Croton by the Numbers

Currently, stormwater on Brook Street flows through both public and private culverts/piping on its way down to the drainage system on South Riverside Avenue. During intense storms, wash outs and flooding can occur along this corridor. Construction plans have been developed in order to increase capacity in the system as well as keeping stormwater running through the Village Right-of-Way. This project was identified as a priority in the Village Hazard Mitigation Plan. Because of this, the Village applied for, and received, grant funding through Westchester County. The project has been approved and is in the final design phase.

These funds will be used to continue the Village roadway resurfacing program. The Department of Public Works is currently compiling a list of roadways for improvement this year. Once prepared, this list will be presented to the Village Board, and posted for public knowledge. This year, we are requesting additional funding above the annual NYS CHIPS grant allocation. This will allow us to add roadways to our 2026/2027 resurfacing list, helping the Village to catch up on its roadway maintenance program.

Funds are being requested to install new sidewalks along the north side of Municipal Place and the east side of South Riverside Avenue. Currently, a walkable area does not exist in these locations. The Village anticipates receiving grant funding for a portion of the project and a portion of the funding for this project exists in an escrow account for work done at the existing Mobil station along South Riverside Avenue.

The staircase allowing pedestrian access from Farrington Road to Terrace Place is failing and in need of replacement. These steps are a direct access from the Farrington neighborhood to the Municipal Building and upper Village. In 2024, funding for design was approved by the Village Board. Last year, funding for construction was approved by the Village Board; however, the bids received for this project exceeded the amount that was requested, and consequently, the funds approved were not borrowed. We are requesting additional funding in order to go back out to bid with this project.

The Village has received concerns from residents regarding the existing conditions of the pedestrian crossing at Old Post Road North and Michaels Lane. Additionally, the Village sought input to redesign the intersection of Lounsbury Road and Old Post Road North to improve sight distances. A traffic engineer was contacted to review the area and provide suggestions for safety improvements. The plan that was submitted includes curb extensions, crosswalk markings and an installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. Funding is being requested to complete the work as presented.

There have been requests for the installation of a Rapid Flashing Beacon at the crosswalk on Maple Street located at its intersection with Wells Avenue. This is a heavily traveled roadway and crossing Maple Street can be dangerous. The flashing beacons being proposed would match the two recently installed along Route 129 (Grand Street at Wood Road and mid-block on Maple Street near PVC School).

Last year, funding was approved to replace the steel railings and posts along the walkway that connects Ossining with the Village sidewalks along Croton Point Avenue. This year, we would like to complete the project and repair the viewing platform along the walkway. This area is not as deteriorated as the other sections, but also in need of repair.

The street lights located within the Harmon section of the Village are older and in need of replacement. These lights have already been converted to LED fixtures; however, the globes are original to the street lights. This funding will allow us to replace the fixtures along South Riverside Avenue from Oneida Avenue to Croton Point Avenue (a total of 20 globes) and replace the bulbs with a softer bulb.

The department’s two-way radio system is at the end of its useful life. The department has undertaken efforts in recent years to extend the operability of the radio system but the time has come to replace the system in full. Federal funding for this project is being sought concurrently, which could reduce or eliminate the need to bond this work.

The Police Department is seeking funding to purchase two new vehicles. Both vehicles will be placed into the patrol fleet. Both cars which are being replaced will be either converted into other uses or sold at auction by the Village.

The department is looking to implement a body warn camera program and funding for the initial purchase will be allocated from the Village’s Law Enforcement Technology Grant provided by New York State. Following the initial purchase, there will be additional costs in future years related to its implementation.

A comprehensive review of the department’s current and future staffing needs has been requested in light of the changing nature of policing and growing workload (resulting from the Raise the Age act, police reform, discovery law reform, accreditation and the body-warn camera program).

The police department server room will be upgraded as part of this funding and a number of recommended security upgrades to the department’s technology will be undertaken.

A number of items are being requested in this project, including two speed signs, a new ID card printer, five new desktop computers, three new car computers and two new laptop computers.

Funding is being requested from the Water Fund balance to connect the DPW facility to the existing water infrastructure on Route 129 near Dailey Drive. Currently, the DPW facility is served by a well. While water quality is acceptable, the building, due to its use, is considered a Public Water System. Requirements and restrictions are stricter than typical residential wells. Connecting to the water main would allow for easier compliance as well as the potential to connect to a fire suppression system. Existing iron filtration can also be abandoned due to the nature of the treated water to be delivered to the building. The fund balance that is requested to be used is proceeds from the class action settlement on

The existing roof at the Harmon Firehouse is original to the latest renovation performed in 1998. There are signs of wear and leaks throughout the building. We are requesting funds to remove and replace the roof for the entire building (minus the newly constructed EMS addition). This work is specialized and will be performed by an outside contractor. The Village is concurrently seeking grant funding for this project, which could reduce or eliminate the need to bond this work.

This project will continue the replacement of cars so that a new vehicle is cycled through every two years. Continuing this replacement plan ensures the car is used for the term of six years with each new incoming chief. The retiring vehicle will become the department’s new utility.

The fire department continues to recruit new members, who require turnout gear to ensure they are safe when conducting operations. This cost has previously been funded through the operating budget; however, as the gear has a 10-year lifespan, it can be considered a capital purchase.

Most Fire Department vehicles and equipment are stored inside of the building. When an alarm is received, the vehicles are started and prepared for the call. The Fire Department has requested a ventilation system to assist with clearing exhaust fumes from the building when these vehicles are running. These exhaust fumes are dangerous and leave an odor throughout the building well after the Department has returned. Funding is being requested to install the system in the Harmon Firehouse this year.

A few years ago, the Village started treating the firehouse floors with an epoxy coating. This coating protects the floor from tire marks and any fluid that may fall from the trucks. It also leaves the firehouse with an aesthetically pleasing look. Both Grand Street and Washington Engine have had the epoxy coating applied already. This year, we are requesting funding to protect the floors at the Harmon Firehouse. This will be the final firehouse to receive the coating.

Funding is being requested to install heaters in the apparatus bay at the Washington Engine Firehouse. Currently, the Modine heaters do not keep with the fire department expectations. The new units will be properly sized to deliver an appropriate amount of heat, keeping the apparatus bay at a comfortable temperature.

During the latest elevator inspection at the Harmon Firehouse, it was discovered that the pistons operating the elevator must be repacked. This is an expensive process and outside the scope of work for our typical maintenance agreement. Additionally, the ice machines at the Grand Street Firehouse and Harmon Firehouse need to be replaced.

The Village currently owns a parcel of land on Brook Street near North Riverside Avenue that is informally used by residents in the area for parking. A plan has been developed to clear the area and create a formal paved parking area. This will approximately triple the number of off- street parking spaces available for residents in the area. We are requesting the use of existing funds to complete this project.

The Village has been working over the course of the last year with AKRF, an environmental planning firm, to develop a long-term solution for the tidal flooding that occurs in the train station parking lot. A resiliency study done during this fiscal year determined that a sea wall with a network of pumps would be the preferred solution. Funding is being sought to complete an engineering design of the concept, which would allow the Village to bid the project and seek funding for the construction phase of the project.

During the installation of the solar canopies at the train station parking lot, the contractor was asked to install roof gutters and downspouts to capture runoff created by the new structure. This system was connected to the existing underground drainage system where available. Unfortunately, we do not have an underground system in the area of Lot G. A proposal was requested from the contractor to extend the existing drainage to this area. The proposal submitted was well above what is considered a fair price. The contractor was given approval to connect to the existing underground system where available, but the decision was made that the remainder of the system would be extended using Village staff as well as private companies already under contract. While some underground work was performed by the Village in other areas, we are requesting the use of existing funds to complete the system needed for Lot G.

One of the main pieces of equipment used throughout the year is the rubber tire loader. The loader is used for snow removal in the train station parking lot, loading salt into each vehicle during a storm, post-storm snow removal in the Village, loading material into dump trucks for construction projects, loading leaves and yard debris into Westchester County trailers, spreading and leveling sand at Silver Lake, etc. While not seen every day by residents, the loader performs many essential “behind the scene” tasks for DPW. The life expectancy for this type of equipment is approximately 10-12 years. Our current loader was purchased in 2013 and is starting to show signs of age and should be replaced. Along with the loader, we have budgeted for a snow blower attachment. This will make snow cleanup more efficient throughout the Village. We will be able to direct snow into a truck without making the multiple maneuvers currently needed to remove snow from the roadways.

The Department of Public Works maintains 20 pickup trucks as part of the Village fleet. These are the primary work vehicles for the Department, and they assist with most of the daily operations. In addition to these tasks, the entire fleet is used for the Village’s snow removal process. They are the Department’s most used and relied upon vehicles. The life expectancy for these vehicles is approximately 10 years. This year, we are requesting funds to replace one pickup truck. This enables the Village to cycle the most worn out and unsafe vehicles out of the fleet.

The Department of Public Works maintains two medium duty trucks equipped with a “hook-n-go” hoist. This is a system installed on the back of the truck that allows for interchangeable truck bodies. This system allows for one truck to run many different bodies throughout the year, such as performing leaf removal, metal/electronics recycling, salting/snow removal, dump body (for standard construction projects), etc. Currently, we have two trucks; however, only one is equipped with a salt spreader and plow. We would like to purchase a second salt spreader and plow setup for the second truck in order to deploy it during winter storms. This truck has replaced one of our “lo-boys” in the fleet. The retired truck has a rusted body and frame and can no longer be placed into service. The replacement truck has been delivered; however, we did not have the funding to outfit the vehicle with a plow and spreader.

Funding has been requested from State Senator Peter Harckham to replace the Village’s senior bus, which is reaching its end of useful life. The new bus will be better equipped to transport seniors on local and regional trips, as well as to the Municipal Building for the weekly senior club meetings.

The Village has a total of 13 parks and recreation facilities, including heavily used parks such as Croton Landing and Senasqua Park. The requested funding would allow these parks and others to be outfitted with security cameras that can be monitored by the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department during emergencies and the footage reviewed by the detective division when necessary. The requested funding would also cover the cost of installing internet service where needed.

Throughout the past few years, we have been making security updates to sections of the Municipal Building. The next area to perform work on is the Engineering Department. As part of this work, the floor plan will be redesigned to provide a better work flow for staff and visiting residents. The existing bathroom will be repositioned in order to make more room within the office area. The front counter will also be moved in order to make access closer to the staircase. Work will be performed largely with DPW staff with exception to specific trades (electrician and plumber).

The current vehicle assigned to the Village Manager is aging out of service and in need of replacement. We are requesting funds to replace the vehicle. The existing vehicle will be repurposed for Police Department use.

Two large air conditioning units are in need of replacement at the DPW facility. The first unit, in the maintenance garage, was operational when the building was purchased, but stopped working shortly thereafter. The garage maintenance staff has been working without AC for several years. The second unit, which serves the main office area, is repaired every year. There are annual leaks and parts failures that must be addressed. We are requesting funding to replace both units in the building.

Three LifePak machines (one for each ambulance and one for the command vehicle) are being requested in this year’s capital budget. These machines, which take an automated blood pressure reading, oxygen level, pulse, temperature and capnography with one device, allow the EMT to safely provide care.

During the construction of the EMS addition at Harmon Firehouse, a plan was in place to apply an epoxy coating to the apparatus bay floor. However, project funding ran low and this portion was postponed. We are requesting funds to complete the epoxy coating on the apparatus floor. As with the firehouse floors, the epoxy will help protect the new concrete floor from tire damage and any fluid leaks that may occur throughout the years.

As was done previously for the train station parking lot, funding is being requested for a shoreline resiliency study for Senasqua Park. The study will develop potential options for the Village to consider to stabilize the existing shoreline and prevent further erosion from the Hudson River.