The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan (Updated 7:45 AM 10/30/13 to clarify the deleted agricultural lands proposal. 

The Peru Town Board voted to approve revisions in the Zoning Law at its October 28, 2013 meeting.  The changes will not go into effect until approved by the New York Department of State.

Formulating and enacting the Zoning Law update has been tedious; the Update Committee began its work in 2008.  In addition to its meetings, the committee conducted a town-wide survey, three public meetings and two public hearings.  A proposal to control/restrict future development of agricultural lands was opposed by several farmers and orchardists who did not want to restrict the future use of their property. If they can’t continue farming whether because of economics or succession, the farmers did not want to restrict the future use of their property. The Town Board reacted and requested deletion of that section of the new law. Orchardists Adam Sullivan and Seth Forrence were present last night and thanked the Town Board for listening to their concerns. Click here to read our previous detailed story on the zoning changes.

Town employees and retirees will be covered by a new Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plan next year. Excellus will not offer the current policies in 2014. Supervisor Peter Glushko said the town’s costs will be reduced by about $2,000, deductibles will be lowered and coverage improved. Burnham Benefit Advisors of Lake Placid administers the town’s health insurance.

The Fuller Road culvert repair project will be delayed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still has to conduct a site visit and issue a permit. Farrell said the Corps would conduct the site review on Wednesday, October 30^th. It normally takes 45 days to issue a permit. Fuller Excavating was the low bidder on the project with a bid of $192,850, which was $60,000 less than the next lowest bidder. Fuller had planned to immediately begin construction.

Child safety was on the agenda. The Board approved engineering expenditures of up to $63,000 related to the Safe Routes to School Program. In late 2012 the town secured a $235,000 Safe Routes to School (STRS) grant to improve walking and biking safety to and from Peru Central School. SRTS grants are 100% federally funded and are administered by New York State Department of Transportation. The School Street sidewalk was financed through a previous SRTS grant. Click here for our previous detailed story on this issue. 

After almost nine months of discussion and workman’s compensation and other insurance issues, the Board accepted a Clowney Electrical Services proposal to install new playground equipment at Laphams Mills Park. The work should be completed by December 31st. The equipment will be located in the area currently surrounded by fencing at the park’s western edge.

The Town Board’s first November meeting will be held on November 4^th at 7 PM. The Board will schedule the 2014 budget Public Hearing at that meeting.

In other actions/discussions:

Water Superintendent Greg Timmons informed the Board that he would like to hire a firm to conduct annual equipment calibrations, equipment checks and software upgrades at the water plant. The $3,900 cost will be included in the department’s 2014 budget.

At the Board’s request, Town Attorney Donald Biggs will advertise for design proposals for the Town Hall entrance stairs. The Board placed a $60,000 limit on the project.

The Board approved contracts with AES Engineering related to applying for Hazard Mitigation Grants and acting as observer on the Fuller Road culvert installation project.

The last required walking trail property easements have been secured.