Alright. Good evening, and welcome to the January 7 regular meeting of the Croton and Hudson Board of Trustees. I'm mayor Brian Pugh. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.
• Alright. Treasure first item of business is the approval of vouchers. Treasurer.
• Okay. For the general fund, we have $443,335.62.
• For the Water Fund, we have $56,798.07. Sewer fund is $981.33. The capital fund is for $43,244.09, and the trust fund is for $780 even.
Do I have motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay.
• We proceed to the, consensus agenda. Or rather, excuse me, what am I saying? Responses to questions submitted via email. No questions, mayor. Okay. Public comment on agenda items.
• On six a, paragraph three, memo from the village manager, Brian Healy, regarding newer renewable diesel initiatives. Hopefully, that we give her the opportunity that village manager will go into more detail on this initiative. As with many environmental projects sponsored by groups in Croton, every environmental project, this one, should be viewed with some skepticism based upon a past hysteria or claims that proved to be invalid. That's not to say that this is this or other initiatives aren't valuable both to the environment and economically to the village. So, hopefully, the village manager or some other member of the board will address that when they have a chance. On item number four, that's six a paragraph IV four.
• The the Conservation Advisory Council, if you look at their report, which is submitted today, I want I understand the chairman stepping down as of December 31. And the members of that board, I only attended two or three of their meetings, but the amount that they have accomplished on a voluntary basis is almost heroic. And therefore, they are to be congratulated and encouraged. And, the staffing in that that committee and that council hopefully will be at the same level it is now or maybe even surpasses that. But it's it's a outstanding example of, volunteerism at its very best and and strenuous volunteerism if you look at some of the things they do.
There's a lot of concern about the Half Moon Bay area because of past proposals as to what happens to the warehouse, the tire warehouse, etcetera. Hopefully, someone here will go into detail about the bridge. What will happen to the bridge? What it'll look like when it's finished? The capacity of the bridge and what is anticipated in that neighborhood, especially for that warehouse plot, which protons on pins and needles about what happens there. Thank you.
My name is Judy Rayer. I'm on 3 Gerstein Street. I'm talking about the dog park. I'm very happy to see that hours may be extended till 6PM on the weekends. It's very difficult for some people to get to the dog park on the weekend. Some people do work from 8AM to five, 6PM I mean, to 5PM, 4PM. And so it's nice to be be able to extend the hours as well.
• What's the other thing? Oh, and as far as the residents who are not village residents being able to use the dog park, I think that is a good step in in the right direction because people live in Croton, they wanna be able to use the dog park. So I guess we'll see how this works. The other question that I have is for if we have guest guests in our family who actually wanna take our dogs in. Let's say if I go on vacation and my son is living in my house or he lives in Montrose, he should be able to take the dog to the dog park without being without getting a ticket. Or if we have guests coming in from out of town, we would like to bring those people to the dog park with us. I understand that, that they that we don't have the dog's records here in Croton, but if that is something that they should bring with them to make sure that the dog is safe, that's agreeable. But that's, that's what I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
John Sasso, 87 Morningside Drive. I just wasn't clear. Is there gonna be a vote on that tonight?
I just wanted to add a piece. I'm on the recreation council, and I play bocce as most people you know. I'm there every day. Barking is not an issue at the dog park. I can tell you that. We have several groups that play. Debbie, the chair of the committee, and I have interviewed many people down there. We never see more than four or five, and we never hear at the dog park we're at the bocce courts. We never hear a dog bark. In two years, I heard one dog barking except for this one dog that yaps. We call it the yappa, and there's a rooster. And they both live on the other side of the river. And that's part of what the ambiance is down there, and that that happens. But the the rooster, something must have happened because we haven't heard from him for a while. He but he didn't know the difference between 5AM and 5PM.
• Dog park people are very committed and very pleased, and and we've to them, people who work for the the, railroad nurses, and they would like to be able to take their dogs down on the weekend. And this is a big event even if it's two hours, and it's not been an issue. It's never crowded, and the dogs are not a distraction. I interviewed several groups that play bocce, and no one ever hears their dogs barking. So I just wanna add that too with your consideration.
• Alright. Seeing, no one wishing to comment, we will, proceed to the report of the village manager in the the new fashion.
Thank you, mayor. To start with the question that was raised during the public comment period, as I detailed a little bit in my memo, we are switching over all of our diesel vehicles to the renewable diesel, fuel that, we have been piloting for the past couple of months. This initiative came to us through the sustainability committee, based on successful transitions at Westchester County Airport, the village of Tuckahoe, and New York City, which all have transitioned, some or all of their fleet to this renewable diesel fuel. The sustainability committee obviously was very supportive of it because of its significant effect on the reduction of c o two emissions and the decrease in the village's carbon footprint. And so, obviously, this this board has been supportive of their efforts over the years and wanted to move forward with this additional step. There is an additional cost for this, fuel. It's not a hugely significant amount. And the village, board, last year, I think it was maybe the 2025, chose to allocate the funds that are coming in from the, lease of the DPW garage for the solar canopy that's there, which is approximately $26,000 a year. Those funds are being put towards sustainable efforts now. And, whatever the difference is in the cost of the diesel fuel, will be paid for out of those those funds. So there shouldn't be a fiscal impact, to the budget.
is more than enough to cover any differential. Is that correct? As it is priced right now, right, mean, that's course. With the with the caveat of things can change, but, as of right now, it it should be enough. Just a clarification while we talk about expanding this program, we're expanding it into vehicles that are already diesel powered. This is a Correct. Not all of our vehicles or any vehicle. It's got to be an existing diesel vehicle. Correct.
Then, just also, a point that was raised, by one of the commenters. People, residents who have the park's ID cards are entitled to bring guests with them to the parks. So if you wanted to if you had a visitor from out of town who who was visiting you and you wanted to bring them to San Oscar or BlackRock or wherever, you are entitled to do that as a holder of the the park's ID. So, the current rules for the dog park do not allow out of town dogs. So you're not allowed you can't bring a dog to the dog park, but if you wanted to bring your friend with your dog to the park, you you can do that.
And the situation, I I I could probably refresh on this myself, but the equivalent of a dog sitter, say say it was, as I I think our our speaker mentioned, if it was a child, son or a daughter, that was watching your dog properly registered and you are an ID holder, how does that work for the dog park?
As as the rules are right now, if they if you don't have the ID card, you're not able to to use the park. So if if whoever was watching your what whoever the dog walker was or the dog sitter, if they weren't a resident Right. Of the village or the school district and they weren't entitled to Right. Have a have a pass of their own, they wouldn't be able to bring the bring the dog there. Okay. We have we probably have to work on that one. Yeah. I mean, the I think I think the intention of the mayor and the board is that we'll be reviewing these at a future work session. Right? So I think I think we're gonna work through some of these recommendations.
Right. So I think I think it's reasonable to say, I'm I'm here with my mom's dog and here's her park pass, you know, for the beach and Korea. Or or allow people the opportunity
to purchase Guest passes. Yeah. Right. Or, you know, I mean, in the previous role that I had, right, we had a a swimming pool, and people were allowed to buy season passes for their babysitters. Yep. Right? They were included for an additional fee, they were included under their membership. Membership. Yeah. Yeah. We We did did that that with with with residential parking in our old neighborhoods. Yeah. So so there's there's definitely things, you know, if if there's a desire Yeah. On behalf of the board and on behalf of the residents to have that, you know, there's certainly a way to to make it work. Yeah. K. So, okay. So the rest of my report, this is our first meeting with our new camera system. Hopefully, those who are watching it at home, I've I've been looking. It is a much crisper image. So, because we're now, streaming in, HD. So that's exciting. Hopefully, also that the buzz is now gone because the Alright. The wiring for the speaker system has been relocated, into the control room. It used to it used to be located here at the dais, and so it had a lot more, opportunities to fail along the along the route. And so now it's, everything is is located as much as possible in that control room. So, so that is very exciting. And we're also in the process of installing the assisted listening system that we purchased. There is, the first part of it has been installed on the, outer wall here, that that black box there under underneath the speaker. And so that's going to, allow those who are hard of hearing or who, use a hearing aid device, will be able to use, a speaker a head a headset that we,
• can provide them to enhance the the volume in the room since we know that that's been, a concern that's been raised by some people.
you. Thank you, viewer. Time. Real time. Time. 100 times better. Wow. That's great. That's great. Well, you know, good good manager. Both both in terms of sound and picture. Good things come to those who wait. So okay. That's very good news. Thank you.
• Martin Luther King Day is Monday, the January nineteenth, so it's a week from Monday. And the offices will be closed that day, and garbage will be delayed a week. So that that's before our next meeting, so I wanted to remind people of that. Also, for those who have alarm systems, whether they're, fire alarm systems or burglar alarm systems, the annual renewal of the permits is, coming shortly, maybe next week, treasurer, the fifteenth. So expect that in the mail. And, if you have an alarm system that is not registered, you can also reach out to the, village clerk's office, and we will, get you registered because it is a requirement under the the code that your alarm system be registered with the police. Just a reminder that we are having the public hearing on the franchise renewal for Altice slash Optimum at our next meeting on January 21. So anyone, is welcome to come to that meeting and share their, questions or concerns regarding the cable service in the village. If you've been, here driving around during the daytime the past couple of days, you may have seen that there's been a lot of tree work, that has been going on. Khan Ed has been here in the village removing some hazardous trees that had the potential to take out lines or cause damage otherwise. So there's been I think they've done four trees in different areas, and they will they'll be back tomorrow for their last day of work. They're gonna be finishing finishing the tree, on the, corner of Olcott And Maple, and then they have a tree to do on Riverview Trail tomorrow, which I think is the the end of their work. So, so that it is it's good to see them, you know, taking the initiative
• to, try to remove hazards before they they do any damage. And then lastly, this you know, the cold weather has been, playing a bit of havoc on our water system. There's been a lot of, you know, a lot for us, water main breaks over the past two months, including two this past weekend. So I just wanted to, acknowledge the the work of the water department and DPW, who were pretty much here all day. Sunday, they they came in first thing Sunday morning to salt because if you remember, it snowed Sunday, early Sunday morning. And then, they had two separate water main, breaks that they had to address. So they did they they did a full day on Sunday, so we thank them for that.
Monday night. So scope of work Sure. Yeah. Yeah. So there was a there was a webinar that was held on Monday. The video is available on the website for those who wanna watch it. It was about a forty minute presentation, so it's not too onerous. But, basically, the, engineer in charge of the project went through the timeline, the the history of the work to date, and, we're going to be rehabilitating the bridge. The bridge is about 40 years old at this point. It's the normal time frame that you would, look to do some work on a bridge. The bridge is structurally sound. I just wanna make that clear. At this point in time, it is structurally sound. There's no cause for concern. But, you know, as with any piece of infrastructure, you have to, do maintenance on it. Right? And so, we're looking There's significant deterioration
Yeah. I mean, it's yeah. But I don't want people to be it's not going to it's not going to collapse or you know, it's it's just it has the normal wear and tear that a bridge would have after forty years. Right? And so it's something that needs to be addressed. And so that's that's what we're looking to do here. The village received funding from the federal government through our former congressman, to cover a large portion of this work. The village had also, bonded money previously, to cover a portion of this work as well. So we have the funds available. We've been working on this now for 02/02 well, we started it originally in 2015 Yep. And then, it took a little bit of a pause with COVID and everything, and then we started it back up again in 2022, I think. And so we've been working on it for a little while now, getting all the plans in place. Because it's a federal aid project, we have to work through New York State DOT, and that has been, you know, Deliberative. Deliberative. And because the bridge spans the tracks of the railroad, that is another deliberative process. So it's it's a lot of it's a lot of internal work that we have to do on the project. And then as trustee Nachtala was saying, it's a lot of external work that we have to do as well because it will be, a change that people are going to have to acclimate themselves to for this the length of the project, which is gonna it's anticipated to be fourteen months. Right. There will be one lane of traffic that is maintained, at almost all times. There may be some, some elements, temporary elements of the project that require a temporary closure,
• but the goal is to have one lane of traffic open at all times. And, you know, we'll we'll definitely be, continuing our communication with the the yacht club, the sailing school, Half Moon Bay, obviously, all all the people that rely on access to the river. The schools
Yeah. With the buses. One of the questions was relating to, I think, footprint or are we changing the size or the and my understanding is it's It's the footprint.
Right? Correct. Same bridge. The bridge itself is not being replaced. The the the decking of the bridge is being replaced. Right? The the pillars of the bridge are being, resolidified. Right? They're being reinforced. But the the actual bridge itself is is not changing. Thank you. Yep. So and like I said, there is the the webinar is posted on the website. There is also additional information on the project page if people wanna read up about it. And if you have if you read up on or if you watch the webinar and a question comes to you, please feel free to to reach out to me, and we'll we'll get you an answer. Yep.
K. A question was also raised about an adjoining property. And, you know, for folks that have been following along, there was an application in 2024 for what is called a zoning petition to amend the zoning law to allow the redevelopment of the industrial zone in that area as residential or multifamily. Ultimately, that that petition was withdrawn January 20, almost exactly one year ago. And sometime I don't have written information regarding this, but it was relayed to me verbally by the property owner that the lease for the current industrial tenant was renewed for a period of in excess of five years. So there will not be a change in use, for the remainder of this decade.
Do I have a motion on consent? So moved. Do I have a second? Mayor, would it be possible to pull out six a number two, the memo regarding the black dog, the Black Rock dog park. I just want some context on why the time
was set till 4PM in the first place. Sure. I mean, we well, I don't think we have to pull out. We can just cover it in discussion because we're not taking an action tonight. We're just acknowledge we're just acknowledging receipt of the memo. Okay. So we have motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second by trustee Simon, second by motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion? So
So just to answer trustee Nachtali's question, the dog park hours were set after a a long period of, deliberation between the dog park users and the neighbors of Quaker Bridge Road. The compromise solution that was developed was to have longer hours on the on the weekdays and shorter hours on the weekends when residents are more likely to be home and, making use of their outdoor property. So, that was the message that was portrayed by the residents of Quaker Bridge Road. And so, you know, the the dog park users who were represented by, one or two, of their of their patrons Right. Agreed to these these hours. And then when that when there was the when the compromise had been made, the proposal was presented to the board. And I don't remember if we actually voted on it or if it was just if it's something that I was able to implement myself. But in any regard, we all were in agreement with the with the hours, and that's what we move forward with.
Early twenty one. Okay. You know? And that and that process really recent. Yeah. That process that was followed with both the users and the residents, you know, yielded not only that compromise on the hours, but also the signage improvements in the signage, increases in in police and park ranger presence up there in the park, and even things like plantings to absorb some of the sounds. So it's been it was a I think it was a good process that that, as far as I can tell, has led, as as mister Sassow indicated earlier, just, you know, to a a relatively calm period in in in recent years.
What would be the process just to for neighbors just to have the opportunity to speak like we heard today in favor for increasing? But in case there are any neighbors who are against it,
• what would be the opportunity to hear that?
Well, I mean, I think as as I said earlier, we're going to have this on a work session agenda. And, I have to refresh my memory onto whether I set the hours of the park or if that's a decision that the board makes. And then so depending on what the answer to that question is, it would either come back for a resolution to the board or, you know, we could have we could tell people that we were discussing it, put it in a newsletter or something, and let people share their thoughts. Yeah. And including
the the use of the limited use of the park dog park by the school system residents.
Yes. Correct. Yeah. And that that may actually I'm pretty sure that will need maybe not, actually. I have I really
access to all the other parks except for this one. And I I was on the rec advisory committee when this was discussed when these, and I don't really remember exactly what the discussions were, although they were lengthy. But I think part of the compromise was expanding the hours of the park but limiting the scope of who
would be there, you know, because there were a lot of complaints at that time about noise from the dog park. Yeah. I I don't think we've ever allowed school district residents. I think it's always been village residents only because the as at least as I understand it, it's always been that we wanted to have access to the dog's records. Right? So we wanted to have their license information and their rabies vaccinations and that sort of thing. So Right. But the discussion did happen then. I guess and we'll talk about this in the
work session, but I am and I didn't trustee Nicholson, you probably have you probably sat through the conversations. I did. But I am curious about how the number 12 school like, how that was decided upon. But so I don't but so I'm interested to hear more about that when we have the work session discussion.
Yeah. Yeah. And I I I think, you know, I I I think the number 12 is sort of a It was arbitrary number. Arbitrary number, but it's kind of a controlled number to let's let, you know, a low number in and see how it goes kind of thing. And then we would need to figure out a mechanism of getting that rabies certification from the towns
and yeah. Yeah. It's I'm not saying that the reason that was provided was a good reason, but that was that was always the reason that was given because it it's very easy if, you know, if you wanted to make At the time, the the desire was to compromise.
Yeah. Because there was a lot of concern about the noise. Yeah. So making some type of putting some type of parameters up, but I'm glad that we're revisiting it because it sounds like Timely. Things have changed Yeah. Since that time. So I I was able to pull up the hours for the park. So prior to COVID,
the park's hours were eight to eight on the weekdays and ten to four on the weekends. Okay. So and then during COVID, we limited the hours. It was only open on weekdays, and they were staggered hours. So, like, it was it it was open in the mornings and the afternoons on some days, and it was open in the afternoons and evenings on other days, but we didn't want it open on the weekends because we didn't want people gathering together. Right? Right? Wonderful times. Dogs were getting COVID. Right?
I think well, the idea was in 2021, right, that we real we had more knowledge of how the virus worked, and we were able to say, okay. We can reopen the park during the weekends. And then it was at that point that we decided that we were gonna put in date range because one of the complaints was that, you know, people could be there at 08:00 at night in you know, at this time of year. Right. Right? And it's pitch black. Right. So we changed it to be open shorter hours during the winter months and the eight to eight during the warmer months. And so these hours have been pretty much the same since 2021. Okay. So yeah. But so it's always at least as far as I can tell, it's always been ten to four on the weekends. That doesn't seem to have changed.
K. Yeah. So then just back to trustee Nachtala's question around process. So we'll take this to a work session. If at that work session, we decide to make an action to extend the hours, then it would come back to a public hearing. And at that point, the public would weigh in, in the neighbors. We would also probably, that work session, sort of talk through communicating out to the neighbors this, prior to to get their feedback.
Yeah. And just to I I just need to check, like I said, on the actual if it's manager authority or board authority. Yeah. What I was wondering. I thought it might have been So, not
Yeah. So we're still gonna have we'll it will still go to a work session to have the conversation. But I'm my point is just that if it's under the authority of the manager, then there's no real action that's needed by the board. So I may not have to come back to a formal meeting agenda, but I will have the answer to that before we talk about it at the work session. Excellent. So And then for the other items that are recommended by the RAC,
in in installation of AED at Black Rock Park, that would be part of our budget process. We would need to put the funds together,
in order to do that. Or or if we wanted to I have I can check with we can find out how much the cost is and see if we have the funds available Okay. In this year's budget. Because, you know, if if it's a if it's a relatively modest cost, you know, we might be able to get it done sooner if if that's what we wanna do. Great.
I do just wanna call out one of the speakers said about the Conservation Advisory Council that that is heroic work by a team of volunteers. So I also want to congratulate you on a very, very fantastic year of serving the village in in so many different aspects. So thank you to the CAC.
I also wanna reiterate those congratulations, and the chair is, open to taking questions from the board if anyone has any, or or we can proceed. It's up to you. Okay. I I I think the board expresses its gratitude. Thank you. Thank you, John. Thank you. Thank you.
But but also before you leave, thank you for serving as chair. You're leaving large shoes to fill. So
Mayor and I are working together one more month to kind of streamline leadership transition, and so I'm excited to
keep going until we get the next steps all figured out. Thank you so much. I just I don't wanna belabor it, but I know you did some big things, but also you did some really small things that were really impactful when I get off at the Senesqua exit Yeah. And I see those saw those flowers popping up. I know that was something that you guys did, it was very small,
but it was really meaningful. So thank you for all the big and little things. Appreciate that. Thank you very much. The we have a great committee and great people on it, and we appreciate your support. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good night. Good night. Good to see you. Alright.
All in favor? Aye. Aye. Alright. Excellent. You now proceed to proposed resolutions.
Whereas the village of Cardinal Hudson assumed the ownership of and maintenance requirements for the Half Moon Bay Bridge over the Metro North railroad tracks in 1996, Whereas in order to address past safety issues and the proper maintenance of the bridge, the village is moving ahead with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Half Moon Bay Bridge. Whereas on 02/07/2024, the village board of trustees adopted resolution 29 of 2024 to accept the proposal from Tectonic Engineering of Rocky Hill, Connecticut to provide consulting engineering and consulting and engineering design services for the project. And whereas Tectonic has provided the proposal to cover an additional scope of work related to the pier cam beam repair needed for the bridge and the completion of state requirements for coastal assessment in the amount of $41,540. Now therefore be it resolved that the village board hereby authorizes the village manager to accept the proposal from Tectonic Engineering for the above scope of work and be it further resolved that funding for such work is available on account H5110Dot2106Dot15287. Alright.
Oh, manager, as as I read the, the details of the scope of change, some of this has to do with alterations in the process that they needed to make because there's certain work you can't do with an active railroad underneath.
So they they had to sort of rather than replace some things, they'll be doing what amounts to a cap underneath. Yeah. There there was there was an idea at first of being able to put in these temporary support beams, would allow them to have basically put the weight on these temporary beams and allow them to work more, efficiently on the other beams, and the railroad put the kibosh on that. So, so the option was either they could have done it from above, right, as opposed to doing it from the the tracks. They could have done it from above, but that would have required the full closure of the bridge. So they had to do this other option, which is, it involves basically taking some concrete and, like, filling in, the areas of the beams that need the additional support. And it's just it's it's more intense
more labor intensive work Yeah. That's gonna so that's why there's a change in the in the design. And I think one of the benefits of the webinar on on Monday night, frankly, was, you know, some of the pictures that shows the extent of the railroad operations. Because we we either drive over the bridge or we walk over it or we bicycle over it, but we don't really see What's going on right underneath it. So so Yep.
• webinar, is there can you tell us how many people were on it?
I think at the max, there were 22 people on it. 22 viewers, not not including,
you know Right. Techconic and the village team. Yeah. So I guess my question is just is there some way to can we put it somewhere that's a little I don't know exactly where it lives on is it I assume it's on the project page? It's on the project page, and then it's also on the livestream
page. Like, what Oh, it's on the livestream. Yeah. The same place anyone would go to see any of our meetings.
And was something sent I know I think an invitation was sent out inviting people to attend the meeting. Yep. And then was something sent out afterwards saying, here's the the, video? I just think that people are interested in the project. And I think I thought that it was a very well it was a great high level overview of what's gonna happen and the the questions that were asked. So I think that if we could maybe push that out a little more, put it more prominently on the website, send out an email, do something with it, I think that would be because I think more people are gonna be talking about it. Yeah. We can do that. Okay. Thanks. Yep.
Alright. And the next item of business is the Oh, We do No. Mean, we just have vote on that. Vote. Alright. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay. Next item of business is the, adoption of a negative secret declaration.
Okay. 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. Whereas on 09/24/2025, the Village Board of Trustees declared itself lead agency for secret purposes. Whereas on excuse me. On 12/17/2025, the Village Board of Trustees undertook the process and review described in detail in parts two and three of the short EAF determination of significance attached tier two. Whereas the village board held a public hearing to consider local law introductory number 14 of 2025, which was opened and closed on 12/17/2025. Whereas the village board has received the recommendation of consistency from the Waterfront Advisory Committee with the village's local waterfront revitalization program. And whereas the village board must make its own determination of consistency with the LWRP policy standards and conditions. Whereas on 12/17/2025, the village board reviewed the LWRP policy standards and conditions. Now therefore be it resolved as follows, the village board of trustees determines that after reviewing the LWRP policy standards and conditions, none were found to be applicable for the proposed action. And be it further resolved that based upon the above, the village board of trustees confirms its determination that the proposed action, the adoption of a local law to appoint an alternate member to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals for the term of one official year complies with the policy standards and condition set forth in the village's LWRP. And be it further resolved that the village board of trustees hereby issues and adopts the EAF parts two and three determination of significance attached here too and adopts a negative declaration in connection with this action. And be it further resolved that the village board of trustees hereby adopts local law introductory number 14 of 2025
• to amend chapter two thirty zoning to appoint an alternate member to the planning board and zoning board of appeals for the term of one official year, which upon adoption becomes local law number one of 2026.
Do I have a motion? So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion?
• you know, this law, if you choose to adopt it tonight, only gives you the option to do this. You are at no point are required to appoint an alternate member. It just allows you to have the ability should there be a sudden absence from the board, whether it's a medical issue or somebody is finds themselves out of the area for a long period of time or if somebody has a conflict, right, where there's a large project that might be coming and somebody is conflicted and you wanna have a full board available to to review the project. So, you know, I I think that this is a smart course of action. You know, a number of other municipalities have this on the books, and it just gives you a little more flexibility if you if you choose to to use it.
Thank you. Yep. And just to clarify, so it really is to the mayor's discretion, though. It's his decision if if it all or wouldn't have to come back to us for a vote at for adding an alternate? No. It is. It's it's the mayor's it's the mayor's appointment with the consent of the board. Got it. Okay. Thank you. Yep.
Wait. And can I ask the clarifying question based on something you just said about a person having a conflict? Mhmm. So if a member of the zoning or planning board has a conflict with a particular project, then would could they just opt out of that particular project but participate fully in all the other?
I mean, there's it doesn't happen with any of the projects we now see, but there are sometimes you have long term projects where people are going back for numerous
Yeah. I just didn't remember discussing with the way you worded it, I didn't remember discussing that when we had the, the previous discussion about this. So I just wanted to clarify if this was a person that would sort of come in and out or if it would be like, you know, you would move out for all of the business.
If it was somebody that if if there was a conflict, then it would just be for the one for the one project. Okay. Yeah. If it was if it was for something else, like, was a long term absence,
then that would Exactly. But I'm thinking if somebody on the zoning board had something coming before the zoning board, then the alternate member would or something would have sit for that one project. Yes. Alright. Thank you. Yep.
Yeah. I think it's necessary to have the flexibility. These boards are volunteers. They're they're incredibly hardworking volunteers, so it helps us to have some flexibility Mhmm. In case something comes up. Yep.
Yeah. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Fantastic. Okay. Alright. We proceed to public comment, on non agenda items. Anyone wishing to comment on anything? This is your opportunity.
• I think the, just a comment on Saturday's activities. I think the area around
• Wells Fargo Bank is a perfect place to protest both locally and regionally. I look forward to more protests there. The last one was sponsored by Indivisible, which is a left wing of the Democratic party, sort of the Democratic
• socialist wing.
• So we look forward to using that place also. Just as a general question, I love the menorah because the menorah is symbolic of two things. One, our great religious heritage, which is an incredible gift, and it's also the symbol of religious freedom, especially in our times right now when we've seen anti Semitic persecution like we've never seen before. I would just like to know the if the if the village manager will go into detail about how it's erected, permission, non permission. I'm all for it. I'll put it up myself. And also at that same location, there is a brass marker to a staff sergeant John Levis, who died at age 52. It's an unusual marker. It's a middle of nowhere. It's on a rock. What the background is that. On a darker note, as you know, the state of New York now promotes assisted suicide. In a matter of time, it'll promote assisted suicide through the medical facilities and the corporate facilities and the hospitals and the corporations like those death committees that we've heard about under Obama. It's another, Democrat landmark. One of the specific sponsors is Amy Paul, and she was one of the principal sponsors. And in that darkened hall meeting she had ten years ago, less than ten years ago in Scarsdale Women's Club, she said when people ask, well, what about if you can't administer the suicide yourself? You know, can you have somebody else do it? Or what about if it's it's a child or underage like they do in in in in Switzerland, eight or 10 years old? Well, at first, we'll get this, and then we will move on to those other things, which is exactly what will happen in New York State. The same thing they did with abortion where abortion's legal throughout all eight
• all nine months. And what goes on in this state right now would curl your hair. So, a point on that is is that there are federal conscience protections for druggists and doctors. And if you are a pharmacist regarding assisted suicide drugs or are you 46, this terrible abortion drug, if you can't find a lawyer, you call me and I'll find you a lawyer to beat this system so you don't have to implement the policies of your corporation or your or your state government. In the last two minutes, I'd like to point out that I handed out to the secretary, and I'd like to the to thank the village manager for the cooperation on this project. The more we dig into this project, the more we discover. The project being, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the revolutionary war and our nation's founding. This will be two hundred and fifty years for our declaration of independence this July. And to recognize local heroes who participated in that war, one of which, the most outstanding of well, almost the most outstanding is a guy named John Patterson. And for two hundred fifty years, they've been calling him John Peterson or rifle jack or sort of in his statements to get a pension for poverty, he said, hey. My name is John Patterson. But they persist in calling him Jack Peterson. So, we proposed a sign, and we're working with the, village manager on this, and he's been very patient. Because in the process, we've dug up more bodies. There is indeed a second veteran buried at, Bethel Cemetery. His name is, Sylvanas Tompkins. He was not anywhere the soldier that this guy, Jack Patterson was. Rifle Jack Peterson. A black guy. He said he was a little bit Indian. Who knows?
• We'll let the high school do the research on that. Was an outstanding soldier. Rifled Patterson Peterson was an outstanding soldier. In the process, the village historian thinks he's uncovered another, revolutionary war veteran who died in captivity, a teller, and he believes he found another one who was a, who was a Quaker who was buried over near the foot of Mount Airy. Of course, there are other two veterans being Philip Van Cortlandt and Pierre Van Cortlandt.
Hi. I'm Judy Ray or 3 Gerstein Street. I've recently been I recently retired in April, and I'm joining and becoming more aware of everything that's going on in the town. And, I am a painter and not a house painter. And, I am getting more involved in the arts in in Croaton. And, I've been attending a lot of the the village advisory boards and the CCOA meetings, etcetera. And I do feel that we may we need to be able to put some type of, I'm gonna say the word signage, but I don't necessarily know if it should be a sign or whatever. Where we we kind of need some place where people can actually see what the exhibits are going on in the town. We where it's not just on digital. It needs to be something that people can see. We've been posting flyers everywhere like ShopRite and the stores, and people look at them, but they don't see them. And then when you have the people come to your event, you say, how did you find out about this? And people will say, I I somebody told me. You know, somebody got an email and they told me about it, but I didn't see anything. And I know that I've gone and I've put all these flyers up everywhere I could think of. Nobody sees them. Is there a way that we can get be able to put something up that would be something a little bigger? Or do we have a place designated in town where we can post something that people can actually see as they're driving by? Or I know that when you when you drive into town, there are a few signs about Croton, and sometimes there were signs about, like, Summerfest,
• things like that. Is I don't know. I'm just trying to throw something out there. I just know it's been very frustrating.
• That's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you.
Manager, in response to that, could you just give a quick update on our kiosk at an example?
I mean, the kiosk is somewhere where you know, but that's just for flyers. That's you know, I don't think that would necessarily solve the speaker's question, but we do have the banner the banners that hang up at the train station Mhmm. Which certainly gets catches your eyes as you go down to the train station. So, you know, if the if the CCOA wanted to put up a banner for their upcoming show or or anything like that. I know the holiday boutique that is in this building in every December puts up a puts up a banner Yeah. There. So, it's a very For nonprofits
Yeah. It's only it's $25 a week to hang the banner, and that's you know, it's very modest. So
digital sign No. We don't have digital sign boards. No. No. We just well, yes. In this building, we do, but not anywhere outside. So yeah. I would say the best place would be, the banner hang the banner location going into the train station. So
And there there I think over time, there there ought to be ways we can enhance the community calendar Mhmm. You know, which I think is a logical place Yep. For those those things to appear. It's a it's a digital as opposed to physical, but at least it's one way of of making sure that these are represented.
Yeah. And just with the key we're gonna be we're we're currently working on the guidelines for the postings for the kiosk. So, you know, direct department is gonna update the the flyers once a week. And so people can just you know, nonprofit organizations, it's not for people to post their tag sales or whatever, but not you know, qualified organizations can send their flyers to the rec department, then once a week, they'll go down and update whatever needs to be updated. So
And I was gonna say it during my report, but I I think it might be appropriate to We can segue right into your report. But we are the village has engaged with a communications firm Yep. And, you know, the which is gonna be taking a holistic look at how we communicate everything in all the different ways, you know, more effectively using our social media, maybe rethinking what's on the website, but also how can we communicate with people that are not on their computer or their phone all the time. I think that we're gonna we're just at the beginning of this process, but there are a lot of opportunities for growth and improvement in this area. And I think that a combination of that as well as the organizations as we discussed last night at the I don't know how close I have to. As we discussed last night, I guess the ABC is going to be well, I'll I'll just go into my report. I was at the Arts and Humanities Committee last night and at the Arts and Humanities advisory committee meeting last night. And there was a representative from the ABC there who mentioned that, the village would be engaging with the ABC in a way so that our committees would be able to have access to the marketing that is gonna be helping businesses could also encompass the, different committees of the village if the village becomes a member of the ABC.
Yeah. I mean, we're gonna have to we're gonna have to talk about that during the budget time. Right? Because we haven't we haven't received whatever membership proposal they're going to present to us as of yet. Yeah. But, yeah, that was the idea is that the village will become a a member of this organization.
So I think that but I think it's fair to say we know that there is opportunity for growth here and especially working with this new, communications firm. There is a lot of opportunity for that. Speaking of the arts and so thank you. Did you wanna did you it's still public comment time. I just wanna make sure you didn't wanna speak, Steve.
Okay. So also with the arts and humanities, meeting last night, we were talking about the second phase of the banners. And so not for discussion at this meeting, but I did touch base with the mayor about it. I would like to, at the work session, discuss the allocation of funds enough to cover we know what the cost is gonna be. We know what the we have the files, but I just wanna make sure that we are producing the second round of artist banners to be hung at the same in the spring. And so in order to do that, we I would like to discuss expediting the funds of that, not at this meeting, but I just wanna make sure that gets put on the, work session, meeting. I wanted to congratulate I guess there were three Eagle Scouts who were recognized, the who or who were honored or who I guess they were honored. They earned their Eagle Scout this week. It was Luca Camilleri, Alden Alden Hough Hough, and I just wanna look at his name because I'm gonna mispronounce it. Hunter Scud Skudzinski. Is that right, mayor? I think you were were you Yeah. I was there at Skudzinski. Skudzinski. Okay. Yeah. Okay. I also wanted to wreck it to acknowledge that we the village lost Jesse Beller this week or last week. Gratefully, we were just able to celebrate his a hun one hundredth birthday on September 28 with a really incredible, well attended event. But he was a small a small guy who was a giant in the village, and I think he will definitely be missed. So I just wanted to, you know, take a take a minute to remember him and and be grateful to all he has brought to the village
• over his one hundred years. I the manager said it before, but I think the cold have seen a lot more water main breaks than I remember seeing in a long time. Maybe it's a colder winter than it has been. One right at the end of Michael's Lane even. So I just did wanna shout out the DPW and the water department who are really you know, their their work does not get easier in the winter months. And then I just we talked about it ad nauseam now, but I thought that the Half Moon Bay presentation was great. It is a big project. I don't think I don't think we I don't think I realized how often I go over that bridge, and I'm gonna it's gonna be a lot I'm gonna think about it a lot more when I'm sitting waiting for the light to turn green. So I did appreciate the information. I'm looking forward to seeing it progress and, you know, and it's another great opportunity for us to work on making sure residents are informed about what happened. So thank you very much. Happy New Year. Mhmm.
Is that alright? Sorry. Yeah. That's fine. Seamless. I'm not gonna repeat a few things Maria said. So well said, Maria. One thing that's come up and maybe we can we can talk about it with the manager offline, but something I'm hearing from, like, the seniors club and from other communities is ShopRite, a very vital retailer in our community, has been very gracious to committees and groups in our community in terms of sponsoring events. And they're starting to hear that, you know, the the sponsorship well is drying up a bit, and, you know, it's gone from supporting programs in the summer that they've typically done that have been thousands of dollars to, I'm gonna give you a $100 gift card. So not to solve for tonight, I just wanted to ask because I'm new with this. You know? Is this, if this is something that we could take offline just to see how can we approach this holistically. Because if if so many groups approach a company with one offs, you know, it's hard to to really have a strategic conversation at a higher level. You know, and if that needs to be with Wakefern, the parent company, or, you know, Star Here, but I'm happy to provide any assistance or support to,
know Generally, the village is not allowed to solicit for donations or gifts. So we really can't go to ShopRite and say, you know, are you able to give us x y z?
• So I don't really know if that's a conversation that we can Interesting.
Yeah. I think it's if you wanna discuss the parameters of these things, we could do so in an advice of counsel at some point just so we get everybody up to speed and know what we can and cannot and what we Okay. Yep. Which is fine. No. I just they've they're clearly
Yeah. Probably too. Yeah. Hopefully, that will settle. Yeah. Because the the manager was there for the long term.
Yeah. So hopefully yeah. Hopefully, that will as that new person I haven't met the the new person. There was a new there was a manager there who was only there for a couple of months, then this there's a new person there, I guess, who, I haven't had the chance to meet yet. But Yeah. You know, hopefully, as that person gets the understands the landscape, they'll be able to make some, you know, informed decisions.
So happy New Year, everyone. I just wanna congratulate. I was, honored to be at the fire department induction last night with the mayor, trustee Nachteller, and trustee Simon. Just wanna congratulate. Thank Phil Dinkler, chief Dinkler, for his service. He is now stepping down from being chief and is going to be another role in the fire department, but congratulations to Chris Colombo, Chris Cattachary, and Frank Strini, who are our chiefs this year, and many, many thanks to everyone serving on the volunteer fire department. I also got to poke into the new EMS facility last night, which was really amazing to see. They are thrilled with their new home. So the DPW did a fantastic job. They were telling me that they're actually gonna double they have a volunteer program for high school students. They're now going to be able to double that program. So they're gonna have to have 50 students that are eligible for, that program, which is very, very popular and has a wait list. So that was really nice to hear. But, the ribbon cutting for that building will be sometime in the near future. So hopefully, the the full public will get to see, the great work that DPW did. And just another shout out to the DPW, in the wintertime and with the snow and the holidays and water main breaks and all of the things that are going on. Many, many thanks to them, for their hard work.
That's it. Thank you. And, just as long as we were talking about our communications efforts, I just did wanna point out the latest edition of our village newsletter has a new feature. And I wanted to thank our communications team and as well as the manager for the for adding the video element to the manager's report in the newsletter, which is not only good to see the manager speaking, but also to see all the integrated video of all these things. So in in to having someone talk about the new EMS facility, you actually just get to see it right there as well as some other things. So it's, I think, the first of good things to come from our communications effort in terms of our kind of communications with our with our community broadly and I think works very well. Let's see. A couple other things. Busy actual busy sort of pre and post holiday time. On December 19, the manager and I met with the welcome wagon. We're very fortunate to have such an active welcome wagon, great leaders there. They asked us to assist them in helping to recruit new members to the welcome wagon. So we're gonna be doing that also through a number of our communications efforts. And so, again, we're every time I meet someone that's new to new to Croton, I ask them if our welcome wagon has has found them, and the the success rate is extremely high. But we do need to get some more members to participate in that effort, and we will. As trustee Nicholson said, it was great to be there with the incoming team at the fire department installation last night with thanks to outgoing chief Tinkler and incoming chief Chris Colombo and assistant chiefs Chris Catarino and Joe Strini,
• as well as a couple weeks earlier at our fire council meeting. And and I pointed out at the installation last night that at our fire council meetings, it's now almost a tradition that in the middle of the fire council meeting, there's a fire call. And and and the fire council is is delayed anywhere from, you know, forty five minutes to an hour because our fire guys work twenty four seven. So it's it's been a busy time for them. On January 2, we had the opportunity to sit down for the first time with our new project mover, Regional Director, David Koran. And we toured around Croton and looked at some possibilities for our expansion once the winter hibernation ends in April, and and we'll we'll continue to work on that. And the success has been terrific in terms of the numbers of riders and not only in Croton but elsewhere in the region, and we'll we'll look forward to our second phase in April. At the EMS installation on on Sundays, our our week of installations, it was great to to be there with the mayor and to and to thank captain Tiffany Giglio, Stacy first lieutenant Stacy Conklin, second lieutenant David Kreisheimer, and the executive officers of Bill McCabe, John Donnelly, Samantha Delaney, and Rich Ellison. They do amazing work for our village. Later that day, he was also also joined the mayor at the and I think trustee Slipin was there as well for the swearing in of the the new new Cortlandt officers or for new new terms for doctor Richard Becker and deputy town supervisor Jim Creighton and others, including Christian Jacoby, Debbie Carter, and our own Croton residents, Larue Shatskin, and the our our greaTeatown justice Kimberly Regasso. So I think we we enjoy the best relationship we've ever had, as far as I know, can tell,
• with the town of Cortlandt. So it's just great to be there. And just just, you know, final word, you know, we've talked a lot about the Half Moon Bay Bridge tonight in in many different ways. And just wanna say that the work that we're doing on on Half Moon Bay is, of course, not a replacement. It is it is no way to be conflated with Quaker Bridge. In fact, what we're doing on Half Moon Bay Bridge is to make sure it never becomes a Quaker Bridge situation. So I think we have that well in hand. Just a couple of couple of last items. I bring greetings from our former congressman, Richard L. Ottinger, who served this side of Westchester from 1965 to 1971, and then from 1974 to 1984, the other side of Westchester. And he he was my congressman when I was growing up in Yonkers. And and so tell you, the district did actually represent Yonkers and Croton in in those days, but he was also also became both a friend and a mentor and and an employer over over the years. He turns 97 this month. Well, he was very interested in all the things that we're doing. He here in Croton sends his greetings. Of course, he went on to head up the Pace Law School for fifteen years after he left the congress and is very very glad that we're working so so closely with Pace on a number of things. So I just wanted to wish him a happy new year and and and tell you that he sends along his greetings to you. And last but not least, this is our first board meeting of the new year. So it's gonna be a year of both challenges and opportunities.
• And I look forward to working with everyone on the dais here, everyone in the audience, everyone listening on our sharp new, well well well broadcast signal there, and, of course, every everyone in Croton.
So I had the honor of swearing in our EMS officers on Saturday and presenting certificates of appreciation to the outgoing officers, Richard Ellison, John Delaney, and Anita Domenello. So congratulations to the new officers and thank everyone in the EMS for their their service, and we'll be doing a recognition in the coming weeks for the top responders in that department. In terms of other village, servants, I will be appointing, Steve Krisky to the planning board, John Truman to the zoning board of appeals, Christina Alvarez Arnold to the idea committee as in addition to Vanessa Valenti, and I will be appointing Faith Rivers as chair of the idea committee, and, Steve Krisky as the planning board representative to the WAC. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Okay. Excellent. And, again, going back to community servants, before I have a motion to close, I'd like to observe a brief moment of silence in honor of Jesse Beller, who was a true renaissance man and also a member of this board from 1985 to 1991 in addition to a lot of other great things that that he did.
• Alright. Thank you. And, manager, do you have anything else you need to add? No. I don't think Do I a motion to close? So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Thank