Peg Havens leaves legacy with Town Board

May 23, 2021

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In her many years serving the Town of Perinton, Peg Havens was known as the great communicator.

If she wasn’t listening to residents’ concerns, she was listening to Town staff or new Town Board members that were trying to get their feet wet.

Havens retired from the Perinton Town Board in March after 12 years.

“Peg has always taken the time to listen to residents and staff concerns and make recommendations and decisions that would help resolve the issues,” said former Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and current Town IT Director Jim Donahue. “Peg will be missed but not forgotten and will always be remembered for her kindness, enthusiasm, leadership, vision and willingness to listen and show support for others.”

Havens retired for personal reasons after her mother passed away last fall and after family members struggled with health issues during the pandemic.

“I needed to refocus my efforts to better support my family,” she said.

Even with the recent struggles, Havens did not shirk her duties to the Town. She attended every Town Board meeting either in person or virtually, attended Department Head meetings virtually and contributed to every meeting the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board held during the pandemic.

“She was there every step of the way,” Town Supervisor Ciaran Hanna said. “She was dealing with a lot in her own life, but she knew the Town needed her knowledge during a time of world-wide crisis. I’m honored to have worked with her. I knew I could bounce anything off of her and she would help me find a solution.”

All this and Havens still found time to be a teacher to her fourth-grade grandson Ryder as he was home for Hybrid learning.

“I feel fortunate to have been able to serve Perinton as a Town Board member,” Havens said. “It gave me the opportunity to contribute and to give back to this wonderful community where our families and friends live, work, and play.”

Havens and her husband Fred are 32-year residents of Perinton. Besides serving on Town Board (2009-2021) and the Zoning Board (2004-2006), she has been Deputy Supervisor, has had an active role as a member of Perinton’s Town Codes, Personnel, Communications Committee and the Rec & Parks Advisory Board.

Haven has a business background, including earning an MBA from the Simon School at the University of Rochester, and more than 25 years of corporate marketing management positions with Frontier Communications and Time Warner Cable/Spectrum.

“Her business and corporate marketing background has certainly enabled her to further key initiatives that ensure Perinton as a sought after place to live,” said Town Board member Seana Sartori. “Peg has always been mindful of the importance of being fiscally responsible while maintaining the exceptional services that our residents expect and enjoy. She has been incredibly gracious with her time and talent and has served as an invaluable mentor and role model to me personally. For that I am especially grateful.”

Havens also made time for community involvement, including as a Foodlink Board member (1995-2017), Board Chair on Foodlink Inc., and Foundation Vice Chair (2000-2017), a year-long Rochester Area Community Foundation Board Leadership seminar, member of the Crescent Trail Hiking Association, member of the Perinton Historical Society, and a member of St. John of Rochester Church.

“Peg was a tremendous help to me throughout my five years as Town Supervisor,” said former Town Supervisor Mike Barker. “Her knowledge of Town government was second to none and no one I know has ever been a harder worker. She brought reasonable and well thought out solutions to whatever issues we faced in Perinton. Peg was always prepared and she is a fantastic listener. Peg was an outstanding public official who always represented the residents of the Town of Perinton with tremendous class and grace. I am so proud to have served with her and to be her friend.”

Havens is excited about the future of Perinton.

“For Perinton’s future, I see the continuation of exceptional local government through leadership committed to conservative fiscal management,” she said. “Our Town offers a great quality of life to our residents due, in large part, to the dedication of Perinton Town employees. Their hard work helps to assure the ongoing provisioning of excellent services for Perinton residents. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve together with Perinton’s Town employees.”