The Peru Gazette

Ft. Row: Atty. Donald Biggs, Supervisor Peter Glushko, Deputy Supervisor Brandy McDonald. Back Row: Counselors Kregg Bruno, Donald McBrayer, James Douglass and Town Clerk/Tax Collector Kathy Flynn

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board conducted its first regular meeting of 2014 on Monday, January 13^th.  Supervisor Peter Glushko welcomed Counselor Donald McBrayer to the Board. McBrayer, who is also Town of Peru Republican Chairman, succeeds Counselor Susan Polhemus. Counselor McBrayer said he would be attending the three-day training program for newly elected officials in Albany this week.

The Board received conceptual drawings for a new Town Hall entrance from Town Engineer Peter Gibbs. The Board has set a $60,000 limit on the project. The Board reacted favorably to one of Gibb’s three proposals.

It was a long meeting because a one-hour-fifteen-minute Executive Session was held to discuss an employment history.

• In other actions/news the Board:
• Accepted a $30,000 sewer system engineering grant.  The town will fund 20% of the project, which is intended to improve sewer plant operations.
• The Board scheduled a January 27, 2014, 6:30 PM Public Hearing on a Revised Town Dog Control/Leash Law. The changes are minor and related to the Town assuming certain licensing responsibilities from the NYS Department Agriculture and Markets. Click Here to View Revised Law
• Reappointed Marilyn “Jane” Brelia to a four-year term on the Board of Assessment Review. Brelia’s term will end on September 30, 2017.
• Discussed the town park security system, which is to be purchased from Saratoga Security Systems. A line-of-site antenna will have to be located somewhere between the Little Ausable River Park and the Town Hall.
• Counselor Kregg Bruno will be discussing the Town Highway Garage roof repairs with Town Engineer Peter Gibbs. Gibbs estimated that the project would cost approximately $150,000. Bruno wants to find out why the cost is so high.
• New York State is requiring that all towns conduct an inventory of all town assets.  Peru will integrate its inventory with the its KBS accounting system which will require payment of set-up and annual fees. Every physical asset owned by the town will have to be located, inventoried and valued according to General Accepted Accounting Principles.
• The Board plans to purchase time clocks for the use of Town Hall, Water and Sewer Department and Highway Department personnel.  The Board seeks to ensure accountability for hours worked, especially overtime. The clocks will cost approximately $600 per unit plus installation cost.
• Supervisor Glushko noted that Burnham Benefit Advisors, the company that advises the Town on health benefits and general insurance matters, has donated $250 to the Peru Volunteer Fire Department.
• The boundary between the Town Hall and the property owned by St. Augustine’s Church (the former Roger Wright property) will have to be clarified.  The Town’s map and St. Augustine’s map do not have the same boundaries.
• Training for town officials will be conducted in New York City from February 16-Februay 19.  No Board member indicated that he would be attending.