The Peru Gazette

Story posted on November 12, 2008 by John T. Ryan

One thing can be said of Peru Town Board meetings – They’re never dull! The Monday, November 10, 2008 meeting was no exception with bank statement reconciliations, a job classification, political signs and outdoor wood boilers stoking controversy.

After reviewing Supervisor Donald Covel’s report of monthly town expenses Counselor Powers asked if the checkbook had been balanced and reconciled. Supervisor Covel said that some jobs were not being accomplished because the position of confidential secretary has not been filled. (The position is open because the former secretary resigned on October 28th to take other employment. At about the same time the Town Board voted to create the position of confidential secretary to the Board and abolish the position of confidential secretary to the Supervisor.) At Monday’s meeting Supervisor Covel expressed his views about the new position saying, “In my opinion I think the key thing this town needs is a civil service position of bookkeeper and accountant.” Covel called the position “a key to the board and to the community” and said it needs to be filled as soon as possible. Later in the meeting Counselor Peter Glushko said he believed that the fact that the secretary will report to the entire board rather than one individual would remove politics from the position as much as possible. Discussing the confidential secretary job description the members mentioned accounting, financial reports, state reports and payroll. Glushko said training in business/government financial software is important.

Town Historian Ron Allen opened the public input period by thanking Counselor Tom Powers for picking up political campaign signs throughout the town in the hours immediately following the election. Allen said, “I feel the Town of Peru owes Tom Powers a very big public thank you. For several years after the polls have closed he takes it upon himself to travel the highways and byways of the community. He picks up all the campaign signs and returns them to the political parties the next morning. When you wake up the town is spic and span.” Applause from several in the room followed; however, Mrs. Jean Schiffler was not applauding. Schiffler rose and stated that signs on her property between the sidewalk and her home had been picked up. She said, “I did not want my signs picked up. I would have picked them up the first thing in the morning. I wanted to keep two of those signs and I paid for them. I had given a donation for the rest of them…I resent you (Mr. Powers) going into my yard and taking those signs.” Powers responded saying he had apologized for what happened when Mrs. Schiffler called him at 6:30 a.m. on the morning of November 5th. He said a new volunteer had removed the signs and Powers took responsibility for what had happened. He said the signs had been returned to Mrs. Schiffler. She disagreed saying that different signs had been returned and one that was returned was damaged.

Resident Dennis Mason rose to question why he needed to go before the planning board before being issued a building permit for his existing wood boiler. Going before the planning board costs from $60 to $110. Mason also brought up the stove moratorium issues that have been discussed and explained at several meetings. Mason said the boiler moratorium had expired between June 8 and August 4, 2008 and asked why his building permit application had not been acted on during that period. No one on the board was able to answer his questions and Town Attorney Donald Biggs was not present. Counselor Cortland Forrence said he would get back to Mason on the issues. (At prior meetings Attorney Biggs stated that while a moratorium may have lapsed, a new moratorium had been enacted prior to the issuance of any building permits thereby preventing Code Enforcement Officer Blaine from issuing permits. Following the enactment of the new law Blaine also issued guidelines outlining the law’s primary requirements and specifically stating that site plan review is required. Concealment of the existing boilers from public view is the main reason for site plan review. Owners of existing boilers do not have to comply with the new law’s setback requirements.)

Board actions included:
Extending the employment of the town receptionist for three more weeks with authorization to work from four to six hours a day as needed.

Discussing the purchase of town property by Mr. Gary Bertrand. Counselor Powers will work with Mr. Bertrand to expedite the issue and ensure that the town maintains proper easements. The Shear Creations beauty shop opened in Mr. Bertrand’s building and the Planning Board required that he acquire additional parking.

Discussing purchase of town property adjacent to Sullivan Park by Mr. Cal Mitchell. The board asked Mr. Mitchell to make an offer on .22 acres of town property. Powers will also verify that Mitchell complies with cluster development zoning regulations.

Initiating an insurance claim and repairs to the town water tower. The town water tower has sustained damage that, in the opinion of Water and Sewer Superintendent Greg Timmons and the water tower company, was caused by wind. The repairs have been estimated to cost $21,400 rather than the $25,000 reported at the board’s last meeting.

Scheduling accounting software training with town accountant Carolyn Tetreault.

Scheduling an employee benefits workshop with Chamber of Commerce representative Sandy Duquette.

Resolving a pay issue with Highway Superintendent David Hislop. Hislop says he understood that he would be paid $46,000 from the time he began his employment until the end of the year. The Board agreed his weekly pay had been based on a January 1 hire date, therefore; Hislop is owed $3,458 that will be paid over the remaining weeks of 2008.

Delaying action on a shared services agreement with the Town of Champlain. There was a question on insurance coverage when town vehicles and men are deployed to another community. Highway Superintendent Hislop pointed out that service sharing is vital to his department because no one community can own all the needed equipment. When the equipment is shared all the communities save money.

The meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.