🏛️ Board Of Trustees
Croton Switches DPW Fleet to Renewable Diesel
The Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $41,540 engineering contract for Half Moon Bay Bridge repairs and adopted a new local law allowing alternate members on the Planning Board and ZBA. The Village also announced a switch to renewable diesel for all DPW vehicles, projected to reduce the municipality's carbon footprint by 12.5%.
◆ Key Actions & Decisions
- **Resolutions Passed**
- **Vouchers:** Approved claims #26003855-26004082 totaling $545,138.11 across all funds (General: $443,335.62; Water: $56,798.07; Sewer: $981.33; Capital: $43,244.09; Trust: $780.00) by a 5-0 vote.
- **Resolution #1-2026:** Approved the Fire Department's annual Big Bucks raffle, and filed for the record the Conservation Advisory Council annual report, Recreation Advisory Committee recommendations, and renewable diesel memo. Passed 5-0.
- **Resolution #2-2026:** Authorized the Village Manager to accept a $41,540 proposal from Tectonic Engineering for additional scope work on the Half Moon Bay Bridge (pier cam beam repair and coastal assessment requirements). Passed 5-0.
- **Resolution #3-2026:** Adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026 (formerly Introductory No. 14 of 2025), amending Chapter 230 to allow the Board to appoint alternate members to the Planning Board and ZBA for one-year terms. Included a Negative Declaration under SEQRA and LWRP consistency determination. Passed 5-0.
- **Mayoral Appointments:** Approved 5-0. Steven Krisky (Planning Board, term ending Dec. 2030; WAC Rep, term ending Dec. 2026), James Tuman (ZBA, term ending Dec. 2030), Christina Alvarez Arnold (IDEA Committee, term ending Dec. 2027), Vanessa Valenti (IDEA Committee, term ending Dec. 2026), Faith Rivers (IDEA Committee Chair, term ending Dec. 2026).
- **Resolutions Failed:** None.
- **Applications Reviewed:** None.
- **Public Comments**
- *Agenda Items (3 speakers):* Ed Riely (110 Truesdale Dr) asked about the diesel initiative, congratulated the CAC, and asked about Half Moon Bay Bridge. Judy Rayer (3 Gerstein St) supported extending dog park hours to 6pm and asked if guests/out-of-town sitters could bring dogs. John Sasso (87 Morningside Dr) supported extended dog park hours, noting low usage and no barking issues.
- *Non-Agenda Items (2 speakers):* Ed Riely objected to legalizing assisted suicide in NY and thanked the Village for help recognizing Revolutionary War hero John Patterson. Judy Rayer requested better signage for local arts exhibits.
- **Reports**
- *Village Manager Bryan Healy:* Announced DPW is switching to renewable diesel (funded by DPW solar canopy lease, reducing CO2 by ~186 metric tons/year or 12.5% of Village footprint). Clarified Dog Park rules prohibit out-of-town dogs and sitters. Confirmed Half Moon Bay Bridge is structurally sound but needs normal maintenance (not replacement). Noted a petition regarding adjoining Half Moon Bay property was withdrawn and the lease was extended five years. Reminded residents alarm permits need renewal and offices are closed for MLK Day.
- *Trustee Slippen:* Noted the Village engaged a communications firm to improve resident outreach; explored ABC partnership for committee marketing; congratulated Eagle Scouts Luca Camillieri, Alden Hou, and Hunter Szkodzinski; thanked Water Dept and DPW for fixing water main breaks.
- *Trustee Nachtaler:* Raised concerns about reduced sponsorship from local ShopRite due to managerial changes.
- *Trustee Nicholson:* Attended Fire Department officer installations, praised the new EMS facility and DPW snow efforts.
- *Trustee Simon:* Announced the Village newsletter will now include video features; met with Welcome Wagon about recruiting; met with Project Mover Regional Director regarding new Croton locations.
- *Mayor Pugh:* Swore in new EMS officers and presented certificates to outgoing officers. Led a moment of silence for former Board member Jesse Beller (served 1985-1991).
Croton's fleet of Department of Public Works vehicles is going green. At the January 7 Board of Trustees meeting, Village Manager Bryan Healy announced the municipality will switch entirely to renewable diesel, a move expected to slash the Village's total carbon footprint by 12.5%—roughly 186 metric tons of CO2 annually.
The initiative, developed by Sustainability Committee member Lindsay Audin and implemented by DPW's Frank Balbi and John Bouchard, will be funded through the existing lease of the DPW solar canopy. "We do not foresee a fiscal impact on the budget," Healy assured the board.
The trustees also unanimously approved a $41,540 contract with Tectonic Engineering for additional design work on the Half Moon Bay Bridge. Trustee Simon noted that some required alterations stem from the logistical difficulty of performing construction with an active Metro-North railroad underneath. Healy took the opportunity to quell resident concerns, emphasizing that the 40-year-old bridge is structurally sound and is undergoing rehabilitation, not replacement. Additionally, Mayor Pugh announced that a controversial petition regarding an adjoining property was withdrawn, and the property's lease has been extended for five years.
In legislative action, the board adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026, allowing the village to appoint alternate members to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals for one-year terms. Village Attorney Joshua Subin clarified the law simply gives the board an option to fill sudden absences or conflicts of interest, rather than forcing a member to recuse themselves entirely from a project.
Dog park access drew considerable public comment. Residents Judy Rayer and John Sasso praised the proposed extension of park hours to 6:00 p.m., but Rayer asked if guests or out-of-town dog sitters could use the facility. Healy clarified that current rules strictly prohibit out-of-town dogs. Trustee Slippen noted the park is the only village facility closed to school district residents, signaling a robust debate ahead at an upcoming work session.
Residents should note that village offices will be closed Monday, January 19, in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and that alarm permits are currently due for renewal.
◆ Meeting Index
Topics Discussed
renewable dieselHalf Moon Bay Bridgedog park hoursPlanning Board alternate membersZoning Board of Appeals alternate memberswater main breaksMLK Day closurealarm permits
People
Paul Pugh — Mayor
Bryan Healy — Village Manager
Joshua Subin — Village Attorney
Genette Toone — Village Treasurer
Trustee Simon — Trustee
Trustee Nicholson — Trustee
Trustee Slippen — Trustee
Trustee Nachtaler — Trustee
Ed Riely — 110 Truesdale Drive
Judy Rayer — 3 Gerstein Street
John Sasso — 87 Morningside Drive
Lindsay Audin — Sustainability Committee
Frank Balbi — Dept. of Public Works
John Bouchard — Dept. of Public Works
John Ealer — Outgoing Chair, Conservation Advisory Council
John Delaney — Fire Council Secretary
Steven Krisky — Planning Board / WAC Representative
James Tuman — Zoning Board of Appeals
Christina Alvarez Arnold — IDEA Committee
Vanessa Valenti — IDEA Committee
Faith Rivers — IDEA Committee Chair
Luca Camillieri — Eagle Scout
Alden Hou — Eagle Scout
Hunter Szkodzinski — Eagle Scout
Jesse Beller — Former Village Board Member (1985-1991)
John Patterson — Local Revolutionary War Hero (1746-1850)
Locations
Georgianna Grant Meeting RoomStanley Kellerhouse Municipal BuildingVan Wyck StreetHalf Moon Bay BridgeQuakerbridge RoadTruesdale DriveGerstein StreetMorningside Drive
Dollar Amounts
$443,335.62 — General Fund vouchers
$56,798.07 — Water Fund vouchers
$981.33 — Sewer Fund vouchers
$43,244.09 — Capital Fund vouchers
$780.00 — Trust Fund vouchers
$41,540 — Tectonic Engineering proposal for Half Moon Bay Bridge pier cam beam repair and coastal assessment
Upcoming Dates
2026-01-19 — Village offices closed in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day