The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Peru Charter Communications customers may be forced to change cable providers. At the Monday, May 12, 2014 Town Board meeting Supervisor Peter Glushko stated that Charter Communications is considering turning over Clinton County service to the Comcast Corporation. The two companies are negotiating an exchange agreement whereby each company would turn over cable service to the strongest provider in a given region. The change would not take place until 2015. Since Peru’s cable franchise agreement is up for renewal, Glushko said he hopes to get cable access for more Peru residents. Under the existing agreement cable service has to be offered when there are more than 20 customers per mile. In February 2014 Comcast announced its intent to purchase Time-Warner, the company that provides cable service in the northern regions of Clinton County. It appears that Comcast could end up with a Clinton County monopoly.

Two issues arose during the pubic comment portion of the meeting. Robin and Chuck Callioras informed the Board that they have taken over the operation of the car wash in Tops Market Plaza. Last July Robin Callioras took over the operation of the Village Laundry, which is located in the same plaza. Chuck Callioras said, “We want to know if there is any way water/sewer rates could be reduced. We’ve cleaned up the car wash. We no longer use recycled water like the previous operator, but the water rates are killing us.” Supervisor Peter Glushko and Counselor Kregg Bruno said the Board would look into the issue.

The Town of Plattsburgh, which sources its water from drilled wells and has many more users to pay the cost, reportedly has one of the lowest water-sewer rates in the country. It’s quarterly water-sewer charge is based on a 7,000 gallon minimum charge of $59.00. A Peru district user would be charged $113.00 for 7,000 gallons water-sewer usage. The City of Plattsburgh has a surface water system similar to Peru’s. 7,000 gallons of quarterly water-sewer service in the City would cost $223.92. None of the communities gives commercial users a preferred rate.

Last June Heidi Danis of Coastland Drive appeared before the Board to complain that a neighbor was renting his house by the week throughout the summer in violation of the zoning law. Subsequent investigation corroborated her statements and the property owner was forced to cancel several weekly rentals. Peru enacted a new zoning law in late 2013 that does not prohibit weekly rentals. Danis appeared at Monday’s meeting stating that the house is booked again this summer. She voiced the opinion that the rentals typically involve more than one family, hence they violate the law’s definition of a single-family use. She claimed that New York State Courts have backed up this interpretation. Supervisor Glushko and Town Attorney Donald Biggs told Danis to speak with Code Enforcement Officer Frank Slycord and to ask for his interpretation. She promised to video the rental situation and submit the video to the Board. Town Attorney Donald Biggs told Danis she was free to initiate Article 78 legal proceeding if she disagrees with the Code Enforcement Officer’s ruling.

In other news/actions:

• The Board awarded the Town Hall Front Step Renovation Contract to Northern Snow and Dirt Inc. of Plattsburgh in the amount of $95,850.
• The Board awarded the Highway Garage Roof Repair Project to S&R Constriction Inc. of Corinth, NY in the amount of $148,360.
• Awarded the Highway Department clothing cleaning/supply contract to UniFirst for $104.84 per week.
• Declared the Water Quality Improvement Project to be complete. There are a few cleanup items, but they are considered to be guarantee work.