The Peru Gazette

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Editorial: State needs to get priorities straight.

By John T. Ryan

Supervision of the Water System Improvement Project; increasing permit fees; and changing Tuesday’s business hours were the primary items for discussion and action at the Monday, March 25, 2013 Peru Town Board meeting.

The Board decided to hire a “construction observer” to assist with the final phase of the town’s $3.2 million water system improvement project. Water Superintendent Greg Timmons recommended the action stating, “We’re at the heart of the project. I think it will go a lot smoother.”

Timmons said the project’s plumbing contractor has had many questions regarding proper installation of filtration equipment. The town’s contract engineers do not continuously supervise construction. The observer will monitor the work being done and will communicate with the town’s engineers when questions arise. Timmons said the project should be completed within its budget. The observer will work for five weeks at a cost of $10,800.

On March 11^th, Timmons informed the board that filtration media and some equipment ordered by the J. Hogan Refrigeration would not be received until mid-April because of shipment delays.

On April 8^th the Board will consider a resolution to increase building code fees. Code Fees – Current & Revised The fees have not been changed since 1999. Code Enforcement Officer Frank Slycord developed the new schedule, He believes that the new fees will better reflect the costs incurred by the Codes Office and will be up-to-date with fees being charged by surrounding communities.

Anyone coming to the Peru Town Hall on Tuesdays will find that the doors are closed for public business at 2 PM. Closing time on other weekdays will continue to be 3 PM.  The change was made because the Town of Plattsburgh moved its town court hours from Monday to Tuesday evenings. Peru Town Court had been convening on Tuesdays at 5 PM; however, local attorneys often represent clients in both courts. They cannot be in two locations at the same time.

In other actions/decisions:

• The Board received a letter from the Babbie Rural and Farming Learning Museum requesting that the town increase its annual contribution to $3,500 from the budgeted $2,500. Board members said they have turned down other groups; therefore they wouldn’t deviate from the budgeted amount.
• The Lyon Street School is being considered for the New York State Register of Historic places. If it is approved, inclusion on the National Register should follow making the town eligible for various grants. (Update 4:12 PM 03/28/13) The school was recommended on March 21, 2013. 

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          “The new budget keeps state spending below a two percent cap for a third consecutive year, funds programs and services important to many in our communities and includes new tax relief to help families and businesses.  On-time is what should always be the case, but doing so three years in a row, given the past track record, is a good trend.

             “School aid will increase nearly $1 billion.  This funding is very important for districts seeing pension and health care costs rise and trying to operate within the property tax cap.  The pension stabilization plan proposed by the governor and modified by the Legislature and Comptroller will give schools and local governments an option to control one of their biggest cost drivers.

            “The budget increases funding for local road and bridge repair by $75 million, the first increase in five years.  That’s going to help all of our communities.

            “The phase-in increase of the minimum wage is a compromise that reflects the reality of higher expenses for workers but also a weak economy and the challenge many small business owners face trying to meet payroll.  A refundable tax credit for businesses employing teenage employees will help ensure that higher wages don’t result in fewer jobs being available.

            “Although my colleagues and I proposed a complete elimination of the 18-a utility tax, to help businesses and homeowners, the agreement reached includes a three year phase-out.  The budget creates a new tax credit for any business that hires a returning veteran.  Most families with kids will see a tax refund next year through a new rebate and the STAR program grows by $300 million over the next two years.  The budget also ensures the continuation of the lowest state income tax rates for middle-income taxpayers in 60 years.

            “I am disappointed the budget does not fully restore funding for programs serving the developmentally disabled.  This issue is complicated by a settlement reached by the federal government and state related to Medicaid overpayment.  It is something my colleagues and I are very concerned about and will work to address in the months ahead to minimize the impact on critically important local programs.”

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