The Peru Gazette

Most New Yorkers support Cuomo medical marijuana pilot plan -poll | Reuters.

Cuomo rips into far-right Republican candidates – Times Union.

Pay gets $21M boost at SUNY – Times Union.

Navigating a medical records maze – Times Union.

Cuomo’s school bond would stall environmental measure | Capital New York.

A Message From the Peru Central School

For the past eight years, the Peru Central School District  has organized a Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) that has served to inform and promote school-community discussion concurrent with the school district budget development process.

The BAC typically meets 3-4 times to develop an understanding of revenues and expenditures, components of a balanced budget, and particular challenges that face the school district.  Traditionally, the BAC has formulated recommendations for Board consideration to assist the Board and administration.

The BAC is scheduled to meet four evenings:  January 28th, February 13th, February 27th and March 18th beginning at 6 pm.  In addition to these informational sessions, the BAC will be invited to share their recommendations with the School Board on Tuesday, March 25th during a public budget development workshop.

If you wish to participate in any of the meetings of the BAC, please register by calling 643-6004.

Allegiant to end Plattsburgh-Las Vegas route » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

From the Office of Congressman Bill Owens

WASHINGTON—Yesterday, with the House’s passage of a compromise omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2014, Representatives Bill Owens and Peter Welch declared victory over a proposal to study the implementation of a land border crossing fee, something they believe would kill jobs in New York and Vermont and waste taxpayer money.

Representative Owens, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, wrote the amendment to ban the study of a border fee. “Canada is the nation’s largest trading partner and New York is a top destination for Canadian tourists. We don’t need a taxpayer-funded study to tell us that charging a land border crossing fee is a bad idea,”  Read more »

Gov. Cuomo’s reelection being bankrolled by big-bucks buddies, group finds – NY Daily News.

Ft. Row: Atty. Donald Biggs, Supervisor Peter Glushko, Deputy Supervisor Brandy McDonald. Back Row: Counselors Kregg Bruno, Donald McBrayer, James Douglass and Town Clerk/Tax Collector Kathy Flynn

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board conducted its first regular meeting of 2014 on Monday, January 13^th.  Supervisor Peter Glushko welcomed Counselor Donald McBrayer to the Board. McBrayer, who is also Town of Peru Republican Chairman, succeeds Counselor Susan Polhemus. Counselor McBrayer said he would be attending the three-day training program for newly elected officials in Albany this week.

The Board received conceptual drawings for a new Town Hall entrance from Town Engineer Peter Gibbs. The Board has set a $60,000 limit on the project. The Board reacted favorably to one of Gibb’s three proposals.

It was a long meeting because a one-hour-fifteen-minute Executive Session was held to discuss an employment history.

• In other actions/news the Board:
• Accepted a $30,000 sewer system engineering grant.  The town will fund 20% of the project, which is intended to improve sewer plant operations.
• The Board scheduled a January 27, 2014, 6:30 PM Public Hearing on a Revised Town Dog Control/Leash Law. The changes are minor and related to the Town assuming certain licensing responsibilities from the NYS Department Agriculture and Markets. Click Here to View Revised Law
• Reappointed Marilyn “Jane” Brelia to a four-year term on the Board of Assessment Review. Brelia’s term will end on September 30, 2017.
• Discussed the town park security system, which is to be purchased from Saratoga Security Systems. A line-of-site antenna will have to be located somewhere between the Little Ausable River Park and the Town Hall.
• Counselor Kregg Bruno will be discussing the Town Highway Garage roof repairs with Town Engineer Peter Gibbs. Gibbs estimated that the project would cost approximately $150,000. Bruno wants to find out why the cost is so high.
• New York State is requiring that all towns conduct an inventory of all town assets.  Peru will integrate its inventory with the its KBS accounting system which will require payment of set-up and annual fees. Every physical asset owned by the town will have to be located, inventoried and valued according to General Accepted Accounting Principles.
• The Board plans to purchase time clocks for the use of Town Hall, Water and Sewer Department and Highway Department personnel.  The Board seeks to ensure accountability for hours worked, especially overtime. The clocks will cost approximately $600 per unit plus installation cost.
• Supervisor Glushko noted that Burnham Benefit Advisors, the company that advises the Town on health benefits and general insurance matters, has donated $250 to the Peru Volunteer Fire Department.
• The boundary between the Town Hall and the property owned by St. Augustine’s Church (the former Roger Wright property) will have to be clarified.  The Town’s map and St. Augustine’s map do not have the same boundaries.
• Training for town officials will be conducted in New York City from February 16-Februay 19.  No Board member indicated that he would be attending.

Watertown Daily Times | Indian River teacher stops possible tragedy at school.

Watertown Daily Times | With sinking loonie, Canadian consumers expected to view cross-border shopping with caution in 2014.

Watertown Daily Times | State presses Alcoa to avoid forced layoffs; workers may get retirement incentives.

The Peru Volunteer Fire Department will hold a spaghetti dinner today from 4:30 to 7 PM. Come and enjoy great spaghetti and all the fixings for only $8.00. On Saturday morning the Department will sponsor a car wash from 8 a.m. to noon. Proceeds will benefit Aaron LeMay who is battling cancer.

Strong positions aired on Plan B proposal » Local News » Press-Republican.

From the Office of Congressman Bill Owens

Bipartisan Compromise Includes Owens-authored Amendment to Halt Proposed Border Fee 

WASHINGTON—Today, Representative Bill Owens praised his colleagues for working together to pass a compromise omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2014 that will eliminate the need for stop-gap funding bills for the first time in two years.

“I am pleased my colleagues were able to work together and pass a responsible spending bill that invests in many of the nation’s most important priorities while adhering to the bipartisan budget agreement reached in December,”Representative Bill Owens said. “Many of the 21^st Congressional District’s top priorities, including increased funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a measure I drafted that effectively kills a proposed border fee, were included in this bill. I am hopeful the bipartisanship that led to this compromise continues so we can concentrate on passing the Farm Bill and addressing the nation’s most pressing priorities: creating jobs and growing the economy.” 

The $1.1 trillion bipartisan agreement, which funds the federal government for Fiscal Year 2014, contains many of Rep. Owens’ top priorities. They include: Read more »

Capitol Confidential » Late work will be accepted: Cuomo’s Ed Reform panel releases final report.

» Owens’ Retirement Opens Up North Country Congressional Race | City & State.

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board conducted its 2014 Organizational Meeting on Monday, January 13, 2013.  All agenda resolutions were passed unanimously with the exception of the Zoning Board and Planning Board Chairmanships and Vice-Chairmanships, which will be acted on when the Zoning and Planning Board recommendations have been received.  Click here for 2014 Organizational Meeting resolutions 

The resolutions:

• Established salaries for payment of elected officials
• Established Appointees to Town Employment Positions
• Established Salaries and Payment Schedules for These Appointees
• Established Town Board Department Liaisons
• Established Town Board Meeting Dates and Starting Times
• Approved Contracts with Service Providers and Agencies
• Established the 2014 Mileage Reimbursement Rate
• Designated Town Funds Depositories
• Names the Town’s Official Newspaper

L-R Chief Tyler Williams, 1st Asst. Bryan Duprey, 2nd Asistant Kevin O’Neil, Fire Capt. Brandon Barnaby, Fire Lt. Sam Dimock, Fire Lt. Shawn Perkins, EMS Capt. Cher Hanlon

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Volunteer Fire Department elected a new leadership team for 2014.  Tyler Williams was chosen as chief succeeding Brian Westover who served as chief for the past four years. The other 2014 department leaders include: 1^st Assistant Chief Bryan Duprey, 2^nd Assistant Chief Kevin O’Neil, Fire Captain Brandon Barnaby, Fire Lt. Sam Dimock, Fire Lt. Shawn Perkins, EMS Captain Cher Hanlon.

Chief Tyler Williams joined the Peru Volunteer Fire Department in 1996 and has served as 1^st Assistant Chief and Fire Lieutenant. Williams and his wife Heidi and their 12-year-old daughter Kaitlynn reside in the Peru hamlet.

BCSD considers changing retiree health insurance » Local News » Press-Republican.

The following is a statement from Representative Bill Owens (NY-21): “After careful thought and consideration, I have decided not to seek re-election for the 21st Congressional District this November.  I have enjoyed the opportunity to travel the district, meeting and serving the families and business owners of this vast community.  It has truly been a privilege to serve, and I plan on continuing to work for a brighter future for the region. 

My appreciation for the support of my wife, children, grandchildren and close friends cannot be sufficiently expressed in words. There are others — too numerous to list — to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude.  The remainder of my term will be spent in much the same way as the previous four years:  assisting constituents with their individual concerns, continuing to focus on passing a Farm Bill, helping to create jobs in our communities, working for our troops and veterans, keeping the northern border secure and fluid and being a voice in Congress for bipartisanship, as well as fact-based decision making.  You can count on me to work with and for you over the remainder of my term. 

It is time for me to undertake new endeavors and spend more time with my family.   Even though I will not seek re-election, it is my goal that the next phase of my life will continue to focus on helping to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, primarily through job creation and economic development.  

Thank you for letting me serve you since November 2009.”

State makes progress, but more needed – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Common Cause Calls On Gov. Cuomo To Call Special Elections To Fill 10 Legislative Vacancies | New York Daily News.