The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan 

• Orchard View’s sidewalks and road are narrower than expected 
• Main Street Enhancement Project at a standstill. 
• Lyon Street School Costs Increase by about $1K
• State Mandates significantly increase water testing costs 
• Town Incurs $1,940 in Code Enforcement legal expenses 
• Elm Street easement decision needed soon 
• Employee Handbook update to include tobacco free and sexual harassment policies.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported problems with both the highway and the sidewalk width in the Orchard View subdivision/Washington Street Extension. The new installed pavement does not have paved shoulders and the sidewalk is four feet wide, not five feet wide as Farrell requested. Farrell said he emailed a letter to the Planning Board stating his requirements when the developer, William Sawyer, applied to build 13 homes; however, Farrell could not definitively state that his recommendations were relayed to the developer. (Since the meeting Farrell stated he has proof that his sidewalk and road width requirements were given to the developer’s representative at a May 11, 2016 Planning Board meeting.) The Town’s attorney and the developer’s attorney are expected to be talking to each other on the issue. 

It does not appear that construction of the Main Street enhancement project will commence in 2018. As of October 11th, the contractor had not received New York State’s minority owner contract waiver and the Town’s request to delay construction is still pending before a state agency. This is the Town’s second request to delay construction. 

Town Historian Ron Allen informed the Board that the Lyon Street School project will cost about $8,500 not $7,500 as originally estimated. Contractor Randy LaValley encountered rotten wood, windows in need of replacement and glazing and other items. LaValley also used considerably more stain than anticipated. Ron Allen will report the exact cost at the Board’s next meeting. 

Water/Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault stated that NYS has mandated new water tests over the next 12 months, part of which will cost $3,000 every 90 days. He is hopeful that the requirements will not be required after one year. 

The Town must pay an outside attorney $1,940 in legal fees related to zoning enforcement. Code Enforcement Officer Bod Guynup issued a code violation to a property owner on Twin Creek Drive for installing a retaining wall without a permit. The property owner maintained that Guynup’s predecessor informed him that he did not need a permit. Judge Lawrence Cabana tried the case in Peru Town Court and dismissed the charges for what Guynup described a multitude of reasons. Town Attorney Matt Favro could not represent the Town because his father, Gary Favro, represented the property owner. 

Water/Sewer Superintendent Courtney Tetrault is focusing on keeping the sewer system upgrade project on schedule. He told the Board that a decision should be made on the necessity of acquiring easements for replacement of existing sewer lines behind several Elm Street homes. The lines were installed long ago and no easements can be located.  Engineers initially recommended acquiring easements rather than installing new lines adjacent to Elm Street. Tetrault pointed out that one property owner who did not grant an easement could derail the project. Maintaining sewer lines behind homes would also be more difficult than maintaining lines adjacent to Elm Street. AES Engineering is developing cost estimates for both options. 

The 2019 New York State budget required that towns implement a sexual harassment policy not later than October 29th. The Board approved a policy on very short notice at this meeting. All staff members, including elected officials, will be required to acknowledge receipt of the policy, The Town Employee Handbook will be undated to include the policy, the recently approved smoke-free policy and Highway Department union information.