Board approves $790,900 paving contract and updates rent-relief limits

Croton’s Village Board approved a $790,900 street-resurfacing contract and an update to rent-relief income limits on September 2, while leaving the proposed pigeon ban for further discussion. The paving award went to Louis Rinaldi Inc. of Ossining after six companies submitted bids. The precise paving schedule was unsettled at the meeting. Village Manager Bryan Healy said he expected a list of streets by the next board meeting. Healy said: “probably by the next meeting, we'll have a list of the areas that are being repaved.” Read 115:26▶

The board also authorized a $49,375 HVAC maintenance contract with HVAC Now Inc. of Poughkeepsie, the lowest of three bidders. The Department of Public Works’ written recommendation identifies that amount as the price for the entire proposed five-year contract. The work covers maintenance of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment in village facilities. For renters, trustees adopted Local Law Introductory No. 11 of 2026, updating the code’s income limit for the senior citizen and disabled persons rent-exemption programs from $50,000 to $75,000. The manager’s written memo explains that the programs allow eligible renters in buildings covered by the Emergency Tenant Protection Act to seek an exemption from rent increases, with a corresponding tax abatement to the property owner if the state approves an application. Healy described the change as a housekeeping update: the village code already provided for the local limit to adjust automatically when state law changed. Healy said: “provides for the automatic adjustment of the limits, based on the action of the state legislature.” Read 77:16▶ Trustees separately adopted Local Law Introductory No. 12, revising the list of sidewalks exempt from the ordinary obligation for adjoining owners to remove snow and ice. The discussion covered changes on Old Post Road South, Radnor Avenue and Farrington Road. Healy said the Radnor sidewalk abuts village-owned land, so the village must maintain it whether or not it appears on the exemption list. He also explained that the Farrington changes covered sidewalks difficult to reach from adjoining properties, including homes with Palmer Avenue addresses. In response to a resident’s question about overgrown vegetation, Healy said this law covered only snow and ice removal. Owners remained responsible for vegetation at other times of year, he said. Healy said: “So during the other times of the year, the property owners are still responsible for maintaining vegetation.” Read 84:52▶ The pigeon proposal — Local Law Introductory No. 10 — had a different outcome. Mayor Brian Pugh said the board would not vote on it that evening and would take it back to a work session, informed by referral comments, the hearing and written submissions. Pugh said: “out of respect for that engagement and those contributions, we will not be voting on this law tonight.” Read 12:45▶ Deputy Mayor Len Simon announced that he would recuse himself from further involvement with that proposal. He said he wanted to remove potential distractions as the board continued its work. Simon said: “So to remove any potential distractions as this board goes forward, I will recuse myself from any further involvement with local law introductory number 10.” Read 9:39▶ Residents offered sharply different accounts of the pigeons’ effects on their neighborhood. The board closed the hearing without adopting the animal law. Questions about the existing flock and any future restrictions were left for further work. On capital spending, the board considered a revised 2026–2031 plan that added funding for the Half Moon Bay Bridge and Brook Street drainage projects. The accompanying resolution says additional grant funding of $1,715,000 would reduce current-year debt issuance by $420,520, or 9%. Trustees then readopted 13 bond resolutions covering projects and equipment including drainage, roads, sidewalks, fire and police equipment, and municipal facilities. The consent agenda passed as a package. It included a revised Health Emergency Plan, authorization for the Croton Business Council’s Oktoberfest agreement, a $1,750 transfer for dog-license software, and hearings on proposals concerning waterfront consistency review and an assistant village manager position. Healy also reported that the Farrington Steps had reopened. He said repairs to the municipal building’s retaining wall were expected to start the following week, weather permitting, and could require temporary sidewalk closures.