The Peru Gazette

Laurentian Aerospace seeking funding alternatives » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

Heavy snow expected » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

Breaking: APA will vote on new clear-cutting rules « The In Box.

Former Assembly candidate arrested on drug charges (update) – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Saranac Lake schools face gaping budget hole – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com

Plattsburgh, NY –The United States Postal Service (USPS) today announced they intend to eliminate Saturday delivery for first class mail beginning in August of 2013.  Congressman Bill Owens blasted the decision, calling on the Postal Service to take aggressive actions to raise revenue while not unfairly burdening rural areas with service cuts.

“I strongly disagree with the Postal Service’s outrageous decision to end Saturday delivery,” said Congressman Bill Owens.  “It’s well known that the Postal Service has a budget problem, but leadership within the organization has failed in its duty to grow and seek out new opportunities to raise revenue, instead turning to rural areas for service cuts that do little to solve the problem.  This is an irresponsible approach to management and one that I oppose.”

Congressman Owens cited a January 22^nd New York Times article, “Postal Service Losing Out on Federal Contracts,” noting USPS’s failure to pursue long-term contracts with the government, instead allowing private entities like Federal Express and UPS to edge them out.  The Congressman also noted that the majority of the Postal Service’s budget shortfall is attributable to a pre-funding requirement, initiated by Congress in 2006, for employee health benefits, in addition to overpayments USPS made to employee pensions. The Congressman co-sponsored legislation in the 112^th Congress (H.R. 1351, H.R. 3591)  to address these gaps.

“There is no question we must address to Postal Service’s budget shortfall, but cutting services that families in rural areas depend on is not the answer,” Owens said.

Congressman Owens noted that he is currently drafting a letter to Postmaster General Donahue regarding their inability to find new revenue.

Goodbye to Saturday mail? – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, 

What: The North Country Regional Economic Development Council will meet Thursday, February 21 at SUNY Potsdam.  The public meeting will be held from 1 – 2 p.m. The North Country Path Through History Work Group will also hold a public meeting to gain input for the development of its $100,000 marketing plan to encourage tourism, local economic development and serve as an educational tool as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Path Through History initiative.

Who: All members of the public, including businesses, labor, education, and nonprofit organizations, and heritage and tourism agency representatives from the North Country are welcome and encouraged to attend both meetings.

Where: SUNY Potsdam, Barrington Student Union, 44 Pierpont Avenue, Potsdam, NY13676                        

When: Thursday, February 21

Regional Council Public Meeting:  1 – 2 p.m.

Path Through History Meeting:  2:15 – 4 p.m.

Watertown Daily Times | Mother of quintuplets, newborn babies return to Watertown.

Campus Notebook: RPI president warns of budget cuts’ impact – Times Union.

Bloomberg Targets Housing and Businesses for Storm Aid Money – NYTimes.com.

Plan shuts prison sites – Times Union.

The more the merrier for Winter Games » Local News » Press-Republican.

Dan Crane: Revisiting Adirondack Tourism | The Adirondack Almanack.

CCC relations-director position eliminated » Local News » Press-Republican.

Probe into congressman’s Taiwan trip to continue » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

‘Dictator’ charge draws apology – Times Union.

House panel: Medicaid is a $54B mess – Times Union.

Plattsburgh trooper charged with raping 2 women (update) – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Albert Einstein: almost under the lake – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs,

BROCKPORT, NY (02/06/2013)(readMedia)– The College at Brockport, State University of New York, recently honored students who excelled academically by naming them to the Dean’s List for the fall 2012 semester.

Ravi Ross of Peru, NY was named to the Dean’s List.

Students who earn a GPA of 3.70–3.99 are named to the Dean’s List with Honors, while students who achieve a 3.40–3.69 are named to the Dean’s List.

The College at Brockport is a comprehensive four-year public college, located in Brockport, NY. The College offers 50 undergraduate majors, more than 40 graduate programs as well as 24 teacher certification programs. The College has been rated among the “Best in the Northeast” by The Princeton Review, a “Best Regional University” by US News & World Report, and a “Best Value” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

On the web: http://readabout.me/achievements/Ravi-Ross-Named-to-the-Deans-List-at-The-College-at-Brockport/5606478.

Trooper charged with rape » Breaking News » Press-Republican.

Group aims to educate school communities » Local News » Press-Republican.

By John T. Ryan

A few weeks ago the Peru Town Board learned that Clinton County’s 2012 sales tax collections exceeded estimates. At the Board’s January 28^th Town Supervisor Peter Glushko stated the increased collections resulted in the Town receiving a check in the amount of $108,618.75. In January 2012 the Town of Peru received $1,266,506 from Clinton County for projected 2012 sales tax collections. Sales tax collections reduced a Peru taxpayer’s share of county taxes from $6.05 per thousand dollars of taxable value to $2.95 (a credit of $3.10 per thousand). Peru’s portion of Clinton County sales tax collections is based on the total assessed value of Peru’s property relative to other Clinton County communities.

The Board resolved to sign a $6,474 contract with the Elmore SCPA for 2013 services. The SPCA will house stray, surrendered and dangerous dogs. The Board had delayed renewing this contract pending clarification of the SPCA’s dangerous dog policy. The SPCA will continue to accept dangerous dogs.

Elmore SPCA Board President Laurie Parsons and Board Secretary Carol Solari-Ruscoe were present at the meeting to answer any questions. In the course of the discussion Supervisor Peter Glushko stated that the Town of Peru is financially responsible for medically stabilizing a dog, not for medical treatment.  The owner is ultimately responsible for any treatment.  The Town budgeted $24,420 for 2013 dog control: Elmore SPCA services, DCO, Assistant DCO and misc. expenses. In 2013 the Dog Control Officer (DCO) brought 33 Peru dogs to Elmore and Peru residents surrendered 9 dogs.

In other actions and updates: Read more »

Story corrected – Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell explained that he did not pave 1.5 miles of town roads in 2012 because of NYS budget cap regulations.  Our story previously stated that the paving was not done because the Highway Department purchased an excavator and a truck. 

By John T. Ryan

The January 14th Peru Town Board Meeting featured a grant award announcement, project updates, SPCA contract issues and concern about the impact heavy farm vehicles are having on town roads.

Supervisor Glushko reported that the Town has received a $235,000 Safe Routes to Schools Program Grant.  A prior grant from this program financed the new sidewalk on School Street. This grant will be used to promote safe walking and bike riding to and from Peru Central. (See our earlier story for details).

Town Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said a decision must be make on repair or replacement of the Town Highway Garage roof.  Farrell said heavy condensation formed under the old portion of the roof following the recent snowfall and that this would ultimately damage the newer portion of the roof. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko agreed that a decision must be made. Glushko is looking for grants to assist in funding the project. He said he would schedule a workshop very soon.

Farrell also expressed frustration with farmers who have refused to permit the erection of snow fences on their property.  Heavy snow combined with open fields and high winds result in drifted highways and increased plowing expenses. Farrell also stated that the heavy tractors, manure spreaders and manure trailers are dramatically shortening the life of  town highways.

Farrell is also concerned about Highway Department funding which was not increased this year.  He said, “Sooner or later the town highway budget will have to be increased.”   Councilman Kregg Bruno commented that the 2013 budget has been set and that Farrell would have to live within his budget. Bruno also questioned the 2012 purchase of a $140,000 excavating machine. He claimed the machine had only been used for 20 hours in the past several months. Bruno voted in favor of purchasing the machine.  Farrell later explained to The Peru Gazette that complying with NYS budget cap regulations forced him to forgo paving 1.5 miles of highway in 2012.

The Board did not renew its contract with the Elmore SPCA. Councilman Jim Douglass, the Board’s SPCA Liaison, reported that Elmore no longer wants to accept dangerous dogs. While very few dogs are deemed dangerous (A judge must deem a dog dangerous), Board members voiced the opinion at any dog believed to be dangerous should be confined. If Elmore SPCA will not house these dogs, who will?  Councilman Douglass will speak with City of Plattsburgh officials to see how they resolve these issues.

Several Board members appeared to be frustrated with Elmore SPCA.  Counselor Brandy McDonald said the SPCA has refused animals because they didn’t they have open space. He noted that the SPCA accepts dogs from as far away as the Carolinas. He wondered if local animals were turned away so that dogs from other parts of the country could be saved from euthanasia.

Water Superintendant Greg Timmons said the water system improvement project is on schedule.  Town water actually passed last month’s quality check though that could be related to the cold weather rather than any system improvements.  Greg Timmons said, “We looking for consistency!”

New York State is conducting town official training during the week of February 18^th in New  York City. Supervisor Glushko will check on the cost to attend.