Board of Trustees
Alright. Great. Hello. Good oh, we got speaker. Good evening, and welcome to the September 24 regular meeting of the Curtin Ahaddeus and Board of Trustees. I'm mayor Brian Pugh. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Okay. For general fund, we have $441,011.55. For the water fund, we have $88,733.66. For the sewer fund, we have $890.16. And for the capital fund, we have a $104,389.73. And the trust fund, have 9,200.
Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye.
Okay. All right. Now we proceed to our future presentation. So members of the Board, please join me at the podium.
Alright. Jorge, come on up. So come on around. Jorge over here, please. Yeah. Sure. Please do. So this evening, we will be recognizing Jorge on behalf of the Ecuador Civic Committee for all that they've done to foster intercultural understanding and enrich our community with the what was the annual tradition of the Ecuadorian Festival at Croton Point Park, a future of our community for twenty six years, which sadly could not be repeated this year. But we wanna honor that tradition and thank mister Merchant and the committee for establishing it and keeping it going for all that time. And so I'd like to present this key to our village to mister Marchana in the committee.
And do any other members of the board wanna speak? Just a word, mayor. Congratulations,
Orit. Thank you. Very often, we present these awards, the the key to the village, for what people, have done. I think I feel in my heart tonight, we're presenting this to you not only for what you've done, but for what you will do in the future, you know, for not only the Ecuadorian people from our region, but for our entire village. So I thank you for that and look forward to all your contributions to our community in the future. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Alright. And, Anna, in a oh, you wanna speak a word? Yeah. Go for it. Go for it. Please. Please. Please. The floor is yours. No.
I'm gonna translate. Translate. Oh, sorry. Yep. Do I have to go here? Don't know. Sorry. But my my ass said in English, you know, is a long friend. But what we have to do is for me.
wants to thank you for the hospitality that Croton Point has opened up to the Ecuadorian community.
He's very thankful that, you have opened the doors here in Croton and that, he has, he's very thankful that you guys have been able to open up the doors and accept and also the hospitality that you have had with our Ecuadorian community.
He's very thankful for the opportunity, and he's always gonna take this in his heart.
So I just said in English, we have a very large Ecuadorian community here in the 95th Assembly District in Croton. I'm also in Ossining and Peekskill and growing. I also wanna mention that I was just in do you wanna share a few photos? No. You put it's okay. Yeah. It's okay. Okay. So That's what you you said said. Okay. Okay. That I was just recently in Quito, in Ecuador, and Los Galapagos, and just in August. And the Ecuadorian community is wonderful, friendly, welcoming. I hope that we can continue to be wonderful, friendly, and welcoming here in Westchester to the Ecuadorian community that comes here, lives here, and adds to our economy and to our well-being and to all of the wonderful food that and culture that you bring here to this to this community. So thank you for all you do. And on behalf of New York State Assembly, I have a certificate recognizing the Ecuadorian Civic Committee.
Behalf of the County Of Westchester as well. And our usual practice is to do a group photo out over here. So if you also if every other members of the committee wanna join in and
I didn't know. There was one thing Emily was good at. She was good at taking pictures.
My wife bought me the better iPhone. She said the same about me. She was she she went she made sure I got the the pro iPhone. Oh, yeah. Because she says I take pictures of the Oh, well, there you go. It was her gift to me. Gift. Added responsibility.
Everybody. Bye bye. Stay.
Okay. The next item of business is an local waterfront revitalization plan, consistency review in EAF part two review of the Brook Street drainage improvements.
Manager. Yes. Thank you, mayor. So we'll start with the EAF part two. Here, I have some comments from Valerie who worked on putting this together for us.
Okay. So Thank you. For this so this is regarding the proposed drainage improvements, right, for Brook Street. So this actually does involve a potential project, so we have to look at it through that lens. Right. So number one, will the proposed action create a material conflict with an adopted land use plan or zoning regulations?
Two, will the proposed action result in a change in the use or intensity of use of land? No. No. No. Three, will the proposed action impair the character or quality of the existing community? No. No. No. Four, will the proposed action have an impact on the environmental characteristics that cause the establishment of a critical environmental area? Nope. Nope. Five, will the proposed action result in adverse change in the existing level of traffic or affect existing infrastructure for mass transit, biking, or walkway? No. No. Will the proposed action cause an increase in the use of energy and it fails to incorporate reasonably available energy conservation or renewable energy opportunities? No. No. No. Seven, will the proposed action impact existing public or private water supplies? No. This because this is it's not a storm line. This is this is drinking water. Yeah. Yeah. No. Seven well, seven b, will the proposed action impact existing public or private wastewater treatment utilities? No. No. Because it's not wastewater. Correct. Eight, will the proposed action impair the character or quality of important historic, archaeological, architectural, or aesthetic resources? No. No. Nine, will proposed action result in adverse change to natural resources? No. No. Correct. Because it will have a change, but it won't be adverse. Yep. Yeah. 10, will the proposed action result in an increase in the potential for erosion, flooding, or drainage problems? No. It's going to do the opposite. Yep. Yep. 11, will the proposed action create a hazard to environmental resources or human health? No. No. So also opposite. Okay. So we will prepare the deck for the next meeting. And then moving on to the LWRP review. So the WAC met on September 16 to review this project, and they have determined that the following policies
are applicable and consistent. So that's policy yeah. The memo, Jeanette, please. Thank you. Policy one, policy seven e, policy seven f, policy seven g, policy 12, policy 13, policy 14, policy 30, policy 33, and policy 33 a, as well as policy number two from the Croton specific projects. Yeah. And I would add, manager, that these were all considered to be applicable but also consistent Correct. With with the LWRP. So if the board does not have any other policies that they want to add, we can move forward with the WACS recommendation. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So we'll have statement of consistency available at the next meeting as well.
And, manager, can you just correct my memory on this? Did have we received the funding for this project or applying for the funding at this point? We have applied for the funding. Okay. We have received preliminary approval for the funding. Okay. What we're doing now is an uncoordinated
seeker review for timing purposes. So the county is is undertaking its own review, and the village is undertaking its own review. And the county is the purpose of this review is so that the county can approve the funding as part of their bond issuance for next year. Got it. So it's working its way through the necessary approvals at the county, but, you know, we have been reasonably assured that Okay. The the funds have been approved. So When is the bond when is the bond issuance for the county? I believe that they would do that in early twenty twenty six. Okay. Yeah. So they they go through the fall is the time where they get the, you know, the approvals in order, and then they would go out in '26.
K. Onto our next item of business, LWRP review for bridge cleaning, washing, and deck sealing, including The US nine bridges in the village of Curtin On Hudson. Very exciting. So
this is the I think this is, like, the third or fourth time that we have gotten this, which I guess is a nice thing that it's it's nice to know that the DOT is taking care of the bridges. It's averaging about one a year. Yes. So for the this year, they're focused on the three bridges that are near Route 9. Right? So that it it's the, bridge that goes over the Croton River, right, which we call the Cross The Crossening. And then it's the bridge that goes over that carries Route 9 over Croton Point Avenue, and then it's the the bridge that actually carries Warren Road over Route 9. So those are the three bridges that are being looked at in this review. And so the WAC met again on September 16 to review this and identified policy seven a, policy seven b, policy seven g, policy eight, policy 30, policy 33, and policy 33 a as being applicable and consistent. So if there are no anything else from the board, just for timing purposes, we do have this resolution to read this evening. So because we have to respond back within thirty days to the DOT. So whereas the village of Croton And Hudson has adopted a waterfront revitalization program to guide the use of its waterfront and adjacent areas in a manner consistent with sound waterfront planning and environmental protection principles. And whereas the village of Cortlandt Hudson has received a referral for review of the New York State Department of Transportation's proposed project involving federal funding for the cleaning, washing, and sealing of bridges along US Route 9. Whereas on September 18, which I think sorry. That should be September 16, the village's waterfront advisory committee reviewed the proposed project for consistency with the policies of the LWRP.
And whereas the WAC has evaluated the coastal assessment form and the policies of the LWRP and determined the following policies are relevant to the proposed project. And those are the same ones I read before. And whereas the WAC has found that the specifications of the proposed work are protective of the environment and that the project will extend the life of the infrastructure in a manner consistent with the LWRP, and whereas the WAC has issued its recommendation of consistency with the LWRP. Now therefore be it resolved that the village board of trustees hereby declares the proposed cleaning, washing, and sealing of bridges along US Route 9 to be consistent with the village's local waterfront revitalization program.
All right. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by Trustee Simon, second by Trustee Nicholson. Discussion?
All in favor? Aye. Alright. Responses to questions submitted via email. No questions, mayor. Alright. Public comment on agenda items. Anyone wishing to speak specifically on agenda items, this is your opportunity. Five minutes per person. Please state your mailing address.
Hi. Good evening. Gary Eisinger, Cleveland Drive. Just had one question on the Brook Street drainage improvements. So I didn't see plans or, I don't know if they were posted or if they're going to be posted just so we can understand the project and how it will impact, especially how it how it comes down into the basin, of the Hudson River. So, I don't know if you can get that posted or address it. Thank you.
Manager, would you like to yeah. Yeah. Sure. So the plans for the project are available on the project and initiative page on the website. There's a there's a project page for the Brook Street drainage improvements. Thank you. You're welcome.
My name is Ed Riely from Truesdale Drive. Regarding the appointment of alternative members to the zoning board and the planning board, the citizens of Croton should look with suspicion upon any endeavor by this board to change the way zoning is handled through the planning board or the zoning board of appeals because of their record on manipulating housing and zoning in the past. Following the logic of having an alternative member of a zoning board or a planning board because there's a conflict of interest, you can the same argument that it ought to be alternative trustees and alternative mayor for this board who has many conflicts of interest. It also undermines the authority of the board and the membership in the board, thinking there's always an interchangeable part ready to take their place because of some particular project coming before them. The delays, which I have seen very few delays on the zoning board of the zoning board of appeals, are so rare they don't require this. I think when you put this together and maybe it's a copycat thing because everybody else is doing it, but it's it's stupid. Right? Having an alternative official on a board. It's a five member board now. And I'm somewhat suspicious because the planning board is one of the few places, generally, the citizens who don't want massive housing and five store storey stuff get a fair shake and are listened to. So maybe it's because three members of that board show independence of this board that that's why you want to loot that that that board and the zoning And I think it's also ties in with something that I don't know if it was passed. I missed one meeting in August. There was a proposal to give the law, I assume, to give this village board the ability to change zoning, to violate the basic rules of your own zoning if the developer came through with additional affordable housing or did something else you wanted them to do. Right? So I think, you know, these two things plus other things that you've done, plus sucking up to the state and for housing metals and so forth like that,
it's very suspicious, and it should be it should be turned down for for some of the logic that I already expressed. Also, I see that, know, with this rental census of of rental apartments and Croton. In a way, it makes sense. In a way, it doesn't. But I my concern is that by allowing 11,000,000 people who there were no jobs for and no housing for under Democrat administration with no backlash from this board or any any other Democrat groups, no housing, no jobs, certainly didn't help the housing crisis. But and I always when when I think of what some of these people went through to get here, encouraged to do something illegal, encouraged by by this government to do something illegal, that when they get here, many times, there's stuff like those Mexican immigrants were years ago in a crappy underground apartment with eight or 12 men caught in a fire where five or six of them died. And yet you're damn right. You better inspect this crap.
I have more to say on that. And I I I I don't like the way things are going in this village in terms of minority opinion, whether it be a banner and the engineering, the political engineering behind the scenes to create a national incident and a black eye for this village, or whether it be the fact that your diversity committee is not diverse at all and the principal lack of diversity is there's a lack of diversity of political opinion. Thank you.
Thank you.
Does anyone else wish to comment? Alright. Seeing no one else wishing to comment, we proceed to the consent agenda. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion?
So on the correspondence, I'd like to pull out the conversation around the naming of the park lit, the letter from Fox, like, Eclaugh, just to understand our next steps on that. Sure. Yeah. Okay.
I mean, I think there are a couple of different options. I think maybe the most natural would be a referral to the RIC. Mhmm.
So just just so we know, this in accordance with the new naming policy, like, this is not technically complete yet. So because they need to provide a source of the funding for this, right, in accordance with the one of the like, out of the out of the for monuments. Right? I mean, the some of the things that were asked for, right, were, you know, how does it have a connection to Croton? You know? And and one of the other things was how is it gonna be paid for. Right? So I reached out to the American Legion asking how they envisioned did they envision paying for it themselves, doing some sort of fundraising campaign? Were they asking in the village to pay for it? Right? So I did not get an answer back Okay. As of yet. So, I mean, I think right now, well, you have to you could just you know, you're accepting it for the record. Right? I mean, it's you don't have to take any necessary action with it at this point. Got it. So they need to give us some additional information To complete the complete the application. Correct. So once we have that information, I'll write a memo to the board, which would then go back on as correspondence.
Okay. Yeah. Thank you. But I do I I think it's a wonderful idea. So I just wanted to It's an inspired idea, and I think we just need to develop the details as the manager suggested. While that's happening, I think it makes sense. You know, I I think this is an appropriate play. If it's not it's not really I mean, it's not Parkland yet. Let's put it that way. But it is, you know, public space. Mhmm. I I think it makes sense for to get the RAC's opinion. That's was what I just gonna say. Like, where is is that whatever
to the RAC? Yeah. Yeah. So under the policy, it wouldn't be a required referral because it's not technically Parkland. But the board has the authority to refer it to any committee that you want. Right? So you can do that absolutely. Yeah. Alright.
I was gonna say I I appreciated, you know, the that in in their letter, they're suggesting that this honor for rifle Jack Peterson, you know, can be done in a number of ways, whether it's whether it becomes a park, or whether it stays as it is, or whether there's a a third way. So I just think, you know, bringing this to our attention and getting our consideration going on this, I think, is a great contribution from the American Legion. Okay.
We're not referring it yet. Need we need the details. We go. Yeah. Should we should vote. Okay. Fair enough. Alright. Yeah. That's what I thought. Alright. Okay.
Any other items to pull at them? Very good. All in favor? Or do I I I guess we did the motion on this then. On the on the overall consent agenda. Yes. Consent agenda. Aye. Aye. Aye. Alright. Onto proposed resolutions. Manager, local law 14.
Whereas local law introductory number 14 of 2025 has been drafted to permit the village board of trustees to appoint an alternate member to the planning board and zoning board of appeals for the term of one official year. And whereas the village board discussed this local law during a work session held on 09/17/2025, and whereas the village has completed part one of a short environmental assessment form and a coastal assessment form, Now therefore be it resolved as follows. One, the village board hereby determines that the proposed action is an unlisted action. Two, the village board hereby declares itself to be the lead agency for secret purposes in connection with the proposed action. Three, the village board hereby issues the EAF and CAF, which it has before it in connection with the proposed action. Four, the village board hereby refers the draft law of the EAF and the CAF to the village planning board for a recommendation back to the village board in accordance with village law. Five, the village board hereby refers the draft law of the EAF and the CAF to the village waterfront advisory committee for a recommendation back to the village board in accordance with village law. Six, the village board hereby refers the draft law of the EAF and the CAF to the Westchester County Planning Board for review in accordance with the law. Seven, the village board hereby refers the draft law to the zoning board of appeals for review and comment. Eight, the village board hereby directs village staff to make any other circulations and notifications regarding the proposed action as may be required by law.
Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion?
I mean, I would just say that this law actually came as, requested by the staff. We've had issues in the past where, specifically with the zoning board of appeals, that there have been issues with reaching a quorum. And, by having the ability to have an alternate member, you know, sit in for a member who is on vacation or out sick, that allows us to not have to cancel the meeting and, you know, get people's applications reviewed faster and and get get them an answer so that they can continue with whatever, home improvement they're looking they're looking to do. And, you know, I said this at the work session last week as well, but simply adopting this law does not require you to appoint an alternate member. It only gives you the option to do so. So, you know, just you you could adopt this law and just have it on the books. And then, you know, whenever you feel like you wanted to do that, you you have the ability. Right now, you couldn't because you don't have that ability.
So can you just clarify for me? Are are we approving the law this evening, or are we referring it out? We're referring it out. For comment from the the committees affected. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. As well as you have As well as the waterfront. At the Westchester County Planning Board because it's in the zoning code. Yep. Got it. Yeah. Think we're you were we're all, you know, very much looking forward to input from the planning board and the zoning board because, you know, they're the ones that would potentially be affected by this. But I I wanted everyone just to keep in mind, it's a it's a it's a measure that would ensure that every vote that's taken by these boards would be a vote of of five members. And I think there's a benefit to that rather than three or four if there's an there's an absence. It's a one year term on the way we've drafted it. And then it's another opportunity to to get more folks involved in in in the both the planning and the zoning process, you know, by by having having a new member. So I think it's worthy of consideration. Looking forward to everyone's input on this, and then then we'll see what we wanna do. And I think, manager, you had mentioned at our study session, last week that, this is fairly common with, with other communities.
Yes. I don't I don't have exact numbers, but, I mean, I would say probably most villages in the county this law on the books at this point. I believe the town has it too. Correct? They might. I I just didn't look. I think I might have worked on one while they were there. And I've also worked on very substantially
similar versions of this law for other villages as well. I will say, I mean, one of the pluses that I would see as someone who works with planning boards and and zoning boards is there is degree of expertise you acquire from working on these projects, and having an alternate member is it's it's like having someone in school on learning how to do these things. It makes them more professional. It gives them better results for your community. It makes for a more more informed voting member if you have someone who's following along and learning as they go. So just more from a legal standpoint Yeah. You get better results. Yeah. And I I do think, you know, just really
many, many thanks to the people that are serving on the zoning and planning boards. It is Oh, yes. Countless hours of volunteer time. And as we sort of see from the members of those boards, many of them are retired and are taking some time off and going on vacation. So to have flexibility, I think, is prudent. And I look forward to their comments back.
You'll be absent for you know, if you're not retired and you have school age children or you're still working, you have other reasons for needing to, you know, maybe miss a meeting every once in a while.
There's also I just Oh, I I was just gonna say, and, you know, one point that might have gotten lost. Even though the alternate, may not be voting in a particular, session, the alternate is still there. I think it's consistent with what you were saying about learning. I
was also going to say differentiating this from the board of trustees, there is state law that enables alternate members, whereas, obviously, you all serve, and there is no alternate members for for board of trustees. So yes.
Okay. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Alright. Okay. Next, we have a resolution considering awarding a bid number 12 of 2025 for the Dobbs Playground and basketball court improvements. Manager, do you wanna you.
Whereas the village is undertaking a renovation of the Dobbs Park Ground and basketball court, and whereas the village of colonel Hudson solicited sealed bids for this work under bid number 12 of 2025, and whereas four bids were submitted by the deadline of 09/11/2025. And whereas the lowest responsible bid received was Peter j Landy Inc of Hawthorne, New York in the amount of $345,093.40. And whereas Worcester County, which is partially funding this project, has submitted a memo analyzing bid results and confirmed the low bidder. Now therefore be it resolved that the village managers hereby authorize to award bid number 122025 to Peter j Landy Inc of Hawthorne, New York in the amount of $345,093.40 and be it further resolved that funding for this project has been allocated in capital account H7110Dot2103Dot2653 9.
I have a motion. So moved. Motion by trustee Simon. Orit Daly. Taty. Tacosseini. No. Is Lenorek Lenorek at his first.
Motion by trustee Nicholson, second by trustee Simon. Discussion? Manager, can we get a Yes. Rendition?
I would just like to say that this was a real community project that got us to this place. There was a lot of there was a first round of Go back to where you drawings. Do want me to wait till you get there?
Yeah. Click the project page, please. I think if you clicked on the picture, Genette, it will get bigger.
You know, playgrounds can be hot topics. So I was just really pleased with how many people reached out regarding the first round of drawings and gave their input about the whole the project overall, the playground portion, the basketball portion, and also what's gonna be happening with the ball field and how it got to this final design that was then able to go out to bid. So, you know, just thank you to the community who came out and expressed all their opinions. And, hopefully, you know, there's really it's pretty exciting to see a new playground
happen. So can you talk a little bit about just reiterate what the timing is? Yes. So we're awarding the bid tonight as we know, and we will hopefully get them mobilized in the next couple of weeks to start work. We have already placed the order for the actual playground equipment itself that we that was what the board approved at the work session last week, and that's gonna take about, eight to ten weeks to arrive. But, you know, the timing should work out that, hopefully, the contractor will be able to have the existing pieces removed so that by the time the new pieces come, they can be put in place. And, you know, it it should be done in plenty of time before opening day next year, so April '26.
And are you able to update I don't I haven't looked at the projects page with this Yep. To see exactly what the I know that this piece is on it. But is there some way to just put in a memo or a note with that timing? Because I have had people ask what the timing is for the different components, the playground, the basketball courts, and the Yeah. Once we once we have the premobilization
meeting with the contractor, right, which we can do once this is awarded, we'll have a timeline that we can share with everyone. We put on the projects we have to agree. Because I know that people are excited about it. And I believe that the sign is up at the park now that shows the plans so that people see that it's actually coming. Yeah. I've seen some conversations around, like, where their people are gonna go when this is out of commission. Right? You know, what what's the closest
park that has swings, which is the beautiful Harrison Street Park, which hopefully, actually, this will give people an opportunity to check out the playground out. That playground is beautiful and is not as well used as Dobbs, so it'll be nice to have people maybe shift over there and realize that that's a great playground as well. Yeah. And and DPW,
based on some feedback that the RAC gave this summer, did a little sprucing up over there. So it had it did get a little facelift if you wanna call it that. Yeah. So
great. And I guess this is an appropriate time just to thank the RIC and the idea committee who both committees
had a lot of input on this project as well. Yes. Absolutely. Yeah. And I I never wanna miss an opportunity to praise the federal community development block grant program, which actually funded the county portion of this project. And it's one of the it's just finished celebrating its fiftieth year, and it's just one of the great programs because it essentially allows local governments to to use the funding in a flexible way for their own priorities.
And another installment. Yes. More Dobbs. Whereas the village is undertaking a renovation of the Dobbs Park Baseball Field, and whereas the village of Croton and Hudson solicited sealed bids for this work under bid number 14 of 2025, and whereas five bids were submitted by the deadline 09/11/2025. And whereas the lowest responsible bid we received was from Greenway Property Services of Stamford, Connecticut in the amount of $58,000, and whereas Frank Balbi, superintendent of public works, has reviewed the bids and recommends moving forward with the low bidder. Now therefore be it resolved, the village manager is hereby authorized to award bid number 14 of 2025 to Greenway Property Services of Stamford, Connecticut in the amount of $58,000. And be it further resolved that funding for this project has been allocated in capital account H7110.2103.26538.
Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by Trustee Simon, second by Trustee Nicholson. Discussion?
I would just like to thank the Little League for working with us on this. They approached us about, you know, wanting to make some improvements to Dobbs probably years ago. I mean, in my era. I'm sure it was been many years, but, you know, that park is used a lot. It is you know, baseball is now almost a twelve month a year activity there. So I mean, that field is used a lot, and it's ready for replacing as well as really replacing some of the safety features like the fencing. So it's really exciting that we're able to do this to do this work while there are shovels in the ground and get it done so that Dobbs in full will be really a jewel, come spring. I'm excited for the little league opening day.
Yes. And not mentioned in this because it's not part of the bid, but there will also be fence work that's being done, for the outfield fence as well as the backstop. And, you know, we're looking at, you know, other potential upgrades that again, taking advantage of the fact that the park is going to be closed and being worked on, what other improvements we might be able to do enhance the experience for next year.
Whereas an informational kiosk has existed at the Croton shopping center for approximately twenty five years, and whereas the Croton Free Library, which previously held the lease for the kiosk, has terminated its agreement with the shopping center owner, Maplebee LLC. Whereas the village board of trustees has determined that it is in the best interest of the community to continue to maintain this kiosk as a place to post community and legal notices. And whereas Maplebee LLC has presented the village with the lease agreement for the period beginning 09/01/2025 through 08/31/2030. And whereas the annual lease payment of $1 has been waived for the term of the lease. Now therefore be it resolved that the village board hereby authorizes the village manager to execute the lease agreement with Mapleby LLC for the informational kiosk at the Croton Common Shopping Center for the period beginning 09/01/2025 through 08/31/2030. And be it further resolved, the village treasurer is hereby authorized to transfer $6,500 from contingency account a 19904000 to the following account to pay for necessary repairs to the existing kiosk, a 64104000 publicity contractual $6,500.
For the record. Yeah. Motion by Trustee Simon, second by Trustee Nicholson. Sorry. Go ahead. I'm the liaison to the library board, and it is has been a topic of discussion for many, many, many meetings. You know, the library just does not really have their buildings and ground staff do an amazing job at the library, and they don't really have the capacity to do this. However, there are some notices that need to be posted around you know, in in several locations for legal reasons. So although this is something that I think a lot of people, you know, I don't wanna say take for granted, but, you know, it's just something that's always been there. And so the fact that the village is able to take it over and not just have it go away is great. And especially because I think our TPW, although very busy and not needing more tests, does have the capacity and the, you know, the equipment to do this in a way that the library does not. So I'm I am grateful that we're able to do this because the as I said, the library did discuss it at several meetings. Yeah.
And so just a couple of things. I would like to request that we actually raise this amount from 6,500 to 7,000. It's based on I was texting with John during the meeting because I realized that we did not include extra money. We have to fix the cork boards Oh. On the back. So if we could raise that to 7,000.
Would you you need a motion? Like a motion for an amendment? Yeah. That move the addition of $500 to the resolution.
Thank you. And all in favor? Aye. Aye. And now on the resolution itself. Sorry. Just to add,
DPW will be the ones coordinating the repairs. And then Mark Duncan, superintendent of recreation, is responsible for coordinating the notices. Okay. So he he'll or the rec department as a whole will handle if, you know, ASO or Little League, whoever it might be, wants to post things there. You know, they'll be responsible for for that aspect of it. Excellent.
Yep. Okay. And just belt and suspenders, let's have a motion on the amended motion. Yes. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Larry. Agree. We proceed to public comment on non agenda items. Anyone wishing to comment on anything? This is your opportunity. Please state your name and address.
Good evening. My name is, John McKeon. I'm a resident at, Prospect Place, and I came here tonight to talk about, that which no one seems to wanna talk about here, and that's the receipt of a letter on September 8 by, a village code enforcement officer, alleging that he was directed under duress to conduct himself in a manner through the issuance of violations to one of our residents in an attempt to deny that resident freedom of speech. The letter implicated our village manager, Bryan Healy. The letter was published, became knowledge to the community, not through the village, but through a website on September 22, and the authenticity of that letter was verified by the writer. This violation of human rights, this case, which is an employment law case, because we have a damaged employee who's been out on a sick leave of absence, asking for continuation as an unpaid leave of absence. Elements of concern that need to be investigated include the conduct of the mayor, the conduct of the board,
particularly with the disparate representation that a board member made regarding the discontinuation of pursuit of the alleged violation, which is at total odds with the representations of the code enforcement officer, and it would appear that there's been involvement of our village external legal counsel. In this situation, I think we need to have outside nonpolitical legal counsel retained to investigate this matter and make recommendations to agencies if appropriate for further pursuit of this issue and a full disclosure of the issues, in this case, to the village residents. I say we need outside counsel, not inside not related to your retainer here because in the exercise of your advice on on this matter internally, I would suspect as this case moves forward, there'll be assertion of privilege and confidentiality. So I really believe that what should have happened tonight was an acknowledgment that we had been hit by an iceberg and that we were contemplating
a course of action which would examine the damage done, seek remediation, and reconciliation for what has allegedly occurred here. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Gary Eisinger, Cleveland Drive. So, you know, I read through your statement on the recent banner violations issued, and I have to say, it has more holes than Swiss cheese. I have to wonder, when, you will be transparent and accountable for telling us how and why the ticket was issued and the reason, our village got dragged into this mess. Many of us would like to know, in the spirit of transparency, can the board of trustees make public the list of the 17 display violations that were part of your routine code enforcement? Were they all commercial except for mister Amicolas as was alleged? And why was our code enforcer, in his own words, not mine, treated like a pawn in a political game? So thank you.
Stacey Nachtaler, Half Moon Bay, Croton On Hudson. Am I allowed to comment on an agenda item? Yes. Okay. Thank you. So I just based on what I was hearing, I wanna comment on the section two thirty zoning. One observation in looking at the data and registered voters is that in Croton, there are 55 of the village is democrat. So you've got 45% of voters, primarily non independent, Republican, conservative. When you look at who's on our boards and committees, it's overwhelmingly over ninety percent one party. And I just ask, you know, in the spirit of what is going on in in our country today, the divisiveness, it's more it's important more than ever that we listen to each other and that we have clear criteria, how and who we select on these committees. I'm I'm not clear on, you know, what that is. I don't I don't really know what the guides are on that. I'm I'm sure I have stuff to learn there. But it is my understanding that there's one leader, right, mayor Pugh, who ultimately decides. Decides. So I just wanna ask if we're picking alternates that there is consideration to extend diverse viewpoints on the zoning and planning board. Because right now it doesn't appear to be the case. The second comment is a non agenda item. I first wanna say that and express deep concern over the recent reports of threats and violence,
and and maybe some of them are just stunts. I I don't know. But directed at village personnel. It's really unacceptable, and our thoughts are with you all and anyone that is receiving threats of violence. It's really unacceptable. We must be able to engage in respectful disagreement and embrace differing viewpoints. And this also goes back to my point and and ask for how we consider who's going on. Planning boards and zoning boards that make critical decisions for future village planning. Civil discourse is not just a nicety, it's essential to a functioning and healthy democracy. In that same spirit of collaboration and transparency, we are alarmed by the whistleblower report released the other day. It's especially troubling to learn that our village code enforcer has stated that he feels like a political pawn in a game. No public servant, I'm sure you would agree, should ever feel caught in the crossfire of politics. Thank you.
Ed Riely, Truesdale Drive. It was a follow-up to what I was talking about before in terms of planning board. It was nice to see some planning board in independence in terms of they were aghast at the lousy Parkland fees that you charge people who try to be single build single family homes because you hate single family homes, where one poor guy within here about three two months ago was being charged a $12,000 Parkland fee to build a house. That is obscene. I understand this law is only one year old. It should be repealed. Also, the planning board talked about you are now hiring an outside planning consultant. You got big plans for this, Dan. I mean, how many hotels are gonna build? An outside planning consultant. Right? And they were sort of surprised by that. And then, of course, they recommended to you that one half that one Croton Point Avenue be reduced in size from a five story building to a three story building, which you rejected because of the size of that monstrosity. But, anyhow, so it was nice to see independence in that board. When you add an alternative an alternate, I get the feeling that you're trying to expand the Supreme Court, which is right up the Democrat party alley. In terms of First Amendment, I'm trying to rush to get what I really wanna talk about. You know, this village is really hitting the jackpot. The school is being sued on First Amendment issues. You were in the process of being sued on First Amendment issues. And the former county legislator, who was then the chairman of the county board, who is now somewhere in the county, who lived in Croton, was sued twice by civil rights attorneys for their abortion counseling law, which forbade people to conduct free speech,
you know, within 11 feet, 25 feet, 25 miles of an abortion mill. And, of course, it was prima facie unconstitutional, just like your sign laws, prima facie unconstitutional. So much so, embarrassingly, the county had to had to withdraw that section of the law. And I think last month, lawyers just won the right to sue for attorney's fees, which I hope happens in Croton should it come to a court case. I want to follow-up on there's an ongoing boycott of CVS, a mega mega pharmaceutical chain, a retail outlet for big pharma as they call it, which is promoting and pushing the abortion pill RU46, which is a combination of abortion pills. Last week, I discussed with you the fact that it's these pills are so flooding the market. It's almost like oxytocin or the other drug. Flooding the market that boyfriends are getting prescriptions and using them on their girlfriends or their wives. Last week, I described one woman who who was administered this drug, unknown unbeknownst to her, wound up in an emergency room, was sent home for fourteen days of bleeding, and died to death in a pool and died in a pool of her own blood. Well, this this week, I'm sadly to announce that 100 miles west of Buffalo, Rhianna Latterrout died in a Canadian city of Brampton, which is a lot bigger than you would think it would be.
Briana experienced heavy bleeding and severe abdominal abdominal pain for two weeks. Over the following ten days, she visited the local emergency room three times. She rated her abdominal pain as a 10 out of 10 and held her abdomen breathing heavily and crying. In her second ER visit, Briana was diagnosed with peritonitis, a swelling of the lining around the ab abdominal organs. This peritonitis was due to sepsis, a condition where the immune system goes into overdrive in response to a widespread infection and attacks the bod body's tissues and organs. This sepsis was likely an infection caused by the abortion as bacteria entered the uterus through the cervix, which the abortion pill opened to expel a preborn child in the uterine lining. Sepsis, in fact, is life threatening. In fact, in statistics for Canada, thirty to fifty percent of people who develop sepsis die, and sepsis is one of the top 15 reasons for death in Canada. This is just one more convoy of deaths and injuries by r u forty six.
Thank you. Time's expired. Thank you.
Seeing no one wishing to comment, we proceed to reports. I think that there is an item that the council or the manager might wanna address.
Okay. As there have been continued questions raised related to recent code enforcement activities, I wanted to use this opportunity to provide some additional factual information to the board and members of the public. As most know, our longtime code enforcement officer and fire inspector retired in September 2024. The village board recognized the importance of code enforcement and split this position into two separate in the twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five budget. After a long process, our current code enforcement officer was hired at the December 2024. After completing training, one of the first items that I tasked our code enforcement officer with addressing was the proliferation of signage, banners, and excessive window coverings in the village. On 03/24/2025, an email was sent to all businesses in the village with a flyer that the engineering department created to explain our sign law. It further explained that code enforcement would begin conducting outreach in April. Our enforcement efforts initially focused on the commercial areas of the village, including Riverside, the Upper Village, and Brook Street. As noted in our previous statement, through the diligent work of our code enforcement officer, 17 noncompliant locations were identified, the respective businesses and or property owners were contacted regarding their signage not being in compliance with our zoning code. Most of these businesses and property owners were unaware that their signage was out of compliance and promptly took steps to address the situation. As part as our as part of our enforcement efforts in the Upper Village commercial area, the property owner at 119 Grand Street, is zoned as a commercial property, was also contacted regarding his banner. Rather than being representative of selective enforcement as some have alleged, contacting the property owner at 119 Grand Street was in fact representative of the village's effort to apply its code in a consistent content neutral manner.
I think it is also very important to note the property owner of 119 Grand Street was advised in writing by village council that if he were to fly the banner at issue from his flagpole, it would have been permissible under the code and would still have been fully visible to members of the public. To be very clear, during my time as village manager, the village has never and would never enforce a law based on content or engage in selective enforcement. Because the property owner at 119 Grand Street and one other property had failed to voluntarily correct the sign and banner issues about which they had been previously contacted. I directed the code enforcement officer to issue an official notice of violation in July after there was no indication that those property owners would voluntarily comply with the law. This notice advises the property owner that they have a certain period of time, typically between ten to thirty days, to correct the violation in order to avoid being issued an appearance ticket. As noted above, by this point, most of the other businesses and property owners that had been contacted had already abated their violations or advised the village that they were in the process of doing so. In late August, when more than a month had gone by since the notice of violation had been issued to the property owner at 119 Grand Street without being remedied, I directed our code enforcement officer to issue an appearance ticket to the property owner after consultation with our village council. I also directed the code enforcement officer to issue six notices of violation for other locations that our code enforcement officer had also advised me had not abated their violations about which they had previously been contacted.
Again, this is further representative of our efforts to apply our code in a consistent manner, not selective enforcement as some have erroneously alleged. It is clear from this entire yearlong process that our signage code is hard for both residents and village sorry, for both residents and businesses to understand and decipher. I will be working with our village attorney to develop a new section of the code that will be clearer and easier for all to understand and follow. The public will have input on this process as the village board reviews the law, refers it to the planning board and the waterfront advisory committee for comment, and ultimately holds a public hearing.
I will just add one thing that I I did reach out to to counsel in regards to this and and did indicate that a flag would have been would not have been in for that if it was a flag as opposed to a banner, it would not have been an enforcement action. I did not hear back from counsel on that point, and there was significant amount of time that did pass during that interim period before the manager did make such instruction to staff.
To be clear, counsel for the property owner? Yes. Yes. Okay. Very good. Alright. Trustee Slippen.
I just want to say congrats to the school district on homecoming on their new field
'75 that was there celebrating. It was the field looks amazing, and it just seemed like a week of really great stuff, including the inaugural or that maybe brought back. I don't know if he used to be. The dance looked it looked great. My kids are not there anymore, but it really looks like a week full of great activities. So congrats to the school district. And, also, I know that there was a national we had a national merit semifinalist. Think I never said that last meeting. Now that I'm saying it out loud again. But, anyway, congrats to the school district on all that good stuff. The only other thing I wanna mention is the Kaplan Pond meeting that we held. It was really another example of some great community involvement, much like we had experienced for the Dobbs Park project. In case people didn't want there is a page on the Yes. The projects page where it's everything is laid out. But spoiler alert, the aeration project is has been halted. The wood is being removed from the ground, and we're gonna revisit it a conversation about what are some ways to include the community in taking a look at the environment of Caplan's Pond and what makes most the most sense for and the neighbors and Croton altogether. But I, you know, I know there were a lot of people who felt very strongly about that and really got, you know, engaged in the process. And I think that the outcome was very much what the residents asked for. So thank you to everyone who participated and to the manager for organizing that meeting with a lot of different stakeholders and experts. That's it.
Thank And just to clarify, the class of 1975 are the ones that celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the New York State football championship, but it was a mango reunion of all CHHS classes that were in town last weekend. So we had many alumni at Spencer Field and around the village celebrating, which was really nice. Just, you know, just from a committee perspective, we had the police advisory committee on Thursday night. The chieftain Tatyana Polyak shared with us kind of the details of what's going on with the Lexapro review of the policies, which is quite laborious.
And, you know, they're looking at five policies a week with you know, we currently have a contract with Lexapro that is reviewing the policies that we have. You know, we've got thousands of policies, so they're trying to do five a week, go over them with Lexapro, and then update and communicate out to the officers once the updates have been done to the policies. So many thanks to the police department for tackling this. This is something that, you know, policies were created in 2020 during police reform and a lot were rushed in. So this is a really careful review of our policies that, you know, is ongoing, but it'll be great to have the chief here at some point in the near future. It would be wonderful to really hear an update from him about, you know, the policies in that process and also what that means to our accreditation going forward. Forward. Many thanks to the folks that participated in the village wide tag sale. It's a lot of fun. I participated myself, and it was a great day of community. Lots and lots going on this weekend, including Oktoberfest on Saturday and RevFest on Saturday and Sunday at Croton Point. And with that, I will pass it on. To you too. Can you just announce that also? Oh, yes. I don't wanna take my time back. Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Arts and humanities. Oh, that's right. I I forgot that. Arts and humanities is doing a jazz concert on Sunday, September 28 from two to four p PM in honor of the great Jesse Beller who is a resident here in Croton and a musician. It is his one hundredth birthday. Wow. My goodness. So he has selected this is what's so amazing. He he worked with Andy Farber who's on our arts and humanities committee,
and selected the music that he would like to hear for his hundredth birthday. And that will be at the library on Sunday, so it will be a fabulous event.
Yes. And mister bell mister Beller's Veterans Banner, because I see it every day, is on the corner of South Riverside at Municipal Place. Yes. Yes. Can was the inaugural Veterans Banner. Correct? He was one of the first. Yep.
And he'll probably be playing something. Because he's still in great shape. So just a few items. I was honored to participate and be by by being an attendee at our 09:11 ceremony with with the town of Cortlandt and village of Buchanan. It's amazing to think that an entire generation has now grown up that was not present for nine eleven originally. And the many of the folks who spoke reminded us of our responsibility to educate them on on what nine eleven is all about and why we continue to to take note of it each year and and to honor our first responders, including our all of our our first responders here in Croton and around in the region. So it was a very moving ceremony, and I was glad to glad to be there in attendance. The on 09/12, we actually had a wonderful ceremony up at Duck Pond where, thanks to the American Legion, who we've talked about earlier this evening, and our recreation advisory committee, a couple of beautiful benches were installed, and it really makes a difference there. When you go by Duck Pond, you'll see they're they they look very nice and are very inviting to to sit down and maybe have have a lunch or just just kinda contemplate the pond when you're there. So I want to thank everyone for that. On also, on 09/12, that very same day, had the honor to and pleasure to walk around the village with, with the manager, with, Matt Arnold, chairman of our bicycle and pedestrian committee, and superintendent, Frank Balbi, to, to determine where it might be best to to place some share share share the road signs, that, and we've we've got about 10 that'll be going up altogether. And I think there are plans for some more. Some of them we'll have to get some state approval for, but I think we'll start seeing share the road signs
in a very terrific way very soon because they're they're they're on order. Manager soon will be on order in they share the road signs. They were installed today. They were installed today. Okay. Yes. Very perfect. Okay. So look look for them. That's terrific. And and just with respect to other other bicycle related issues, our ridership continues to be very strong both both for July and for August, and so we're pleased about that and hope that will continue. And then on the general question of bike safety, we and training, we had a class here in Croton on July 12, I believe it was. And we were offered the opportunity to do another class in in the fall, and we just we're very happy to accept that. So we'll be doing another class on Saturday, November 22 in the community room from 10:00 in the morning till 01:30. It'll include, just like the previous one, a combination of classroom and an actual on the road training. So looking looking forward to that. Speaking of looking forward, we're looking forward to our New York Forward application. And we we met on that with our with our planner last week, and we'll continue to work on that. I think it's gonna be a great one. We will be having a town hall before the application is submitted to get everyone's input. Our letter of intent is due in three weeks, and and then the application itself about three weeks after that. So lots of work to be done on New York forward. And last week was was nice in the sense that we were able to kinda honor our outgoing engineer, Dan O'Connor, both with lunch at the rotary, which was very nice. Dan has been very involved in the rotary over the years.
Dan had, his last planning board meeting, and we were able to celebrate a little bit after that planning board meeting. And then thanks to is mister McKeon still here? Mister thanks to mister McKeon, who's president of our seniors club. The the seniors were able to to say goodbye to Dan in a very nice way last last Friday. So I was very pleased with that. And then speaking of honoring great people, in this very room three days ago, the wonderful Cornelia Cotton, our great patron of the arts and supporter of the arts, was honored with her portrait being hung in this very hallway. You can see it see it out there. We had a wonderful crowd here of of almost 75 people, I think it was, and wonderful wonderful speeches and comments. The mayor was was fantastic as was Jim Christiansen, the head of our arts council. So that was a great day, and and I I get personally just a little inspiration passing by there as on my way in here. Speaking of things coming up this weekend, our rotary car show is, this coming Sunday, the the twenty eighth. My notes say pick up newspaper and show it. So so there it is. And these are all around the village. I I have I have one or two extra copies, in my briefcase, but this will give you all the information you need to know about the car show itself. But but for for me, every year, this sort of functions, and the Rotary puts a lot of work into publishing this newspaper. This kind of functions in many ways as kind of the yellow pages of Croton because there's a lot of great business information in there as well. And and all of our all of the wonderful sponsors of the
of the car show are listed at the top. So we'll including the our our our number one gold sponsor, Don Gheorelli and Associates, and many many others as well. So look forward. It's a great bargain, by the way. It goes Sunday from eleven to three, rain or shine. It's $5 per person, but it's $10 for the entire family. So if you've got, you know, 10 kids or 15 kids, it's still it's or or more. It's still it's still $10. So we look forward to seeing everyone at the, car show on Sunday. And then I should also add that last week, it was the monthly, Westchester Municipal Officials Association meeting, and our guest was Amanda Leften, who is the the new commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, DEC. DEC has a big impact on on lots of of things that we do here in Croton. So it was a great opportunity to to hear from her on her priorities, but more so to to let her know a little bit about what's going on in Croton. And it was a great conversation, And we look forward to working with her. And last but not least, happy New Year, happy Rosh Hashanah to all of our our Jewish friends and neighbors. It's it's fifty seven eighty six in the in the Jewish calendar. How time flies when when you start early. So and that's it.
Okay. I had two things I just wanted to briefly touch on. One, in defensive planning consultants, generally, a lot of them are paid via escrows, that usually winds up saving villages money as they don't have to have as many dedicate as much staff to to deal with problems. It's something that where an applicant needs something, especially larger projects, having that paid by a developer is more efficient for the village than for taxpayers to fund that burden. And it's somebody who works directly for the village. It's not somebody who works for the developer. So in that sense, in defense of them, I think it's usually a cost effective way of of saving taxpayers money. I think there was also another issue. I think there was this reference to two thirty forty eight c, which is discussing what can happen with affordable units and in terms of what that process looks like. I mean, the law the law in itself talks about site plans or subdivisions, which immediately brings to to the the the necessary process of it going on a public agenda and then possibly having a public hearing. That is before any matter for for such a a I wouldn't for any type of relief is referred back to the to the board of trustees under affordable housings. And when it is referred to the board of trustees, there is proof that needs to be submitted to the board of trustees. They have to demonstrate that without the waiver and the imposition of additional units, it would prevent them from doing a project. Basically, it's a hardship form of test. So it's hard to say that there's no process that exists when there's actually process at basically three levels. There's the application level, there's the planning board level, and then there's the board of trustees level.
Now whether you call whether whether it requires a public hearing or a public agenda or whether you could talk to it at different points, there's different pressure points of interaction with each of those boards at each of those stages. So I just wanted to make that clear for the public. And that's it for now.
Thank you. I think it's also worth noting that that section of the code has also never been used in the seven years since it's been on the books. But Fair point. Okay. I wanted to thank the Croton-Harmon School District and the Booster Club and everyone that took part in the homecoming game. I had the great honor of presenting a certificate on behalf of the village to the winning team of 1975 who won the state championship that year fifty years ago in honor of their anniversary. It was obviously a historic event and a tremendous achievement, especially for a community of our size and really one that transcends athletics. And what was also very nice was the emcee for that portion of the program. Mr. Martucci accidentally promoted my brother, Michael Pugh, to mayor. Not the first or last time that he and I have been confused, but things happen. And also that there was a fantastic video of some old game clips, and it just should put into high relief the progress that, you know, the school district has made in terms of its facilities where you had at one point, basically,
it will be, yeah, an underdeveloped field. Let's put it that way. Mhmm. Mhmm. And versus a truly modern twenty first century facility was pretty remarkable. And, you know, I'm a liaison to conservation advisory council, so I do wanna plug one of their upcoming events, which is the trails cleanup being done in joined with Temple Israel. That'll be taking place this Sunday at 12:30 at Senesco Park.
That concludes my reports. Thank you, mayor. I just had one thing to report on tonight, and I wanted to give the board an update on our leaf blower enforcement this summer. So there were a total of 17 violations issued both to contractors and property owners in the village. 14 of those violations were adjudicated, and the owners or the the businesses or the property owners paid fines between 50 and $250, you based know, on either the judge or the village prosecutor setting the amount. Two cases are still continuing through the court system, and one of the tickets was dismissed by the court. So, you know, all in all, I think there was a significant, you know, enforcement of the law this summer, in part, as we referenced earlier this evening because of the fact that we have a dedicated code enforcement officer. And,
you know, that should hopefully continue. And I believe that we when we talked about this earlier this summer, I think the zero was was given the year before. Is that correct? I think there's There was one There was resolved.
There was one ticket that was issued last year that was for a commercial entity, a a business in the village. And they were eligible to get a permit under the under the code. So they obtained the permit, and the ticket was dismissed when they got the permit. Got it. But prior to that, there had never been a ticket issued. Yeah. So
it's good. I'm sure the CAC will be taking this up in the off season and giving us some recommendations of how we can update this going forward. Alright. Anything else? That's it. Thank you, Mary. Fantastic.