🏛️ Board Of Trustees
Croton approves $30,409 for new police weapons
The Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $30,409 budget transfer to replace Police Department service weapons and authorized a snow removal contract with New England Property Maintenance for the 2025-2026 winter season. Trustees also approved $133,488.67 in voucher payments across five village funds.
◆ Key Actions & Decisions
- **Resolutions Passed**
- **Resolution #256-2025**: Authorized Village Manager to enter a snow removal contract with New England Property Maintenance (Mahopac, NY) for the 2025-2026 winter season. Rates set at $70 minimum per property, $0.20/sq ft for snow 4 inches or less, $0.50/sq ft for snow over 4 inches, and $70 per bag of calcium chloride. Passed 5-0.
- **Resolution #257-2025**: Authorized a budget transfer of $30,409.00 to the Police-Equipment line item to fund new service weapons. Transfer funded by decreasing Contingency expenses by $13,368.90 and increasing State Aid-Other revenues by $17,040.10. Passed 5-0.
- **Resolutions Failed**: None
- **Applications Reviewed**: None
- **Public Comments**
- Ed Riely (110 Truesdale Drive): Spoke regarding the need for food assistance during the federal government shutdown, support for a gas pipeline extension citing projected energy needs, questioned why village police are guarding Con-Edison construction sites, and raised concerns regarding abortion drugs.
- **Reports**
- **Trustee Slippen**: Thanked staff for accommodating early voting.
- **Trustee Politi**: Promoted the "Arrivals" screening on Nov 8 and the Library's annual bake and book sale; noted Croton Food Pantry and Croton Caring are assisting families impacted by the shutdown.
- **Trustee Nicholson**: Announced an emergency food pantry this Saturday (9am-11am) at Holy Name of Mary Church basement.
- **Trustee Simon**: Reported the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee launched the new "Slow Down Croton" campaign; noted Project Mover will take a winter pause; reported the Rotary's Friday food packing grew from 140 to 209 bags; announced the Rotary Turkey Trot on Nov 27 (benefiting Maria Fareri Hospital); noted Planning Board approved signage for "Mondays"; announced a bike skills class on Nov 22 at 10am at Village Hall.
- **Mayor Pugh**: Invited residents to the Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov 11 at 11am at Veterans Corners.
- **Village Manager Healy**: Clarified that police directing traffic at Con-Edison sites (currently on Batten Road for gas-main replacement) are requested by utilities and paid for by Con-Edison, not village taxpayers. Noted the Veterans Day ceremony may move indoors to Holy Name of Mary Church depending on weather.
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- **Resolutions Passed**: None. A 5-0 motion to enter executive session at 6:30 PM and a 5-0 motion to adjourn at 7:02 PM were the only votes taken.
- **Resolutions Failed**: None.
- **Applications Reviewed**: None.
- **Public Comments**: None. No public session was held.
- **Reports**: None. No reports were delivered during this meeting.
Croton’s Police Department will be transitioning to new service weapons this year following a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees on Wednesday evening. The board approved a $30,409 budget transfer to cover the cost of the new firearms, which had not been included in the 2025-2026 General Fund budget.
To fund the equipment upgrade, the board decreased the village’s contingency expenses by $13,368.90 and increased anticipated State Aid-Other revenues by $17,040.10.
With winter weather on the horizon, the board also unanimously greenlit a snow removal contract with New England Property Maintenance of Mahopac for the upcoming season. The contractor agreed to maintain last year's rates: a $70 minimum charge per property, $0.20 per square foot for snowfalls of four inches or less, and $0.50 per square foot for deeper snow. Property owners are reminded that village code requires sidewalks to be cleared within 12 hours of a snowfall; if not, the village can hire the contractor and bill the homeowner.
In total, the board approved $133,488.67 in voucher payments across the General, Water, Sewer, Capital, and Trust funds. The board also formally accepted a $263.77 donation plus supplies from Spencer Celente for his Eagle Scout service project.
During the non-agenda public comment period, resident Ed Riely of Truesdale Drive questioned why village police officers were directing traffic at Con-Edison construction sites. Village Manager Bryan Healy clarified that utilities request off-duty officers for busy roadwork—currently a gas-main replacement on Batten Road—and that Con-Edison reimburses the village for the service, meaning no local tax dollars are spent.
Trustee reports heavily focused on community support during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Trustee Annemarie Nicholson announced that the Croton Food Pantry will hold an emergency food distribution this Saturday, November 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Holy Name of Mary Church basement. Trustee Karen Politi noted that Croton Caring is also actively assisting impacted families.
Looking ahead, Mayor Pugh invited residents to the Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m. at Veterans Corners. Depending on the weather, the event may be moved indoors to Holy Name of Mary Church. Additionally, Trustee Greg Simon announced a free bike skills class will be held on Saturday, November 22, at 10:00 a.m. at Village Hall.
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