Croton Board Adopts Tax Exemptions for Veterans, Seniors; $700k Paving Project Approved

CROTON-ON-HUDSON – Property tax breaks for active-duty military, surviving spouses of police officers, and low-income seniors are coming to Croton following a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees Wednesday night.

The board adopted Local Law No. 6 of 2026 during a public hearing, enacting state-sanctioned exemptions that Village Manager Bryan Healy said had been discussed at a work session earlier this year. "The village board discussed this at a work session... in February," Healy said. "There are a number of new legislative actions that were adopted by the state legislature... that allowed the village to extend certain tax exemptions to qualifying individuals." {{quote:96}} The new law includes a 25% exemption for active military deployed in combat zones and a 50% exemption for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty. It also enhances existing exemptions for volunteer first responders and creates a sliding scale for seniors, potentially increasing their exemption from 50% to 65% depending on income level. "Right. Agree. Okay," said Trustee Nora Nicholson, seconding the motion. {{quote:345}} Trustee Simon noted the vote fell "under the category of a grateful village," thanking residents for their service. {{quote:345}} **Paving Project Funded by 2009 Earmark** In other business, the board authorized a major infrastructure improvement that will result in smooth sailing for motorists on Cleveland Drive at a fraction of the usual cost. The board awarded Bid No. 1-2026 to ELQ Industries of New Rochelle in the amount of $702,461.48 to pave Cleveland Drive from the Municipal Circle to Gerstein Street, as well as portions of Old Post Road South, Wood Road, and Gerstein Street. While the price tag is high, the financial burden on the village is minimal due to a circuitous journey involving a federal earmark from 2009. "The village received an earmark, a federal earmark from then congressman John Hall back in, like, 2009, and that money was for raising the parking lot down at the train station," Healy explained. {{quote:1404}} Because the village completed that work on its own, the funds were left in limbo until the village successfully petitioned to have them repurposed for paving. "So this project is gonna cost us, like, $2,000. Yeah. It's fantastic," Healy told the board. {{quote:1564}} Village staff have already completed preparatory work, including replacing storm grates and upgrading sidewalk ramps to ADA compliance. Paving is expected to take about a week, four to six weeks from now, and will be done during the day while keeping one lane of traffic open. **Public Comment: Dog Park Hours and Dam Safety** During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents pressed the board on two distinct quality-of-life issues: the operating hours of the Blackrock Dog Park and the condition of the dam at Kaplan’s Pond.

Judy Lewis, chair of the Friends of Croton Parks, requested extending weekend hours at the dog park from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., arguing that current restrictions do not reflect modern work schedules. "As a member of the dog park, I know that many dog owners cannot get to the park before four on the weekends," Lewis said. "Many owners work during the weekend... It seems a little unfair that Blackrock Bocce area is open from dawn to dusk, but there are limitations on the dog park area." {{quote:1814}} Margaret Connor of 36 Grand Street echoed those sentiments, arguing that the village should adapt to changing cultural norms regarding pets and recreation. "The world is changing. The hours are changing," Connor said. "People don't work nine to five Monday to Friday... I ask that the dog park be treated like every other public dog park that we have." {{quote:2013}} Healy noted that he had received emails on the topic but that the decision ultimately rests with the Village Manager's office per village code. "I did respond to the writer of the email saying that, you know, I appreciate the reasoning behind the request and I will certainly give it full consideration," Healy said. {{quote:1075}} Resident John Corwin shifted the focus to infrastructure safety, raising alarms about the structural integrity of the dam at Kaplan’s Pond. He detailed vegetation growth and potential erosion on the earthen embankment, suggesting the village is not complying with state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) guidelines. "Kaplan’s Dam is over 80 years old... There's signs of it cresting the dam," Corwin said. "Please comply with the New York State DEC guidelines for dam safety. Please maintain an updated dam emergency action plan." {{quote:2130}} Healy acknowledged receipt of Corwin’s correspondence but did not provide a detailed response during the meeting, stating the village would look into the reported issues. **Personnel Changes and Appointments** The board accepted the resignation of Eva Thaddeus from the Planning Board, effective May 13. Trustees praised Thaddeus for her service and noted she will continue to serve as chair of the Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC). "I just wanted to thank Eva Thaddeus for her work on the planning board," Simon said. "I'm looking forward to her leadership on our conservation advisory council." {{quote:1196}} To fill the vacancy, Mayor Brian Pugh appointed Seyed Hosseini, currently an alternate on the Planning Board, to a permanent member position. The board also appointed Genette Toone as Village Treasurer and Rachel Sibrizzi as Deputy Village Treasurer. **Upcoming Events** In trustee reports, the board highlighted several upcoming community events:

* **National Police Week:** A flag raising ceremony will be held this Saturday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m. * **Peace Pole Dedication:** A collaboration between the Arts and Humanities Committee and the Garden Club will take place next weekend. * **Public Works Week:** The Rotary Club will sponsor an event on May 20 to honor DPW employees. * **Lorraine Hansberry Celebration:** Scheduled for May 17 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Chapel. The board also received updates on the "Lot A" development on Croton Point Avenue, noting the developer has provisionally secured funding and the sale is expected to close this summer. Con Edison continues gas main replacement work on Albany Post Road North and is scheduled to begin underground electric repairs on Amber Drive on May 11.