The Peru Gazette

Peru – February 23, 2015

A comment made on the Peru Gazette website appears to have encouraged the Peru Town Board to do more than install a streetlight at the intersection of the Brand Hollow Road – Military Turnpike Extension. At the Monday, February 23^rd board meeting Town Supervisor Peter Glushko mentioned comments by Lisa Davis on the Peru Gazette website:

“My daughter, son-in-law, and my grandson were almost killed at that intersection on January 31, 2015. It was a beautiful sunny day with 100% visibility when they were t-boned on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. I will never forget the heart stopping phone call from my son-in-law moments after the accident. My daughter sustained severe injuries, my grandson and son-in-law thankfully had minor injuries and they all suffer with emotional and physical pain endured by this horrible accident that may have been prevented with a traffic light. I speak out to hopefully prevent someone else from dying at this dangerous intersection. God was with my family that day…”

At the Board’s February 9^th meeting, Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell informed the board about the accident and requested permission to install a streetlight to better illuminate the intersection. The board approved his request, but at tonight’s meeting Supervisor Glushko and other board members asked Farrell to look into installing either flashing red lights or a traffic signal at the intersection. Many people, including this reporter, have witnessed drivers simply “blowing though” the intersection’s four-way stop signs.

Reacting to a suggestion from Town Justice Lawrence Cabana, the board is proposing changes to the town’s Dog Control Law. Judge Cabana wrote to the board stating that the Dog Control Law’s misdemeanor penalties are unenforceable because the Clinton Country District Attorney’s office does not have the resources to prosecute misdemeanors related to town laws. The board responded by reducing the penalties to violations rather than misdemeanors and scheduled a public hearing for March 9^th at 6:30 p.m. A few changes in the Dog Law’s fee schedule are also being proposed.  PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #1 OF 2015 DOG CONTROL

Responding to a recent article in Denton Publications’ The Burg no highway department is permitted to give complimentary sand and salt to town residents. The article stated that practice is unconstitutional. Apparently a few Peru residents have relied on the town for small quantities of the sand-salt mixture.

Counselor Brandy McDonald said he would keep the board updated on the work being done by the local Oil Train Committee. The Oil Train Committee was scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24^th and will be meeting every other week for the foreseeable future. The recent oil train crashes and the resulting explosions in West Virginia have heightened concern about the trains, especially since the rail cars in the West Virginia incident incorporated the latest safety improvements.

Carol Rock, a Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum Board member, told the board about the museum’s continuing progress. On January 12^th the New York State Board of regents granted the museum an absolute charter signifying that the museum had complied with the Board’s organizational, educational and financial standards. The museum had been operating under a provisional charter.

Last year 900 students and parents and more than 1,000 other visitors enjoyed Babbie Museum. This year the museum will try to attract bus tours in an effort to increase the number of visitors. The non-profit museum relies on individuals, local businesses and organizations for funding. Mrs. Rock thanked the board for its support.

Labeling February a “brutal month,” Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said his men have had only one day off all month. The department has used 491 loads of the sand-salt mixture.

Ads will be placed in the Press Republican for a new IT provider. Debbie Fleming, the town’s longtime provider, has resigned.

In other actions the Board:

• Approved John Flynn’s recommendation that Beth Lozier be appointed to the Peru Youth Commission.
• Approved a 2015 fuel purchase contract with the Peru Central School District.
• Reacted favorably to a request from Jordan Kelleher to conduct his June wedding ceremony at the Heyworth-Mason Park. Town Attorney Donald Biggs and Supervisor Glushko will look into any insurance or liability issues prior to granting final approval.
• Supervisor Glushko indicated he would attend an April 15^th workshop for town financial officers to be conducted by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) at the Town of Plattsburgh Town Hall.

The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Board member Kregg Bruno was excused, as was Town Clerk Kathy Flynn.