Documents › Board Of Trustees, 2025-09-24

minutes 21 pages

Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in the Georgianna Grant Meeting Room at the Stanley Kellerhouse Municipal Building, Van Wyck Street, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520. 1. Mayor Pugh called the meeting to order at 7:45pm and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustee Simon made a motion to approve the following Fiscal Year Vouchers, Claims numbered 26001833-26002145. The Motion was seconded by Trustee Nicholson and approved with a 4-0 Vote. (Trustee Politi was not present at the time of the vote). $553,361.54 Water Fund $33,024.26 Sewer Fund $56,648.64 Capital Fund $341,730.85 Trust Fund $15,894.00 3. Presentation of Key to the Village, to Village Engineer Daniel O'Connor in recognition of his many years of service to Croton-on-Hudson 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS Motion to open a Public Hearing on the 2025 Complete Streets Grant Application for Westchester County was made by Trustee Simon. Motion was seconded by Trustee Nicholson and approved with a 4-0 vote. (Trustee Politi was not present at the time of the vote) Village Manager Healy advised that a letter of support was received from the New York State Department of Transportation. There being no comments to come before the Board, a motion to close the Public Hearing was made by Trustee Simon. Motion was seconded by Trustee Mayor Pugh Trustee Simon Village Manager Bryan Healy Trustee Nicholson Village Attorney Joshua Subin Trustee Politi Village Treasurer Genette Toone Trustee Slippen Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 Nicholson and approved with a 4-0 vote. (Trustee Politi was not present at the time of the vote). Resolution 210-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 4-0 vote. (Trustee Politi was not present at the time of the vote). WHEREAS, to increase non-motorized accessibility available for use by its residents, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson is looking to install sidewalk infrastructure along the east side of South Riverside Avenue between Municipal Place and Maple Street, and on the north side of Municipal Place between Maple Street and South Riverside Avenue, to promote walkability, reduce car reliance, enhance connectivity to the various businesses and amenities in the area, and foster healthier mobility options; and WHEREAS, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson is seeking funding under the “Westchester County Department of Planning Complete Streets Municipal Assistance Program”; and WHEREAS, the cost estimate for the construction of the project is $643,170, and the cost estimate for the design and engineering is $64,317, for a total project cost of $707,487; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton- on-Hudson hereby authorizes the Village Manager to take all necessary action to submit an application for $385,902 for the Westchester County Department of Planning Complete Streets Municipal Assistance Program, for financing the construction and design of this sidewalk infrastructure initiative, and, upon the funding of said amount, commits to provide the match of $321,585, 50% of the estimated cost of construction; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson hereby affirms its commitment to work cooperatively with the County and other municipalities within the area of the proposed project. Trustee Simon stated that safety and connectivity is part of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and thanked the members of the Committee for all their hard work and Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 looks forward to working with Westchester County to try get these funds and bring these improvements to the Village. Motion to open a Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 12 of 2025 to amend Chapter 208, Trees, of the Village Code to clarify provisions related to the Tree Preservation Fund, was made by Trustee Simon. Motion was seconded by Trustee Nicholson and approved with a 4-0 vote. (Trustee Politi was not present at the time of the vote) Ed Riely, 110 Truesdale Drive, Croton on Hudson, asked what the fees are for, and emphasized that the Building Inspector should be called if a tree is on the boundary and could be a problem for a neighbor. There being no comments to come before the Board, a motion to close the Public Hearing was made by Trustee Simon. Motion was seconded by Trustee Nicholson and approved with a 5-0 vote. Village Manager Healy explained that the fees that are referenced in the Code (208-24) is for the Tree Removal Permit and those fees would go into a “Tree Preservation Fund” up to an annual amount of $5,000 and then anything in excess of the $5,000 would be credited to the General Fund. Resolution 211-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees recently adopted Local Law 10 of 2025 to replace Chapter 208, Trees, of the Village Code; and WHEREAS, as part of this new legislation, a Tree Preservation Fund was established; and WHEREAS, the Village Board provided additional guidance at the work session held on July 23, 2025, regarding the implementation of this fund; and WHEREAS, Local Law Introductory No. 12 of 2025 has been drafted to reflect these conversations; and Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 WHEREAS, a Public Hearing was opened and closed on September 10, 2025, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby adopts Local Law Introductory No. 12 of 2025 to amend Chapter 208, Trees, to reflect clarifications to the Tree Preservation Fund, which upon adoption becomes Local Law No. 15 of 2025. Trustee Nicholson stated that Westchester County will be responsible for replacing trees they remove in conjunction with the Quaker Bridge project. 5. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY EMAIL - None. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS - AGENDA ITEMS The following people spoke in support of amending the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism. To hear the comments in their entirety you may click on the following. https://play.champds.com/crotononhudsonny/event/1082 (section 00.18.37) Nora Regis Odland, Croton on Hudson, encouraged the Board to adopt the clarifying language with respect to the approved IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, she additionally stated that she is excited about the potential new sidewalks. Andrew Courtney, Mountain Trail, Croton on Hudson stated that he is concerned that the approved IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism may cause more harm. Ed Riely, 110 Truesdale Drive, Croton on Hudson, stated that he is concerned for the safety of individuals because of their political affiliations, thanked Dan O’Connor for his many years of Service, he has been a credit to our Village and a fine Professional Engineer during many difficult times. Mr. Riley stated that he believes the Village’s Sign Ordinance is unconstitutional and referred to the letter the Village received from the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, objects to re-naming Village streets for those that have served Croton, we should find other ways to memorialize them, does not believe the Village should be creating a special fund to relieve neighbors who cannot pay their rent. September 10, 2025 Orit Daly, Mount Airy Road South, Croton on Hudson, thanked the Board for accepting and passing the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, we should not be concerning ourselves with legislating issues more than two continents away and addressed her personal incidents and experiences she has had with antisemitism. Benjamin Faber, Croton on Hudson, stated that he does not support the adopted IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, and believes that anti-Israel sentiment is not the same as antisemitism. Cheryl Wong, Longview Road, Croton on Hudson, read a statement from Heather Bishop where she states she does not support the current IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, and supports the addendum. Mr. Jamal, Albany Post Road, Croton on Hudson, spoke about his struggles as a Muslim attending Croton schools and asked the Board to reconsider the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism. Elisa Silvergrade, Half Moon Bay, Croton on Hudson, encouraged the Board to adopt the amended IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism that states that speaking out against Israel is not antisemitic. Mr. Jamal, Albany Post Road, Croton on Hudson, stated that she feels threatened with the current IRHA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism and encouraged the Board to adopt the revised definition. Sherry Horowitz, Maple Street, Croton on Hudson, concerned that the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism shuts down dialogue and encourages the Board to adopt the revised definition. Danny Ferguson, Alexander Lane, Croton on Hudson, read a letter written by Cheryl Wong supporting the updated IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism. Unidentified speaker encouraged the Board to support the updated IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism because it is not antisemitic and wants peace for everyone. September 10, 2025 7. CONSENT AGENDA: On Motion by Trustee Simon and seconded by Trustee Nicholson the Board approved the Consent Agenda. Motion was approved with a 5-0 Vote. Trustee Nicholson made a motion to remove item #8 (under Correspondence) for further discussion. Motion was seconded by Trustee Politi and approved with a 5-0 vote. Trustee Politi thanked everyone for speaking this evening, she believes that the current adoption of the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism has divided us and adding this additional language will make Croton a safer place. Trustee Nicholson stated that she voted against the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism because Croton already has a statement against discrimination, and does not believe another statement is going to heal us. Trustee Simon, Trustee Slippen and Mayor Pugh thanked everyone for coming out this evening to speak on the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism. Trustee Simon, Trustee Slippen and Mayor Pugh stated that they support the current definition and are not inclined to change it at this time, but agreed to have a discussion at a future Work Session. The Board thanked the IDEA Committee for their signage recommendations for Silver Lake Accessibility and looks forward to these being addressed during staff orientation next year. 1. Email from Geraldine Disalvo of AAA Northeast announcing the Village's Gold Award in the 2025 Community Traffic Safety Award Program and School Crossing Guard Lawrence Tramaglini as receiving the Traffic Safety Hero Award. 09/4280e845635799a4818bed3edcc19a08a77f19b7.pdf 2. Email from John Delaney, Fire Council Secretary, regarding membership changes in the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2025- 09/fae995f926a0c7911e078b5bc7e9d5fc73bb7c90.pdf 3. Memo from the Croton IDEA Advisory Committee regarding signage recommendation for Silver Lake Accessibility. 09/909c1cb9d24aa13da4b4ced7c3929373308be55d.pdf 4. Memo from Village Manager Bryan Healy requesting approval for Croton Caring to hold a mahjong fundraiser at the Municipal Building. 09/9cc8ccb8afd1f78ff27a993f545a408e86ad72a4.pdf 5. Letter from Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, regarding enforcement of a municipal ordinance on signage https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2025- 09/7ee287ab272898e6f09a35294caf831e1c0e2539.pdf 6. Letter from NYS Department of State requesting a consistency review for bridge cleaning, washing, and deck sealing, including the US-9 bridges in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson. 09/6842fe7d7305925f55d8fe3dc1753c551de26ee7.pdf 7. Letter from Richard Wetherbee, President of Croton Little League, donating five automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to the Village for use at the playing field. 09/35d5d738964d35f0561668f4d8d5150029230008.pdf 8. Letter from various Croton-on-Hudson and Croton-Harmon School District residents regarding the recent adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. 09/afe697a3c82bc4c3409533c17feeca50b7b11362.pdf Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 b. RESOLUTIONS: Resolution #212-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village would like to adopt a Naming Policy to regulate and govern the naming of Village facilities and streets; and WHEREAS, a draft policy was reviewed by the Village Board of Trustees during work sessions held in June and August 2025, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby adopts the Naming Policy for the Village of Croton-on-Hudson as attached hereto; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that such policy shall be deemed in effect immediately. Village Manager Healy advised that we currently have two streets in the Village with honorary names. Resolution #213-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village would like to adopt a Gift and Donation Policy to regulate and govern the acceptance of donations by the Village; and WHEREAS, these donations would include small-scale public enhancements such as benches, trees, planters and other items subject to the approval of the Village Manager; and WHEREAS, a draft policy was reviewed by the Village Board of Trustees during a work session held in August 2025, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby adopts the Gift and Donation Policy for the Village of Croton-on-Hudson as attached hereto; and Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that such policy shall be deemed in effect immediately. Resolution #214-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Municipal Home Rule Law of New York State governs the processes whereby the Village adopts local legislation; and WHEREAS, Section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law allows for proposed local laws to be delivered to board members electronically under certain conditions; and WHEREAS, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson meets these conditions and the Village Board wishes to continue to receive local laws in electronic format, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the electronic delivery of local laws in portable document format (PDF). Resolution #215-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village maintains a motorboat at the Senasqua Boat Basin which the harbormaster uses during the season; and WHEREAS, the boat motor has recently stopped working and must be replaced; and WHEREAS, the full cost of this replacement was not included in the 2025-2026 General Fund budget, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: the Village Treasurer is hereby authorized to make the following budget transfer in the 2025-2026 General Fund budget: GENERAL FUND EXPENSES Increase: A7180.4700 Special Rec Facilities - Equip. Repairs $5,490 Decrease: September 10, 2025 A1990.4000 Contingency – Contractual - $5,490 Resolution #216-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village budgets for annual debt payments through an annual schedule received from its financial advisor; and WHEREAS, the schedule received for the 2025-2026 fiscal year did not account for a higher bond anticipation note (BAN) payment needed for a police vehicle; and WHEREAS, the additional payment needed amounts to $9,000, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: the Village Treasurer is hereby authorized to make the following budget transfer in the 2025-2026 General Fund budget: GENERAL FUND EXPENSES Increase: A9730.6000 BAN – Principal $9,000 Decrease: Contingency - Contractual $9,000 Resolution #217-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village purchased a recycling dump truck as part of the 2024-2025 capital budget; and WHEREAS, the Village has received $162,150 in grant funds from the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) towards this purchase; and WHEREAS, the capital account requires an additional $3,964.25 to fully fund the purchase, Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: the Village Treasurer is hereby authorized to make the following budget transfer from the General Fund unallocated fund balance: CAPITAL FUND REVENUES Increase: H1000.5031.25486 General Fund Transfer – Large Truck $3,964.25 Resolution #218-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON and seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on- Hudson, New York, with a 5-0- vote. WHEREAS, the Government Accounting Standards Board establishes a number of generally accepted accounting principles which state and local governments must adhere to; and WHEREAS one such standard, GASB 34, includes a requirement that local governments periodically conduct an inventory of physical assets, and WHEREAS the Village Treasurer has received a proposal from Kroll LLC of Morristown, New Jersey, for consulting services related to GASB 34 for the compiling of a fixed asset accounting ledger for a total cost of $2,200, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the Village Manager to accept the proposal from Kroll LLC in the amount of $2,200 for the aforementioned consulting services for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Resolution #219-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON and seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on- Hudson, New York, with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, New Cingular Wireless PCS has submitted a building permit application for their wireless facility to be co-located at the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building; and WHEREAS, Daniel O’Connor, Village Engineer, desires assistance with review of these specialized plans, in accordance with Section 86-7(E) of the Village Code; and Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 WHEREAS, LaBella Associates, D.P.C., of White Plains, New York, has submitted a proposal and agreement for their on-call building code review services for this project, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the Village Manager to execute the agreement with LaBella Associates, D.P.C., for services related to the review of the building permit application for New Cingular Wireless PCS; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the applicant is directed to deposit an initial escrow amount of $3,000 with the Village to fund these services. Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on August 20, 2025, was made by Trustee Simon. The motion was seconded by Trustee and approved with a 5-0 vote. Motion to approve the minutes of the Executive Session held on August 27, 2025, was made by Trustee Simon. The motion was seconded by Trustee Nicholson and approved with a 5-0 vote. 8. PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS: Resolution #220-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, flooding issues along Brook Street have existed for many years in the Village; and WHEREAS, in 2023, the Village Board of Trustees adopted Resolution 142-2023 to accept a proposal from D&B Engineers to conduct an updated drainage study along the Brook Street drainage basin; and WHEREAS, the study has been completed and a preferred alternate has been selected to improve drainage along Brook Street and Terrace Place; and WHEREAS, the Village has applied for funding for this project from Westchester County; and Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 WHEREAS, the Village has completed Part 1 of a Short Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and a Coastal Assessment Form (CAF), NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: -The Village Board hereby determines that the Proposed Action is an Unlisted Action. -The Village Board hereby declares itself to be the Lead Agency for SEQRA purposes in connection with the Proposed Action. -The Village Board hereby issues the EAF and CAF which it has before it in connection with the Proposed Action. -The Village Board hereby refers the Draft Law, the EAF and the CAF to the Village Waterfront Advisory Committee for a recommendation back to the Village Board in accordance with Village Law. -The Village Board hereby directs Village staff to make any other circulations and notifications regarding the Proposed Action as may be required by law. Resolution #221-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the purchase of a command vehicle for use by Croton EMS was included in the 2025-2026 capital plan; and WHEREAS, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson solicited sealed bids for this purchase under Bid No. 13-2025; and WHEREAS, one bid was submitted by the deadline of August 21, 2025; and WHEREAS, the lowest responsible bid received was from Signal 5 Fire Apparatus, of Ronkonkoma, New York, in the amount of $45,000; and WHEREAS, DPW has inspected the vehicle and found it to be in satisfactory condition, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Manager is hereby authorized to award Bid No. 13-2025 to Signal 5 Fire Apparatus, of Ronkonkoma, New York, in the amount of $45,000; and Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that funding for this project has been allocated in capital account H4540.2010.23447. Resolution #222-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson has been working with Arevon (formerly known as Sol Systems) on the installation of solar canopies at the Croton-Harmon Train Station parking lot; and WHEREAS, on February 17, 2021, the Village Board of Trustees approved a lease agreement with Sol Systems for this project; and WHEREAS, Arevon has provided an amendment to the existing lease agreement to address temporary easements related to construction, extend the operating period of the project to November 30, 2050, and decommissioning of the project and to finalize the incentive amounts received for the project, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Manager is hereby authorized to execute an amendment to the lease agreement with SCS Van Wyck 012823 Croton on Hudson, LLC, to address temporary easements related to construction and decommission of the project, extend the operating period of the project to November 30, 2050, and to finalize the incentive amount received for the project, subject to the final approval of the Village Attorney. Resolution #223-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE NICHOLSON, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village’s Slow Down Croton campaign first began in 2017; and WHEREAS, Tom Smith, a Village resident and former member of the Advisory Board for the Visual Environment, designed the name and logo for the campaign; and WHEREAS, an agreement has been drafted to reflect future use of the campaign, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the Village Manager to execute the agreement with Tom Smith. September 10, 2025 DISCUSSION: Trustee Slippen stated that she is grateful to Tom for producing this concept and that he has allowed the Village to use it and would like to see it continued and be prominently displayed. Trustee Simon stated that this is the third iteration and thanked Tom for the generosity of his time and creativity. Resolution #224-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE POLITI, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, the Village and Westchester County own adjoining properties along Grand Street, namely the Village Well Fields and Croton Gorge Park; and WHEREAS, on August 20, 2025, the Village Board approved Resolution 208-2025 to authorize the Village Manager to execute a license agreement in order to run electrical service lines to the caretaker’s cottage in the park; and WHEREAS, Westchester County has now provided the permanent easement documentation for this area, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Manager is hereby authorized to execute the easement agreement with Westchester County for the purpose of running a new electrical service to the caretaker’s cottage at Croton Gorge Park. Resolution #225-2025 On motion of TRUSTEE SIMON, seconded by TRUSTEE POLITI, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York with a 5-0 vote. WHEREAS, Daniel O’Connor, Village Engineer, is retiring from the Village on September 26, 2025; and WHEREAS, in recognition of his unique institutional knowledge and taking into consideration the needs of the Engineering Department, the Village Board of Trustees would like to retain Mr. O’Connor as a consultant; and Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 WHEREAS, a consulting agreement has been drafted by the Village’s labor counsel for the period beginning October 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the Village Manager to execute the consulting agreement with Daniel O’Connor, P.E. 9. PUBLIC COMMENT – NON-AGENDA ITEMS: Karl Dibble, River Rock Supply Corporation asked the Village to release his Bond; it is a hardship for his family for the Village to continue to hold onto his money, he also submitted a Freedom of Information Request for emails and paperwork related to the Bond and asked why pages were missing and why some information was redacted. Village Attorney Joshua Subin advised that a Notice of Claim has been filed against the Village and asked the Board not to comment this evening. Mr. Subin stated that he has consistently been in contact with the attorney, and will be happy to speak with both Mr. Dribble and his attorney. Mr. Subin stated that he has also addressed the Freedom of Information Request with the attorney. Ed Riely, 110 Truesdale Drive, Croton on Hudson, addressed abortion issues, attended one of the IDEA Committee meetings and was surprised that they could not understand why we celebrate various holidays. 10. REPORTS: Statement from Village Attorney Subin The Unites States Supreme Court has inscribed upon it the words “Equal Justice Under Law” and “Justice, The Guardian of Liberty.” When you dedicate your life to a profession, you should take those words seriously, and I try my best to do so. Herein, the Village has baselessly been accused of politically targeting a person. As Village Attorney I want to make something very clear, we were not instructed to politically target anyone, by anyone. No Board of Trustees member asked us to do so. And if asked, we would not do it. Furthermore, it was conveyed to the individual in question, through counsel, that a flag would not have been deemed a violation by the Village. So, I wonder how was the content of the banner being targeted in any way? Needless to Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 say, this board of trustees is made up of volunteers. This is not their day job. They dedicate their time to serving their community. They spend selfless nights working to make sure services are provided to you and your neighbors. And I believe they should be entitled to your respect and basic appreciation, regardless of any pollical or policy disagreement. Now, many of you know, The Village of Croton-on-Hudson has withdrawn the violation herein. And I want to make it clear that this matter was not addressed on the merits. It never made its way to Court. And, I am not trying to litigate the merits of this matter in the Court of public opinion. However, I want to say, this violation was routine. Village code enforcement identified 17 non-compliant locations. Our code enforcement team reached out and tried to work with each property owner to seek voluntary compliance, successfully resolving the same. Village staff have been falsely accused of engaging in a politically motivated enforcement action. I have worked with Village staff both here and in many other villages. These are some of the most dedicated people you can meet. If you remember from a few years ago, during COVID, these are the same people we deemed essential. They pick up your garbage and they make sure your house is not a death trap. They do not deserve abusive derisive messages of hate and threats of violence! These threats should be, and are under investigation by law enforcement. Regarding the US Department of Justice correspondence, in my opinion, it should not have been written without having first obtained relevant facts. Furthermore, threats of civil action against local governments was also, in my opinion, uncalled for. Our village government is not able to contend with continuous anonymous abuse of staff, threats to personnel and a federal intervention regarding a minor citation for a non-safety related provision of the Village Code. Given these circumstances, the Village must prioritize the safety of its personnel and the conservation of taxpayer resources. Therefore, we be working with the Village Manager to make related code amendments, so that we can uphold the spirit of fair and consistent code enforcement, with an enduring belief in equal justice under law! September 10, 2025 Trustee Slippen stated that the Library Board is pleased that the Village is taking over the Information Kiosk, the Arts and Humanities Committee continues to talk about expanding their Artist Banner program, a Drum Circle at Senasqua Park will be held next Tuesday at 6pm, a meeting about Kaplan Pond will be held on Monday at 7:00pm at Village Hall, attended the School District’s ribbon cutting at Spencer Field, congratulated Gabrielle Stok on becoming a National Merit finalist. Trustee Slippen stated that the letter regarding the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism was a late entry on this evening’s agenda, and would like to better understand of the rules about sending out revised agendas. Trustee Slippen stated that she does not know how many people in the community were aware that the letter was going to be on the agenda and it is important that we make sure everyone in the community is aware when something as important as this is placed on the agenda. Trustee Slippen stated that she is saddened by all the violence taking place in our country. Trustee Politi stated that the IDEA committee will be having a screening of the Arrivals on November 8th at the Unitarian Church, and she is saddened that some people in the Village took away her safety and we need to do a better job of supporting each other. Trustee Nicholson advised that the Recreation Advisory Committee met this past Monday and talked about their successes over the summer, the Lorriane Hansberry Committee will be holding a two-day celebration at the Croton Library on October 4th and 5th. Trustee Nicholson stated that serving as a Village Trustee is an honor and a privilege, and would not have imagined that a local Code Enforcement decision could end up on the President’s desk, and while she will not comment on the merits of this case, she believes that the American justice system should be allowed to function as it was intended with each side making its arguments in a court of law, social media amplified the story and within days this dispute was on the radar of the Department of Justice and public officials and staff were receiving death threats, we are simply trying to do our jobs and this climate makes her question whether or not she should be continuing in public service, but she also recognizes that this atmosphere is exactly what some hoped for, to silence officials, weaken trust in the rule of law and make communities afraid to enforce their own codes, sadly this is where we are in 2025 but we all need to do better. Trustee Simon advised that prior to the meeting the Board was at Spencer Field for a ribbon cutting ceremony for Spencer Field, thanked the Lions Club Village Board of Trustees September 10, 2025 for hosting the BBQ at Senasqua on August 21st, this past Sunday he attended the Sustainability Committee meeting where they talked about expansion of our composting program, a renewable diesel program, the possibility of installing solar panels in the DPW parking lot, and possible non-Federal funding that may be available in 2026, on Monday morning he and Trustee Politi met with our Association of Businesses in Croton, he, along with the Mayor, Police Chief Nikitopoulos and Matthew Schuerman met with Channel 12 to talk about our rapid flashing beacon and new sidewalks, Governor Hochul announced a new round of New York Forward grants, and on September 21st the HEART Committee will be honoring Cornelia Cotton from 3-4 at Village Hall. Village Attorney Subin addressed a question related to waivers and affordable housing (Section 230-48c of the Village Code) as follows: Waivers for creation of additional fair and affordable housing. If a site plan or subdivision applicant wishes to voluntarily provide more AFFH units than are required by Subsection B, the Village Board shall have the authority, but not the obligation, to waive such zoning and other land use regulations as it deems appropriate to allow additional dwelling unit(s) to be constructed, beyond the number which would otherwise be permitted under the Village's Zoning Code and other land use regulations if all of their requirements were adhered to. In order to qualify to be considered for this waiver, an applicant must demonstrate that, without the waiver, the inclusion of the additional AFFH unit(s) would impose a financial burden that would prevent the applicant from realizing a reasonable economic return on its development. Mayor Pugh expressed his appreciation for all Village staff; it is really absurd that a routine matter resulted in death threats against our staff and Federal intervention. On motion by Trustee Simon and seconded by Trustee Politi the Board of Trustees approved the Mayor’s appointment of Sherry Horowitz and Valerie Leis as co-chairs of the Arts and Humanities Council. Motion was approved with a 5-0 vote. Mayor Pugh stated that Ken Sargeant was instrumental in creating the Croton Arts Council, he has made a lasting imprint on Croton and believes he has many more contributions to make in the future, advised that the Conservation Advisory Council met last night and gave an update on the fantastic work that the Garen Club is doing at Gotwald Circle, as well as the progress of the Trails Committee; and thanked the Croton Yacht Club for a great Hudson River Day. September 10, 2025 Village Manager Healy gave an overview of how Village government functions: I wanted to take this opportunity to briefly share how the Village Government in Croton-on-Hudson functions on a day-to-day basis. The Village operates under the council-manager form of government, in which the elected Board of Trustees hires a professional manager to conduct the day-to-day operations of the Village. This form of government was adopted by referendum in the Village in 1971, and is the most popular form of government in the United States in communities with populations of 5,000 or more. Since 1971, the Village has had five managers, serving an average tenure of almost 11 years. The Village Manager is a non-partisan, appointed position. The Manager is responsible, among other duties, for administering local projects, preparing the annual budget, the recruitment, retention and dismissal of most employees, and labor negotiations with the two unions representing employees. The Manager is required to keep the Village Board advised on the fiscal affairs of the Village as well as on future needs, whether that be infrastructure, equipment or staffing. The Manager is also authorized to declare a state of emergency in the Village when conditions warrant and issue emergency orders, as necessary. The Village Manager is the chief executive officer of the Village and the Mayor is the chief elected officer of the Village. The Village Manager and Mayor work together closely to set board meeting and work session agendas and ensure that the policy decisions made by the Village Board are implemented by the administrative staff. The Mayor presides at all Village Board meetings and work sessions and is typically the spokesperson for the Village. The Mayor works with the Village Board to set the community’s goals and make policy decisions. The Mayor is also responsible for appointing residents to the various boards, committees and councils of the Village with the consent of the Village Board. Members of the Village Board jointly approve the annual budget for the Village and local laws prepared at their direction. The Village Board can conduct public hearings to hear from residents on proposed legislation, special permit uses, and other topics permitted under state and local law. The Mayor assigns individual Trustees, as board members are known, to serve as liaisons to various committees and community groups, where they also focus on community goals, projects, and long-range planning. September 10, 2025 Mayor Pugh stated that he is grateful for the Manager’s Service to the community and to all the Managers in the past. There being no further comments to come before the Board, a motion to close the meeting was made by Trustee Simon. The motion was seconded by Trustee Nicholson and approved with a 5-0 vote. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30pm.