The Peru Gazette

Peru Gazette File Photo

Peru – Town Board Meeting, Monday, April 27, 2015 – A four-year long court case has been expensive for both the Town of Peru and for Henry and Kevin Dashnaw, owners of the Adirondack Golf and Country Club. The Town of Peru has spent in excess of $65,000. The Dashnaw’s attorney Matthew Norfolk has stated that his clients have spent thousands and thousands of dollars because the town denies that the Brand Hollow Road or any other road ever existed east of Interstate 87 where Fairway Drive now exists. The Dashnaws contend that Fairway Drive, which is adjacent to their golf course, is a town road that should be repaired and maintained by the town. The town contends that Fairway Drive was never a town road and that if the Dashnaws want to develop a subdivision there, it is their responsibility to bring the road up to the town’s standard prior to the town taking over the road. In 2012, a Supreme Judge dismissed the Dashnaw’s lawsuit. They appealed and in 2013 the New York State Appellate Division ruled that the Supreme Court Judge erred when he dismissed the case. Now both parties have asked the court to issue a final judgment in their favor.

Bob Manchester’s comments to the board were doubtedly music to Town Supervisor Peter Glushko’s ears at the Monday’s board meeting.  Manchester told the board, “Peru water is wonderful. I can actually drink the water out of my faucet! I can throw away my Breta filter.” Supervisor Glushko has been praising town water for several months. He commented, “People can stop buying bottled water. Our water tastes good and it’s safe to drink.” Glushko said several Clinton County Health Department tests have verified the water’s safety. Last year the Town of Peru completed a $3.2 million water system upgrade.

Bob Manchester also mentioned what he considers to be excessive school bus traffic on McIntosh Drive. He said six buses travel to the school daily via McIntosh Drive. He asked if buses could be directed to use state highways and mentioned that he had been a bus driver several years ago and at that time, it was school policy that the school buses travel on state highways whenever possible. Supervisor Glushko promised to communicate with Peru School Superintendent Grinstein regarding the matter.

Peru residents are going to be better informed when a zoning or planning hearing is scheduled related to a neighboring property. Counselor Donald McBrayer told the board that Town Code Enforcement Officer Frank Slycord would be posting a sign on applicants’ properties for the purpose of informing neighbors that a Zoning Board or Planning Board action is pending. For the past few years, the town has satisfied the minimum legal requirement by publishing zoning and planning board agenda items in the Press Republican’s legal page. Slycord’s office has also informed the Peru Gazette. The signs should make neighbors more aware of any proposed changes to nearby properties.

Maintaining and updating the town’s computer technology is being prioritized now that the town has hired Simon Moore as its contract IT provider. Counselor Donald McBrayer, the board’s IT liaison, told the board, “We’re approaching this from the point of view of what it will take to get the system up to snuff.” The existing system includes a server, 15 personal computers and a wireless Internet system. McBrayer said purchasing a new server at a cost of $8,150 (including software transfer) is the #1 priority as is off-site or cloud back-up for the new server. An on-site tape machine backs up the current server; however, if a fire or other damage severely damages the server, all town financial records would be lost. Off-site/cloud backup would cost $899 annually. McBrayer and Moore also recommended a computer replacement schedule. Three computers would be retired annually, meaning every computer would be replaced after five years of use which McBrayer stated is the generally accepted computer lifetime. The town hall’s wireless system also needs to be replaced with a more capable system.

The Peru Central School has invited the Town of Peru to participate in a joint solar energy venture. Five acres of open land would be needed for the solar panels. The town does not own five open acres; therefore locating the panels in multiple locations is being explored. Counselor Brandy McDonald was dubious about the school proposal saying he showed the school’s plans to a solar energy expert who questioned several of the plan’s assumptions and projected costs.

Supervisor Glushko informed the Board that Peruvian International Festival II has been scheduled on July 19^th. He said the format would be similar to last year’s.

The Board passed three resolutions relating to oil train safety recommended by the Clinton County Oil Train Task Force. They will be mailed to various legislators, government bodies, agencies and the railroad. Oil Train Resolutions

The $500,000 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) related to the recent upgrade of the town’s water system has been received. It could be used to retire water system bonds or dispersed over time to reduce the water tax rate. Supervisor Glushko asked board members to think about the best course of action.

The Highway Department has completed its springtime street sweeping in the hamlet. Now they will move to outlying subdivisions.

Pam Barber reported that bands have been booked for the all the town’s summer concerts. Nine concerts have been scheduled between June 28^th and August 23^rd. Fund availability determined the number of concerts. The names of the interested bands were put in a hat and drawn. Six interested bands were not lucky enough to be chosen.

Counselor Brandy Donald mentioned the large number of stray cats in the hamlet.

Counselor Kregg Bruno was absent for the 8^th consecutive board meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.