The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

As previously reported, the Peru Town Board did not reach a decision on the appointment of either a supervisor or counselor at its August 10th meeting. Jeff Meyers of the Press Republican filed a detailed story covering the Board’s deliberations.

The large number of residents in attendance witnessed Counselors Peter Glushko and Brandy MacDonald facing off against Counselor Tom Powers. Since the town’s 2010 budget will be formulated in the next few weeks Glushko and MacDonald insisted that the counselor appointee should have prior town board or town budget experience. They proposed several people to fill the position including: Tina Calkins Covey, James Douglas, Susan Polhemus, Roger Bonner, Keith Matott and Cortland Forrence.  Tom Powers voted against each nominee saying either the taxpayers have told him that they want new faces on the board or he had not had the opportunity to speak to the person being proposed.  Powers proposed James Falvo as a board member citing his attendance at board meetings and his professional experience. MacDonald and Glushko voted “no” stating they were looking for specific town budget experience. MacDonald expressed the opinion that people were available with more budget experience than Falvo. 

In other action the Board:

• The Board welcomed two Department of Environmental Conservation officers who outlined a plan to upgrade the Mud Pond Rd.  The first 3.6 miles of the road are privately owned and are not open to public use.  The landowner placed a gate on the road in 1991. If the Town of Peru provides equipment and manpower to lay gravel and place culverts the state will provide the gravel, culverts and will maintain the road. If the gate is removed, the public will have access to 4,000 acres of Terry Mountain property and other acreage. No decision was made on the proposal. The D.E.C. will provide a written proposal to the town.  Members of the Mastic family own the property in question. They expressed concerns about illegal dumping, road maintenance and other issues. 
• Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that the D.E.C. determined that the fuel tank leaks he reported at the last meeting were not serious. The tanks have been replaced.
• Counselor MacDonald reported that almost all residents of McIntosh Drive have requested that speed bumps be placed on their street. Several people on Holden Ave. have also expressed interest in speed bumps.
• The Board ratified certain actions taken by Supervisor Donald Covel during his last few days in office including the Valcour Sewer District Bond issue. The Board also authorized Counselors Powers and Glushko to sign checks and removed Donald Covel as an authorized signer of checks.
• The Board is investigating the possibility of having an outside company take care of personnel workplace issues/human resources.