Croton's short-term rental hosts will begin collecting a 3% occupancy tax starting April 1, following a unanimous Board of Trustees vote on Wednesday that formalized the new local law. The tax, authorized by state legislation signed last October by Governor Kathy Hochul, applies to hotels, motels, and short-term rentals. Village Manager Bryan Healy noted that Croton previously had no use for an occupancy tax because it has no operating hotels or motels, but a recent change in state law extended the taxing authority to platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

The board also took a significant step toward the long-planned 100-unit affordable housing development at Lot A, the village-owned parcel at Croton Point Avenue and Veterans Plaza. By a 3-0 vote, with Trustee Slippen abstaining, the board authorized a Project Labor Agreement with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Westchester and Putnam Counties. The agreement covers publicly funded infrastructure work, including a water main extension from Wayne Street to Croton Point Avenue and a new sewer line to South Riverside—work paid for by Westchester County's Housing Implementation Fund, not village taxpayers. "This is not a Village project and is not being funded by Village taxpayers," Healy emphasized. Trustee Simon credited the Lot A Task Force for the requirement. During public comment, Susan Skrelja of Truesdale Drive questioned whether residents were subsidizing the project, prompting Healy to reiterate that all funding flows from the county.

In other business, a stretch of Cleveland Drive from Old Post Road South to Gerstein Street will be co-named Lorraine Hansberry Way, following a request from the Lorraine Hansberry Coalition. Two residents spoke in support of the honor for the author of "A Raisin in the Sun," who lived in Croton. The board stressed this is an additional marker, not a street name change.

Residents dealing with estimated water bills can expect relief soon. The board transferred $28,000 from the Water Contingency fund to replace aging meters that failed to transmit usage data during the last billing cycle. The village also awarded two trade labor contracts—$45,350 to Armor-Tite Construction Corp. for roofing and $35,731.20 to Construction Plus Services for masonry—as a pre-emptive move against rising labor costs.

A proposed set of guidelines for village advisory boards and committees was tabled after Trustees Nicholson and Slippen requested more input from committee chairs. That discussion is scheduled for the March 18 work session.

Upcoming dates to note: the Gouveia Park public meeting is March 2 at 7pm, the Repair Café returns February 28, and the "Love Lives Here" community event is February 25 at the Black Cow. The Budget Priority survey remains open for resident input.