The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan (Undated 12/20/09) 

Judge Keenan's family & colleagues surprised him with a Dec. 16th party!

One of Peru’s longest serving elected officials will be stepping down from his position on December 31^st. Town Justice Peter Keenan will be retiring after twenty-four years of service to our community. Keenan was first elected in 1985 and was Peru’s only elected Democrat for about fifteen of those twenty-four years. He ran unopposed for his last five terms of office. Even more important, in all those years he never received a single complaint regarding his performance in office from the New York State Judicial Conduct Commission. 

Keenan has seen many changes in Peru’s justice court over the years, the primary one being the money collected.  In 1985, the year he was elected, Keenan says collections from fines and surcharges totaled about $11,000. In recent years that number has exceeded $500,000.  Keenan explained, “The biggest reason for the increase is the Northway – the truck inspection station located in the Town of Peru and the traffic tickets written on the Northway.” Between January 1 and November 30 of 2009 the Peru Town Court has processed 3,512 traffic tickets. In the three Northern New York counties bordering the Northway the only town courts processing more tickets than Peru are the towns of Plattsburgh and Schroon.

One of Keenan’s most enjoyable tasks over the years has been performing weddings. Keenan says he has performed about twenty weddings a year, sometimes as many as two or three a day.  He said, “One wedding I performed this fall was kind of nice. A close friend’s granddaughter was married at the banquet hall in Altona and I performed the ceremony.” He’s also performed ceremonies on beautiful beaches and on Captain Frank Pabst’s Juniper tour boat.

Asked what has been the most satisfying aspect of the town justice position, Keenan responded, “Having a smooth operation and being able to treat people fairly and firmly when needed.”  Keenan praised his court clerks over the years saying, “I was very fortunate in having excellent court clerks.” Keenan continually sings the praises of his current clerk Donna Redden. He said her predecessor Maryann Miller also did an excellent job.

John Lawliss currently serves alongside Keenan as Peru’s other town justice.  He holds Keenan in high regard. Lawliss noted Keenan’s outstanding support from the Peru voters over the years and said, “Peter has been good to work with. I respect him. We got along well and shared information. I think he did a good job for twenty-four years. I wish him well.”