The Peru Gazette

Watertown Daily Times | Alcoa cuts employee hours following fire.

Rail/trail debate dominates Tupper town board – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Study: Fungus behind bat die-off came from Europe – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Peru–St. Vincent de Paul Society will be holding a special sale of gently used spring/summer clothing and footwear Wednesday, April 11, through Saturday, April 14, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at St. Vincent’s Thrift Store, 3028 Main Street (across from St. Augustine’s Church). The sale will also be held Thursday evening, April 12, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Fill a large 33 gallon bag with clothing/footwear for $5.00.

• Spring Book Sale:    
• Thursday,   May 3, 10:00 a.m.  – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday,   May 4,  10:00 a.m. – 4:00  p.m
• Saturday,   May 5,  10:00 a.m. – 3:00  p.m.

Peru  Free Library, Main Street,  Peru  NY

The Town Board held their regular meeting on Monday evening. Everyone except Town Clerk Kathy Flynn (excused) was present.

There was a discussion on the repairs needed to the Highway Department Garage roof. The section of roof needing repair is 174 feet in length and is in the center section of the garage that was built in the mid 70’s. This section of the garage is a pole-barn structure and the current roof is metal. Town Councilor Kregg Bruno had examined the building and proposed replacing the damaged area with a new metal roof over the current trusses. When looked at by an engineer (not named) it was suggested the structure needed “beefing up” and the entire roof be replaced with an asphalt roof over plywood. This added weight would force a considerable restructuring of the underlying trusses and greatly increase the cost of the repair. Based on the engineer’s suggestions Highway Superintendent Mike Farrell expressed concern about the strength of the current structure and Mr. Bruno’s proposal of replacing only the damaged area with new metal. Mr. Farrell asked about liability should the roof collapse due to snow-loads. Town Councilor Brandy McDonald addressed this concern pointing out the current structure has seen decades of snow-loads, and has never shown signs of collapsing. Mr. Farrell still seemed uneasy about going against the engineer’s recommendations. Town Councilor Jim Douglas then asked Mr. Farrell if he would feel better if the Town’s Building Inspector Frank Slycord took a look at it. Mr. Farrell said if Mr. Slycord was comfortable with Mr. Bruno’s proposal he would be as well.

There was also a discussion on a Resolution to enact changes to the Town Zoning Fee Schedule.  The proposed changes would pass “professional” (mostly attorney and engineer) fees from the town to the applicant. This change is being proposed because of a recent trend of applicants seeking information and advise from the Zoning Attorney and Town Engineer generating higher than normal costs to the town. Town Attorney Don Biggs stated he felt it would be unfair to expect the applicants to cover all expenses, as the Resolution seemed to indicate, and asked where the threshold would be. After a bit of discussion, Town Councilor Sue Polhemus suggested the Town Board speak with the Zoning Attorney and Engineer to figure out what an average cost should be per applicant, then rework the Resolution based on that number. The Resolution was tabled.

There was an update by Park Coordinator Adele Douglas on the Heyworth/Mason Park project. New benches have been ordered and will arrive soon. Mrs. Douglas informed the Board that a fund raising effort was going to be conducted to dedicate one of the benches to past Town Supervisor Kenneth Jahn. Mrs. Douglas also asked when the path connecting the Heyworth/Mason Park to the Little Ausable Park could begin. This path would go under the bridge on Main Street and connect the two parks. Town Supervisor Peter Glushko said he would speak with the crews to schedule the work. Glushko suggested that a temporary rail be put in place to prevent people from falling into the river while the path is under construction. A chain-link fence will be in place when the path is completed.

Mr. Glushko also suggested better lighting be installed behind the Heyworth/Mason building to prevent vandalism and that “No Trespassing” signs be installed on the structure.

Glushko noted a number of “dog bombs” in the park  and suggested signs be installed reminding people to clean up after their pets. This led to quesions on the proposed dog park. Mrs. Douglas told the board that the State has signed off on the Dog Park being constructed in a flood plain and now FEMA has to do so as well. Once FEMA okays the Dog Park fencing will be installed. The entire park project is expected to be completed by summer’s end.

The Town Board also:

•  Set an Elmore SPCA Workshop date on Monday, April 16th at 7:00PM to work out issues with the relationship between Elmore’s and the Dog Control Office.
•  Set an Employee Handbook Workshop date on Monday, April 30th at 6:30PM.

 The Meeting was adjourned at 8:40PM.

North Country newspapers face deep job cuts, budget pressures « The In Box.

Former Syracuse school district official charged with tax fraud | syracuse.com.

CV-TEC hopes to build Pressure House » NEW TODAY… » Press-Republican.

Peru School Board member revived at board meeting 

Cape Air thrives as town airport struggles – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

State deer plan leads to new hunting rules – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com 

Watertown Daily Times | Energy summit highlights disagreements, potential of power plan.

While some St. Augustine’s parishioners were preparing Easter Eggs in the Parish Center Saturday morning, other parishioners were preparing the church for the Easter Celebration under the guidance of Father Alan Shnob and parishioner Helen Dispo.

The Peru Gazette wishes the Peru community a Blessed and Happy Easter. We hope you are able to be with your families, in spirit, if not in person. Easter Sunday is indeed a day to celebrate and to give thanks!  Click here for photos

St. Augustine’s Easter Vigil is at 8:30 PM. Sunday Masses at 8 AM and 10:30 AM.

Ecumenical Service at St. Patrick’s Oratory at 6 AM.

Peru Community Church Services at 8 AM and 10:30 AM.

The St. Augustine’s Catholic Daughters are ready for Sunday’s Easter Egg Hunt following the 10:30 AM Mass.  Click here for photos

Holy Week observances abound » Local News » Press-Republican.

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, April 9, 2012 7:00 PM

1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. MOTION:  Approval of minutes for the Town Board Special Meeting of March 15, 2012 and the Town Board Regular Meeting of March 26, 2012.
5. DISCUSSION/MOTION:   Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning Report; Supervisor’s Report; Court Reports; Banking Report)
6. Community Input
7. DISCUSSION: Water Quality Improvement Project Update.
8. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Water Quality Improvement Project Bond.
9. DISCUSSION:  CDBG Update
10. DISCUSSION:  NYS Comptroller Audit Update.
11. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Elmore SPCA Workshop April 16.
12. DISCUSSION:  Elmore SPCA Grand Reopening April 28.
13. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.
14. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Return to Regular Session.
15. DISCUSSION: Highway Garage Roof Project.
16. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION:  Change to Town Zoning Fee Schedule.
17. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: Town of Peru Internal Controls Audit Report Acceptance.
18. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Employee Handbook
19. DISCUSSION:  Heyworth/Mason Park Update.
20. DISCUSSION:  NYS Comptroller Accounting School
21. DISCUSSION:  Workers’ Comp Representative Site Visit April 16
22. DISCUSSION:  Rooftop Highway Support.
23. Other Business
24. Community Input on Agenda Items.
25. Motion to Adjourn.

Watertown Daily Times | Watertown school board adopts 2012-13 budget.

Watertown Daily Times | Two dozen jobs targeted at Canton school.

By Adele Douglas

The Peru Central School Budget Workshop #7 was held Tuesday evening. It was clear that neither the Board of Education nor those in attendance were happy with budget cuts, but declining revenues made them necessary.  The Board unanimously passed a  motion to make the cost reductions.

Grade 6 will be going back to the Intermediate School where it was 10 years ago. This move from the Middle School is expected to save $200,000.  Three full time teachers in grades K-6 (one teacher each in grades 1, 3 and 6) and one full time teacher in grades 7-12 will lose their jobs.  In addition, ten teachers, K-12, will have their full time teaching positions reduced.  The loss and reductions of these instructional positions will save $473,738.  What was unclear at last night’s workshop was which teachers and subjects will be affected.  Even the principals believed that some affected teachers might not be expecting it.  There was much discussion about how to present the news at the least disruptive time for those affected.

The other two largest single cuts are for just under $100,000 each: two fewer bus drivers and runs and a reduction in overall special education program costs.

And in the coming years balancing the budget is not going to get any easier.  The projected gap between revenue and expenses increases over the next three years in the model presented by Business Manager Randy Sap.  Board President Rod Driscoll voiced concern that upcoming unfunded state mandates, some requiring expensive new textbooks for all students, have yet to be accounted for in the budget model.  Vice President Donna LaRoque said that in the 12 years that she’s been on the Board, the decisions have never been so difficult to make and the future has never been so bleak.

Teachers in attendance were visibly upset with the cuts to their grades and programs. They were frustrated that the Board had not discussed their comments and suggestions prior to voting to make the cuts.

HCR begins takeover of Clinton County program » Local News » Press-Republican.

Peru Central Board OKs reductions » Local News » Press-Republican.

Click here for Peru Central School Report Card

Click here for Clinton County Schools Report Cards 

Click here for statewide report cards 

Click here for story on statewide trends 

Post-Star lays off one-third of news reporting staff | News Enterprise.

Supervisor’s prayers irk peers on Washington County board.