoning
CEO REPORT:
ADJOURNMENT

PERU — Peru Central PTO members are looking to replace the district’s third- through sixth-grade playground.

Source: Fundraising underway for new playground at Peru Central School – Sun Community News & Printing

Store is not on the latest list of upcoming closings.

Source: Plattsburgh K-Mart safe for now | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 6:00 PM at the school district’s Community Room, adjacent to the main entrance of Peru Jr/Sr High School. An executive session associated with particular personnel matters will take place immediately following the 6:00 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. Anticipated topics include:

· Update from Peru 2020 Achievement Committee
· Multi-Year Financial Plan
· Professional Development Plan
· Appointment of Personnel

The full Board agenda is available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.
All are welcome.

Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Town Board Regular Meeting of December 30, 2016.

DISCUSSION/MOTION: Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports)

Community Input

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Appointment of Tom Fusco to Zoning Board of Appeals.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Appointment of Allison Hulbert-Bruce to Planning Board.

DISCUSSION: BAN for Court Building Purchase.

DISCUSSION: Occupational Safety & Health Training & Education Program Support Letter.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Terry Mountain Snow Plowing Contract.

DISCUSSION: Sewer Project Bond.

DISCUSSION: Water/Sewer Hook Up Charges.

DISCUSSION: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Town Court House.

DISCUSSION: Town of Ellenburg Fertilimer Issue.

DISCUSSION: Heyworth Mason Building Future Use.

Other Business.
Community Input on Agenda Items.

Motion to Adjourn.

AGENDA – PUBLIC HEARING ON Rose Simpson Property (Click here for Peru Gazette Details) 

January 9, 2017, 6:00 PM at the Peru Town Hall 
Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

MOTION: To Open the Public Hearing.

DISCUSSION: Community Input and Questions

MOTION: To Close the Public Hearing.

MOTION: Adjourn

AGENDA – TOWN BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING, JANUARY 9, 2017, 6:30 PM

Call Meeting To Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2017 Salaries for Elected Positions.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of 2017 Appointees.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2017 Appointee Salaries and Frequency of Payments

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of Town Department Liaisons.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2017 Regular Town Board Meeting Dates and Times.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of 2017 Contracts.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Establishment of 2017 Town Mileage Reimbursement

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Designation of Town Depositories.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Designation of Town Newspaper.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: 2017 Town Board Meeting Rules of Order.

DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Town Procurement Policy Update.
MOTION: Adjourn

CANTON, NY (01/06/2017)– Miranda Smith of Peru, NY, 12972, made the SUNY Canton President’s List during the Fall 2016 semester.

“Congratulations Miranda,” said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. “You have demonstrated a great commitment to your academic studies and should be proud of your accomplishments. In recognition of your success, I am pleased to include your name on the SUNY Canton President’s List. Best wishes for continued success in all of your future endeavors.”

Smith is a SUNY Canton Criminal Investigation major and a 2016 graduate of Peru Junior-Senior High School.

To receive President’s List honors, full-time students must earn a semester grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

About SUNY Canton Read more »

Source: Plattsburgh council struggles with deficit and taxes as budget deadline nears | NCPR News

New Yorkers that love the outdoors and are looking for summer employment are invited to participate in free lifeguard qualifying procedures beginning January 21, 2017, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today.

Seasonal lifeguard positions are available at DEC campgrounds throughout the Adirondack and Catskill parks this summer. The current hourly rate for NYS DEC lifeguards is $13.27. Additionally, most facilities offer free housing.

Individuals 16 and older interested in lifeguarding positions at DEC facilities this summer may register. DEC qualifying procedures will be offered through June 11, 2017. Candidates who qualify will be considered for employment. The procedure includes an in-water demonstration of lifesaving techniques and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) performance.

Candidates may attend the DEC qualifying location convenient to them, and the results will be forwarded to their preferred work location.

At the time of employment, DEC lifeguards must:

Be at least 16 years of age;
Possess a valid certification in Waterfront Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider, and First Aid (if not included in the lifeguard training course);
Have successfully completed the DEC lifeguard qualifying procedure;
Have completed a personal interview with DEC;
Have attended a DEC lifeguard orientation;
Submit a current certification of the candidate’s physical ability to perform lifeguard duties; and
Meet the vision requirement of 20/70 uncorrected in both eyes and be correctable to the 20/40 standard. Candidates tested at a vision level below 20/40 in either one or both eyes must correct to a minimum of 20/40 with 20/20 preferred.
Qualifying procedures will begin on time and late arrivals will not be accepted. Candidates will be given a 15 minute warm-up period to become familiar with the pool and equipment. Candidates must bring photo identification, current certifications (if available), and their own CPR mask.

2017 Qualifying Dates and Locations
Date Time Location Address City
Saturday January 21st 9:00am Lynch Literacy Academy 55 Brandt Place Amsterdam
Saturday February 25th 9:00am Gloversville Middle School 234 Lincoln Street Gloversville
Sunday March 19th 2:00pm Glens Falls High School 15 Quade Street Glens Falls
Sunday March 26th 2:00pm Paul Smiths College (Saunders Sports Complex) Route 30 Saranac Lake
Saturday April 1st 9:00am Holland Patent High School 8079 Thomson Road Holland Patent
Sunday April 2nd 2:00pm Moriah Central School 39 Viking Lane Port Henry
Saturday April 8th 9:00am Gloversville Middle School 234 Lincoln Street Gloversville
Sunday April 30th 9:00am SUNY Delhi (Kunsela Hall) 2 Main Street Delhi
Saturday May 6th 9:00am South Lewis Central School 4264 East Road Turin
Sunday May 7th 2:00pm SUNY Cobleskill (Bouck Hall) Route 7 Cobleskill
Saturday May 20th 9:00am Queensbury Elementary School 431 Aviation Road Queensbury
Saturday June 3rd 9:00am Lynch Literacy Academy 55 Brandt Place Amsterdam
Sunday June 11th 2:00pm Paul Smiths College (Saunders Sports Complex) Route 30 Saranac Lake
DEC reserves the right to cancel.

Certification courses may be available through DEC. For more information, updates, or to pre-register, call 518-457-2500 ext. #1, e-mail DEC at Info.LifeGuard@dec.ny.gov, or visit the Employment Opportunities in Summer Recreation web page on DEC’s website.

A Message from the New York State DEC

Anglers and hunters should be aware of at least two currently active non-DEC websites where one can, purportedly, purchase a fishing license, hunting license or receive hunter education training that meets New York requirements:

Fishinglicense.org
Hunting-license.org
Among other things, these sites offer information on how their products can simplify the purchase of a New York State fishing license or hunting license. Though some of the logistical licensing information is correct and may be useful, these sites also offer a consumer the ability to purchase time-saving downloads for recreational licensing services that are specifically NOT affiliated with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The consumer on these sites should understand that they are only getting ‘assistance’ for their money and not an actual fishing or hunting license. Additionally, the money being charged by these websites is not a ‘credit’ toward the purchase of any New York fishing or hunting license.

All of the New York licensing information that one needs can be found on the DEC Sporting Licenses web page.

State says more than 16,500 would be affected in Clinton, Essex, Franklin counties.

Source: Officials voice concern about Obamacare repeal | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Search underway for successor to Dr. Patrick Brimstein, who will leave district at end of June.

Source: Peru Central superintendent to step down | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Fairway Drive at the intersection of Northwood Avenue

By John T. Ryan

Peru – September, 2016 marked the end of a long-running, costly legal dispute between the Town of Peru and Henry and Kevin Dashnaw, owners of Adirondack Golf and Country Club. In a Clinton County Supreme Court Agreement the parties agreed that Fairway Drive, which is adjacent to the Dashnaw’s Adirondack Golf and Country Club, will become a town road seven years from the date of the agreement or when the 19 lots adjacent to Fairway Drive reach a collective assessed value of $1,908,396.95. Until such time the Town will maintain the road in its current condition at its own cost from April 1 to November 30 and Dashnaws will maintain the road in its current condition at their own cost from December 1 to March 31. The Town is not compelled to make any improvements to the road either before or after it becomes a town road; however, nothing in the agreement precludes any future owners of the adjacent lots from petitioning or compelling the Town under Article 12 of the Town Law to perform its duties with respect to the road as mandated by law after it becomes a town road. The Town also will not deny any building permits based on the lack of road frontage.

The ownership, construction and maintenance of the road has a long and complicated history. A 0.2 mile portion of the road was paved many years ago, while the portion adjacent to the 19 lots is unpaved. The Dashnaws contend that prior to construction of the Adirondack Northway Fairway Drive was part of the Brand Hollow Road and the Town recognized it as such when they submitted their subdivision plan in about 1990. At that time the Town paved roads in a development. Since then the practice has changed. Today, a developer must construct a road to town standards and then pass title to the town. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko said, “If we built a road for the Dashnaws, we’d have to do the same for every developer. We can no longer do that. It’s just too expensive.” The Dashnaw’s attorney stated it would cost about $200,000 to bring the road up to code.

After being denied building permits based on a lack of road frontage, the Dashnaws initiated legal action in 2011. Several court rulings and appeals followed. Last March, the Clinton County Supreme Court ordered the parties to prepare for trial. Faced with more legal expenses, the parties reached an agreement.

Kevin Dashnaw told the Peru Gazette that he and his father have incurred about $100,000 in legal fees while the Town’s legal expenses total $94,012.92. The Dashnaws will not be denied building permits based on a lack of road frontage and the Town does not contemplate having to bear the cost of paving the road. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko commented, “I said build your homes, but we will never pave that road.”

Click here to review Settlement Agreement.

Click here to view Order to prepare for Trial

Fairway Drive – Rock Road intersection

PERU — AuSable Valley coach Roger Long was apologetic when he and Madison McCabe came together for a picture following the Patriots’ 62-51 win over the Peru Lady Indians Dec. 27.

Source: A night for McCabe, Long as AVCS Lady ‘Pats defeat Peru – Sun Community News & Printing

PLATTSBURGH — It’s already a good year for the state’s minimum wage workers, who received a pay bump just hours before welcoming 2017.

Source: Minimum wage sees another increase – Sun Community News & Printing

​Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing to offer free tuition at New York public colleges to eligible residents.

Source: Gov. Cuomo calls for free tuition at New York public colleges

Based on the weather advisory for Eastern Clinton County, the Peru Knights of Columbus bingo scheduled for tonight (Tuesday, January 3rd) is cancelled.

SUNY officials are trying to raise tuition again after they were rebuffed last year to extend $300 annual undergraduate tuition increases.

Source: SUNY asks for tuition hikes that vary by campus – The Buffalo News

OK Slip falls in the Adirondacks was closed to the public for decades. Thanks to a deal orchestrated by the Nature Conservancy, the trail is open now and it leads to glorious vista.

Source: A winter trek to OK Slip Falls, a new Adirondack gem | NCPR News