=== EXECUTIVE BRIEF === • Board received DPW operations update following a site visit to the garage • The Board voted to approve committee appointments to the Conservation Advisory Council, Police Advisory Committee, and Advisory Board on the Visual Environment; discussion only during work session • Village's AA2 bond rating reviewed with Moody's; potential switch to S&P Global Ratings to be explored • Trash disposal costs projected to nearly double in 2026 due to county fee increases Let Yonkers break it. That was the message from DPW Superintendent Frank Balbi when trustees asked what keeps him up at night during a January 14 work session — and it wasn't exactly what the sustainability-minded board might have expected to hear.
Village Manager Bryan Healy and Mayor Brian Pugh during discussion of a pilot program for renewable diesel at the Board Of Trustees meeting.
Village Manager Bryan Healy and Mayor Brian Pugh during discussion of a pilot program for renewable diesel at the Board Of Trustees meeting.
"All this new stuff always comes up," Balbi said. "More often than not, it's a flash in the pan thing. We're not New York City. We're not Yonkers. So my one point would be — when this new stuff does come up, great, let's discuss it. But let's let Yonkers break it." 7:42▶ The comment came after trustees heaped praise on Balbi and his crew following a tour of the DPW garage, with one trustee calling it "the friendliest DPW crew I've ever seen in my life" and another marveling at the organization, including the cots lined up against the wall where workers sleep during snow emergencies. 5:55▶ Balbi did acknowledge the department's renewable diesel program — which has cut the village's carbon footprint by an estimated 12% — has exceeded his own skeptical expectations. "I was going skeptical. I think anybody would, and I think anybody should," he said. "But we had that pilot program. There were no issues." 7:14▶ The superintendent also flagged that the department's large loader, described as the "workhorse" used for snow removal at the train station and loading salt, is nearing the end of its life and will likely need replacement during upcoming budget discussions. Notably, nobody from the public showed up to comment on what could hit their wallets hardest: trash disposal fees that are projected to nearly double in 2026. The village manager attributed the spike to Westchester County raising its tipping fees by roughly $12 per ton after years of modest dollar-a-year increases. Previously, commercial pickup fees from businesses like ShopRite covered the village's disposal costs. That math no longer works. The manager had one practical suggestion for residents: recycle more. The village pays nothing in tipping fees for recycling drop-off, meaning every item diverted from the garbage stream saves money. Later in the evening, the board heard from municipal adviser Beth Ferguson that Croton holds a solid AA2 bond rating from Moody's — but suggested switching to S&P Global Ratings could potentially bump the village up a notch, saving on future borrowing costs. The biggest drag on Croton's rating, she explained, is OPEB — retiree health care obligations — a number the village has little ability to change under state law. What to watch for: Budget discussions this spring will address the loader replacement and trash fee impacts. Residents can submit service requests anytime through the DPW form on the village website — reportedly the most effective way to report potholes, outages, and other issues.
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