The Editor:

Last week the Board of Trustees for the Village of Croton began reviewing Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.  The proposed tax levy is 1.09%, only about one half of the 2% property tax cap or $277,916 less than the allowable limit.

Since I joined the Village Board, I am happy to have supported four budgets below the tax cap.  Thanks to the conservative budgeting practices of our Village, these budgets have always been balanced and our Village has run a surplus.

In my first budget as Mayor, we succeeded in taking a proposed 1.85% increase in the tentative budget and reducing it to less than one half of a percent. The final adopted budget passed by the Village Board came in $170,000+ beneath the tax cap.

Keeping our Village affordable by keeping tax growth below the rate of inflation and under the tax cap remains a key priority.

Sincerely,

Brian Pugh

Mayor, Village of Croton

To the Editor,

Last week the Village Board began a discussion with residents about the Municipal Place Gateway area and the section of North Riverside Ave between Grand Street and just short of Prospect Ave. to the north.  Both are primarily zoned for commercial uses. It also includes the bottom of Brook Street.

At its first public input session on Thursday night, approximately 45 people heard, and participated in, a presentation by Buckhurst Fish and Jaquemart (BFJ), the Village’s Planning consultants.  BFJ presented an overview of existing conditions in these areas, including both current zoning, uses and geography.

There are multiple reasons for the Village to take a look at existing zoning from time to time:

1. NYS requires that municipal zoning be in sync with the community goals identified in their Comprehensive Plan.
2. Explore possible new opportunities for enhancing both business and living in these areas while ensuring that necessary infrastructure will be in place to support them including parking, walkability and ease of access to other neighborhoods and the waterfront.
3. Assess how the Village-owned undeveloped property, known as the Katz Property across from the CVS plaza, might best be utilized to enhance the area as well as the entire Village.

This is a discussion of possibilities but there are no current proposals.

While the presentation highlighted some possibilities, the idea was to get a conversation started and to provide some basic information to inform the discussion.  

If this discussion ultimately does lead to some zoning updates, one thing to be assured of is that any existing property that is currently legally non-conforming, will remain so; existing structures will not have to change.

The presentation is available on the Village website to watch in its entirety (click on Projects and Initiatives on the left side of the Home page).   A survey about residents’ views is also available on the website for residents to answer. The same survey is also being mailed to each resident. It can be answered online or by return mail.  The more people who respond, the better understanding there will be of how residents view the current village and what they would like to see occur in these two important areas.

There will be another input session in late May or early June, after the results of the survey have been compiled.  At that session, there will be specific discussion groups on various areas of the overall study area to elicit from residents more detailed expectations and concerns.

We hope that everyone will take a few minutes to answer the survey and also participate in this discussion as it moves forward. This is an opportunity to be part of defining and shaping the future of an important area of our Village.

 

Ann Gallelli

Deputy Mayor, Village of Croton

 

Ann Gallelli

Dear Editor, 

Spring has arrived! And there’s no better way to welcome it than by enjoying a huge variety of soups and desserts at the Croton Democrats’ annual Soup Supper. This longtime favorite of Croton residents will take place on Sunday, March 24, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Croton Yacht Club. Tickets are $20 each; kids under 16 eat for free.

 

Join us for an evening of good food and stimulating conversation set against the incomparable background of a Hudson River sunset. Meet elected officials from Croton and Westchester County, learn what’s happening in your community, and sample delicious soups made with love by your friends and neighbors. If you’d like to get involved in local politics or simply meet your neighbors, this is the place to do it. The Croton Democrats’ Soup Supper will nourish your body, mind and soul – don’t miss it!

 

Hope to see you on the 24th!

 

Jennifer Pauly, Vice Chair

To The Editor:

The space now occupied by the Croton Police Department in the Municipal Building is woefully inadequate. Our officers have had to make do for many years, but two reasons make it urgent that we give them a larger and more appropriately laid out space. First, this fall the NY ‘Raise the Age’ law will require that we separate adult prisoners from both juveniles and youth up to age 19 – we cannot do this within the present space. Second, because of limited space, police storage is scattered in various nooks and corners of all four levels of the building. In the event of an emergency, this would significantly slow police response – with potentially lethal consequences.

Moving the Recreation Department to Gouveia Park will give the police department the space it needs, while allowing the Village to actively develop the use of that gem of a house and natural setting for a host of arts and recreational activities.

Rick Olver

Village Trustee

To The Editor:

 

I am writing to advise Village residents of two new opportunities to access Village services online: 1) applying online for FREE weekend parking permits at the Croton-Harmon Train Station; and 2) paperless billing for property tax bills and quarterly utility bills .

 

The application to apply online can be found at: croton.seamlessdocs.com/f/weekendparking or by clicking on the “parking”tab of the Village’s homepage, crotononhudson-ny.gov. Please note that you must upload a copy of your car’s registration as part of the application process.  If you have any questions, please contact the Parking Department at 914-271-4781.

 

Offered by the Village for many years,currently, over 600 residents are taking advantage of this opportunity. With some 2,000 households in this community, I hope the convenience of online permitting will enable more to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

Further, effective March 2019  cycle, residents can receive their quarterly utility bills and annual property tax bills via email. This can be done by visiting: croton.seamlessdocs.com/f/billemailform.

 

If you have already signed up for paperless bills, no action is necessary.  For any questions, please contact the Village Treasurer’s Office at 914-862-1419.

 

Sincerely,

 

Brian Pugh

Dear neighbor, Here is the 439th 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 –   March 20, 2019

Work Session of the Village Board

7: 30 p.m.

 (Open to Public and Televised

 

 

 

1. The Board will review and discuss the proposed budget for the Department of Public Works, the Water Fund, and the Sewer Fund.  The various accounts in the DPW budget that will be reviewed include Administration, Public Buildings, Central Garage, Animal Control, Street Maintenance, Street Lighting, Brush and Weeds, Snow Removal, Recycling, Refuse and Garbage, Storm Sewers, Street Cleaning, Community Beautification, and  Street Trees.

The Water and Sewer Fund budgets will also be reviewed.  They are not part of the General fund that is the basis for the property tax.

Dear neighbor, Here is the 437th installment of Decoding Village Agendas to keep Croton residents informed of the actions of theVillage 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 – March 18, 2019

Regular Meeting of the Village Board

8:00 pm

(Open to Public – Televised)

 Note:   The Board will meet in Executive Session at 7:30 pm to discuss the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property.

PRESENTATION/OTHER:  Presentation by  Daniel O’Connor, Village Engineer, on the Croton Point Avenue, Traffic, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Enhancement Project scheduled for 2019.    The Village Engineer will provide an overview of the expected construction project to improve Croton Point Avenue. The Village received federal funding of $1.5 million for this project and NYSDOT has added $250,000.  To date, the Village has expended about $600,000 in required design and bid document development by CHA – a NYSDOT-approved consultant for the project. Bids will be opened later this month.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

1. Advocacy update from NYCOM Executive Director Peter Baynes. Mr. Baynes had previously provided a synopsis of the proposed NYS Executive budget highlight those issues that NYCOM feels are most relevant to Villages.  In this correspondence, he updates the status of those issues as they move through the NYS legislature.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

1. Consider scheduling a Public Hearing on the adoption of the tentativeVillageBudget for Monday, April 1, at 7:30 pm in the Georgianna Grant Meeting Room of the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building.  This required Public Hearing will allow opportunity for residents to provide input on the tentative budget to be released on March 18 by the Village Manager.

1. Consider approving the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department members in the Lengthy of Service Award Program for 2018 and authorizing its posting for 30 days. Each year the Board is required to post a list of Fire Department personnel who have earned a year of service credit, and those who did not, to be eligible for the Life Service Award program.

13. Consider authorizing theVillageTreasurer to amend the 2018/2019 General Fund Budget in the amount of $6,013.34 for monies received from insurance recovery.  These insurance recoveries involve both a DPW truck and a Parking Enforcement vehicle.

914. Consider authorizing theVillageTreasurer to amend the 2018/2019 General Fund Budget in the amount of $1,914.75 for monies received from the Croton-Harmon School District for leaf removal services.  The Village assisted the school district with some leaf removal due to a breakdown in their equipment.

1. Consider authorizing theVillage Manager to sign an InterMunicipal Agreement with the Croton-Harmon School District to permit the school district to purchase and install new equipment at Firefighters Field, as well as assist in maintaining the field during the Spring season, in exchange for use of the field for games and practices during the Spring season.  The school district uses this field for girls softball games and practices.  The will install a scoreboard, wind screens and fence capping, as well as a tarp for the infield section.  The agreement must also be approved by the Board of Education.

535. Consider authorizing theVillage Treasurer to make an inter fund transfer in the amount of $10,535.04 for expenses related to the installation of electric vehicle chargers.  A NYS grant of $24,000 was received as a result of efforts by the Sustainability Committee for three EV chargers.  Two will be installed at the Municipal Building and one at the station.   Each services two vehicles.  The installation is not covered by the grant.  Future use of the chargers is expected to be fee-based.

2018. Consider adoption of a resolution in memory of Jan Wines, former chair of the Croton Trails Committee, and the renaming of the trails system to the Jan Wines  Memorial Trails System. Jan Wines passed away in 2018. He was the first and only chair of the Trails committee and was responsible for the first trails map of theVillage’s trail system.  This resolution would honor his service and memory by placing a commemorative plaque at the entrance to the trail system in the Arboretum.

1. Consider authorizing theVillageManager to execute Change Order #1 for the Grand Street Drainage and Parking Loy Improvements in the amount of $16,425 for additional material needed for the replacement of an existing retaining wall on the property.  The original approval of the WD Excavating bid did not include sufficient material needed for the wall.

To The Editor:

 

Much as a homeowner might refinance her mortgage to take advantage of favorable interest rates, so do local governments with regards to their municipal bonds.  Board of Trustees authorized our Village Treasurer to refinance two outstanding bonds, as reported in a letter to the Gazette by Deputy Mayor Ann Gallelli on February 8th.  I am happy to report that this refinancing will yield hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings for our Village and reaffirmed the strength of our Village’s credit.

 

This refinacing was rated Aa2 by Moody’s, an independent rating agency.  In it’s analysis of our Village’s credit, Moody’s reported: “The Aa2 issuer rating reflects the village’s moderate and stabilizing tax base favorably located in Westchester County (Aa1 negative) and strong financial position supported by conservative fiscal policies.”

 

This strong bond rating and favorable market conditions has enable the Village to refinance at rates more favorable than previously anticipated.  Consequently, the Village will realize net savings on debt service in excess of $350,000 over the 10-year life of the new bonds.

 

I would like to thank the Village Treasurer and Manager who brought this opportunity to our attention and Board of Trustees whose fiscal stewardship and oversight has preserved our robust rating.

 

There are many competing demands on our Village dollars–for recreation, infrastructure, and public safety. We are always looking for opportunities, such as this, to enhance our ability to meet these demands.

 

As we approach the upcoming budget process (culminating its adoption on April 15th), I look forward to working with our Village’s professional staff and my colleagues on the Board of Trustees to continue to balance the needs the of the Village and maintain our community’s fiscal health.

 

Sincerely,

 

Brian Pugh

Dear neighbor, Here is the 435th 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 – March 4, 2019

Regular Meeting of the Village Board

8:00 pm

(Open to Public – Televised)

 

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING:  Public Hearing to amend Section 197 of the Village Code, Streets and Sidewalks, to revise the existing sidewalk improvement program and establish a general sidewalk improvement program for the Village. 

The Village is considering reinstituting a sidewalk replacement program of past years. The amendment to the Streets and Sidewalk Law would add a new section taking effect June 1, 2019 and continuing for three years, the Village will cover 40% of sidewalk replacement costs.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

1. Letter from Glenn Simpson, Little League President, regarding Opening Day Parade.  Mr. Simpson requests the assistance of  the DPW, Police Dept. and Fire Dept. in facilitating the  Opening Day parade and ceremony in Dobbs Park on Saturday, April 13 starting at 9:30 am.
2. Press release and comments from Moody’s Investment Services on the Village maintaining its Aa2 credit rating.    The Village recently refinanced $4.9 million in bonds resulting in savings of future debt payments.  Moody’s ratings of Aa2 (highest for this size municipality) states that “The Aa2 issuer rating reflects the village’s moderate and stabilizing tax base favorably located in Westchester County (Aa1 negative) and strong financial position supported by conservative fiscal policies. The rating also reflects ongoing draws on fund balance for capital expenses, and elevated fixed costs.”

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

1. Acknowledge receipt of letter from Ms. Desiree Drapala, owner of Happy Hearts Take Two, requesting an expansion of the special permit for her business located at 365 South Riverside Avenue and refer such application to the Planning Board for review.   The proposed expansion at the site calls for replacing the portion of it with an automotive repair business with ten ( 10) classrooms for children enrolled at Happy Hearts. 
2. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to accept the proposal from Provident Design Engineering of Hawthorne, New York, to conduct a traffic study around the intersection of Grand Street and Old Post Road South for an amount not to exceed $5,900.   At the request of the Bicycle Pedestrian Committee, the Board would like to gain a better understanding of traffic patterns at the intersection named.  Thirteen proposals were received in response to a RFP for a study. This Study will include a written text of the study describing the study methodology and findings as well as a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods of vehicular and pedestrian traffic control along with our recommendations.
3. Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to publish the list of unpaid taxes for the fiscal year 2018-19.  Annually, in accordance with the NYS Real Property Tax Law, the Village publishes notice of all unpaid property taxes.  There are 39 properties on the list. The total of taxes owed is $90,191.50.  With the addition of penalties the amount is $101,014.46.
4. Consider amending the Master Fee Schedule to establish vendor fees for Summerfest.  This year the Village will be taking over the allocation of vendors spaces at Summerfest.  The proposed vendor fees are categorized into three categories:  General vendor, Food and Beverage vendor, non-profit.  Discounted Early Bird fees of $75, $100, and $40, respectively, are available for signups prior to May 1.  Slightly higher fees apply after that date.
5. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to sign an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the Town of Cortlandt providing for the advertisement of bids by the Town’s Purchasing Director for the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.   This is an annual shared services agreement with the Town allowing the Village to share in bids for items needed by both entities.
6. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to sign an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the City of Peekskill, Towns of Cortlandt and Philipstown and the Village of Buchanan providing for the sharing of equipment and vehicles for the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.   This is an annual shared services agreement among the above entities  allowing for sharing equipment when applicable
7. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute a revised proposal with Peter Gisolfi Associates of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, for the purposes of creating an additional concept design for the renovation and alteration of the first floor of the Municipal Building at an additional amount of $2,000.   Gisolfi has been previously engaged to provide concept plans for the modernization and renovation of the Police Dept. located in the Municipal Building. New requirements resulting from Raise The Age Legislation by NYS has added to space requirements. Gisolfi would include the revised requirements in their concept plans which would encompass the first floor of the Municipal Building.  The increase in expenditure would be $2,000.
8. Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to make an interfund transfer in the amount of $9,513.56 to provide funding for the NYS Volunteer Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program.  New York State has imposed an unfunded mandate that Cancer liability coverage be provided to eligible members of volunteer fire departments.  The Village has obtained this coverage for $9,513.56 but it was not budgeted in the 2018/2019 Budget.  The amount would be taken from the Contingency Account.
9. Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to amend the 2018-2019 General Fund Budget in the amount of $3,328.67 for monies received from insurance recovery.   This is budget housekeeping that reflects the recovery of money from storm-related computer damage in July 2018.