The Peru Gazette

CRAFT FAIR
WHERE: Peru Memorial VFW
710 Pleasant St, Rt 22B
Peru, NY 12972
WHEN: November 22, 2014 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WHY: Proceeds to benefit the Ladies Auxiliary Relief that benefits veterans and their families.
WHO: Everyone – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Local craft vendors merchandise for sale, bake sale, raffles and lunch/snack items for purchase.

Extra Info: Table rental is $15 for 6′ Table or 20 for 8′ – Contact Melissa Wiggins @ 605-3023

By John T. Ryan

The 2015 budget was not the only important subject matter at the Monday, November 10, 2014 Town Board Meeting.  Dog control, water-sewer rates, curbside parking in the hamlet, an enforceable park policy and walking trail fencing were also on the agenda.

As of Monday’s meeting the Town of Peru did not have an animal shelter under contract to receive animals detained by the Dog Control Officer. The Town had a contract with the Adirondack Humane Society, but when it ceased operation a few weeks ago another shelter had to be located. The Board immediately commenced contract negotiations with the Elmore SPCA; however, the Town Board and Elmore officials have not been able to agree on contract terms. Elmore SPCA officials proposed a contract that they say other towns accept, however, Peru Town Attorney Donald Biggs is of the opinion that the contract needs clarification regarding the town’s liability, an animal’s length of stay and the responsibility for incurred expenses. All the Town Board members expressed a desire to reach an agreement with Elmore SPCA, especially since it is a local shelter. The only alternative shelter at this time appears to be a facility located in Elizabethtown. Transporting animals to Elizabethtown would be expensive and time-consuming.

Peru’s water and sewer users will experience a 2015 rate increase. Supervisor Peter Glushko told the Gazette, “The water district has a very low fund balance. We’ve tried to keep rates down, but we’ve reached a point where they have to be increased.” A $40,000 increase in water receipts has been included in next year’s budget. The Board scheduled a workshop for November 17th at 6:30 p.m. at which time the they will determine the amount of the rate increase.

The Board has proposed an ordinance regulating the use of facilities at town parks and its trail system (Sullivan, Little Ausable, Laphams Mills and Heyworth/Mason). The ordinance includes many provisions including a prohibition on consumption of alcoholic beverages, a requirement that dogs be leashed at all times and a prohibition of any motorized vehicles on trails. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on November 24th at 6:45 p.m. Click here to review proposed ordinance

Also on November 24^th, a 6:30 p.m. public hearing will be held on the extension of the water sewer district to I87 along the Bear Swamp Road. The district currently ends at the Dashnaw Road. If approved, the proposal would extend district boundaries. It would not authorize expending monies for laying pipe at this time. The Town Board believes that water-sewer availability would encourage business development. Supervisor Glushko siad that the owners of the Mobil station bordering I87 have indicated that they would like to hook up to the system.

Several Peru residents did not get their water-sewer bill payments to the Town Hall by the November 6^th close of business; hence the Town will apply a levy to their 2015 tax bills. The bills will include a 10% penalty. All bills must be received in the Town Hall by the last date for payment. A payment postmarked but not received on the due date is subject to the 10% penalty. The amount due totaled $59,429.25.

The Town may soon be purchasing signs to inform vehicle operators that curbside parking is not permitted adjacent to Peru’s roads and highways where “no parking” signs are in place, the only exception being for local merchants and delivery trucks which are permitted to park for temporary loading and unloading.  A few Elm Street and Jenkins Street residents have complained about cars being parking in front of their homes and sometimes two-way traffic is impossible on portions of Elm Street. Town plows also are unable to properly remove snow when vehicles are parked adjacent to curbs. The Board asked Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell to determine signage costs. Local Law No. 1 of 2003 could be enforced if signs are posted. Click here to review Parking Law of 2003

In a bit of good news, Code Enforcement Officer Frank Slycord reported that permits for twenty-three new single-family homes have been issued in 2014.

Please note: at 4:55 p.m. on November 13, 2014 the portion of this story covering the Parking Law of 2003 was clarified. 

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board unanimously approved the Town of Peru’s 2015 budget at its Monday, November 10, 2014 meeting. The Town’s general, highway and water district tax rates will decrease, while sewer tax rates will slightly increase. Here are the projected 2015 tax rates per $1,000 dollars of taxable property value. Two water district (2005) bonds were paid off in 2014 permitting the 23% reduction in water district tax rates. Click here to review the 2015 Budget

                                 2014                2015

General               $2.10               $2.07

Highway             $2.58               $2.54

Water                    $3.03               $2.33

Sewer                     $0.25               $0.26

Valcour Sewer   $0.37               $0.38

Valcour #2            $0.45               $0.48

$1,370,951 ($1,364,951 in 2014) will be appropriated to fund the general portion of the budget with $378,679 funded by fees, fines and other revenues, $140,000 from the 2014 fund balance and $852,272 from taxes. The general budget funds operations such as the town board and supervisor’s office, legal fees, data processing, office equipment, the town clerk, the highway superintendent’s salary, planning and zoning, town court, parks and recreation.

Highway Department appropriations for 2015 total $1,572,226 ($1,605,945 in 2014) with $521,523 generated by services to other governments, New York State highway maintenance monies and $1,050,703 in property taxes. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said he plans to pave three miles of highway in 2015: the Dashnaw Road between the Laphams Mills Rd. and Route 22 and the Fox Farm Road from Route 22B to the Rockwell Road. Additional paving might be done, depending on the cost incurred on these projects.

The Board will receive a $800 flat pay raise along with all staff members regardless of pay grade. 2015 salaries for elected officials will be:

Supervisor                                    $23,686

Board Member                             $ 7,299

Town Clerk/Tax Collector      $23,810

Town Justice                              $18,201

Highway Superintendent       $55,000

The Strand Center for the Arts will be hosting the Inaugural Lake Champlain International Film Festival this weekend showcasing our new equipment. “Filmmakers from over 23 countries submitted films for this year’s festival. The stories they are presenting showcase a tremendous creative range with highly-developed plot-lines, picturesque cinematography and professional-level production value. Audience members should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to meet some of the filmmakers who will be in Plattsburgh for the festival and checkout their films,” said Jessica Dulle, Executive Director of The Strand Center for the Arts.

The Strand Center for the Arts has completed the installation of its new state-of-the-art digital cinema equipment, with the goal of becoming the North Country’s premier artistic movie house showing classic films, documentaries and showcasing the Wurlitzer organ with silent movies. It is not our intention to compete with the regular movie options in Plattsburgh, but offer what is not currently available to the community.

The Strand Theatre was one of the 12 independent movie theatres that were involved with ANCA’s “Go Digital or Go Dark” movement to help small theatres convert to expensive digital equipment to stay in business, as film versions would no longer be available. The Strand Theatre also received partial funding through a grant of $78,000 from the New York State Council of the Arts, as part of the North Country Economic Councils CFA process for this digital conversion. We have been able to raise the addition $78,000 to match this grant with the continued generosity of our financial community.

Installed is a NEC 2000C digital projector with a Dolby server plus a blue-ray player. We have also installed a JBL surround sound system with crown amplifiers along with a 16 x 32 ft screen that is motorized and can be raised and lowered as needed.

The Strand Theatre restoration process is just about finished but the organization still needs $400,000 to install the remaining rigging, lighting and sound equipment needed to become a professional performance venue for the North Country.

Price Chopper to be renamed Market 32 – Times Union.

James P. O’Connor Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard posted Colors

Peru VFW Post 309 conducted Veterans Day ceremonies this morning at 11 a.m. Post Commander Rick Cornish welcomed guests including Peru Town Supervisor Peter Glushko, County Legislators James Langley and Peter Keenan, Reverend Alan Shnob and Saranac High School Senior Cory Bell.  Peter Glushko traced the heroic sacrifices of America’s veterans up to and including the men and women on active duty today. Cory Bell read his award winning essay which pointed out how veterans’ wartime experiences can be vital in deterring future wars. Post 309 Ladies Auxiliary President Judy Lefebvre presented Cory Bell with the VFW’s Voice of Democracy Certificate of Merit. Bell’s essay won the local audio-essay contest and will advance to higher level competition. The James O’Connor Civil Air Patrol Squadron posted Colors, Bravo Company, 2nd Emergency Response 10th Brigade, New York Guard conducted a rifle salute and Lynn Wilke sounded Taps.

Town Supervisor Peter Glushko was the main speaker

Cory Bell delivered award-winning Voice of Democracy speech

L-R Cory Bell, Rev. Alan Shnob, Supervisor Peter Glushko, Post Chaplain Ron LaDuke, County Legislator Jim Langley

Cory Bell’s Award

L-R Ron LaDuke, Cory Bell, Auxiliary President Judy Lefebvre, Post Commander Rick Cornish

A Message from Ithaca College

ITHACA, NY Nicholas Uliva, a junior sport management major in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance at Ithaca College, was inducted into the Oracle Honor Society on Nov. 3, 2014.

Students who maintain a GPA in the top 10 percent of all students in their school throughout their first full academic year are invited into the society.

Founded in 1928, the Oracle Honor Society is a historic Ithaca College honors society that recognizes academic excellence.

From day one, Ithaca College prepares students for success through hands-on experience with internships, research and study abroad. Its integrative curriculum builds bridges across disciplines and uniquely blends liberal arts and professional study. Located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, the College is home to 6,100 undergraduate and 460 graduate students.

A Craft Beer Tasting Event to benefit the Peru Community Church’s Jamaica Project will be held at the Plattsburgh Brewing Co. 411 Route 3 Plattsburgh, Wednesday, December 10, 2014 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. It will be an evening of tasting local craft beer and snacks in an enjoyable and relaxing venue. The tickets are priced at $25 each with a maximum attendance of 120 people. A silent auction of donated items will be held in conjunction with the evening. For ticket information call Harriet at 518 643-9778 or Sally at 643-0309.

In 1999 The Peru Community Church first set up the Annual Jamaican Mission. It was in response to a local need to help a Jamaican worker who was in our town to pick apples for a local orchard. He fell from a ladder and was paralyzed from the mid chest down. After his convalescence, he returned to Jamaica to live out the rest of his life trapped in his wheelchair. It took 3 men to carry him out of his house just to get him to doctors appointments. The mission team from Peru from its inception included more than just Peru Church members. The team has always included people who for one reason or another learned of the project and wanted to help. The first few years, the team worked on the home of the paraplegic, making it handicap accessible. When he seemed comfortable in his home, the team began working with a local outreach organization which identified homeless people in need. The Mission each year since has gone to Jamaica to build simple comfortable houses for the poor of central Jamaica.

While in Jamaica the team also volunteers at area schools, orphanages, and medical clinics. Many items needed by these organizations are brought down in team members suitcases to be distributed to the needy.

Over the past 15 years, the Jamaican Mission has changed the lives of scores of Jamaican people. Nearly 80 people from as far away as Colorado and Florida have joined the Mission and all will say that even though they went to Jamaica to change the lives of the less fortunate, they returned feeling that they were the ones who had benefited. Being immersed in the culture of the average person in a foreign land and doing for others are life changing events.

Each year the total budget of the project is approximately $35,000. All of the expenses incurred personally by team members, travel, hotel, food, daily transportation, etc are paid for by the individual team members traveling. This covers close to $25,000. The balance of nearly $10,000 is raised by the Jamaican Mission committee. This money is needed mainly to purchase building materials in Jamaica for the house building and house repair projects.

Peru Gazette File Photo

The Peru Lions Club will be hosting its 37th annual John P. Adams Memorial Turkey Trot on November 27th, 2014 (Thanksgiving Day). Pre-register by going to www.perulionsclubnewyork.org Click “Register for Events”. Select Turkey Trot and chose one of the registration/payment options. Same day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Peru Intermediate School gym. To ensure a 9:00 start, registration will end at 8:15, sharp. The 1 mile fun run/walk begins at 8:45 a.m. and the 5 & (unofficial) 10K races shortly afterward. Entry fee for 5 & 10K events is $20 if pre-registered online before Friday 11/21 at 10 a.m. Bib pick-up and last minute pre-registration can be done in person at the Peru Intermediate gym on Wednesday the 26th from 4-7 p.m. On the day of the event, the fee is $25. The 1 mile fun run/walk fee is $5. Trophies are awarded to male and female winners of the 5 & 10K races.

For more info, contact: Lois Roberts @ 643-2213 or Jen Boyer @ 562-0528.

A Message from Bruce and Marge Garcia – 2014 United Way Co-Chairs

One of the qualities of leadership is having a sense of purpose that directs a person to use his or her strengths to help others. If you are interested in becoming a leader in your community, consider supporting the United Way at the Leadership level.  Leadership Giving affords you the opportunity to be part of something much greater than any of us can achieve alone. Last year, leadership giving amounted to almost 23% of the funds raised.

Leadership giving brings with it the great satisfaction of helping those who are struggling in our community. It is also your chance to be part of the solution, to connect and be recognized with others who share your commitment to doing more.

Leadership can be done through a one-time donation or payroll deduction. Your gift of $500 or more, given directly to United Way of the Adirondack Region, will make a significant impact in your community.   Leadership giving is possible for as little as $10 per week.  You can also reach a leadership level by combining gifts with a partner or spouse at another workplace.  Donations can also be made anonymously.

Your donation supports 41 essential programs in your community, such as Hospice of the North Country and Life Flight.  Last year over 80,000 lives were touched by programs supported by the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.  The money raised here, stays here.  To support programs and services in your area, call the United Way today at 563-0028 and ask how you can become a Leadership Giver.

Leadership giving brings with it the great satisfaction of helping those who are struggling in our community. It is also your chance to be part of the solution, to connect and be recognized with others who share your commitment to doing more.

Leadership can be done through a one-time donation or payroll deduction. Your gift of $500 or more, given directly to United Way of the Adirondack Region, will make a significant impact in your community.   Leadership giving is possible for as little as $10 per week.  You can also reach a leadership level by combining gifts with a partner or spouse at another workplace.  Donations can also be made anonymously.

Your donation supports 41 essential programs in your community, such as Hospice of the North Country and Life Flight.  Last year over 80,000 lives were touched by programs supported by the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.  The money raised here, stays here.  To support programs and services in your area, call the United Way today at 563-0028 and ask how you can become a Leadership Giver.

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING November 10, 2014, 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Town Board Regular Meeting of October 27, 2014 and of the Town Board Special Meeting of October 30, 2014.
5. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control Officer; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports)
6. Community Input
7. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Approval of 2015 Final Town 
8. DISCUSSION: Bank Account Closures. 
9. DISCUSSION: Election Sign Pick Up. 
10. DISCUSSION: Schedule Public Hearing for Town Park 
11. DISCUSSION: Water/Sewer Rates.
12. DISCUSSION: Water/Sewer District Expansion.
13. DISCUSSION: Animal Shelter Issues.
14. DISCUSSION: Elm Street
15. DISCUSSION: Veterans Day Ceremony.
16. DISCUSSION: Fencing for Walking Trail.
17. Other Business.
18. Community Input on Agenda Items.
19. Motion to Adjourn.

In the race for the office of Peru Town Justice Republican Larry Cabana received 1201 votes to Democrat Karen Glushko’s 628 votes.  Both candidates worked hard for the position visiting all or almost all the homes in the town.  Cabana stressed his law enforcement experience while Glushko stressed her background in school psychology and in assisting troubled youths.

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on the Town of Peru’s Preliminary 2015 Budget for Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 6:30 P.M.  Supervisor Peter Glushko said the Town Board worked hard to keep the budget under the state imposed 1.56% tax cap.  $140,000 in general fund monies will be used to balance the budget, although  Glushko is optimistic that Clinton County’s sales tax collections will ultimately reduce that amount to about $40,000. All employees including the Town Board will receive a flat $800 pay increase. Glushko said, “We haven’t had an increase for some time. We’re falling behind neighboring communities.”

The Water District retired two long term bonds in 2014 which will save water users $96,683 (22%) in water user property taxes. Unfortunately, a water rate increase is anticipated partially offsetting the property tax decrease.  Click Here to Review Town of Peru 2015 PRELIMINARY BUDGET

• HUDSON RIVER CONCERT SERIES – Friday, November 14 at 7pm. Meet the Musicians reception to follow. Donation at the door for library renovations.

• POTTER’S GUILD ANNUAL SHOW and SALE with PHOTOGRAPHY by RON NOLLAND Opening Reception and Meet the Artists on Friday November 21, 5-7PM

There’s more details on their website: www.perufreelibrary.org

The Peru Central School District Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for potential candidates.  The District Hall of Fame is designed to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on our school or achieved an outstanding contribution(s) to society as a graduate of Peru CSD. The candidate must have attended, been employed, served or contributed to Peru CSD in some capacity and must have been retired for at least five (5) years.

The following criteria will be used when considering an individual to the Hall of Fame – outstanding contributions to Peru CSD, outstanding contribution to society, outstanding career, participation and/or leadership in community activities, and a significant impact on an individual’s life while associated with Peru.

Deadline for applications will be February 1, 2015.  Applications may be picked up at the Jr/Sr High School office or downloaded from the District web site at www.perucsd.org.

By John T. Ryan

Town government watchers expected the Town Board to continue their discussion on relocating the Town of Peru’s Court Chambers and Court Room to the Town Hall’s lower level at the Board’s Monday, October 27, 2014 meeting. Instead, the Board delayed any action until after January 1, 2015. After conferring with JCEO Coordinator Pat Holmes, Board members concluded that the holiday season would not be a good time to disrupt JCEO Food Shelf services which are headquartered in the Town Hall’s lower level. Councilman Brandy McDonald said, “Let’s wait until the beginning of the year. Thanksgiving preparation is going on. We’ll also have a second judge elected by then.” Councilman Donald McBrayer added, “After reviewing the situation, relocating our offices is more logistically difficult than I thought.” Councilman Kregg Bruno chimed in saying, “Judge Kirby is agreeable to the delay. There’s no rush.”

Peru’s sewer and water users can expect to see a rate increase. Supervisor Peter Glushko said, “We haven’t had an increase in 5 years.” Glushko said the Board would discuss the need for an increase at a workshop to be scheduled before the end of the year.

An apparently homeless man has been sleeping on resident lawns and in Gods Acre Cemetery. Councilman Brandy McDonald described the man as being shirtless, shoeless. and having no identification. McDonald said the temperature was in the 30’s the evening he saw the man in the cemetery. McDonald called the NYS State Police who interviewed the man and were apparently unable or unwilling to take any action. The trooper allowed the man to proceed down McIntosh Street.

The Board will conduct a final budget workshop on Wednesday, October 29^th at 6:30 p.m. Supervisor Glushko said the Board will go over the entire budget.

A Special Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. to schedule a public hearing on the 2015 Town of Peru budget.

PLATTSBURGH, NY— The Strand Center for the Arts is proud to announce the opening of the exhibition “Portraits,” a fine art show featuring the works of various artists in the SCA Portrait Drawing Open Studio Group. These artists will have work on display in The Strand Center for the Arts Main Gallery on 23 Brinkerhoff Street in downtown Plattsburgh from November 7th to the 29th, 2014. The opening reception will be held Friday, November 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This event is free to the public and refreshments will be served, including samples from North Country Creamery.

The SCA Portrait Group is a fun, motivated and eclectic group of artists with a wide range of experience. They have been meeting at the Strand Center the past 5 years for a class focused on drawing portraits from a live model in a comfortable, casual setting. Classes are held in an open studio format, so there are no instructors but two coordinators, Bill Colquhoun and Cindy Root, who organize the models and collect donations. Although there is no formal instruction, artists of all skill levels are encouraged to join. Each artist brings their own unique approach, using a wide variety of mediums: pastel, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, or a combination of mixed media. The class regularly meets at The Strand Center for the Arts on Thursdays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Walk-ins and newcomers are always welcome.

SCA Portrait Group Coordinator Cindy Root stated, “This exhibition is a tribute to our great cast of models who have patiently, tirelessly, and repeatedly posed for us. It is our first public showing and our goal is to highlight all the different artistic viewpoints.” The exhibition will be organized by model rather than artist so those viewing the show can see the spectrum of artistic interpretations that are produced in the class.

The exhibition will be on view at The Strand Center for the Arts Main Gallery on 23 Brinkerhoff Street in downtown Plattsburgh from November 7th to the 29th, 2014. The opening reception will be held Friday, November 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This event is free to the public and refreshments will be served, including samples from North Country Creamery. For further information, please contact The Strand Center for the Arts Gallery Coordinator at gallery@plattsburgharts.org, call 518-563-1604, or stop in to the gallery on 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, NY.

The Town of Peru, Town Board has scheduled a Special Meeting for Thursday, October 30, 2014, at the Peru Town Hall, at 6:30 PM. The purpose of the Special Meeting will be to establish a date for a Public Hearing on the Preliminary 2015 Budget.

AGENDA – TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING October 27, 2014@ 7:00 PM 

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the October 9, 2014 Public Hearing, the October 9, 2014 Regular Meeting and the October 14, 2014 Special Meeting.

5. Community Input

6. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Decision on Terry Mountain Communication Tower.

7. DISCUSSION: 2015 Water/Sewer Rates.

8. DISCUSSION: Publicly Owned Treatment Works Reporting Requirements.

9. DISCUSSION: Spitfire Drive.
10. DISCUSSION: VTANG Visit Update.
11. DISCUSSION: 2015 Town Budget.
12. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Schedule October 30 Special Meeting. 
13. DISCUSSION: Elmore SPCA
14. DISCUSSION: Town Court Chambers and Court Room.
15. DISCUSSION: Town Park Ordinance.
16. DISCUSSION: Other Business.
17. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only
18. MOTION: Approve/Pay Bills.
19. MOTION:    Adjourn

Editorial: Lasting records on the Internet – Press-Republican: Opinion.

Teen ‘critical’ after Peru crash – Press-Republican: Local News.

Amid tech boom, a bust – Times Union.

John T. Ryan

Clinton County Republican caucused on September 30 and elected Peru Town Councilman Donald McBrayer as their new County Chairman succeeding Randy Beach who has been chairman since last year. McBrayer has been serving as Peru’s Republican Chairman for four years. Local Republicans chose Michael Farrell, Peru’s Highway Superintendent, to succeed McBrayer in that office on October 8^th.

Asked why he sought the county political leadership position McBrayer said, “Good communication will be my #1 goal. I want to share resources and knowledge. I especially want to make the candidates for office fully aware of the Board of Election’s requirements.”  McBrayer said simple procedural errors sometimes result in an candidate being disqualified or opening up the possibility of an election challenge.

McBrayer is particularly concerned with the primary process. He explained, “ I really want to protect the primary process. I feel the party chairman needs to stay neutral during the primaries and make sure that everyone interested in being a candidate has equal access to resources, committee members and the voters. I don’t want to see candidates discouraged from seeking elective office.”

Peru – On October 18th, St. Augustine’s Council 7273 Grand Knight Anthony Andrews and “Coats For Kids” Chairman John Ryan presented twenty-four new winter jackets to Peru Elementary Principal Matt Slattery (Left) and Associate Principal Sanford Coakley (Right).

Since 2009, Knights of Columbus Councils in the United States and Canada have distributed more than 167,000 winter jackets to needy children through the organization’s Coats For Kids Program. These jackets will be made available to Peru Elementary students during this week’s parent-teacher conferences.

By John T. Ryan

On August 25^th, the Peru Town Board, citing employee and public concern with court proceedings being held in the midst of the Town Hall, voted to move the time Peru Town Court convenes from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a two-month trial period. At the Board’s October 9^th meeting, Supervisor Peter Glushko informed the Board that he had received a letter from Jerome J. Richards, Supervising Judge of the 4^th Judicial District, advising the Town of Peru that it does not have the authority to set town court hours. Judge Richards wrote the letter in a response to an inquiry from Peru Town Justice James Kirby. Supervisor Glushko responded stating the Town Board still has the authority to allocate space for court proceedings and that space would not be available until the Town Hall is closed for public business at 3 p.m.

At that point Board members began discussing the possibility of moving court proceedings to the Town Hall’s basement level where the JCEO Food Shelf and Town Historian currently conduct business. Counselors Donald McBrayer and Brandy McDonald were enthusiastic about the change both saying, “I think that’s a good idea.” McBrayer, who serves as the Board’s liaison to Town Court added, “I believe every office is starting to bulge at the seams so reallocating space might not just help the court but every office in this building. I’d like to see if downstairs could meet the court’s requirements.” All the counselors expressed agreement and Supervisor Glushko set a goal of getting the move accomplished before Christmas.

Subsequent to the Town Board meeting The Peru Gazette interviewed Supervisor Glushko and Judge Kirby in their respective offices. Glushko said that since the October 9^th meeting he had changed his mind on moving court offices stating, “Court proceedings will be downstairs and court offices will remain upstairs. We’d be relocating too many people for the sake of one hour’s court time.”

Judge James Kirby was enthusiastic about moving downstairs but stated that court offices would also have to be moved. Kirby or his clerk often retrieves documents or information during a court proceeding.

Kirby held fast to his contention that the court should convene at 2 p.m. He stated, “2 p.m. works best for both the sheriff’s department and the attorneys. If court convened at 3:30 p.m. we’d be here until 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. waiting for lawyers who represent clients in the Town of Plattsburgh Court. I could be here until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. The sheriff’s department shift change starts at 3 p.m. When we convene at 2 p.m. they can get here and back to the jail by 3 p.m. Then they can get to the Town of Plattsburgh for 4 p.m.”

On Tuesday, October 22, Clinton County Sheriff David Favro told The Peru Gazette that the jail’s shift change takes place at 2:30 p.m. when all inmates are locked in their cells for a head count. Asked about the time that Peru Town Court convenes Favro responded, “I don’t see our department’s shift change as being a deciding factor. We can accommodate whatever is needed. This is more about safety and procedural issues.”

Favro is enthusiastic about the prospect of Peru moving its court proceedings downstairs after having toured the Town Hall last week at the request of the Town Board. He stated, “It makes good sense. There are many dynamics in a courtroom setting. I think having its own space is more conducive to court proceedings.” Discussing the basement’s layout he said, “Inmates could come down the back ramp and into the small room (currently a small kitchen) that could be made into an inmate holding room. It would work better especially when we have a hostile inmate.”

Favro said conducting court in the midst of the Town Hall offices is far from ideal noting the unavoidable interaction with the general public and the presence of glass enclosures immediately adjacent to the Town Hall entrance. Glass located in close proximity to a hostile inmate is not a safe environment for anyone concerned.