The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Additional Highway Department garage roof repairs, a delay in Safe Routes to School upgrades, appreciation to Town Justice James Kirby, a land offer, dead trees and comments about the new Town Hall steps were the primary subjects at the Monday, July 28, 2014 Peru Town Board meeting.

In summary the Board:

Approved additional repairs to the Highway Department Garage roof in the amount of approximately $19,000. Several roof panels will be replaced and new screws and washers will be installed in another roof section. These repairs are in addition to the already approved $145,000 roof repair project.

Rejected bids for upgrading pedestrian and bicycle access to the Peru Central School campus. Bids on the federally funded Safe Routes to School project came in $45,000 higher than projected. Over the next several months the Board will confer with the Peru Central School Board of Education to ask if they might be able to help fund the project. Reducing the scope of the project will also be explored.

Approved a salary 50% stipend for Town Justice James Kirby for the months August through December 2014. Kirby has been the Town’s only Town Justice since Judge John Lawliss resigned in late June. Subsequent to this meeting Supervisor Peter Glushko learned that passage of a Local Law was required for such a stipend.  Scheduling a public hearing for a Local Law will be voted on at the Board’s August 11^th meeting.

Listened to Winfried Holdereid who was present to offer the Town of Peru 23 acres of property in the vicinity of the town’s sewage treatment plant. Holdereid was willing to sell or gift the property to the town. Holdereid is the owner of the Tops Plaza, Peru’s primary retail shopping area.

Discussed a complaint from a property owner residing at the corner of Pleasant and School Streets who alleged that the work done to the School Street sidewalk damaged four trees on his property. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell will investigate. Farrell reminded the Board that the town has a fifteen-foot right away from the edge of any town highway.

Board members expressed general satisfaction with the recently completed Town Hall entrance steps. Counselor Brandy McDonald was concerned with the slope of the top step, while Counselor Kregg Bruno didn’t think the steps were deep enough. Everyone appeared to be satisfied with the steps’ overall appearance. The project cost approximately $95,000.

Supervisor Gluhsko reported that five individuals were interviewed for the Dog Control Officer’s (DCO) position.  The Board’s decision will be announced at its August 11th meeting.