Croton Trustees Honor Volunteer EMS, Adopt Tax Cap Override

Key Actions & Decisions

• ◆ **Resolutions Passed**: None. No formal resolutions were introduced or voted on during this meeting.
• ◆ **Resolutions Failed**: None.
• ◆ **Applications Reviewed**: None. No Planning Board or ZBA applications were discussed.
• ◆ **Public Comments**: None. No public comment period was held as the meeting consisted solely of an executive session.
• ◆ **Reports**: None. No official reports were presented during this session.
• ◆ **Resolutions Passed** (19 total, all 5-0):
• ◆ **#11-2026**: Adopted Local Law No. 2 of 2026 authorizing property tax cap override if necessary (formality).
• ◆ **#12-2026**: Adopted Local Law No. 3 of 2026 creating Village Auditor position; appointed Village Manager Bryan Healy (no additional compensation).
• ◆ **#14-2026**: Accepted resignation of Daron Weber from ZBA; accepted Vincent Flynn's move to Active Member at Washington Engine Company; filed memos on red-light cameras and National Police Week.
• ◆ **#15-2026**: Set boarder/roomer permit fee at $250 under the 2025-2026 Master Fee Schedule.
• ◆ **#16-2026**: Initiated SEQRA review for Local Law Intro. No. 3 of 2026 (zoning code inconsistencies, definitions, fowl limits); referred to Planning Board and Waterfront Advisory Committee.
• ◆ **#17-2026**: Scheduled public hearing for February 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM on Local Law Intro. No. 4 of 2026 to enact a 3% occupancy tax on hotel/motel rooms and short-term rentals.
• ◆ **#18-2026**: Authorized tax lien sale for $131,414.25 in unpaid taxes; set sale date for March 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM at 1 Van Wyck Street. Largest delinquent parcel: Hudson Valley Hospital Center ($32,861.15).
• ◆ **#19-2026**: Accepted $5,415 proposal from Quality Environmental Solutions & Technologies Inc. (Wappingers Falls) for asbestos and lead paint testing at Gouveia Park house; funded from Gouveia Park Endowment.
• ◆ **#20-2026**: Accepted $23,500 not-to-exceed proposal from Imbiano-Quigley Landscape Architects (White Plains) for Gouveia Park site development plan; funded from Gouveia Park Endowment.
• ◆ **#21-2026**: Amended General Fund budget by $76,583.57 for police overtime reimbursement from Historic Hudson Valley ($66,795.36) and NYS ($9,788.21).
• ◆ **#22-2026**: Transferred $15,000 from Contingency to Manager-Contractual for Nelson Pope Voorhis planning consultant/grant writer services.
• ◆ **#23-2026**: Transferred $15,166 from Water Contingency to Distribution–Equipment for hydrant meter, leak kit, and hydrant flow test kit.
• ◆ **#24-2026**: Transferred $2,000 from Engineer–Personnel to Engineer–Contractual for Cornell Cooperative Extension tree steward certification training for two Engineering Department employees.
• ◆ **#25-2026**: Accepted $10,710 proposal from Cohen Law Group (Pittsburgh, PA) for Verizon cable franchise negotiations; funded from Contingency.
• ◆ **#26-2026**: Amended agreement with American Legion Fox-Eklof Post 505, transferring $500 from Contingency for Pearl Harbor Day ceremony costs exceeding the $2,500 annual cap.
• ◆ **#27-2026**: Authorized 5-year lease agreement (Jan 1, 2026–Dec 31, 2031) with Croton Little League for advertisement banners at Dobbs Park field fences.
• ◆ **#28-2026**: Authorized 3-year lease agreement (Jan 1, 2026–Dec 31, 2028) with Croton AYSO for advertisement banners at David J. Manes Memorial Field fences.
• ◆ **#29-2026**: Awarded Bid No. 21-2025 to Rivertown Solar (Dobbs Ferry) for DPW Garage solar canopy installation at $302,940, funded by NYSERDA grants.
• ◆ **Vouchers**: Approved claims #26004312–26004416 totaling $497,615.63 (General: $424,028.42; Water: $33,781.47; Sewer: $6,931.91; Capital: $24,927.63; Trust: $7,946.20).
• ◆ **Appointments**: Matthew Berger to ZBA (Dec 2028); Peter Sedlmair and Emily Boglioli to Recreation Advisory Committee (Dec 2028); Jessica Sewell to Arts & Humanities Advisory Council (Dec 2027).
• ◆ **Resolutions Failed**: None.
• ◆ **Applications Reviewed**: None (Planning Board/ZBA items not on this agenda).
• ◆ **Public Comments** (4 speakers):
• ◆ Ed Riely (110 Truesdale Drive): Commended EMS/FPW/DPW winter response; suggested medals over certificates for responders; expressed concerns about community-police relations; asked about boarder/roomer fee explanation; noted Croton has not overridden tax cap in years.
• ◆ Bryan Deyo (North Riverside Avenue, President of Association of Businesses): Reported business traffic decline due to snow-blocked parking; requested free train station parking during snow events.
• ◆ Sonia Ferrante (Riverside Avenue): Described difficulty finding parking during snowstorm; requested free train station parking and free shuttle transportation back to residences.
• ◆ John Sasso (87 Morningside Drive, Recreation Advisory Committee): Expressed disappointment over stalled Dog Park discussion; committee supports sunrise-to-sunset hours (not 4 PM limit); urged Board to continue dialogue.
• ◆ **Reports**:
• ◆ **Village Manager Healy**: DPW working extended hours on snow removal and water main breaks; Duck Pond open for unsupervised skating; budget priority survey coming via email; Village offices closed Presidents Day; Van Cortlandt Manor entrance project starting; Quaker Bridge replacement awaiting Army Corps of Engineers approval; 25 South Riverside submitted temporary CO paperwork; some Bari Manor apartments failed inspection; recommended keeping current Dog Park hours; Gouveia Park Q&A meeting anticipated in March; free train station parking was offered during storm.
• ◆ **Trustee Slippen**: Arts & Humanities Aaron Copland tribute Sunday at 2 PM at Library; Blood Drive February 21; Tax Grievance Day in June at Town of Cortlandt; congratulated Valedictorian Jeremy Pollak and Salutatorian Maya Sebestyen; recognized National Girls and Women in Sports Day; wants piece of Quaker Bridge preserved in Village archive; supports future work session on snow removal policy.
• ◆ **Trustee Nachtaler**: Supported deeper snow removal discussion; noted all Recreation Advisory Committee recommendations approved except Dog Park; recognized Croton Senior Citizens Club (130 members); Recreation Department Korean BBQ trip to KPOT; next trip to Southern Table February 17.
• ◆ **Trustee Nicholson**: Reported from Albany trip—parking, housing, affordability, insurance rates are top municipal issues; noted two-year Dog Park negotiation in 2023; flagged that 60 trees will be cut during Quakerbridge construction.
• ◆ **Trustee Simon**: Open to reconvening Dog Park discussions; reported on Albany meetings regarding state transportation budget, AIM funding, and clean water infrastructure; met with Project Mover on phase II; Planning Board processed two ADUs and approved Mirage Mirror and Glass signage on January 27; promoted Eaglefest February 14.
• ◆ **Mayor Pugh**: Appreciated Recreation Advisory Committee work; thanked DPW for storm response; supported reviewing snow removal policy after winter; thanked Daron Weber for ZBA service.