Dear neighbor, Here is the 362nd installment of Decoding Village Agendas to keep Croton residents informed of the actions of the Village Board at their meetings. I continue to add recipients to this email update on agendas so you may be receiving it for the first time. I enjoy getting your feedback and hope to continue to hear from you. If you do not wish to receive these periodic email updates from me, please reply to this email and your name will be removed from the email list.
Ann Gallelli

Decoding Village Agendas – April 3, 2017
Regular Meeting of the Village Board
8:00 pm
(Open to Public – Televised)

NOTE: As indicated below, the Board will meet at 7:30 for an executive session on Real Property.

PRESENTATION/OTHER:
Request by Village Manager to enter into an Executive Session to discuss a real estate issue. If the request is granted, an Executive Session will be held at 7:30 pm.
Board of Trustees statement regarding immigration practices within the Village. The policy as currently proposed is as follows:

The Village of Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees hereby states its policy and practice for protecting the safety of its residents. While the Croton Police Department is responsible for carrying out the below-stated policy, the Village Board of Trustees fully endorses it on behalf of all Village residents and supports the Croton Police Department in carrying it out.

The Croton Police Department has not in the past, nor will it, inquire about an individual’s immigration status unless the status is important to a criminal investigation. Enforcement of Federal immigration law is the responsibility of the Federal Government and its various enforcement agencies. Croton’s Police Department’s practices are designed to promote mutual respect and to maintain an open dialogue with the community.

The Croton Police Department policy which documents its current and past policy is as follows:

It is the policy of the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department to not inquire about a person’s immigration status, unless the status is important to a criminal investigation. As municipal police officers, the Department members are not authorized to detain or arrest a person based on their immigration status alone. The Department will cooperate with immigration authorities on detainers where there is a judicial criminal warrant, or cases where there is probable cause that there are criminal offenses involved, including terrorism offenses. Department members are not authorized to stop, question, or arrest an individual based on a civil immigration warrant, administrative warrant, or an immigration detainer. (Note: Immigration Detainers are not criminal warrants issued by a judge, and may not provide sufficient basis to detain an individual or to prolong the detention of an individual detained for other reasons.)

Persons arrested for a crime are fingerprinted. The arrested persons fingerprints and information are available to both New York State and Federal authorities.

The Village Board endorses these practices and directs the Chief to incorporate these practices into the Croton Police Department’s written manual and operating procedures. Each police officer is to be given a copy of the policy and acknowledge receipt with their signature.

Further, the focus of the Village Board, the Police and employees of our Village is to serve our community and build relationships through open dialogue. This will ensure that all of our residents are treated fairly and equally, regardless of national origin, race, gender, sex, religion, disability, or political viewpoint.

The Village of Croton is an inclusive and welcoming community. The Village Board and the Croton Police Department will always be committed to protecting innocent, law abiding residents. The safety and well-being of everyone who lives, works in and visits the Village will
always be a priority. Every person in the Village of Croton on Hudson should feel safe stepping forward if they either have witnessed a crime or been victimized themselves.

The foregoing statement by the Board shall be posted on the Village web site and its other social media outlets in both English and Spanish.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Phyllis Bock, Director of Education, Teatown Lake Reservation; re: Permission to use Silver Lake Park for Trout Release Program. This is an annual request by Teatown as part of their ongoing programs. The releases would occur three times in late April and early May.
APPROVED RESOLUTIONS:
The records retention policy adopted in 1989 was recently reviewed by the Village Attorney and deemed to be still valid.
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:
The Board of Trustees considers adopting the appended rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law. This was adopted on May 1, 2000 and recently reviewed by the Village Attorney who recommended minor revisions. The resolution actually calls for the repeal of the 2000 rules and regulations and adoption of the new rules and regulations. The proposed policy clarifies rules regarding the records retention office (village Clerk), location of documents, hours for public inspection how to request public records, subject matter list, denial of requests and fees.
The Board of Trustees considers adopting the Village of Croton-on-Hudson Email Policy applicable to all members of the Board of Trustees. The policy clarifies that all emails of elected officials in the conduct of village business are owned by the Village of Croton. All Board members have official government email addresses which are administered and accessible by the Village Records Officer.
The Board of Trustees considers supporting proposed bills by the New York State Senate and Assembly (S.5197/A.6825) which would provide the State increased authority to review and approve proposals impacting the Hudson River and surrounding communities. These two bills would give the State more leverage with regard to barges in the Hudson River and allow it to carve out places where such barges would be prohibited such as specific waterfront areas or natural resources or habitats. These bills are in response to the proposed 10 anchorages for 43 barges proposed by the Maritime industry and currently being considered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Authorizing the Village Manager to extend the contract for one year with Integrity Facility Service of Bronxville, NY for office and building cleaning services in the amount of$2,980 per month. This price includes a $120 increase which reflects the cleaning of the Community Room an additional day per week. This contract is an extension of the company’s 2016 contract which was awarded as a result of a bidding process. General Foreman Gariepy recommends the extension.
The Village Board of Trustees hereby calls for a Public Hearing on May 1, 2017 at 8pm in the meeting room of the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building to consider Local Law Intro. No. 2 of 2017 amending Chapter 70 Alarm Systems of the Village code to reflect updates in technology. The current Alarm code dates to 1990 and this proposed update reflects changes in alarm system technology as it pertains to Village Code.
The Village Board considers issuing a special permit to the Croton Little League for the 2017 season in order to sell sponsor banners along the Dobbs Park fence during the Croton Little League 2017 season. This resolution would allow the Croton Little League to hang sponsor banners on the fence during its season from April to June. The banners are a form of fund raising by the organization which is why a Board authorized special permit is required.
Authorizing the Village Manager to sign the trail easement on the Bell subdivision subject to final review by the Village Engineer and Village Attorney. During the review of the subdivision, the Planning Board discussed the availability of parkland on the property in lieu of a payment. Site visits were conducted by Planning Board members and members of the Village Trail Committee who identified the proposed new recreation trail, which is approximately 3000 feet and runs from the top of Finney Farm Road along the top of the Bell property adjacent to the Hudson National Golf Club and then down an old stone wall lined farm road through a valley with wetlands and stream eventually ending at Albany Post Road. The Bell subdivision is a 3-lot subdivision of 18.7 acres. The Trail easement would replace or substitute for the requirement that subdivision parcels pay a recreation fee for future recreation needs of the Village. As examples of the use of these funds, see resolutions “h” and “I” below.
Authorizing the Village Manager to accept the proposal from Playground Medic of Hawthorne, NY in the amount of $27,685for new playground equipment and installation at Senasqua Park. The current equipment has reached the end of its suggested life time and is in need of replacement. This project will be funded through a trust account designated for parklands, improvements of green space and community enhancements which had a balance of $76,580.65 as of March 2017. The proposed equipment consists of swings, a slide and climbing apparatus. The project was put out to bid. New playground equipment for this location has been identified as needed for several years.
Authorizing the Village Manager to accept the proposal from Precision Built Fences of Peekskill, NY in the amount of $10,795 to install fencing at Senasqua, improve safety and security at the park. This project will be funded through a trust account designated for parklands, improvements of green space and community enhancements which had a balance of $76,580.65 as of March 2017. The Parks and Recreation Dept. has recommended this fencing as a way to increase safety, especially for children, from loving from the Park to the boat and dock areas. The proposed fence would be 5 foot chain link with a gate to allow access to the bathhouse at Senasqua and a gate at the vehicular entrance. Both gates would have combination locks with access codes provided to those with mooring permits.
Village Board authorizes the issuance of a special permit to the Blue Pig Ice Cream store to sell ice cream at Vassallo Park during earth Day on April 29, 2017. Selling of food items in Village parks requires a special permit from the Board.