The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Background checks for all Peru Youth Commission coaches, employees and volunteers. will become a reality this year. At its Monday, May 13, 2019 meeting the Peru Town Board formally approved a background check contract with sportsengine.com. Checks will be done online with all cost being born by the town. Town Attorney Matt Favro said it takes about five minutes to complete the online questionnaire. Counselor Tim Barber said that Youth Director John Flynn estimates that about 109 people will be required to undergo the check at this time, plus people connected to the fall soccer program.

Several procedures still have to be resolved including determining if people will be required to undergo the check each year or they simply have to periodically certify that nothing has changed since they took the online background check. Because many of the volunteers are school reachers Matt Favro will check to see what kind of background checks they undergo. There is a possibility the Town might accept a school’s background check. Most importantly, what kind of offense would disqualify an individual from volunteering. Matt Favro said a sex offense would definitely disqualify someone. Other offenses would have to be considered by the Town Board on a case by case basis. Favro and Rick Barber, a Board liaison to the Youth Commission, will discuss these matters at the Youth Commission’s May 28th, 6:30 p.m. meeting.

The Board agreed to set a public hearing regarding a possible change in the zoning classification from commercial to residential for 20 acres of property located behind CFA Insurance. The property is owned by Stephen Fuller and Richard Nephew. While the exact nature of any planned housing has been not been announced, at last month’s Town Board meeting realtor Tina Calkins Covey mentioned senior housing as a possibility. All the Town Board members spoke in favor of the change citing the need to add to the tax base especially considering the upcoming sewer system upgrade. There also does not appear to be any current interest in developing commercial property along the Bear Swamp Road.

Counselor Jim Douglass reported that the Town can apply to the Main Street Project grant monies to pave the road at Heyworth-Mason Park. The cost has been estimated at $16,000 to $17,000 with the town performing the paving. Courtney Tetrault recommended that the parking area be expanded because of the park’s growing use. People often park on the grass.

It’s also possible that the grant money could be utilized to replace Main Street sidewalks. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said he could pour the sidewalks if the Patent Road culvert project is so complex that it has to be put out to bid. Farrell estimated that 2,385 feet of sidewalk needs to be replaced between the Main Street Bridge and the Dollar Store. The cost will have to determined prior to filing a request to use the grant monies for this purpose.

Counselor Melvin Irwin asked if the grant monies could be used to purchase trees that have been lost over the years. Counselor Jim Langley recalled how beautiful Plattsburgh’s Grace Avenue was before the 1998 ice storm felled its trees. If anyone has ideas where to place trees especially along Main St. contact Counselor Irwin.

The 2019 Little Ausable River Park Gazebo Concert schedule has been released. Two-hour free-of-charge Sunday night concerts will be held from June 30 to August 25. They begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m.

JCEO community Outreach Program Director Sally Soucia reported that Samantha Bardon became Peru’s JECO Food Shelf Coordinator effective April 22, 2019. Soucia said the Food Shelf has been very busy, especially over the past two months. She characterized the Peru community’s donations and support as “amazing.”