The Peru Gazette

At its May 24, 2021 regular meeting the Peru Town Board: 

• Conducted a 20-minute discussion with four members of the Peru Youth Commission. Youth Commission Chairman Greg Mills recently submitted his resignation and Councilmen Rick Barber and Jim Douglass have both bowed out as the town board’s liaison to the commission. Councilmen Melvin Irwin and Kregg Bruno have been appointed as their successors. Youth Commission spokesperson Jonathan Whitmarsh noted that the commission members are all unpaid volunteers. They include Greg Mills. Emile Sypek, Brian Marino, Jim Buskey, Bill Myers, Carrie Beattie, Krista Blair and Krista Bell.  Whitmarsh outlined their qualifications and commitment to Peru, its youth and community. He also mentioned Greg Mill’s resignation and a town board decision to reverse a youth commission decision. Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald responded, “It’s a communications gap. It’s been happening for years… We’ve got to work together.” Councilman Mel Irwin said the recent decision to reactivate the youth commission’s by-laws should help solve the problem. The by-laws have existed since the 1980s, but for some reason, they have not been followed for several years. Henceforth, the youth commission’s meeting minutes will be submitted to the town board and meeting dates, times and locations will be posted at least five days prior to meetings. Councilman Rick Barber emphasized that a youth commission representative should attend town board meetings. Barber doesn’t perceive the liaison’s role as representing the youth commission. He said the spokesperson doesn’t have to be John Flynn; it could be any board member. The by-laws call for commission members to have terms of office with three members coming up for reappointment each year. Brandy McDonald said a simple hand-written note of interest in continuing would be sufficient. Town attorney Matt Favro said the planning and zoning boards have similar requirements and emphasized that he welcomes phone calls about any significant questions, changes, or issues. Councilman Kregg Bruno, referring to the instance when the board reversed a youth commission decision, said the town wouldn’t have taken the action it did if it had known all the facts. The discussion appeared to conclude with a better understanding on both sides and a more congenial atmosphere.  (See the discussion between the 23:35 and 43:20 minute marks of the Peru Gazette video). 
• Accepted Greg Mill’s resignation as Youth Commission Chairman. The board voted to accept the resignation and to send Mills a letter thanking him for his long service. 
• Discussed having the summertime music concert at Heyworth-Mason Park. The Little Ausable Park Gazebo isn’t available because of disruptions related to the ongoing sewer system upgrade project. The town needs to acquire a stage and stage covering at a reasonable cost if Heyworth-Mason Park is to be utilized. An increment weather location also needs to be found. It doesn’t appear the Peru Community Church’s Fellowship Hall will be available. 
• Approved purchasing a Caterpillar 307.5 mini excavator from Milton CAT at a $98,307 national contract purchase price. Machines from two other manufacturers were higher. The highway and water-sewer departments will have joint use of the machine and share equally in the cost. A mini-excavator is very maneuverable. It will be used in restricted space areas, such as digging up someone’s yard. The highway department will use it on sidewalks and similar jobs. 
• Accepted a New York State $30,000 engineering planning grant for the wastewater system on the south side of the Little Ausable River. The town will contribute a $6,000 local match. 
• Authorized hiring Christine Crawford as the temporary part-time Codes Office Secretary at a pay rate of $16.64. 
• Authorized hiring Kaleb Martineau as a parks department seasonal employee at a $14 per hour pay rate. 
• Scheduled a sewer upgrade workshop for June 28 at 5 p.m. 

In other reports: 

Town Clerk-Tax Collector Dianne Miller stated she has closed her tax collection books for this year and that all went well. Miller also filed the recently passed 2021 Local Law #1 with New York State. The state accepted it and Miller indexed it in the town’s local law records. 

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell’s staff has the town’s new paver ready after solving a few technical issues. Farrell is still concerned about the local asphalt supply given the airport runway construction. He can delay paving until fall if necessary. The Brand Hollow Rd, Nelson Road, and Lyons Road will be his first paving priorities. His staff has begun roadside mowing. 

Water-Sewer Department Superintendent Courtney Tetrault reported that the sewer upgrade project is going well. One of his department’s new trucks struck a small deer on the River Road. The front bumper of the involved truck will have to be replaced. The wastewater treatment plant’s new clarifier equipment has arrived.