The Peru Gazette

The agency is proposing to adjust fall turkey hunting seasons by limiting the season to two weeks with a bag limit of one bird of either sex for the season. DEC is proposing modifications of antlerless deer hunting seasons in portions of western and southeastern New York and Long Island, and changes to the Deer Management Assistance Program procedures statewide.

Source: Hunting season changes proposed – Times Union

Peru Gazette File photo

Peru VFW Post 309 will conduct its Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 25, 2015 11 a.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The Post is located at 710 Route 22B.

Peruvian Festival I

NYS Rural Water Association Waste Water Award

DRAFT AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING May 27, 2015@ 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the May 11, 2015 Regular Board Meeting.

5. Community Input

6. DISCUSSION: Teen Anglers Update 

7. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Clinton County Snow And Ice Contract 

8. DISCUSSION: Annual Water Quality Report

9. DISCUSSION: Judges’ Chambers

10. DISCUSSION: Bear Swamp Water District Extension Application

11. DISCUSSION: Wastewater System Of The Year Award

12. DISCUSSION: Peruvian International Festival II 

13. DISCUSSION: Solar Power Meeting With Peru Central School District 

14. DISCUSSION: LA Trail Fence Update 

15. DISCUSSION: Insurance Inspection

16. DISCUSSION: Unison Tower Proposal 

17. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Retirement resolutions

18. DISCUSSION: Other Business 

19. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only

20. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approve/Pay Bills     

MOTION:    Adjourn

The utility is proposing an increase that would raise average residential electric bills by $8 a month and average residential natural gas bills by $10 a month. The money would be used to enhance maintenance of the company’s 35,000-mile electric distribution system and strengthen overall security and automation of the network.

Source: NYSEG asking state officials for rate hike – Times Union

‘We are in litigation on multiple fronts opposing the relicensing’

Source: Energy czar: State actively working to shutter Indian Point | Capital New York

Plattsburgh, NY— The Strand Center for the Arts is proud to announce the Mayor’s Cup 2015 Artist Market, where local artists and crafters may display and sell their fine-art work. Registration for vendors is now open for this event, which will take place Saturday, July 11, 2015 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm during Mayor’s Cup Weekend on the front lawn of the Macdonough Monument in Downtown Plattsburgh.

The Artist Market is a producer-only event, meaning that the artists have made everything they sell. This includes, but is not limited to, jewelry, photography, metal work, rustic furniture, quilts, handmade stationary, paintings, pottery, and jams & jellies. Read more »

From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Glens Falls, N.Y. – On Wednesday, May 20th, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY-21) office will co-host a jobs fair from 2pm-6pm with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) for Lake Placid. We encourage all those looking for part-time, seasonal or full time participants to join us on Wednesday, May 20th from 2pm-6pm.

What: Lake Placid Jobs Fair Hosted by ROOST and Congresswoman Stefanik’s Office

When: From 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20th

Where: 2nd floor of the Conference Center at Lake Placid

For your business to participate, call Bethany at 518.523.2445 or email her at Bethany@roostadk.com with a completed form: LP-JobFair-Application Summer 2015.

It’s school budget voting day across the North Country. Voting in Peru takes place between noon and 9 p.m. in the Junior/Senior High School gymnasium. Voters will vote on a $44,279,643 budget with a 2.09% tax levy increase. Spending will increase by 4.45%.

The School Board candidates for two five-year terms are Jill Folsom and Cynthia Mills, both incumbents.

There is proposition to purchase three school buses at a cost not to exceed $348,000.

Amanda Clapper, The Robot Zone Inc.

Peru Associate Principal Cheryl Felt and CCC Admission Advisor Martha Hewitt

By John T Ryan

Peru – On Thursday, May 14th, 350 to 400 students from five area school districts participated in a “Career Connect Showcase” at Peru High School. Over the past school year Beekmantown, Saranac, Chazy, Northern Adirondack and Peru students have researched 16 Career Clusters (groups of careers such as engineering or finance that share common features). Thursday they shared their projects, received words of wisdom from nineteen workforce development, industry and education professionals, participated in a “soft skills” workshop and enjoyed “good and bad” job interview skits presented by the Peru High School Drama Club. Nine college representatives also answered questions about their programs. Champlain Valley Educations Services (CVES) and Mountain Lake PBS worked with the districts to host the program. (Click here to see all our Peru Gazette Photos) 

Peru High School English teacher Lindsay Smith described how Peru Central integrated the career connect program into classwork. “In English class, our ninth graders with the help of our business teacher, took an interest survey. That gave the students their interests and how they would match up with the career clusters. They chose the career clusters and got more information about the education required and the local programs and resources pertaining to their career cluster. They also watched videos about local businesses and the types of people they employ. Then they came up with some questions they wanted to ask.”

Asked what he had learned about a career choice, ninth grader Patrick Crowley responded, “I learned that it’s hard to get a job now. You’ve got to prepare for it at such a young age. I saw that robot over there and it looked pretty cool. I might look into it.” Mara Dufrain said, “I learned about how many opportunities there are in the North Country. I want to be a teacher more now. The teachers were so friendly. They want to help people and I want to help people too.”

A good handshake – A “Soft Skill”

Business representatives appeared very happy with the program. Josh Dubay, a Peru High School graduate, is a professional realtor at Fesette Realty and owner of Peabody’s Restaurant and Bar in Plattsburgh. He remarked, “I think it’s nice to expose kids to careers they might not have been exposed to by their parents or guidance counselors. There are new opportunities in areas we haven’t even thought of.” Dubay thought ninth grade is a good grade to get students thinking about a career. He said, “I think it’s great to expose them early. If you start thinking about it now by the time you’re a junior or senior you’re looking at what schools are offering and what program you’re interested in.”

Pamela Gomez of Swarovski Lighting, Ltd. informed the students about the opportunities her company offers. Swarovski has 330 employees in Plattsburgh and 28,000 worldwide. She said, “Plattsburgh is the global headquarters for our lighting business. We have opportunities in every discipline you need to run a global business from accounting, to engineering, design, customer service, marketing finance, purchasing, human resources and more. If someone goes away to school there are opportunities right here in their own backyard.”

A good interview presented by the Peru Drama Club

Participants included Former Congressman Bill Owens, the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Clinton County Probation Department, City of Plattsburgh Engineering, Total Computer, Swarovski Lighting, CV-TEC,  Mold-Rite Plastics, Plattco, The Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, NinePlatt, Clinton County Dept. of Social Services, Advocacy and Resource Management, Behavioral Health Services North, Workforce Investment Board, Ross Funeral Home, Adirondack P-Tech, Retired Educators Jerry McGovern and Kristine Mulvihill, UVM Health Network, CVES, WPTZ, Twinstate, Mountain Lake PBS, U-First Credit Union, Warren Tire, Saranac Central School, Peru Central School, ETS, U.S. Air Force, Town of Plattsburgh, NYS Police, Fessette Realty, Thunder Crest Farm, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Phoenix Feeds and Nutrition, Miner Institute, Sullivan Orchards, Murnane Building Contractors, Blair Brothers Construction, Denton Publications, Jeffords Steel and Luck Brothers Inc. Colleges included SUNY Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College, North Country Community College, Paul Smiths College, Clarkson University and Clarkson University Robotics, St. Lawrence University and SUNY Canton. Click here to learn more about the Career Choices program. 

Future Business Leaders of America members served as guides

Veteran Bazil Burns received his Orders of the Day

Gary Edwards is escorting Charles Filion of Plattsburgh

John Stafford is escorting Ruldolph Chapola of Champlain

By John T. Ryan

Fourteen World War II and Korean War Veterans and their escorts are members of today’s North Country Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Peru residents Gary Edwards and John Stafford are serving as escorts while Denis Mousseau is a Flight Leader. The Peru Gazette was honored to be present for this morning’s ceremonies at the Base Oval and at the veteran’s arrival at Clinton County International Airport. A huge crowd was present for the wonderful ceremonies. Click here to view these and several more Peru Gazette Photos (Accompanied by music if viewed on a PC) 

• Bazil Burns – Queensbury
• John Carey – Long Lake
• Rudolph Chapola – Champlain
• Charles Filion – Plattsburgh
• John Hansen – Chazy
• Daniel Henry – Massena
• Robert Jerdo – Westport
• Victor Lambert – Plattsburgh
• John Murphy – Plattsburgh
• Robert Noody – Star Lake
• Raymond Plante – Elizabethtown
• John Waldron – Port Henry
• Reginald Wells – Plattsburgh
• Charles Austin – Whitehall
• Pauline Stone – Flight Leader 1
• Denis Mousseau – Flight Leader 2

Peru Gazette File Photo

By John T. Ryan

There will not be a traffic signal installed at the Brand Hollow Road – Military Turnpike intersection in the immediate future. Hope, however, is not lost. If we have four more crashes in a one-year period we’ll qualify! That was the news Town Supervisor Peter Glushko delivered to town board members at the Monday, May 11, 2015 town board meeting. Following a January 31^st serious accident, the board asked the Department to conduct a Traffic Control Signal Needs Study to determine if a traffic light is warranted at the intersection. New York State requires that one of nine criteria or warrants must be satisfied to consider a traffic signal installation. The intersection did not satisfy any of the criteria. The NYSDOT accident history report (6/1/2009 to 5/31/14) stated that only three accidents occurred at the intersection over a five-year period. Five or more accidents, of a type susceptible to correction by a traffic signal, must have occurred over a 12-month period in order for a traffic signal to be considered.Click here to view the Signal Needs Study

The report further stated that in 2006 the Clinton County Highway Department and the Town of Peru performed a joint project to lower the elevation of the Military Turnpike for a distance of approximately 1,200 feet to the north of the Brand Hollow road, which considerably increased site distance. In 2009 the Town of Peru created a four-way stop control at the intersection and installed double “Stop Ahead” and “Stop” signs on the Military Turnpike approaches. Since the most recent accident NYSEG has installed a streetlight at the intersection at the town board’s request.

Over the past few months several residents (including this reporter) have witnessed motorists “blowing through” the intersection at high speed. Supervisor Glushko, frustrated with the report’s findings, asked Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell to research the cost of installing solar powered flashing red lights on top of the intersection’s four stop signs. Glushko said, “We need something to get people’s attention.”

In other town news Town Clerk Kathy Flynn told the board she is interested in setting up a Neighborhood Watch in her McIntosh Street neighborhood. Flynn said that there have been instances in the last week when young men have been involved in suspicious activity. One young man knocked on her neighbor’s door and asked to use a bathroom. Two young people parked in front of a neighbor’s home and when questioned they said they were waiting for a friend who was behind a McIntosh Street home. Supervisor Peter Glushko told Flynn to contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, which is responsible for coordinating Neighborhood Watch programs.

The board approved a $150 per hour consulting agreement with Public Sector HR Consultants LLC. The board is seeking expert advice on Employee Handbook issues, especially time clock policies.

Repairs to the historic Lyons Road School House will cost $1,200 more than expected. Contractor Donald Bell received a contract to perform $7,600 in repairs to the historic building. In the process of performing the repairs he discovered serious deterioration of a sill plate. The board approved $1,200 in additional work.

At least three individuals and families would like to purchase memorial benches for the Little Ausable River Walking Trail and the Laphams Mills Park. The William Kivett family is purchasing a bench for Laphams Mills Park to honor their father who served as Town of Peru Engineer. Two other families have indicated that they would like to purchase benches for the walking trail.

A fence still needs to be installed adjacent to the walking trail under the Route 22 Bridge. C&E Fencing submitted a $3,193 installed price for a 150-foot, 5 ft. high fence.

The board approved the purchase of online/cloud computer system backup from Carbonite, an on-line backup provider, at an annual cost of $899. Counselor Donald McBrayer has pushed hard for the off-site back up of town records. If a fire or other disaster occurs, town and court records should be easily retrievable from Carbonite.

Town engineer Peter Gibbs discussed truss corrosion at the Highway Department’s salt and sand storage building. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said that two steel trusses are definitely corroded. Gibbs would like to examine all the trusses. He also noted that the existing structure will not accommodate twenty to thirty percent of the town’s salt and sand stockpile resulting in runoff and environmental concerns.

It appears that problems with the Highway Department’s garage roof will never go away. Moisture has been discovered leaking from the newest roof section. Gibbs said it might need more insulation and/or ventilation. Gibbs will prepare formal proposals for the board’s May 27^th meeting.

Planning for the July 19^th second annual International Peruvian Festival is continuing.

Supervisor Glushko will be a guest speaker at the VFW’s Memorial Day services. Counselor McBrayer will be is back-up speaker if Glushko cannot attend.

Counselor Jim Douglas thanked Adele Douglas for coordinating and planning the May 2^nd Walking Trail tree planting. Volunteers planted 275 trees in about two hours. Douglas had the trees in place, the tools on hand and the tree locations marked making it very easy for the volunteers. It seems that everything Adele Douglas does is extremely well done!

Tax Collector Kathy Flynn reported that she has closed her books on the 2015 tax collections.

Supervisor Glushko and other counselors stated they are still open to having a dog park at Heyworth/Mason Park. Someone just needs to volunteer to put it together.

Peru Gazette File Photo

Source: Audio portrait for century-old library – Press-Republican: News

Retired Army colonel from Peru exploring run against incumbent Republican Elise Stefanik in the 21st District race next year.

Source: Democratic challenger for Congress may emerge – Press-Republican: Local News

Group appealing for public to help; first flight of 2015 set to depart May 16

Source: Honor Flight seeking World War II vets – Press-Republican: Local News

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that up to $12 million in Market NY grants, to fund projects that will increase tourism and create job opportunities, are available to businesses, municipalities, not-for-profits and other entities through Round V of Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative. This latest round of Market NY grants, which includes capital grants for tourism facilities, will be awarded to tourism and marketing projects that advance each region’s strategic plan and will help to boost tourism in the region and New York State. Read more »

AGENDA PLANNING BOARD WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2015 @ 7:00 PM TOWN OF PERU 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL 4. APPROVAL of March 11th, 2015 minutes. 5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing 6. APPLICATIONS: 1. Site Plan Review: Thomas Caron Site Plan Review for Auto (cycle) Repair Shop 852 Fuller Rd. P-2015-003 2. SEQR & 2 Lot Minor Subdivision: Rhonda Dergham 2 Lot Minor Subdivision 48 Cook Rd. P-2015-004 3. SEQR & 4 Lot Minor Subdivision/Remaining lands: Jeremy Deyo 4 Lot Minor Subdivision/Remaining lands Sullivan Rd. P-2015-005 4. SEQR & 2 Lot Minor Subdivision: David Rock 2 Lot Minor Subdivision 633 Union Rd. P-2015-006

Was injured in accident in South Carolina.

Source: Former Peru coach Stan Riggs dies – Press-Republican: Local News

From the office of State Senator Betty Little

The State Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Betty Little that would authorize towns to set speed limits within their jurisdictions. Villages, cities and towns with large populations can do so on their own, but most towns must petition the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for approval. “The goal is create a uniform policy and eliminate what is currently an unfunded mandate,” said Little, who has sponsored the bill for numerous years.

The bill (S.1216) would amend section 1622 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to authorize towns to establish maximum speed limits on all town highways that are functionally classified as “local roads. Speed limits would be less than the 55 miles per hour statutory maximum speed limit.

Towns that elect to set maximum speed limits would need to do so in accordance with engineering specifications. Speed limit changes would require certification by a licensed professional engineer specializing in traffic operations. Town boards not wanting to set speed limits could elect for the DOT to maintain jurisdiction to set maximum speed limits on town roads.

The legislation, which passed the Senate by unanimous vote, is supported by AARP.

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting and annual budget hearing on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 6 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 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. Anticipated topics include:

· Public Hearing on the Annual Budget Vote
· Public Hearing on the District’s Code of Conduct
· Various Request for Proposal Items
· Capital Project Schedule
The full agenda is available at www.perucsd.org
All are welcome.

Regular Mtg Agenda 11May15

Source: Capitol Confidential » Schneiderman: Want to reduce ethics prosecutions? Aim for real reform

After fighting a fire, volunteer firefighters have to prepare for their next call. This was the scene at the Peru Fire Station last night after the 579 Fuller Road fire. “THANK YOU” DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS!

This was the scene at 579 Fuller Rd. Monday after a late afternoon fire destroyed a 12-stall, two-story barn owned by Clement and Kelly Bell. Nine pigs and 5 hens perished in the blaze. Three cars/trucks, a 4-wheeler and a snowmobile were also destroyed. The Peru Volunteer Fire Department was successful in saving the nearby house and garage. (Click here to view more Peru Gazette Photos)