The Peru Gazette

Gazette File Photo

By John T. Ryan

Peru – The Main Street Plan was the primary topic at the Monday, December 12th Peru Town Board meeting; however, other important topics were discussed or acted on.

The need for water and sewer rate increases was on the agenda. Supervisor Glushko said, “The special districts have to support themselves. Unfortunately, sometimes a rate increase is necessary.” A resolution to increase the rates will be placed on the December 27th meeting agenda. Water and Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault said an typical household utilizing both water and sewer services would have an increase of $32 per year. Click here to review proposed increases

Courtney Tetrault requested that a permit requirement be instituted for anyone installing or digging up water or sewer lines. He said some people are replacing pipes without his knowledge. The town has pipe and hookup requirements and the presence of  utilities such as cable TV wires should be checked before any digging occurs. The code enforcement office would collect the fees. This matter is expected to be taken up at the December 27th meeting.

Town Attorney Donald Biggs told the board he plans to resign as of December 31st. Biggs works for the firm O’Connell and Aronowitz which is losing William Favreau who was recently elected as Clinton County Judge.

Biggs’ departure means that Peru is seeking attorneys for the town board and for the zoning and planning boards. The positions are difficult to fill given the nighttime meetings and relatively low rate of renumeration. There are very few local attorneys who have municipal law experience.

Counselor Donald McBrayer reported that he met with Youth Director John Flynn, Youth Commission President Greg Mills and Youth Commission member Jen Madore. Mills and Madore asked several questions regarding the town’s 2017 Youth Commission budget. McBrayer would like to improve communication between the youth commission and the town board. He encouraged Mills and Madore to periodically attend town board meetings. He said he would try to attend the commission’s meetings.

Supervisor Pete Glushko asked Courtney Tetrault to get a ballpark price on lowering the town hall’s main room ceiling and relocating the lighting and air handling systems. Glushko would like to encumber the money in the 2017 town budget.

Counselor Jim Langley remarked that if the ceiling was going to be lowered, that it would be a good time to update the town hall’s main room, especially its wall paneling. Langley also asked what the plans are for the room formerly used by the town court. Supervisor Glushko said he envisions it being used as a conference and break room. Langley said it might make sense to use that room as a code enforcement office and use the current codes enforcement office as the conference/break room. No decision was made.

Judge Jim Kirby reported that operations in the new court house are going very well. There has been only one problem – sound echoing in the court’s office. He will be installing sound absorbing materials.

Judge Kirby plans to schedule an Open House for the general public on Saturday, January 14th. Details will follow.

After having moved the board’s next meeting to December 19th, the board moved the meeting back to its original date of December 27th at 7p.m. No reason was given for the change.

The board’s final 2016 meeting was scheduled for Friday, December 30th at 8 a.m.