The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board completed its 2009 business at an 8 a.m. December 31^st Special Meeting at the Peru Town Hall.  Supervisor Peter Glushko and Counselors Brandy McDonald and Jim Douglass were present. Counselors Tom Powers and Kregg Bruno were absent. End of year fund transfers were quickly approved and thirty bills approved for payment. 

Supervisor Peter Glushko took advantage of Cortland Forrence’s presence to give the Deputy Supervisor a “Key to the Town of Peru.” Glushko said, “We owe Cortland for the pro-bono work he did for the insurance change and all his work on the budget. It’s good to see we have citizens willing to do things like this for the good of the town.”  Forrence became Deputy Supervisor in September 2009 at a time when the supervisor’s position was vacant and the budgeting process needed to move forward.  In November the town was notified that it faced a 35% increase in health increase rates. Forrence worked with the board to find an alternative insurance program resulting in no rate increase.

After expressing his thanks to the Board for the award Forrence said he had come to the meeting to discuss the town’s health insurance buy-out program.  He said the Town Board had discussed raising the town’s employee buy-out (currently at $2,000) for several years and had not taken action. An employee can take advantage of the buy-out if they are eligible for the town’s health insurance and chooses to not take the insurance. This usually happens when an employee’s spouse has better coverage through his or her place of employment. Five employees currently take advantage of the buy-out program. Forrence said he was concerned that if the buy-out amount is not increased more employees will choose the town’s health insurance program at a cost to the town of approximately $11,000 per employee for family coverage. Counselor Brandy McDonald said he has checked with other communities and they offer significantly higher buy-out amounts.  He said Beekmantown offers a $3,500 buy-out and is in the process of increasing it to $4,000.  After discussion the Board voted 3-0 to increase the 2009 buy-out from $2,000 to $2,500 pending review by legal counsel.  A possible increase in 2010 will be discussed at future meetings.

Supervisor Glushko noted the favorable comments residents have made about the town plowing hamlet sidewalks. Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell reported that the plow borrowed from the Town of Ausable has a broken part and that the part is no longer manufactured. He hopes to have the part welded before the next snow storm.

Supervisor Glushko concluded the meeting by wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

The meeting adjourned at about 8:45 a.m.