Board Approves Verizon Cable Franchise for 72% of Village Households, Adopts Budget Below Tax Cap

The Croton Board of Trustees unanimously approved a five-year cable franchise agreement with Verizon New York Inc. on April 22, opening the door for Fios TV service to approximately 72% of village households.

The agreement covers 3,545 of the 4,958 addresses in Verizon's system in Croton, according to Pamela Goldstein, who represented Verizon at the meeting. Service could begin roughly 30 days after the New York State Public Service Commission issues its certificate of confirmation, a process Goldstein estimated could take one to two months. "The only thing standing in the way of 72% of the households in the village getting Fios TV is your vote tonight," Goldstein told the board. Village Manager Bryan Healy said the village had pursued a Verizon franchise for years, since FiOS first became available, but the company had declined for business reasons. The Cohen Law Group, which also handled the village's Altice/Optimum franchise renewal last year, negotiated the Verizon agreement. Unlike the 10-year Altice deal, the Verizon franchise runs for five years. Trustee Stacey Nachtaler asked whether Verizon would need to lay new lines. Goldstein said the agreement covers areas Verizon has already built out — essentially flipping a switch. Healy added that Verizon has been expanding its footprint, running fiber on Georgia Lane last year and planning work on Beekman Avenue this year, though those areas are not covered under the franchise. Trustee Len Simon asked how Verizon would notify residents once service is available. Goldstein said the company would likely conduct an advertising campaign in the village. The board held a public hearing before the vote. Gary Eisinger of 10 Cleveland Drive spoke in favor, saying he has been largely satisfied with Verizon service but urged the village to address throttling issues. Shem Dibori of 45 Brook Street, a Verizon customer since 1999, asked for clarification that the agreement covers only TV service, not internet or wireless — confirming that cellular service issues are separate from the cable franchise. The vote was 5-0, with Trustees Simon, Nora Nicholson, Nachtaler, and Maria Slippen joining Mayor Brian Pugh in favor. The franchise takes effect upon PSC certification. Budget adopted below tax cap The board adopted a $26,294,900 budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1, with a 2.25% tax levy increase that stays under the state tax cap. The total tax levy will be approximately $14,005,082. Healy said the budget was difficult to assemble, citing pressures from rising pension costs, health insurance, and potential international disruptions. The village increased its contingency fund significantly as a buffer. Despite those pressures, the budget includes several new investments driven by a community budget priority survey: double the typical paving budget, the new South Riverside sidewalk, Farrington Avenue steps, and a Brook Street drainage project. The budget also funds two major public safety investments. Nicholson highlighted a $666,000 digital radio system for the police department as a mandatory upgrade, along with $76,000 for body cameras — partially covered by a grant — with ongoing costs of roughly $80,000 per year in subsequent years once the grant period ends. She estimated the total annual cost for body cameras, including police staff time, at approximately $100,000. "These are two really significant investments in public safety," Nicholson said. Trustee Slippen raised concerns about the body camera contract, saying the board entered into it before fully understanding the staffing implications. She urged the village to assess whether it can properly implement the program before the contract's withdrawal deadline, and suggested the upcoming police study could inform that decision. Healy said the department does not anticipate needing additional staff, citing research into similar-sized departments that have used body cameras for three to eight years without significant staffing increases. He noted that body cameras are not expected to launch until October, by which time the police study should be complete. Pugh praised the budget process and expressed hope that the larger-than-usual contingency fund would be sufficient for unforeseen expenses. Sound art for Croton Landing The board accepted a donated sound art installation called "Harmonic Landing" for Croton Landing Park at no cost to the village, with installation costs capped at $5,000. Bruce Odland of 79 Old Post Road, who created the piece with collaborator Sam Auinger, described it as an installation that captures ambient sound from the highway and trains, converts it into real-time harmony, and plays it through two concrete speaker cubes. The piece was previously installed at MASS MoCA in North Adams for nearly 30 years before being decommissioned due to highway reconstruction.

Odland said his wife, Sally, suggested bringing it to Croton Landing. "When you're at Croton Landing, it's incredibly beautiful, but it doesn't sound great," he said. "It's a highway and trains." The installation has been reviewed by the Recreation Advisory Committee and the Arts and Humanities Committee, both of which endorsed it. Slippen said the installation cost would be approximately $3,600, with a $5,000 cap to account for unforeseen expenses after the equipment is removed from North Adams. Simon called it a welcome addition to the village's public art. "These things are not only things of beauty, but also an investment in your community," he said. Other business The board authorized WSP Inc. to conduct water monitoring for Hudson National Golf Club at a cost of $5,500, paid entirely by the golf club. The previous monitoring firm closed in 2025 after 30 years. Len Simon noted he had observed the previous firm wrapping up its work during his time on the Planning Board. Trustees voted to write off $20,590.27 in unpaid property taxes on two underwater parcels in the Hudson River. The village and town of Cortlandt reduced the assessed value of the parcels to zero in 2023, and the corporation that owned them has been inactive since approximately 2012, according to Healy. Healy said the village attorney's research confirmed the corporation appears to no longer be operating. The board adopted formal guidelines for all advisory boards and committees, a project two years in the making led by Slippen and Nicholson. The guidelines standardize procedures for agenda publication, meeting frequency, and membership across the village's volunteer bodies. Statutory boards — the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals — are not covered by the guidelines, as they are governed by state law and separate sections of village code. The Water Advisory Committee is also exempt because its members are drawn from other boards by design. Slippen said the guidelines were developed collaboratively with committee chairs and are intended to provide structure, not create obstacles. Nicholson noted that all committees will now be required to publish agendas regularly, improving transparency. Pugh said the guidelines will evolve as the village gains experience with them. $28,000 was appropriated for replacement water meters. Gouveia Park work paused for bald eagles In his manager's report, Healy said that DPW had been clearing brush and preparing the Gouveia Park site for work when crews discovered a bald eagle's nest in one of the trees. All work was halted immediately, and the village is consulting with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to determine the appropriate course of action. Healy said the village will wait for guidance on whether a permit is needed or whether work should be postponed until the nest is no longer active. Healy also reported that Dobbs Park construction is progressing well, with new playground equipment installed and an estimated three weeks until completion. The village plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony when the park reopens. Con Edison began gas main replacement work on Old Post Road North this week, from Prospect Place to Van Wyck Street, a project expected to take several months. The utility will also replace gas mains on Brook Street in coordination with the village's storm drainage project, and conduct underground electrical work in Scenic Ridge along Amber Drive and Oriole Lane. The village's Arbor Day ceremony was scheduled for April 24, with three tree plantings on Grand Street and Old Post Road South. DPW also completed a beautification project on Penfield Avenue, adding trees and decorative boulders at the intersection of Arlington and Cleveland, according to Healy. Public comments Dave Lowell of Farrington Road, speaking on Earth Day, read extensively from the village's own website about the health and environmental impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers, urging the board to act on a ban. Trustee Slippen responded that the Conservation Advisory Council plans to take up the leaf blower question after Earth Day and bring a recommendation back to the board. Pugh said the village will have additional data points in coming weeks, including the state legislature's passage of a rebate program for electric landscaping equipment and the village's own landscaping contract bidding process, which Healy said would be released the following week. Ed Riley of Truesdale Drive criticized the agenda display quality, the handling of remote public questions, and the cannabis dispensary approval process, calling it secretive and arguing it damaged the board's credibility. Nicholson pushed back on the criticism of the cannabis process, saying the board has a responsibility as board members to protect the village from litigation and cannot always share all details publicly. Village Attorney Joshua Subin said extensive due diligence went into the application, with more concessions from the applicant than is typical in retail proceedings, and that the village is bound by state law regardless of local preferences.

Trustee Simon thanked the Planning Board, chaired by Rob Luntz, for its work reviewing the cannabis application at 370 South Riverside, calling the process fair, considerate, and thorough. The board appointed Kedra Flaherty to the Arts and Humanities Committee and named Kyla Black as vice chair of the IDEAS Committee.