Croton residents will soon have a new option for their cable television service following a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees on Wednesday evening. {{photo:1151:81:Board of Trustees President calls for public hearing on cable franchise agreement}} The board approved a franchise agreement with Verizon New York Inc., paving the way for the company to offer Fios TV to roughly 72% of the village. The decision marks the end of a years-long effort to bring competition to the local cable market, currently dominated by Optimum. "This is a long time coming," said Village Manager Bryan Healy. "We worked with Verizon many years ago... and for business reasons, it didn't proceed forward at that time. The village has been persistent in encouraging Verizon to reconsider." {{quote:98}} Pamela Goldstein, a representative from Verizon, addressed the board during the public hearing, noting that the infrastructure is largely in place. "The only thing standing in the way of 72% of the households in the village getting Fios TV is your vote tonight," Goldstein said. {{quote:256}} She explained that service could begin approximately 30 days after the New York State Public Service Commission confirms the franchise, a process she estimated could take one to two months. Unlike the village's 10-year agreement with Optimum (Altice), the Verizon franchise is a five-year deal. Healy noted that while the agreement currently covers areas where Verizon has already built out fiber optics—primarily affecting 3,545 of the village's 4,958 addresses—the company has been expanding its local infrastructure. "They did Fios on Georgia Lane last year, and they're gonna be starting work on Beekman this year," Healy said. {{quote:432}} A public hearing on the agreement drew mixed feedback from residents. Gary Eisinger of Cleveland Drive praised Verizon’s service but questioned if the village could negotiate on "throttling," or the intentional slowing of internet speeds. Village officials clarified that the franchise agreement covers only cable television, not internet or phone service, and that throttling is a federal regulatory issue. {{photo:1151:101:Village Manager Bryan Healy speaks about the long-awaited franchise agreement}} The board also tackled a hefty agenda of financial resolutions, culminating in the adoption of the village budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which totals $26,294,900. The budget includes a tax levy increase of 2.25%, below the state's tax cap. Significant appropriations included $76,000 for police body cameras and $25,000 for new playground equipment. "We've increased our contingency fund... and include some new things as well, specifically in the capital budget where a lot of the things that were discussed in the budget priority survey—funds for infrastructure improvement—are in there," Healy said. {{quote:2095}} Trustee Bob Nero noted that the body camera funding, coupled with a pending accreditation study, represents a significant investment in the police department following reform efforts. "We're talking about $76,000... that's a significant expense," Nero said. "We continue to invest in the Police Department, and we're also investing in the data that we need to make future decisions." {{quote:2244}} In other business, the board accepted a donation of a unique art installation for Croton Landing Park. Bruce Odland, the artist behind "Harmonic Landing," described the piece as a series of "cement loudspeakers" designed to turn the ambient noise of the highway and trains into harmony. "It just adds a peaceful dome of harmony from the real world around you," Odland said. {{quote:1710}} The installation comes at no cost to the village, though the DPW will assist with siting. Village officials expressed enthusiasm for the piece, which will be located near the landing. The board also authorized several budget amendments, including $7,000 for equipment at the EMS Annex, $1,100 to cover senior trips in the Recreation Department, and $28,000 to replace non-working water meters. Additionally, a contract for $5,500 was approved with WSP Inc. for water monitoring at the Hudson National Golf Club. {{photo:1151:767:Board of Trustees members vote unanimously to approve Verizon franchise agreement}} The meeting concluded with a report from the Village Manager on ongoing infrastructure projects, including street work on Old Post Road North and utility projects in Scenic Ridge. "We'll certainly share that information with everybody," Healy said regarding the construction schedules. {{quote:1338}}