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% proficient indicates the percentage of students tested who scored at level three or above.

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New town website, water projects move forward

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1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of January 8, 2024.

5. Community Input. 

6. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Approval of Contracts for Peru Free Library, JCEO, Adir. Park Local Gov’t Review Board and

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approval to Advertise for Request for Qualifications for Engineering Firms.

8. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

9. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay December 2023 and January 2024 Bills.

11. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

12. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

13. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

Charged with stealing a second vehicle after being released following first vehicle theft 

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From the office of Assemblyman Jones

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) recently sent a letter to the Commissioner of Civil Service, Timothy Hogues, regarding expanding the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement (HELP) Program to include local governments. This program temporarily removes the civil service exam requirement for critical openings at state agencies. Currently, the program only includes state jobs that need to be filled, which is exacerbating the workforce shortage in local and county governments.

“As the former Mayor of Chateaugay and Chair of the Franklin County Legislature, I know firsthand how important it is to make sure that these local and county government jobs are filled,” said Jones. “Between highway maintenance to social workers, we depend on these workers every day and we cannot afford to leave these positions open. The changes to the HELP Program to include state jobs was a move in the right direction, but by not expanding it for local and county jobs, it will lead to more local and county employees to leave their positions for a state job. We cannot allow this unlevel playing field to continue and we must expand the program to include job openings in local and county governments.”

“Clinton County continues to experience significant recruitment difficulty for many of the positions that are critical in meeting the needs of our county,” said Mark Henry, Chair of the Clinton County Legislature. “Clinton County has also seen a drastic reduction in participation for County Civil Service Examinations, which in turn creates many certified eligible lists that are non-mandatory.  We applaud the State for the HELP Program initiative as that has assisted us in filling many vacant positions and I would request and support the expansion of the proposed NY HELP Program to also include local governments.”

“On behalf of Franklin County, we appreciate Assemblyman Jones’ advocacy to ask the Governor to extend NY HELP to local/county municipalities,” said Donna Kissane, Franklin County Manager. “This program has been extremely beneficial in bridging the gap in the Franklin County workforce.”

“Local Government is the point of where public and service meet,” said Shaun Gilliland, Chair of the Essex County Board of Supervisors. “Our employees do the delivery of all governmental services to the citizens. We continue to experience staffing shortages that put essential service delivery at risk.  In a time when the need of service is high, we continue to operate at levels that places more stress on our workforce which leads to further turnover. Expanding the NYHELP program and allowing for inclusion of local government would eliminate a barrier to employment and help to stabilize our workforce

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Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, January 29, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.

All blood collected is utilized in our local trl-county region.

The drive is being coordinated by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273.

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New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released the following statement on Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal:

“Governor Hochul introduced her Executive Budget proposal amid continued economic growth; however, as recent years have shown, the financial picture can change rapidly. As the state faces out-year budget gaps totaling over $20 billion through State Fiscal Year 2027-28, it is important that actions are taken to improve the long-term stability of the state’s finances while ensuring adequate funding for our most important needs, including education, public safety, health and mental health care, among other priorities.

“The Governor and the Legislature have boosted the state’s rainy-day funds and other reserves for economic uncertainties, and these funds should be retained for emergencies. It is important to develop clear guidelines on the appropriate use of these reserves. In addition to protecting reserve funds, policymakers must ensure that this year’s budget decisions also improve the state’s structural balance.

“I remain concerned about the state’s debt burden, one of the highest in the nation and which continues to grow. I have put forth proposals to bring comprehensive and binding debt reform that will ensure more responsible debt decisions and, more importantly, greater accountability to the public. It’s time this issue is addressed before it hinders the state’s ability to adequately address future infrastructure needs.

“My office will release a more detailed analysis of the 2024-25 Executive Budget in the coming weeks.”

Pre-order by February 8th by calling 518-643-2261, 518-324-6084, or 518-578-5317.

Janine ScherlineELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. – Janine Scherline of Peru, NY, joined the Adirondack Council staff as Director of Development in mid-January, the organization announced. At the same time, Elizabeth Rogers of Willsboro joined the Council’s staff as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Engagement.

Prior to joining the Council’s team, Scherline was Director of Donor Engagement for the Adirondack Foundation, a regional community foundation based in Lake Placid. Rogers was Director of Development for the UVM Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

“With the new year comes an amazing opportunity to welcome two new senior staff members to the Adirondack Council,” said Adirondack Council Executive Director Raul J. Aguirre. “Janine and Elizabeth are fantastic individuals who are leaders in their fields and have exceptional talents that match well with the needs of the organization at this time. Both will begin the week of January 15.”

Janine Scherline will fill an existing director position, while Elizabeth Rogers will take on a newly created senior position focused on operational and strategic planning priorities. Both positions are part of the Council’s leadership team.

Director of Fund Development

“Janine will take the position that was vacated when our friend and colleague Debbie Pastore left in mid-July,” Aguirre said.“She will work with our board of directors and with Asst. Director of Development Nicholle Gotham, who has been carrying a heavy workload since Deb’s departure this past summer.

“Janine has been a successful fundraiser in a broad range of not-for-profit fields including the arts, public television and higher education,” he said.  “She has also exhibited leadership and a strong sense of community service, all tied directly to a love of the Adirondacks.”

In addition to her work for the Adirondack Foundation, Scherline worked for the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Mountain Lake Public Television in Plattsburgh, and organizations promoting arts from Lake Placid to London, England.

Strategic Initiatives and Engagement

“As we look towards our 50^th Anniversary in 2025 and expanding our efforts related to the VISION 2050 report, Elizabeth will work with staff and the board in a new position. In the short term, she will focus on refining the Council’s upcoming initiatives and program efforts to be more strategic, innovative, and relevant to the issues currently at play in the Adirondacks,” Aguirre said.

Elizabeth Rogers

“We have a deep pool of talented staff members,” he explained. “Our staff are actively engaged in all the important areas related to the protection of the Adirondack Park, including conservation planning, government relations, environmental advocacy, constitutional law, and communications, among other areas.  Janine and Elizabeth will help us prioritize and focus our energy and resources so we take full advantage of the opportunities ahead while building momentum and finding new ways for the organization to articulate our top priorities to new audiences across the state and the nation. Very excited about having both of them join the Council team.”

In addition to her work for the Elizabethtown Hospital, Rogers worked in public affairs for the National Park Service at the Fire Island National Seashore on Long Island, and at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine. She also worked for the US Fish & Wildlife Service and The Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

Established in 1975, the Adirondack Council is a privately funded not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. It is the largest environmental organization whose sole focus is the Adirondacks.

The Council carries out its mission through research, education, advocacy, and legal action. It envisions a Park with clean water and clean air, core wilderness areas, farms and working forests, and vibrant, diverse, welcoming, safe communities.

Plattsburgh men plead guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of Kenneth Darrah

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