Good evening, and welcome to our March 25 regular meeting of the Curtin on the Hudson Board of Trustees. I'm mayor Brian Pugh. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,
• liberty,
• and justice for all. The
• first step in my business will be the approval of Voucher's treasurer.
• thousand $369.03.
• For the water fund, we have $67,483.89.
• The sewer fund is for $5,693.04.
• The capital fund is for a $168,070.88,
• and the trust fund is for $2,290.58.
Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Aye.
• Alright. We proceed to the public hearing. The first public hearing will be on the proposed
• budget for 02/2627.
• Before we open the hearing, do we wanna have a presentation from the manager on the budget? Sure. Thank you, mayor.
• open up the the presentation,
• and then just we'll go slide by slide if you can, please.
• Okay.
• So this is our tentative budget for the fiscal year twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven.
• As a reminder, the village runs on a June 1 to May 31
• fiscal year. So the next fiscal year will start 06/01/2026.
• So the
• basic premise, right, is a local government budget is a financial plan that details the government's projected revenues and expenditures for a defined period of time.
• And a budget is important because it allows the public to see where their taxes or service fees are spent, keeps the village board accountable,
• inherently requires planning ahead, and puts limits on spending municipal funds.
• The village's budget is broken up into a number of funds. Most of our budget consists of the a fund, which is the general fund, and that funds most municipal
• services.
• The f fund is the water fund,
• and the g fund is the sewer fund. And the water and sewer funds operate as enter enterprise funds, meaning that, they are self sustaining.
• So the
• costs that those funds incur are funded through user fees of the water and sewer system.
• We also have the h fund, which is the capital fund that funds the capital projects in the village.
• The t fund,
• which is the custodial fund formerly known as the trust fund,
• and that's for
• monies that are being held in escrow.
• And then lastly, we have the v fund, which is the debt fund, the debt service fund. That is how
• money is transferred into that fund to pay our outstanding
• bond and band payments each year.
• The New York State has a standard set of account codes using a fund organization and object number.
• So,
• a 10104000
• in any village in New York state will represent the village board of trustees contractual expenses.
• So and there's a you can search online New York state charts chart of accounts, and you can see every
• known account
• possible, of which there's thousands.
• So,
• so in the budget, there's a there's a tax rate, right, which is determined
• by taking the total tax levy divided by the total taxable assessed value of the village.
• So that's how, we determine what the tax rate per 1,000 of assessed,
• property value is.
• So out of the 530
• villages in New York State, Colonel Hudson has a tax rate that is ranked 398,
• which would be 7.53
• per 1,000 based on a full valuation. That's important to note that we do not have a full valuation. Right? Because on the current on the town role, which is the role that this budget is gonna be based off of, they have not undertaken a full reassessment since nineteen fifties.
• But based on the data that the state uses to calculate this number, they converted it into a full assessed value.
• So and you can see the tax rates among all 530
• villages go from zero to 17.04.
• So Cronin's pretty much right in the right in the middle.
• New York state has a constitutional tax limit, we are nowhere near,
• which is good.
• And there's also,
• a tax cap, which is different than the constitutional tax limit. Right?
• The tax cap is a limit of the increase from year to year on the total levy after exclusions are considered.
• And so we're gonna go into the tax
• levy a little bit more on the next slide.
• So for the fiscal year ending 2026,
• which is the year we're in right now, the tax levy was $13,332,122.
• And for the upcoming year,
• we were allowed a tax base growth factor of
• point 57%,
• and we were allowed,
• we had an allowable levy growth factor of 2%.
• And so the tax base growth factor actually increased from fiscal year twenty six when it was point, 32%
• to the point 57%
• now.
• And,
• you know, the tax base growth factor
• is
• taking into account all the development
• in a village, all the additions that may be done on people's homes, whatever, all the work that's going on in the village that would be potential growth. And there's usually,
• like, a two year lag
• from when,
• what takes place to when that number actually would recognize it. So,
• you know, basically, with the fiscal year 2027
• number, you're actually looking at development that occurred in, like, 2024.
• So
• we also had an available carryover of $204,471
• from the previous fiscal year,
• and that had to do mostly with the fact that we didn't have we didn't increase the levy. Oh, we did sorry. We did increase the levy slightly last year, but we didn't have a we had a zero tax rate. Right. Manifred,
I just wanted to ask a question on both the the tax base growth factor and the allowable
• levy growth factor. Those are calculations
• that are in some way certified
by the controller's office. So we're we're we're not making this up. Yeah. We don't the the state controller's office provides those numbers to us. Yeah. We don't have any any way to differ from what they give us. Thank
• you. Yep.
• So with that,
• so combining the tax based growth factor, the allowable levy growth factor, and the available carryover,
• you get a total tax levy limit for this upcoming fiscal year of $13,880,027.
• There's also an exclusion
• that the tax cap
• the tax levy cap law allows
• for certain pension costs.
• So we're allowed to exclude about 24,000
• from our tax cap calculation that are related to police and police,
• retirement
• costs.
• And so
• our tax levy limit for the upcoming year equals $13,904,547.
• And as you can see, the tentative budget levy is well below that at $13,791,502.
• So when the tax cap was first instituted
• way back in, fiscal year twenty twelve, the tax levy at the time was $10,431,065.
• In today's dollars accounting for inflation, that tax levy would equal approximately $15,153,955.
• And as I said, our our levy in the tentative budget is $13,791,502.
• So,
• there's a one point more than a $1,300,000
• difference between
• what you know, according
• for inflation,
• in 2012,
• what the levy was compared to what the levy being proposed today is.
• Alright. And so since the tax cap law was instituted,
• the village has been under the tax cap for all but one of those years.
• And as a result, the village taxpayers have paid $1,100,000.0713702
• dollars less in taxes compared to what the allowable levies were through the, current fiscal year, 2025 through 2026.
• And this slide just shows what the most recent tax rates were for the past four years.
• You know, we had in '23, we weren't we had an increase, then we had a zero, then we had another increase, then we had a zero. So there's been some fluctuations.
• And, this just, gives a different,
• view showing that the tax levy is gonna increase by $459,379
• from last year to the proposed this year.
• And, you know, with the exception of Pelham, which is an outlier there,
• we're pretty much in line with what our neighbor our
• similar sized communities are in the county. So these are these are the villages that are,
• you know, similar in population to Croton.
• So,
• in terms of assessed valuation,
• the 2026
• village assessment role set the assessed valuation of the village up a little, more than $46,000,000,
• and that was the role that was used for the current year, the 2025, 2026 year.
• In March,
• the village board adopted a law to no longer serve as an assessing unit, and we start we're gonna start using the town assessment role starting with this fiscal year. So the town assessment role, was established on September
• 15,
• set the assessed valuation of the village at $21,828,115.
• And the large difference there is, again, because the village conducted a revaluation of its property in 1967,
• and the town has not done one since the nineteen fifties.
• So as a result of this, that's why there is,
• a significant difference between
• the
• tax rate per 1,000
• compared to from last year to this year. But
• if people look at their assessed valuations
• in most cases, right, your assessed valuation on the town roll is gonna be much less than it was on the
• the village roll.
• This is the budget summary that is available on the website that just kind of,
• is a table that puts together all the information that I've just shared over the past 13 slides.
• And this is like I said, this is available on the
• village website.
• And this slide here, the next one just shows if we were not using fund balance to balance the budget, what the
• impact would be. Right? So we would exceed the exceed the tax cap
• because we'd have a levy of over $14,000,000,
• and it would be about a 7.83%
tax increase. But, thankfully, we don't have to do that. Yeah. And, our use of the fund balance is well well within the boundaries of the advice we get from our financial adviser and and auditor. Yes. What percent did it put us in? I know there was a range of 17.
• would like to have our unassigned fund balance between 1725%,
• and the use of this fund balance puts us right around 21%.
• Yep.
• So and, you know, the the hope every year is that we don't actually have to use the fund balance, that we we have it budgeted, but then we end up returning it to the
• Mhmm. To the account.
• So this is the chart that just shows what the, you know, by department, what the tentative appropriations
• are. This really does not change very much from year to year in terms of, you know, the breakdowns.
• The, you know, benefits and insurance is usually the highest
• expenditure followed by,
• DPW and then the police.
• Okay. And then on our next slide, we have the these this just shows the recent budgets over time. You can see that our you know, the tax levy has been relatively
• has been increasing relatively
• stable
• over time. Right? You know, it's been
• steady, I should say. Over time, it's not been too much of a steep incline
• as opposed to our nontax revenues, which have been on a much
• steadier
• incline over those years.
• And then,
• you know, from fiscal year twenty twenty three to fiscal year twenty twenty four, we had a increase
• in our use of the fund balance.
And then, you know, over time, we've been working to reduce that. I'm just gonna say, you know, one one number I found compelling from your letter is that our,
• our nontax
• appropriations
• equal 41%
• of our total appropriations.
• So the monies from train station parking and other nontax revenues that we get equal four out of every $10 that that we're spending. Yes. Which is very which is very good. I think so. Yeah. And
• our next chart you want you yeah.
• That's okay.
• There we go. So, you can see here,
• train station revenues, right, for both for both permits and daily have been
• increasing.
• So
• '23, 24, and '25 are the final numbers there, right, as you can see.
• 2026
• are the what's in the adopted budget.
• And then 2027,
• that's that's what's proposed.
• As of right now,
• the permits are
• at
• 1,497,000.
• So
• that's the green line. Right? So the permits are already about 170,000
• over what we budgeted,
• and then daily is at 1,320,000.
• So assuming that the
• trajectory
• continues,
• daily will also exceed
• what is what is budgeted here.
• reflect more
• that we're raised that we're raising the prices or the the fees? In 2027?
• Mhmm. Yeah. Not, you know, not too much. I mean,
• you know, because based on
• where we are with daily right now, we should
• get to a similar number that what we had last year of the 1.6
• in daily.
• So there you know, it reflects a little bit
• of
• that increase in the fees in The Daily.
• The permits is still a little conservative because we don't
• yeah. It's just smarter to be conservative
• in that aspect.
• So Can you remind us where we were in 2019?
• Yes. In 2019
• hold on one moment.
• So
• we had total,
• parking revenue of 3,735,000.
What was that? I'm sorry? You're at 3.1 right now. Yeah. So we're still significantly under where we were Mhmm. Even then.
• The water fund, there's no, budgeted increase in the rates for this year. This is the second year in a row that we've been able to hold the rates
• steady.
• Alright. That's that's what the next slide says too.
• Then onto the chart here. What we have been seeing for the past two years is that there has been an increase in the overall water
• consumption,
• and you can see this on the chart. Right? You know, there was usually
• in the winter months, you would see the water usage kind of dip
• under or around.
• Yeah,
• it you know, dip under or around 20,000,000 gallons, but then, you know, starting with, like,
• 25, really, we didn't see that.
• So there's, you know, more
• seems like there's been more usage over time, especially in the winter months.
• So I think in 2022, that was we had a drought that summer, which is why that number is so
• why there was a peak of nearly 40,000,000
• gallons.
• So,
• and then the next slide is just a similar chart just showing it in bar graph
• form.
• Alright. And then the sewer fund, again, same thing. There's no,
• increase proposed here in the sewer fund.
• I did put in my, letter to the board
• that,
• you know, this
• I'm not proposing it now, but we may need to do an increase next year based on,
• the fund balance situation because we have we have been drawing down on our fund balance in the sewer fund.
• So
• okay. And then on to capital.
• So the capital plan this year is is,
• quite substantial.
• Right? There's a total general fund allocation of $7,200,000.
• 3.5 of that is an infrastructure,
• 117,000
• in the garage,
• 492,000
• for equipment,
• 740,000
• for the fire department, 108,000
• for EMS,
• 734,000
• in parking,
• 205,000
• for the municipal building,
• $41,000
• for planning, $1,087,000
• for police, and $258,000
• for recreation.
It, going through this earlier, it's, it's when you go through some of the details, it's just pleasing to see how often the word, grant funds pops up Yes. You know, which is which is a little different than in the past. So And so that's actually
• go one more. Yeah. So then nope. Go back. Sorry.
• Okay. Alright. And then so the, the slide after this one goes into the breakdown of what,
• how we're how we're proposing to fund this, but, we also have a $1,000,000
• capital,
• project for the water fund as well.
• So,
• now on the next slide, we have, a proposed
• debt issuance in the general fund of $4,823,152.
• $1,410,251
• would be funded through grants,
• $500,000
• for chips. We have $28,000
• in one of those escrow accounts I mentioned earlier for the sidewalk on South Riverside.
• 525,000
• of assigned fund balance, which is different than the unassigned fund balance,
• and then $1,000,000
• from the water fund fund balance.
• So,
• you know, these numbers are subject to change as we
• continue through the year.
• We're constantly trying to obtain additional funding so that we don't have to
• spend as much
• on,
• you know, bonds and bands.
• You know, one of the one of the projects
• that's listed in the capital
• capital plan is
• the
• engineering design for the seawall, the proposed seawall down at the train station.
• And,
• you know, we just found out today that we're eligible to apply to the county for 50% of that cost. So we'll we'll be looking to do that, and, you know, that would hopefully save another, you know, 125,000
• from the from the bond issuance.
• So
• alright. And then lastly, this this slide is always one we like to show, which just shows,
• you know, the debt
• from 2017,
• which was the recent high watermark, right, of '37 almost $38,000,000
• to where we will be as of June 1, which is at $27,000,000.
• So we've been,
• you know, paying off
• debt as
• as we go along while continuing to
• deliver projects.
• So
• So
• in a case where we have capital
• fund,
• opportunities,
• let's use the police department as an example. Uh-huh.
• And then there's also an initiative to do a study.
• So I just wanna know what comes first. You know, do we typically do the study first before we
• spend money on some of these initiatives?
• Or
• how is how is that historically?
• the the study that's being proposed in the police department has to do with staffing. Right?
• So,
• you know, some of the things that are in there have to be,
• acquired regardless.
• Right? Like, the radio system, for example. Does it it it
• doesn't matter if we have 21 or 22 or 23 officers. Right? It's we need to upgrade the radios.
• So I think you can do them concurrently. You don't have to do one first and while you're waiting
• study.
• So in that scenario, we wouldn't hire staff until
• appropriate any additional staff in the police department. Right. Okay. Yep.
• Okay. And that is the end of the presentation.
• and we we'll talk about this, I guess, in greater detail when we to the capital project. But I was very pleased to see that we've got the shoreline study in there on the capital project Yes. At the same time that we're trying to move to the next phase
• of the train station
• project that just, you know, shows you we we can we can do two things at once if we phase them the right way. Yeah. So Yeah. We definitely you know,
• Right? And we want to
• try to do what we can to ensure its stability
• Yes. You know, moving forward. So
• And I think you reflected the residents' input from the budget survey
• Abs absolutely. You know,
• or earmarking more
• dollars toward infrastructure
• right, other places. Absolutely. As we saw,
• you know, infrastructure has the highest allocation in the capital plan.
• And, you know, for example, with our road our road paving
• program,
• we normally allocate, you know, between 400 and $500,000
• towards that each year, and this year, we're allocating 900,000.
• So, you know, we under we the feedback that I took from the board and from the survey, right, was that there there was a desire to see more,
• funds put towards infrastructure improvements.
• And so,
• that's what we're looking to do. Mhmm.
• Great.
• Are there questions from the board?
• Alright. Do I have a motion to open the public hearing? Thank you. So moved.
• I have a second? Second.
• Second by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson.
• All in favor? Aye. Aye. The public hearing is open. This is an opportunity for members of the public to
• share their views on the budget and, also ask any questions. Though in our usual practice, we will collect all the questions and respond
• in an orderly manner.
• Seeing no one wishing to,
• comment on the 2627
• village budget.
• Do I have a motion to close the public hearing? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Aye.
Alright. We proceed. I'll just say before we go on to the, the next public hearing, we do have, four budget work sessions. This is that we're not adopting. Yeah. Yeah. We're in one of the we're actually getting confused. We're not my budget tonight. Yep. We have four budget work sessions that are scheduled. The information's on the website calendar as well as in the budget memo. Can I ask you a question just about the is there is it possible to on the calendar
next to the work session that's can we just add in right on the calendar, like, the one where we're talking about the police? Just so it's easier to see. Because I had to myself
• dig a little bit to figure out where it was. It would be better off to just see on the calendar what day is what in case somebody wants to go to police. Thank Okay.
• And, next, we'll be opening a public hearing on local law number three of 2,026
• to amend chapter two thirty
• of the zoning code.
• Before we open the public hearing manager, would you like to briefly summarize the proposed changes to the code? Sure. Thank you, mayor. So
• with the village engineer, our planning consultant,
• the village attorney,
• and,
• we spent a number of months looking at the zoning code to see,
• what items needed to be cleaned up
• and what potential,
• items needed to be updated.
• And so many of the items that are in
• this local law have to do with,
• the special permit law that was passed by the village board in 2025,
• which transitioned
• the special permit approval process from the village board to the planning board,
• and additional cleanup items related to the solar system and battery energy storage system laws that were adopted by the board in 2024.
• So, those were just cleanup items that we were addressing,
• inconsistencies
• in the law.
• Some of the substantial changes that are included in the law,
• We're updating some of the definitions,
• which is section two.
• We updated the definite the,
• definitions
• for buildings,
• structures, swimming pools, and accessory buildings
• that
• the purpose of doing that was to give clear direction as to what required a building permit and what required site plan approval.
• And we also added a definition for farm animals, and the reason we did that is because we, in section three,
• were changing the number of file permitted
• on,
• property.
• Right? So currently, up to 25 file are permitted on any size lot. Whether it's an RA five or an RA 60, it's 25.
• And so,
• what we adjusted it to is that it would be proportional
• based on lot size. So if you have a smaller lot, you can have less. If you have, you know, if you have a larger lot, you can have more.
• So we're also suggesting that there's currently a prohibition that would
• allow no more than three dogs
• on any property,
• and we're suggesting that that be removed from the code.
• Sections 12 through 14
• are being updated to recognize that the village board issued a permanent special permit to all merchants to have sidewalk displays
• and sidewalk dining back in 1993,
• and then that was revised in 2020 is when we were
• all doing outdoor dining. Right? So,
• so that's just being updated to reflect that.
• In section 21, there were some sidewalks
• that the board desired to have built following the 2003
• comprehensive plan,
• and some of those sidewalks have been built. So we can take those off the list,
• in the code.
• And then section 24
• clarifies that accessory cottages
• require minor site plan approval, but accessory apartments,
• those being within the primary structure do not.
• Section 37,
• noncommercial swimming pools and residential accessory buildings larger than 300 square feet will require minor site plan approval under this proposed change.
• And the change also clarifies that walls in excess of six feet and accessory cottages
• require minor site plan approval. And this was very unclear in the old code
• because there was conflicting language in different sections, so we wanted to really just make it very clear to people,
• you know, if they're looking on what they need to do.
• Under the current code, this is section 38,
• an applicant is entitled to get a 50% refund of the application fee if their site plan is denied.
• And we found that this was a pretty unusual provision,
• because the same amount of work is needed
• to be done by the staff whether the application ultimately gets approved or denied. So we're,
• suggesting that that be deleted.
• And then lastly, sections forty and forty eight,
• just codify the state requirements that planning board and zoning board members take four hours of training each year.
• So that is
all the substantive changes in a nutshell. Alright. Thank you, manager. And with questions from the board?
• Alright. Do I have a motion to open the public hearing?
• So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Aye. The public hearing is open on local law three of 2026
• to amend the zoning code.
• Anyone wishing to comment on local law three,
• this is your opportunity.
• I'm focusing
• on,
• the part of the
• code that's being revised.
• It's section three article four
• district use regulations
• section two thirty dash 9.1.
• So if you wanna look at the code or not.
• So what I'm interested here is that and and and seeing
• how
• these changes
• are going to affect the neighbors, which I'm sure is what these codes are for.
• I I think it's definitely of interest that
• the single amount of foul that are permitted under the changes
• are
• going to be scaled so that it's sort of a per area and not just a one size fits all, which makes sense.
• However,
• I am concerned
• about
• the number. So for example,
• on a r a 25 lot
• that say about point three acres,
• that would allow 10 foul,
• and
• that's quite a few.
• It's
• that alone is just one part of the change, but there's also the the foul pens. And I was very interested to see that the, language of,
• you know, whether you could keep animals, dogs, and cats, or foul, that that language was cleared up,
• because it was, confusing not only to lay people who might not be familiar with legalese and how,
• phrases get separated by
• commas.
• That was that that that looks like it is properly being corrected to recognize,
• that the law for, housing animals
• did not, mean that the fowl,
• are an exception,
• but rather it was actually more of a reiteration
• for, I think, emphasis,
• but that was unclear. So I'm I'm happy to see that change,
• but,
• it now is changing
• where foul pens can be located,
• which under the current code before these changes,
• is no closer than 50 feet
• from a property line.
• And
• it is, in this revision, being set to 15 feet from the property line,
• which is very close. I mean, 10 foul 10 15 feet from a neighbor's property line like in an RA 25
• where it's common for the homes to be, you know, maybe 20 or 30 feet
• from the property line. That's like 10
• foul that are within
• 30 feet of the home,
• and,
• you know, that's problematic.
• The
• the the
• fowl don't stay
• in the property if they're not fenced,
• which they're commonly not, and there's no requirement.
• And the fowl are dirty. You know. I mean, some people who keep them like them,
• but,
• you know, you can see in people who and I have neighbors who do this. They and I can see on a sunny day, you can see the cloud of dust coming from their pen,
• which floats onto your property if it's that close. And it just seems to me that, you know, this this is allowing these people who can wanna keep foul to push the,
• the the coop
• farther from their house than perhaps it is now closer to their neighbor's house than it is to their own.
• And why are they doing that? Because they don't want a chicken coop with its dust right next to their home.
• I I I will also note mean, I received a notice as I guess most of us have about, the prevalence of now bird flu.
• And, you know, when the the coop is 50 feet from your property line, it's not as much of a concern. But when it's 15 feet from your property line and maybe, you know, 35 feet or less, you know, I think the prop some properties are five feet from their own line, 20 feet from a coop.
• You know, that's that's a health risk. And, you know, it it it that that I don't see what the reason for that would be. I don't see why it's being changed so substantially.
• The I will also note, and it's not just in the abstract for me. I
• had
• worked with the village
• under the previous head of the engineering department
• to obtain some relief.
• There was noise,
• and
• indeed,
• they the the department issued an order.
• It wasn't complied with. I I tried to get enforcement of that,
• and
• there was no enforcement. And in fact, what eventually happened was the order was just rescinded,
• which boggled my mind.
• And, you know, I
• when I saw that there were revisions
• to this part of the code being planned, I didn't think it would mean that the coupe, is so ugly,
• smelly,
• and dusty,
• that it would now be able to be within 15 feet of my property instead of 50 feet of my property.
• So I would urge you to reconsider that part of it and keep the 50 feet, if not even upgrade that,
• And also urge you to see that the enforcement under the new department head is actual enforcement and not the
• lack of it that,
• we saw previously.
• Anyone else wishing to speak on local law three?
Alright. Do I have a motion to close the public hearing? Mayor, I just want to make one technical point before we,
• proceed.
• Manager,
• we thank you for including it. There's a memo in there from the planning board. At the planning board meeting last night, they they wondered, if we could get back to them at some point. So I'm assuming that,
• between you and the attorney and the engineer, you'll we can respond. There there are some specific issues there about,
• one is whether Metro North
falls into the category of special permit. The other one is Oh, we can I mean, we can talk about that in discussion once we close the public hearing? Okay. Great. Yeah. Okay. Great. Yep.
• Motion by Trustee Simon, second by Trustee Nicholson. Discussion?
• Yeah. So
• the first one is Yeah. They're they're wondering whether Yeah. Well, I mean,
• way, shape, or form. Right. So,
• you know, they don't they're not required to apply for special permits.
• In terms of
• increasing or decreasing the parking requirements at all zoning districts,
• I think the village board, if they wanted to look at that, they could do so.
• You know, that's not what we're doing here in this law. This was this was more a cleanup law. This wasn't we were not trying to generally make
• new changes in this except for the ones that I mentioned that were previously identified as needing clarification.
So that's something we might look at, you know, just just the way we we've, when we did certain zoning, we lowered the parking requirement,
• to, you know, one per apartment rather than, you know, one one and a half. But,
we're not gonna do that now. Yeah. And I think we're already exploring some options,
• you know, just in terms of, legal
• Yeah. That we're doing. So it's already on our to do list that we're looking at.
• Distributed. Distributed. Great. Yeah. Okay. That was done. Okay.
If they're not if they're not watching, we'll report back to them. We'll we'll we'll wait, Charlie. Yeah.
• the fee for
• the foul
• from the property line prior to
• clarity that was needed in this local law. Right? Because there were multiple
• opinions based on how it was written
• was,
• you know, you could read you could read the existing law
• and say that it was 50 feet,
• and you could also read it and say it was 15 feet.
• Right? And so,
• sorry. The intent No. No. I I apologize. You could read it and say that it was 50 feet, or you could read it and say that there was no,
• that there was no measurement restriction.
• Right? Because it the can we pull sorry. Can you click the,
• it's the fourth one down, Jeanette.
• And then it's on page five.
• Yep. One more.
And because of the zoom zoom in there. Brian Brian, I if I could jump in. Think it's because of the number that was imposed in the sentence of 25 foul.
So it's you have 10 foul versus 25 foul within 50 feet. So it had to get to that numerical threshold before it would apply, and that's why I think the ambiguity was. Yeah. And it's it was it also had to do with the commas. Right? Which is Yeah. Right. I mean, that's that's really what it had to do with because people can disagree over over how a sentence is written. Right? And so
• right? Because if if it says there, right, it says no animals
• except dogs or cats or fowl.
• Right? And so some people thought that those things were all grouped together as as one
• item, and other people felt that dogs and cats were separate from foul.
• Right? And so,
• you know, the the practice of the engineering department
• is that if the code is ambiguous,
• it always goes in favor of the applicant or the property owner or whoever it may be. That's generally a a zoning construction rule also in the legal Correct. Grounds. Well, yeah. So that's so that that's why there's been such
I think that that was just chosen based off of looking at other
• codes in the area. That that's how we also came up with the table of,
• you know,
• what the what the numbers should be based on what other municipalities
• have
• in the
in neighboring area. Mhmm. You know, we we had discussions with our planner on that. Yeah. Yeah. I don't I don't wanna propose anything now, but if we could think about the possibility of slightly increasing that buffer Yeah. Make
• it a little bit north of 15 feet and see see if that
• a potential
• I would think.
I mean, we could we could just split the difference and go with 25. 25? Yeah. I think that that could be a a significant help, I would say. Mhmm.
• Okay. But we'll we we're not we're not adopting. That's what I'm saying. I I did I didn't wanna We can we can look at that and,
• and report back. Thank you. Thank you. Yep.
Alright. All in favor of closing the public hearing? Aye. Oh, we did already? Yeah. Still. No. No. We Still. No. Discussion. No. We closed. On the motion.
• Oh, is that what we did? We were in discussion. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. I apologize. Or whichever. In in any case, we proceed to the LWRP.
• Alright. So your Waterfront Advisory Committee has reviewed this law,
• and they've provided a memo.
• Alright. And so they reviewed the law and determined
• that no policies were applicable
• to this,
• this local law.
• So unless
• anyone feels differently,
• we can, proceed to the
• Yep. It's a short EAF part two.
• Okay.
• And so we'll just answer
• well, let me start with my usual. So this is
• not involving any specific project. Right? This is just a local law,
• and you can answer either no or small impact may occur or moderate to large impact may occur.
• And so the first one is, will the proposed action create a material conflict with an adopted land use plan or zoning regulations?
Will the proposed action result in a change in the use or intensity of use of land? No. No. Will the proposed action impair the character or quality of the existing community? No. No. Will the proposed action have an impact on the environmental characteristics that caused the establishment of a critical environmental area?
• No. No. Will the proposed action result in adverse change in the existing level of traffic or affect existing infrastructure for mass transit, biking, or walkway? No. No. Will the proposed action cause an increase in the use of energy and it fails to incorporate reasonably available energy conservation or renewable energy opportunities?
• No. No. Will the proposed action impact existing public or private water supplies?
• No. No. Will the proposed action impact existing public or private wastewater treatment utilities?
• No. No. No. Will the proposed action impair the character or quality of important historic, archaeological,
• architectural, or aesthetic resources?
• No. Will the proposed action result in an adverse change to natural resources? No. No. No. Will the proposed action result in an increase in the potential for erosion, flooding, or drainage problems? No. No. Will the proposed action create a hazard to environmental resources or human health? No. No.
• Okay.
• So we will have the,
• negative declaration and the statement of consistency
• and the,
• potential adoption of the law on the next agenda.
• No questions, mayor. Alright. Public comment on agenda items. Anyone
• wishing to speak on anything on the agenda, this is your opportunity. Everyone has five minutes. Please state your name and address.
• My name is Ed Riley from Drive.
• On the agenda,
• I noticed in a previous meeting
• under nine b,
• consider adopting a resolution for support of the village of legislative programs
• and project priorities.
• Most of these are directed to the state legislature.
• Just gotta be one of the worst legislatures in The United States and most highly paid.
• One item, zero emissions
• for vehicles, pro housing community,
• statewide
• health care run by the state of New York. That ought to be a real treat.
• And New York health care for immigrants who are ineligible to receive federal health care aid.
• Also,
• sector compensation.
• Let us start with our legislators,
• the state legislators.
• And then utility finance standards,
• which I assume is a way to
• get back at Con Ed for raising their rates
• because of inflation and now because of war.
• First of all,
• the in in terms of conservation
• and vehicles and
• zero emission vehicles,
• Croton has sort of lost its credibility
• given the experience of the school district.
• And backed by the the village residents,
• they bought five
• sixty six passenger buses at a cost of $500,000
• when a diesel bus would have cost 40% of that or a $195,000.
• Only to find out that's five. So five times 500 is two that's $2,500,000
• plus
• a half $1,000,000 in electric inter infrastructure that can't support fast charging these buses.
• There's no known track record for depreciation,
• so they don't know whether the batteries will fail in eight years or twelve years the way a diesel bus does in twelve years.
• And to replace that battery, it costs $200,000.
• Why did they do this? Because like this village government,
• they raced into this
• some of the tenants of climate change,
• religion,
• and instead of testing them, I don't know whether
• but they were warned, by the way, by their own financial people in the district,
• go slow on this.
• These things are not reliable in cold weather. They're not great on hills, and we don't know what their
• depreciation
• value is. And we don't know if we get the electricity to support them. In spite of that,
• that board,
• two dissents or one and a half dissents,
• and the financial people inside the district,
• they went ahead and did that. Spent well, we got we got outside grants.
• Those grants are our money, state money, federal money.
• It was all state money. So $3,000,000
• on an experiment they should have done with maybe half $1,000,000.
• And the village has a little record with this too. I believe you bought a police car, and police cars ain't cheap,
• and then repurposed it because it wasn't doing what it was supposed to.
• Now if you're gonna run a test, you run a cheap test. I understand the traffic people,
• their vehicles are fine, etcetera, etcetera.
• But you have no you in the state of New York who's backtracking as fast as they can in school districts and villages
• on electrification
• of vehicles,
• on whether or not to close atomic power plants like those idiots that in Germany, 27
• nuclear power plants.
• Have no
• business
• suggesting anybody,
• things about,
• you know,
• electrification of vehicles or mass transit. One of these things has to do with
• power locomotives
• on these railroads.
• And by the way, some of these freight trains are now 200 cars long.
• An electric,
• unless
• it's a dedicated electric power line like on the on the Pennsylvania Railroad, you ain't you ain't pulling two two hundred cars,
• with elect with the electric engines that they're out there now.
• Elsewhere,
• the given the experience now New York State,
• we have Connecticut next door. We have New Jersey next door.
• You know, we have Pennsylvania next door. But we have the entire country of Canada
• who has had a
• abysmal,
• pathetic experience
• with national health care. And here you are, the village of Croton, who's nothing about health care, although you think you do, recommending that the state of New York, who can't keep our roads paved, is gonna take over
• the most personal,
• care that you can have, health care for every citizen
• in this, village or in this state.
• Good luck with that. Ain't gonna work.
• And can and just look to Canada as a perfect example there. Thank you.
• Alright. Seeing no one else wishing to speak, we proceed to report from the manager.
• So I just have a couple of items for tonight.
• Work is continuing along at Dobbs Park.
• So,
• they have been, continuing to remove some of the,
• old pieces of the the park and the playground equipment,
• some new items. The water fountain was installed, the new water fountain. Very exciting.
• And,
• unfortunately,
• they are not going to be completed by opening day just because of how much of a late start they got because of the the winter. But there will be
• a pathway through the park that's fenced,
• you know, on either side so that the kids will be able to walk through
• and,
• you know, get to the fields for the parade.
• So we also are going to have a change order coming
• for new bollard lighting in the park.
• So, the lights that are in there are are,
• old.
• And we've gotten complaints over the years from the neighbors about, you know, using,
• you know, 10 foot tall lights where the the light goes into people's windows and stuff. So we're gonna have bothered lightings
• bothered lighting like we have down at Senosqua and,
• you know, some of the other parks so that it will be more, you know, closer to the to the,
• walking level.
• So we'll have that we'll have hopefully, we'll have that change order for the next for the next meeting.
• And then the for Quaker Bridge, the tree removal took place over the past two weeks, and according to the county, it has been completed.
• They are still awaiting approval from the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Communication still has been very limited from the county, unfortunately, so I will share information as as I get it, but it's
• it hasn't been easy to to get it. Thank you for asking. Yeah.
• The rental registry, so the letters were sent out in terms of
• properties that were flagged as potentially being rental properties.
• So for those who may have received a letter and were confused by the fact that you received a letter,
• generally, if there was
• if the owner is listed as having a non 1052O
• mailing address, that was how the system
• generated the the letters. And so, you know, there were a a few
• letters that were inadvertently sent out, and so I apologize for people who may have been surprised to receive this.
• But, you know, simply just contact the engineering department, and they'll be very happy to to correct the, correct the file.
• We do have a dedicated page set up on the website for this, which, coronalhudson-ny.gov/rentalregistry,
• and that will bring you to a page that has a couple of, q and a
• type
• questions and answers.
• We're gonna continue our outreach in the newsletter on social media and the website over the next two months.
• Everybody has everybody who has a rental property has to register it before June 1 to avoid a penalty.
• So,
• continuing our new initiatives, the hotel and motel occupancy tax,
• we're finalizing the form that the short term rentals and other accommodations have to complete to obtain the certificate of authority to collect the tax.
• The tax officially
• begins. I don't know if that's the right word, but it's supposed to officially be collected as of April 1,
• and then the first payment is due in July. So we'll be working with the the people that
• that contact us and fill out the form
• and,
• go from there.
• And then, lastly, Govea Park, DPW is gonna begin some of the site work next week.
• They're looking to get,
• areas cleared before the growing season begins,
• so they're gonna,
• start working in the area near the house where the road
• would be going. So
• so that should be nice to see. Mhmm. So,
• that is what I have.
• by June, I I forgot. Did we agree on, like, an incentive if you
register by the deadline? It's not necessarily well, the incentive is you don't have to pay a a penalty.
• Right? Because if you if you register before June 1, you do it's just a it's just a fee. And then if you register after June 1, there's a penalty. Okay. Yeah.
And I just wanted to ask a question about something that you didn't cover in your report. Sure. Is that okay, should I wait for my own?
• It was just regarding the assessor's office. You had I know you had shared
• some you is there any information you can share just because we're getting closer to Oh, sure. The time of year where it's gonna make sense? Yes. And, you know, just in terms of information that we could however we could be getting information out about
• things relevant to residents that might be different this year. Sure. So
• and she has sent out letters. She went through the
• our old
• assessment role and compared it to the town's role and identified the properties that
• have exemptions on our role but don't have them on the town role. And there were a sizable number of them. And so the town sent out letters to, these individuals
• and, you know, reminding them that they need to complete the exemption form and submit it to the town no later than May 1 in order to get the exemption
• on their upcoming their upcoming 2026
• role.
• So,
• you know, hopefully, everyone who
• needs to do the exemptions received a pay received the application form.
• You can always check with the town if you're unsure
• that you have the exemptions because
• sometimes things get lost in the mail. Right? So you if you have any question at all, you can call the town,
• speak to the assessor's office, and they'll, you know, be happy to let you know if if there's an exemption on file or not.
We'll put the information in the newsletter that's coming out. Maybe we could talk about it at seniors because there's a seniors. Right? There's senior exemption. I just wanna make sure that people who are expecting to get an exemption and have gotten one in the past are not,
• going to not be able to take advantage of that because of the switch we made. So I know that,
• it's gonna be have to be we're gonna figure it out on our end a little bit, but I don't wanna just leave it up to the town the town mailing letters to these people and then people surprise
• not getting the exemption they were expecting. I don't know anything about how the mechanics of any of this works, but it's you know, I'm thinking about how this could negatively impact residents. Yeah. Right. Like, does that include fire volunteers
who get a temp And I mean, I already gave I already gave the inform I mean, the fire department in EMS is pretty easy because I'm less worried about I am concerned about them, of course. But I I've just I'm worried about senior citizens who might really you know, or people other people on a fixed income where this might really be easy. The the fire department in EMS, we already provided the the list of people to the chiefs and the and the
• captain of EMS, right, so that they could, you know, speak one on one with those members that need to do the form. Mhmm.
• You know, the seniors, can double check and make sure
• that they're,
• you know, that they're aware of it.
• Yeah. There weren't there weren't that many seniors. So even if we had to do individual outreach to them, that wouldn't be I wasn't gonna suggest it, but but
I just I just wanna make sure that we're looking out for those folks that are gonna that may be negatively impacted by the
• sorry. The group that had the biggest
• difference were the veterans because just because they're the most of them. Right? There's hundreds of people that get the veterans exemption. So,
• you know, that's that's the largest group. So we can, you know, we can try to make sure that they're that they're aware of it. But,
• you know, probably most most
• of the people that are in the Legion are are Yeah. Probably getting it because those are the most savvy. I was gonna say we can spread the word Friday afternoon when some of us will be seeing them Yeah. The So however we can be we can be kind of being mindful of that, maybe checking back in with them, seeing how many it's you know, the the list will hopefully get smaller. I was gonna say, I could we could check-in early April with Denise and see if the list has gotten smaller, and then whoever's still on the list, we can,
yeah, we can try to do some individual That would be I know that, you know, we're we don't have unlimited staff to do this, but I I it is important to me. Thank you. Yep. Yeah. I'm yeah. I would volunteer and fall
Well, thank you very much. I appreciate that. Yeah. That's a very, good point. I was actually just talking about it with my mother who said who, I didn't even realize I had an exception.
Right? So Oh, did did she receive a letter from the town? She did. Oh, good. Oh, well She was like a little and bad. Yeah. To you. She's why, like, you know, why did I get one slaughter? Like Okay. So
Thank you. Yep. Thank you. Thank you. Alright. We proceed to the consent agenda.
• Do I have a motion? So moved.
• Second. Motion by, trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion.
Oh, mayor, just want just going all the way down to the very end, just wanted to point out,
• as we have from time to time, how interesting the quarterly
• reports are from all the departments, compliment them on on, not only the content of the reports, but their their great work and and and and just urge everyone to take everyone that's listening to take a look at them because it's a it's a good way of, learning what's happening in the factory floor of government, are each one of our individual departments.
• All in favor? Aye. Aye.
• Proposed resolutions.
• Resolution a, authorizing the manager to accept the proposal for the assessment of the Upper North Highland water storage tank
• from USG Water Solutions in the amount of $4,800.
• the village issued a request for proposals for qualified firms to evaluate and make recommendations for the repair, improvement, and or replacement of the Upper North Highland water storage tank. Whereas five proposals were received by the deadline of 12/10/2025,
• whereas Frank Balby, superintendent of public works, has reviewed the five proposals received and recommends moving forward with the lowest proposal, USG Water Solutions.
• Now therefore, be it resolved that the village manager has authorized to enter into a contract with USG Water Solutions for the assessment of the Upper North Highland water storage tank and be it further resolved that funding for such services is available on the following capital account, H8340Dot2106Dot22399.
Do I have a motion? So moved. Do I have a second? Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion.
This is a this is a long time in the coming as you could tell from the,
• capital account. This was this capital account was created in 2022,
• and so it's just been one of those things that we've had on the on the, back burner trying to get accomplished. You
• know, the tank up there is close to a 100 years old,
• so it's in need of some refurbishment.
• All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye.
• Alright.
• Resolution b, consider adopting a resolution to support the village's legislative program and projects priorities for 2026.
Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Oh. I didn't read it first. Oh, sorry. That's okay. Yeah. Whereas the village of Cornell Hudson has the practice of establishing annual legislative priorities to streamline responses to legislative proposals affecting the village and optimize the allocation of limited advocacy resources.
• Whereas the document outlined in the village's legislative program and project priorities for 2026 has been drafted, now therefore be it resolved that the village of court on the Hudson adopts and approves the 2026 legislative program and project priorities
• attached and incorporated herein by this reference and be further resolved that the village clerk is hereby directed to send this resolution and legislative packet to the federal, state, and county legislators representing the village of Croton On Hudson.
Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion?
• mayor at the work
• session. Very helpful. And, and the the document that's
• that's in there reflects those reflects those comments and up and updates. And I think as as everyone knows, just from reading
• the newspapers or whoever
• whoever everyone gets gets
• news these days, things are moving fast in in in Albany, so it'll be and to some extent, Washington. So
• it'll be be helpful, I think, for us to get this up soon, and we'll look to the manager to to make sure everyone gets a good copy of this.
• No? Okay. No. No.
So I just wanted to highlight, a couple of things. Would like to thank trustee Simon for his hard work on this
• legislative
• agenda.
• I also wanna highlight that part of the,
• communication here is to, strengthen our relationship with the MTA,
• sort of a continuous
• work of,
• you know, working with them, and they are, you know, such a vital part of our community and really need to be a good neighbor. So, you know, continued work on that, and that's part of this package.
• As well as, just to point out, State Route 129
• is highlighted in this.
• You know, it is it is a disaster right now.
• So I'm I'm I'm happy to Potholes. Potholes wise. Yep. I mean, the whole
• whole
• the whole
• Lower Lower Westchester.
• Yes. I don't know. Talk about Springbrook Parkway for a minute. And and and some
• but on on the part of 9 that has not yet been addressed. Oh, yeah. That's bad. Yes. So, you know, more AIM funding, you
know, continuing our lobbying efforts with the state and getting getting the what we need from an infrastructure perspective. And and in fact, trustee
• there actually is positive movement. When we went up to, the the NICOM meeting at the February,
• it was very clear that there was a focus on, three big issues,
• transportation,
• you know, through the CHIPS funding Mhmm. General assistance, you know, to, local governments through through AIM and the and the TMA funding and then water infrastructure.
• And, you know, as we know, we're we're we're quite a ways away, I'm sure, from, you know, finality and all these things, way these things go. But there's
• there's definitely been progress in all three areas. All all three of the priorities that that we worked on are, and it's not just us, but other others as well are are are moving forward in a positive way.
• raised in, some of the public comment, I'd like to address it briefly, which is this discussion of, electrification.
• And, you know, obviously, you can have, difficulties with any particular product. There are a lot of, fossil fuel powered vehicles.
• Some work better than others. The same is true of EVs, but in looking at the across the two technologies, there's no real comparison here.
• And it's not just a question of climate change, though that is very important, and people are Google's free, and people are welcome to learn about it.
• But the American Lung Association highlights the threat posed by deal diesel vehicles to public health, and that's especially true in the case of,
• younger folks and other vulnerable populations.
• And in terms of, let's say, quality of life issues in the village,
• you know, we hear complaints periodically about noise from the Croton Harmon Station.
• There are benefits and burdens to being the host of the busiest station on the, Hudson Line that is for sure.
• And I tend to think that the benefits outweigh the burdens, but reasonable minds can disagree again.
• But one of the challenges is noise, and part of that is driven by diesel trains and electrification,
• which
• electric trains have been around for over a hundred years. This is not new technology. So electrification
• of our mat further electrification,
• I should say, of our mass transit infrastructure,
• would be a huge net positive to the community.
• And on the health care question,
• I hope none of us are under the illusion that for better or worse, we're not gonna have a single player payer plan in New York State in this year or even the next few years.
• But the Rand Corporation has found significant savings, from going to a single payer plan.
• That's not through any black magic, but the fact that administrative costs on government plan public plans are actually lower than on private plans and that economies of scale,
• could be realized
• through a single payer program. And, you know, they people can have feel however they want,
• about,
• you know,
• government and health care, but the reality is that a majority of New York residents are actually covered by some form of public plan already, be it Medicaid, Medicare, or the essential plan. VA. Or the VA as well. So,
• you know, government is very much in the health care business,
• And,
• you know, I think most of us are looking forward to the future when,
• you know, when we reach the retirement age, we're able to be covered by a government plan.
• And, again, why we have interest in that in the village is health care is a huge expense for us. And as previously stated, the economies of scale that can be recognized
• through a single payer option,
• would be benefit us all as taxpayers.
• Further discussion?
• trustee Nicholson's,
• gratitude to,
• trustee Simon. This is a big project that he takes on every year,
• and is really valuable to
• all of us and the village. So thank you Thank you. Trustee Simon.
• One item I'm sure, you know, we're gonna continue talking a lot about all of these things, but the one item that comes up frequently at the police advisory committee meetings,
• is the home rule home rule legislation
• for consideration of speed cameras. There's a lot of conversation about,
• at you know, within that group, but also in general about privacy and what this means. So I think there is,
• that's just one example of an area where there is a lot of opportunity
• for,
• something that we are
• is on our list is that is what is that we are advocating for or talking about where there's a real opportunity for people to understand,
• just understand so that they can determine for themselves, you know, whether they're
• whether it's a benefit or a drawback a a draw back, whatever the word I'm looking for is,
• or, you know, and how we how something like that could potentially
• infringe on their privacy. I just think there's a lot of feelings around that particular item.
• And so the more we continue talking about that, I just wanna make sure that we're,
• being clear with the public about what it means and what it doesn't mean. I'm sure there's a lot of other things in here that we could dig into, but that was just the one thing that does come up, frequently at one of my committee liaison roles.
Yep. I think that's a really good point. And we really haven't I mean, this is just allowing us to have the option to have
• speeding cameras, right, by doing that. But we haven't really had the debate around red light cameras yet. Which is also on their list. It's on their list. Right? And we really haven't fully you know, we have home rule. We could install them,
• but we haven't, you know, people have talked to me about privacy. So we really haven't had that conversation
• yet.
• Village manager, is that part of the is there money in the capital plan for
red light cameras? No. Because we we met with a we met with a vendor, the police chief and I,
• and,
• you know, they they come in and install the equipment.
• Yep. So, there's no
• No big capital. No outlay cap there's no capital outlay on our end. Got it. Yeah. So they they own the equipment, and then, you know, we get a portion of the
• yeah. Got it. Okay. So so there's no there's no
at that point, it would come on to the Yeah. Well, no. You actually I think I think you need to adopt a law first to authorize. Okay. Right? Because the the home rule just gives you the ability to adopt such a law. It's appropriate and all sorts of things. Yeah. So you would have there there would be
• you would have to have a work session discussion where you be you would decide if you actually wanna proceed with the
• with the drafting of the law.
• So which we would we can schedule for after, you know, sometime May, June, whatever, after the budget's done, if that's what we wanna do. Thank you for the clarification. Yep.
• All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye.
• Alright.
• Resolution c, consider authorizing the manager to execute change order one to three in relation to the Van Cortland Manor,
• entrance project at Historic Hudson Valley.
Whereas the village of Cortland Hudson is acting as the municipal sponsor for the Van Cortland Manor entrance project to reconfigure the entrance,
• enhance site safety, and improve visitor experience at the National Historic Landmark. Whereas the village board of trustees awarded the contract for this work to Remus Industries of Austin, New York on 12/17/2025,
• whereas design changes during the course of the project have resulted in three change orders being submitted, whereas historic Hudson Valley has reviewed the proposed change orders and determined that the additional work is necessary for the successful completion of the project.
• And whereas per the agreement executed by the village in HHV, all costs for this project that exceed the funding amount allocated
• by the New York State Department of Transportation are the sole responsibility of HHV.
• Now therefore be it resolved that the village manager sorry. That the village board of trustees hereby authorizes the village manager to approve change orders number one through three in the total amount of $111,467.20.
Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson.
• Discussion.
• are not spending any money on this project. It's just through the rules of the federal government in New York State that the money has to pass through the village. It it is encouraging proof of life Yeah. Of the pro that the project is The the project is definitely going on. If you if you drive
• on, you know, Route 9
• South Of Corner Point Avenue, you'll see all the activity going on in the in the in the lot there. So there's definitely stuff happening. Lot of dirt. Lot of dirt.
• Yes.
• So
• k.
Alright. Public comp oh, sorry. Before we leave the resolutions, would it be possible to
• just I just have a comment on, resolution b number three,
• local law introductory number seven on signage.
• So
• before this law
• goes to all of these departments,
• I know we had a good discussion about it the other week. And
• on placement size attachment
• f,
• signs shall not be rigged or attached to trees or utility poles,
• we had a a good discussion around how
• you know, recognizing that people have, you know, bird trees or,
• you know, bird houses or
• and that we talked about putting some language in there,
• you know, around
• not harming the tree. But I don't see that in here before it goes to the planning board.
• And I I personally would prefer,
• you know, that our comments are included
• before something goes to a board and spends time to review on something and then sent back to us and then we make a change again.
• You know?
Well, I mean, as as we talked about earlier today, I've asked the planning consultant to
• include the comments
• on both the
• the size of the of signage. Right? Because that was one big topic as well as the attachment to the trees. I've asked the planning consultant to review those items. And when she prepares her memo to the planning board, because she has additional items that she would like to have the planning board look at. Those would be included in there so that when the planning board provides you comments back just like,
• we did with the other local law,
• you'll be able to take all of those things under advisement
• at at one time.
• So, you know, the I the idea here was that we wanted to start this referral process
• so that,
• the other boards would be able to do their work while you're focusing on the budget. Right. So when that process made sense, I just thought that change would have been included in what was sent to them. Yeah. I mean, I don't know what that change is gonna be because I haven't gotten that information yet from the planner. Right? So, you know, I don't know I don't know what
• the proper terminology
• would be. You know, she we're gonna give her time to research it and look into it. And then before the next planning board meeting, she'll have a memo prepared with her, you know, recommendations,
• comments, whatever it might be. Mhmm.
• So
• you know, because we didn't we only had a week between the work session and this meeting. Mhmm. So it wasn't we didn't have a lot of time to make those changes at this point. And we didn't we didn't need to make the changes at this point because you're still in the, you know, fact finding phase of the law. Mhmm. It's not it's not you don't have to have the final version of the law until you're scheduling the public hearing. Mhmm. So
• on our calendar already.
Okay. We're Thank you. Thank you. We proceed to public comment on non agenda items. Anyone wishing to comment on anything, this is your opportunity. Please state your name and address.
And you have five minutes. Hi. I'm Dave. I'm on Farrington Road. Can you hear me? Mhmm. Mhmm.
• Thank you for this time. I'm sorry. Can you just state your last name? Lowell. Thank you. Thank you for this time to speak.
• I'm here to talk with you about
• gasoline powered leaf blowers. I'd like to share a few key concerns.
• It's
• about to get smelly and loud next week. Our senses will be bombarded by the roaming crews of gasoline powered leaf blowers.
• While the crews are blowing leaves and grass clippings
• and long after they leave, all the neighborhoods
• smell like the Indianapolis 500.
• The Croton website
• states the dangers posed by gasoline powered leaf blowers.
• But why are they bad on June 1 and not May 31?
• Let's make the gasoline powered leaf blower ban year round for everybody and encourage the use of battery equipment now.
• The reporting system should change. Citizens should not have to confront these companies breaking the law.
• Citizens that do our risk of public violence from the offenders,
• I was confronted by an offender. He got in my face. He was screaming at me.
• He was breaking the law, not me.
• Why should my family and I be targets when we are doing nothing wrong? You must come up with a new way and quickly.
• I don't feel comfortable anymore reporting these violations.
• I'm not the code enforcement officer,
• and it should not be the resident's responsibility
• to be involved with code enforcement.
• The mayor has said that it's too expensive to require town landscapers to use battery equipment.
• Sure. It will be more money, but such is progress.
• How does it work in White Plains,
• Larchmont,
• Irvington,
• Mamaroneck?
• You're adding more noise pollution and air pollution with each new housing development.
• Trustees Simon and Nicholson, you both agreed with me here last May. I wonder if you have any new ideas.
• You were both at the talking trash presentation where we learned all about the pollution
• from the wheelabrador incinerator.
• Gas powered leaf blowers are a huge pollution problem also.
• One gasoline powered leaf blower puts out the equivalent pollution
• in one hour
• to equal a car driving 1,100
• miles.
• One blower in one hour.
• There's dozens all day every day in Croton. Cars
• are literally cleaner.
• Gasoline powered leaf blowers make a 200 mile per hour wind
• spinning up clouds of dust. That dust
• contains mold,
• animal feces,
• heavy metals,
• chemicals from herbicides and pesticides along with pollen.
• Gasoline powered leaf blowers are an outdated and filthy solution to a problem that's not even a problem, leaves and grass clippings.
• That material should be returned to nature.
• Your own website even agrees.
• This is a quality of life issue. These are the dirtiest engines in existence.
• They're so loud, they cause hearing damage.
• Gas powered leaf blowers blow dirt and fumes into our open windows.
• Every month, we see another community stand up to this pollution. Most recently, Stamford, Connecticut, and Rye, New York. Why not Croton?
• Croton has won awards for planting trees,
• bike sharing,
• solar canopy project. This is just as important.
• Gasoline powered leaf blowers should not be allowed on school property or in the parks where kids play.
• Let's make Croton a true clean energy town.
• Let's work toward ending Croton's dependence on gasoline powered leaf blowers.
• I'm a voter. I voted for all of you up there, and I want you to do the right thing.
• Let's do it together.
• on public health care. We used to have a rule in the army.
• And as veterans,
• unless you were broke and could not afford it, never go to an army hospital unless you got shot. They were very good at that.
• And never go to a VA hospital
• because it was always substandard care.
• And that continued until recently, the reforms
• of this president in his first term when he could start to fire people and clean up their act. And, also, if you couldn't get the service,
• you could go to a private
• physician
• because the government physician couldn't do the job.
• And and you and you couldn't you didn't have to wait. Remember those lines?
• Eight months
• to get a to get a minor operation. That was government health care. And the mayor also forgot
• to say
• that our health care programs
• sponsored by the government
• are bankrupt.
• They say they're gonna end
• in five years, ten years. They keep pushing it out. How do they how do they continue?
• Because they're subsidized by trillions and trillions of dollars, which we can't afford.
• And that's why the states that have considered in recent times and by the way, Rand be damned. They've never been right about anything.
• Right? That think tank.
• Have considered it and rejected it.
• And that one of the things that really struck me, it was like being hit in the face.
• With all these requests to the state of New York about legislation, there wasn't one request
• from this Democratic board
• to clean up
• the corruption
• in medicate in Medicaid
• and the health programs and the welfare programs of the state of New York, which every congressman I've ever talked to, regardless of party, says it's at least 10%
• of every dollar spent by the state of New York and the federal government in health care is corrupt.
• Now given the experience we've had with California and Minnesota,
• it's probably a hell of a lot more.
• Item two.
• And this, I've only seen the figures. I'm not a statistician.
• With the descriptions of both legal and illegal immigration,
• All but one group
• of legal and illegal immigrants,
• all but one group do not have a majority or supermajority
• of their people on welfare programs
• in The United States,
• And they were brought here by the policies,
• especially of the previous administration,
• but both Republicans and Democrats,
• and never told the American people about that. That's why we don't trust you on
• conservation,
• electrification,
• health care,
• COVID,
• ivermectin,
• because your track record sucks.
• The public track record on public health
• and financial management
• sucks,
• and we don't trust you.
• Now it so happens that this board at the local level with its management team does a relatively good job. I have to admit that. I wish you'd take this attitude
• and demand the same from your state legislatures
• and the state government, which is a terrible government, by the way. Terrible.
• And then when you go to send
• that plea
• for help to the federal government, which, by the way, the last item on your list was a little laundry list for the federal government,
• you might ask them to fund the coast guard, Rio,
• to pay for people rescuing people. You know, summer's coming up.
• The coast guard works this river all the time. Fund the coast guard,
• fund TSA so we don't have to wait in line for four hours,
• and then pay for cybersecurity,
• while the Iranians, the Russians, the Chinese
• who've stole about
• last time I counted, the Chinese have stolen
• 500,000,000
• bank accounts
• and the list of every government employee,
• and then some dip at a government agent called the Veterans Administration
• brought the entire list of veterans' homes, and the Chinese stole that. So you think you might wanna ask on your laundry list of asks
• for the federal government,
• why don't you open homeland security
• and take your fight somewhere else?
• So
• I I thank the mayor again for making the argument.
• I wanna remind the people that Croton is a boycott against CVS, which is the abortion company.
• And the abortion princess who designed their policy toward r u '46, of course, left the company because she was fired
• because the company,
• experienced a 20%
• drop in income. Thank you.
• Seeing no one else wishing to comment, we proceed to reports.
• Can I ask a question? Thank you for coming to speak about the leave blowers. I know that you have come in the past, and
• I share your observations
• about them.
• How do other communities enforce it? Like, do we know how other communities that have the ban
Yeah. I mean, is it yeah. It's generally it's a mix of people
• reporting it. Right? Either reporting it to the police or reporting it to their code enforcement officer,
• or it's,
• proactive enforcement where people are driving around and not necessarily driving around strictly looking for leaf blowers. But if inspectors are out doing other things and they happen to see a landscaper using one, they can stop and proactively
• address it. And what is our current We do the we do the same We do both. Yeah. Right. So, I mean, last year was a very successful year for us. I mean, we had we issued 17 violations,
• whereas we had issued one in the in the three years combined previously.
• Right? So,
• yeah, we've we significantly
• increased our our efforts last year and made it a priority, and, you know, we're gonna try to do the same thing again this year. Right now, we don't have a code enforcement officer. Hopefully, we will have one by June. Right.
• But that could be a potential
• issue if we don't.
• Thank you. Yep.
• So I have I have a pretty I don't have too much to report. I was sorry to miss the trash presentation last night, but I was happy to, attend the Friends of Croton Parks meeting,
• which looks like they're gonna be happening now on the third
• was yesterday the third Tuesday of the month? So I think going forward, they're gonna happen on the third Tuesday of the month. I think that's something we could probably add to the village calendar. Is that something we could add to the village calendar?
• Can we help can we help get the word out about this commit or we can
• community calendar, I would say. Community calendar. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. So, basically, this is an organization,
• that is working with the county, larger organization to,
• raise funds
• to
• bridge the gap,
• for needs in our parks,
• that are not met by the budget. It's right now a very small group, but they are certainly looking for more
• for more
• input. So if anybody I think for right now,
• before they have a
• there's in the process, they're right at the very beginning stages. They don't have a website set up. They don't have social media set up. So I don't have too much to share for people who are interested in doing it. But, you know, trustee Nicholson and I have been working on this together for a while. So I think that for right now, if anyone is interested,
• and they wanna just reach out to one of us, we can get you in touch with the people. I I think that hopefully by next
• month,
• there will be some more information to share on that.
• They are making great progress, and it's gonna be a great way for people who are interested in all of the parks in Croton to,
• be able to, fundraise
• to support them.
• Also, last night, we held a really
• robust meeting with the chairs
• of all our committees. As people who are following along know, we've been doing a lot of work on the committees to try to make them,
• they're such a tremendous asset to
• the community, to us as a board.
• The things that are accomplished by them are incredible.
• And so the chairs who are already giving a tremendous amount of their work came together last night to help us work on guidelines so that we can have a little bit more,
• continuity and framework around the way those,
• committees are working. So
• lots more good on that, but really just taking the opportunity to publicly say thank you to
• all those people who are working hard on the committees and especially the chairs who are organizing them.
• Finally,
• March is women's history month, and so I just wanna take a minute to recognize my fellow board members. And all of the you know, last night sitting around this committee chairs table, there were some hardworking men, but there were also a lot of women in those leadership positions. And there are a lot of women within the village
• who, you know, who work in in for and with the village. And so I really just wanna take a minute to recognize them. There are a lot of ways that women in the village in different ways by different organizations are being recognized.
• I think that we could maybe next year, the village maybe we could do something. The village board could do something to recognize
• some of the women in the village in a more,
• in a more formalized way. But I just wanted to take a minute to say, I appreciate you all. Thank you. It's
• Just have the the women of village artists at the library. So it could be women village
• government related volunteers
• or workers
• event. Good idea.
• Okay. So
• I, along with, deputy mayor Simon,
• are, have the privilege to be liaisons to the planning board and the zoning board of appeals.
• And I just wanted to say, given the
• amount of public interest on 52 Mount Airy,
• you know, that of that variance application,
• I just wanna thank everyone who who came out just to share their voice. I'm I'm not siding or giving an my own opinion on anything. I just a lot of people came out, even young people. I mean, I think there was
• someone in their teens that was very passionate about the environment, who spoke very eloquently,
• and they shared their voice.
• And that's essential to, you know, an an effective, healthy democracy.
• And at that meeting on March 17,
• the zoning board of appeals
• on the 52
• subject decided,
• voted to to move the variance to move 52 Mount Airy to the planning board.
• And this is this, I think, is was unusual,
• and so I just wanted to explain for those that may not understand, and deputy Simon could could add to it as well.
• But this was because,
• there were many questions surrounding 52 Mount Airy regarding the full site plan. It wasn't just about variance anymore. It was much more comprehensive,
• like environmental impact, sewage, storm drainage,
• slopes.
• And it's really the planning board that conducts this comprehensive
• assessment
• and more of a of a comprehensive site plan overall. So,
• you know, I think
• I think that, chairman Jim Toman and the ZBA did, you know, a great job, and now it's going to the planning board,
• who will also do a great job. So, you know, just wanted to thank everybody
• on those boards for what they continue to do for our village
• and for residents
• who come out, you know, and speak on on issues that concern them.
• I also wanna thank,
• the Montanas,
• Regina and Lewis, for donating
• the painting that is now in our village down by the court. Yep. The the east entrance foyer.
• The east entrance foyer for a beautiful
• painting that commemorates the two hundred and fiftieth
• anniversary.
• I hope to see it tonight, but that was very generous of them, and I just wanna thank them for that.
• And, just wanna thank the seniors for
• their engagement and enthusiasm.
• They're always asking
• both Len and I questions at the meetings,
• and we're very appreciative of their engagement.
• We have spoken to,
• to manager Healy about repairing
• working with DPW to repair some of the accessible
• walkways
• and,
• railings that
• folks use to get into the common ground. Those have really deteriorated,
• I think, over the winter.
• So thank you, manager, for speaking to DPW about that and
• smoothing out their experience Yes. As they enter the building. So thank you.
• So I just have a couple of things. I was able to to attend the trash conversation last night and, unfortunately, needed to duck out a little bit early before they kind of got to the main event, which is conversation around composting in schools.
• Trustee
• Simon and I are working on,
• with a task force along with some school board members and some mothers and mothers out front to really start exploring our our the opportunity of doing compost in schools.
• You know, the amazing news that we had this week was that our composting program,
• the village composting program,
• has now expanded.
• So more households
• will be able to
• use that, which is fantastic.
• You know, I really appreciate the
• you coming out and talking again about leaf blowers.
• I agree. I think I think we're we're falling behind, and it's unlike
• Croton to be behind. And we certainly don't wanna be the last community in West Chester County.
• So I I think that there is an opportunity. I know we we have done a significant amount in terms of code enforcement
• and stepping that up, which is fantastic.
• I know we've talked about having more marketing around
• so people are aware of the leaf blower ban and when that happens. But, you know, you go community to community, and it's different. I mean, my my preference would be if Westchester County took it on themselves and actually did it across the board county ban that would just make it streamlined.
• But just in looking at our neighboring community of Ossining,
• you know, they're banned on under half acres now,
• year round. So I think there's an opportunity for us to step up here.
• And
• I,
• just wanna note tomorrow evening,
• I, I unfortunately will not be at the work session,
• to discuss the DPW budget. I have sent some of my questions along to the manager.
• So my apologies to my colleagues and the public for not being
• there tomorrow.
• the the three government women leaders to my left, not only this month, but every month
and trustee Nixon, good good thoughts on, I think, on the on the leaf blowers as well as from from our participants. And it's it's it's on our list. We know it's on our list, and it's just a question of of of addressing it at some point. But
• soon, I hope.
• Few things.
• All the way back on March 12, we had our monthly Westchester Municipal Officials Association
• meeting in
• in both Pound Ridge and Connecticut, you know, because it was right on the border. And the the room the the front of the room was in Connecticut. The back of the room was in Pound Ridge. So it was a great great experience.
• And but we we met with
• Carole LaBrocco, who's the executive director of
• Neighbors Link, which I think is just a tremendous resource to all of the communities in in Westchester,
• including including us in terms of dealing with some of the some of the difficult issues,
• you know, concerning
• immigration. So we we got
• we got a lot of information from her on what some of the other communities are doing, what their organization is doing, and look forward to continuing to be in touch with them. Secondly,
• just about a week ago,
• our
• our association of businesses
• in Croton
• had their
• executive committee meeting. And I just wanted to let everyone know that's listening that
• their website is up, and it it looks terrific.
• It's allbiz,allbiz,
• allbizcroton.com,
• one word.
• They've adopted the theme, which you'll see right on the face of the website,
• rooted in Croton growing together. So I think it's a it's a it's a great
• it's a great
• sentiment, and I think they they they did a very good job in having the businesses come together on the on the website. And so more to come from them, but they're they're they're being more and more active
• each month. So we're we're looking forward to them them doing great things in our community.
• Let's see. Third,
• just speaking of great organizations.
• I've mentioned this, you know, in once before, but I'll just say it again that
• rotary is spearheading.
• The our rotary organization is spearheading
• a celebration
• and thank you for our great DPW
• for all that they did in the
• in the snows for us this year. It's gonna be at at Senesua
• in on on Wednesday, May 20, and there'll be information
• either probably sometime today, it could already be there, or tomorrow on the rotary website. But there will there will also be
• a letter in the gazette, which will give everyone the opportunity to to contribute
• to this.
• And so we're we're looking forward to thanking our our DPW in a in a in a terrific manner.
• Last week, our bicycle and pedestrian committee
• also met, and
• we got some some great
• information from them on the next phase and of Slow Down Croton and some some activities that
• they're gonna be participating in with our school system. There's actually work towards a
• bike rodeo that the that the schools there's a wonderful
• phys ed teacher in the schools that's pulling that all together, and we'll have we'll have more information on that, I think, you know, fairly soon. But it was a good good meeting as well as updates on
• on project mover and some some related projects. Just one one additional
• word on on
• what trustee Nicholson was saying. Just wanted to thank
• Donna O'Malley and Christina
• Alvarez Arnold from
• the Mothers Out Front Organization for putting on. I also had to leave after that
• first hour just just to get to the planning board, but it was it it looked like a great meeting, and I look forward to following up with them. And as and as trustee Nicholson said,
• the
• Croton
• recycling
• food recycling program, composting program,
• is open for for more, for, more participation.
• You know, the sky's the limit in terms of, now that we have the capacity,
• we just need you to sign up and get the buckets and and and and start doing it. And the best way to do that would be for everyone that's listening, just go to the sustainability
• committee website.
• Click on once you get there, click on
• food scrap recycling, all the information you'll need there, including Cheryl's contact information if you if you have any any questions
• on on that.
• And
• and
• last but not least,
• project mover. Just a reminder that you'll start seeing the bikes probably
• right around, April 6.
• We'll be once I, have a chance to talk to the manager about his schedule for next week, we're gonna we're gonna be, trying to pinpoint,
• where
• our expansion will be both in Senasco Park and North Riverside.
• And as we look towards the future of what this project
• is is going to look like, we're gonna we're getting
• just tremendous support. Almost
• I I could almost characterize it now as a a continuous conversation
• among the county legislators that represent
• the six municipalities
• in project mover as well as our state senator,
• our assemblywoman,
• and, of course, the six municipalities themselves are all rolling up their sleeves coming up with with with good thoughts. And so oh, and last
• second last but not least, we now know winter is officially over because the baseball season starts tonight, and the Yankee game is going on while
• we sit here. So that that's not an incentive, you know, to but so looking looking looking forward to a great a great season for the Yankees and the Mets. And also all the great minor league teams that are within driving distance to us and go out and go out and see some of those those guys. They're they're terrific as well and and very reasonable cost. You can get a ticket for a family a whole family for what it cost for one beer at Yankee Stadium. So
• but they're all great, and we're just glad baseball's back.
• again, my colleagues have done a very, great job of summarizing all the important news and the work of our various committees. I'll note that I was at the Conservation Advisory Council meeting last week, speaking for women's history month, one of the many committees led by a woman in our village,
• Eva Thaddeus, who is also doing, at least for now, double duty as a member of the planning board as well.
• And
• the CAC is working diligently
• on
• Earth Day on May 2, but, just around the corner, 04/04/1944,
• at 11AM on North Riverside
• across the street from the Washington engine firehouse.
• There will be a community cleanup.
• I've done a few of these. You'll be shocked at the amount of garbage that we pick up each time, and I'm always grateful for the volunteers
• who help
• do our do their best,
• to keep our community,
• clean.
Stephanie, your Oh, sorry. Thank you, manager. Thank you for the reminder. Oh, speaking of, woman leaders, where would I be without a key appointment? Valerie Lee is
• chair of the arts and humanities council. She took over on an acting basis, and the appoint appointment was never formalized. So do I have a motion? So moved. So moved. Yeah. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Slippin. All in favor? Aye. Aye.
Aye. Motion to close. Motion to close. So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye.