The Croton Board of Trustees unanimously adopted new property tax exemptions for military families, police survivors, and low-income seniors at its May 6 meeting, while awarding a $702,461 contract to pave Cleveland Drive — a project funded almost entirely by a federal earmark that sat unused for more than a decade. The board also appointed Seyed Hosseini to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board, accepted the resignation of Planning Board member Eva Thaddeus, and reappointed Genette Toone as Village Treasurer and Rachel Sibrizzi as Deputy Village Treasurer.

Tax Exemptions Adopted

Trustees voted 5-0 to adopt Local Law No. 6 of 2026, which adds two new property tax exemptions and modifies two existing ones in response to state legislation signed last year. Active-duty military members deployed in combat zones will receive a 25 percent reduction in assessed property value. Surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty will receive a 50 percent reduction. The law also expands an existing exemption for surviving spouses of volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers killed in the line of duty, extending eligibility to those whose spouses served between two and five years and increasing the exemption from 10 percent to 50 percent. For low-income seniors, the law replaces a flat structure — previously, anyone earning under $50,000 received a 50 percent exemption — with a sliding scale. Income below $47,000 now qualifies for 65 percent, below $48,000 for 60 percent, and below $49,000 for 55 percent. Deputy Mayor Len Simon called the measure a reflection of community values. "This all falls under the category of a grateful village," 5:35▶ Simon said. The public hearing on the law opened and closed without comment.

Cleveland Drive Paving

The board awarded a $702,461.48 contract to ELQ Industries of New Rochelle for paving Cleveland Drive from Gotwald Circle to Gerstein Street, along with portions of Old Post Road South, Wood Road, and Gerstein Street. Seven bids were submitted; ELQ was the lowest responsible bidder. Superintendent of Public Works Frank Balbi recommended the award, and the state Department of Transportation concurred. The project is funded almost entirely by a federal earmark originally secured around 2009 by then-Representative John Hall for raising the train station parking lot. When the village completed that project on its own, the money sat in limbo for years until the DOT contacted the village about repurposing it for paving. Village Manager Bryan Healy explained that the federal share of the project totals approximately $699,000. "This project is gonna cost us, like, $2,000," 24:59▶ Healy said. Preparation work has already begun — DPW has been resetting storm grates and upgrading sidewalk ramps to ADA compliance. Healy estimated the milling and paving itself could begin within four to six weeks of the contract award and take about a week to complete, with one side of the road kept open during construction.

Planning Board Changes

The board accepted with regret the resignation of Eva Thaddeus from the Planning Board, effective May 13. Thaddeus is shifting her focus to chair the Conservation Advisory Council. Seyed Hosseini was appointed to fill the vacancy, with a term expiring December 2026. The board also congratulated Planning Board Chair Robert Luntz on receiving the Citizen Planner Award from the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, which also recognized the village's South Riverside Rezoning Project with a Planning Commendation.

Village Manager's Report

Healy provided updates on several ongoing projects: The developer of Lot A at Croton Point Avenue has provisionally secured Affordable Home Ownership Program funding. The village, developer, Metro-North, and state DOT have collaborated on stormwater drainage plans, with the property sale closing anticipated this summer. Healy confirmed the project remains a five-story, 100-unit all-affordable for-sale condominium development. On Quaker Bridge, Westchester County reported that a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is progressing, though a timeline remains uncertain because it depends on signatures from three agencies. The special permit application for the mixed-use building at 325 South Riverside is expected to return to the Planning Board at the end of May, following the board's adoption of Local Law No. 5. For the Half Moon Bay Bridge, detailed design plans have been submitted to the state DOT, with utility agreements sent to Verizon and Con Edison and a draft railroad agreement sent to Metro-North. The village faces an August 31 deadline for federal authorization to proceed.

Public Comment: Dog Park and Dam Safety

Multiple residents urged the village to extend weekend hours at the Black Rock Dog Park from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Judy Lewis, chair of Friends of Croton Parks, said many dog owners cannot reach the park before 4 p.m. on weekends. "Many dog owners cannot get to the park before four on the weekends," 30:00▶ Lewis said. Margaret Connor of Grand Street argued the dog park should be open dawn to dusk like other village parks. Healy said the village code gives the village manager authority to set park hours, and that the matter has been discussed at a meeting and a work session. John Corwin of Young Avenue raised detailed concerns about the Kaplan's Pond dam, describing trees growing on the earthen embankment, a bulge, depressions, and an overgrown emergency spillway. He urged the village to comply with state DEC dam safety guidelines and maintain an updated emergency action plan. Healy said the village is reviewing the issues and will respond when information is available.

Other Actions

The board authorized a $5,000 inter-municipal agreement with Westchester County for youth summer employment reimbursement and approved a $22,419 interfund transfer for oil tank remediation at the Washington Engine Firehouse, where a leaking underground tank was discovered during removal after a boiler replacement. Trustees proclaimed May 10–16 as National Police Week, with a flag-raising ceremony scheduled for May 9, and May 17–23 as National Public Works Week.