PERU -- Peru town councilors have tabled proposed laws regulating adult-use establishments and outdoor wood boilers.

The Town Council held public hearings on both issues before this week's regular meeting, but Supervisor Donald Covel advised the two dozen people in attendance that the town would not be acting on the proposals at this time.

Covel said Clinton County Planner Rodney Brown and Town Attorney Donald Biggs had some concerns about wording in the laws and a suggestion that the proposals be reviewed by the county before the town acts on them.

The boiler issue drew much more attention during the two hearings, with most people voicing opposition to the proposal that would prohibit outdoor wood boilers in the hamlet and add other restrictions on boilers in rural areas.

"I had my (outdoor wood boiler) up and running before I had my certificate of occupancy for my home," said resident Paul Persons. "Now you're telling me I've got to do away with my wood boiler? That's $6,000 down the drain."

A major argument for people with outdoor boilers is the savings on home-heating costs.

"I have an outdoor wood boiler in the hamlet, and I can't get rid of it," said Babette Torres, who added that she will not be able to afford her home if she has to pay for more traditional fuel sources.

Some residents said regulations such as raising the height of chimneys may be beneficial but felt that each case is unique and should be dealt with individually, not by blanket rules.

Linda Lamountain, who operates a wood boiler at her home on Military Turnpike, read a detailed account of her concerns about the proposal, suggesting that the law was discriminatory and possibly the basis of a conspiracy against wood-boiler users.

"One size does not fit all," she said, requesting the council go "back to the drawing board" to develop a proposal that is fair to all town residents.

Her husband, Ron Lamountain, also voiced concerns about the proposal, noting that no members of the town's Comprehensive Planning Committee contacted the wood-boiler owners for advice as they developed the proposal.

"The board is being very unreasonable with some of their demands," he said, echoing the fact that wood-boiler users have purchased the technology for financial reasons as fuel prices continue to rise dramatically.

Council member Peter Glushko said the public was constantly invited to the Comprehensive Planning Committee meetings.

"We always had pretty good turnout at those meetings, and the public did add input," he said. "But (wood-boiler) owners never attended the meetings."

Resident Jim Kirby suggested the problem could be dealt with more easily if the town had a nuisance law to take care of individual problems as they arise, such as the way residents can submit complaints about barking dogs.