The Peru Gazette

News includes affordable housing, the Recreation Director Assistant position still not filled, a grant application to be submitted, town property sale faces obstacles, a new hire in the Highway Department, and Employee Handbook revisions 

March 12, 2024—The Peru Town Board held a regular meeting Monday evening chaired by Deputy Supervisor Jim Douglass. The board excused Supervisor Brandy McDonald and Councilman Melvin Irwin.

Our nation, NYS, and this region have a housing shortage, especially affordable housing. Last year, Governor Kathy Hochul initiated and signed Executive Order 30, creating the Pro-Housing Community designed to reward local governments working hard to address New York’s housing crisis. Planning Board member Allison Webbinaro addressed the board to advocate for Peru to take advantage of the program and to be named a New York State Pro-Housing Designated Community. Webbinaro said the state had already named five North Country communities “Pro-Housing,” and she wants Peru to join them. A Pro-Housing designated community will receive funding priority for several state discretionary programs, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), the N.Y. Forward program, and more. The three board members present, Jim Douglass, Eric Duquette, and Kregg Bruno, supported the application and asked Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup to prepare it. Peru needs additional housing, especially in the water-sewer district, where relatively few property owners will bear the cost of the state-mandated water and sewer improvements.

Recreation Director Kristen Marino said she hasn’t received any applications for the recreation director assistant position. Marino may recommend subdividing the job by season, i.e., a baseball assistant, a soccer assistant, a basketball assistant, etc. She thinks people may be willing to commit to a specific sport over a shorter period.

Water/Sewer Parks Superintendent Courtney Tetrault reported that he’s applying for a federal grant through Congresswoman Stefanik to help pay for the upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. The application is due this Friday.

The town wants to sell 45 acres of no-longer-used property adjacent to Brand Hollow Rd. At one time, the property was the town’s wastewater lagoon site. Unfortunately, decommissioning the property is going to be expensive. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) indicated that an engineering study and asbestos assessment of the property’s 20′ x 20′ building would be required. The estimated cost is $33,000. The board tabled the issue pending receipt of more information.

In other actions, the board accepted Adam Archer’s resignation as a Highway Department Machine & Equipment Operator and approved hiring T. J. Welch of Peru as his replacement. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell praised Adam Archer’s work, saying he’d gladly take him back if he ever wants to return. Deputy Highway Superintendent Tyler Jarvis said T.J. Welch has a great, can-do attitude and will, hopefully, be a town employee for many years.

The board approved changes to the Employee Handbook regarding maximum compensation time for Highway and Water/Sewer/Parks employees and Highway Department Commercial Driver Licensing.