To the Editor:

It is encouraging that the process for development of the Katz property is moving forward, step-by-step, with strong public participation throughout, including by the Municipal Place Advisory Task Force. It’s also good to know that this project aligns Croton with other communities around the country that are revitalizing underutilized land to increase housing and deploying smart zoning updates to do so. For example, 15 cities in the Boston area have agreed to increase housing construction and use improved local zoning to get there. Fairfax County, VA and Seattle have rezoned certain corridors to allow for higher-density and more affordable residences. Oakland’s zoning updates are helping it outpace San Francisco in new housing units. Concord, NH has an initiative called ConcordNext to adjust its zoning to increase housing opportunities, first in residential and mixed-use districts, and then in commercial corridors. Somerville, NJ has updated its zoning to promote affordable housing and improve sustainability. Some localities have also updated zoning to encourage new housing near transportation and other public assets.

Publicly-owned land for the development of housing also helps increase supply in areas with high land costs and limited development opportunities. Montgomery County, MD is promoting mixed-income housing on county-owned land especially when near public facilities. King County, WA requires surplus parcels appropriate for residential development be sold or leased for development of affordable housing.

As the process proceeds, we all have great interest in the future of our Village Gateway. But as we enter a critical phase ahead, it’s good to know Croton is pursuing a land-use strategy successfully adopted by many other U.S. communities. And hopefully, in the not too distant future, the Katz property, like 379 South Riverside, will be viewed as another good role model from Croton on how to effectively bring much-needed housing to a locality which needs it now more than ever.

Len Simon
Democratic Candidate
Croton Board of Trustees

Dear neighbor, Here is the 504th 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 –   August 24, 2020

Work Session of the Village Board

5:30 p.m.

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1.      Review renderings of proposed solar canopies at Croton Landing.   The Board will review a rendering of possible solar canopies at Croton Landing.  As shown, they are located on the right side of the parking areas north of the Yacht Club north to the bathroom facility (on the east side of the road).  They are provided by Ecogy Energy.  In order to explore the possibility of pursuing this, they must have an agreement from the Village allowing them to do.

2.      Review of the Municipal Place Advisory Task Force recommendations on the request for proposals (RFP) for the development of a Village-owned parcel (“The Katz Property”) at 41-51 Maple Street.   The Task Force appointed by Mayor Pugh has provided their report to the Board on appropriate development possibilities for the property.  The full report is available in the Backup to this meeting on the Village website.  The following is the first paragraph summary from the Task Force: 

There are three development possibilities: mixed use with ground floor retail and two floors of apartments above; all (three floors) of apartments; or townhouses. We unanimously concluded that mixed use was the least appropriate and desirable due to (i) resulting increased traffic and parking difficulties in an already congested area, (ii) local and national retail environment making such a project less feasible and attractive for developers, and (iii) possibility that even if a developer could find an anchor retail tenant, it would likely result in cannibalization or closure of existing retail businesses in Village

Dear neighbor, Here is the 503rdinstallment 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 – August 17, 2020

Regular Meeting of the Village Board

5:00 pm

(Zoom )

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NOTE:  This meeting will start with an Executive Session at 5:00 pm.  The Call to Order for the Regular Meeting will begin, via Zoom, at 6:00 pm.

Executive Session:  Consider a motion to enter into an Executive Session to discuss matters of personnel.

PUBLIC HEARING:

a.    Continuation of Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory 6 of 2020 to amend Chapter 168 of the Village Code, Parks and Recreation Areas, to prohibit the use of remote-controlled aircraft in Village-owned parks. This law would prohibit drones, as well as other remote-controlled aircraft, being launched in Village parks, excepting Gouveia Park.

CORRESPONDENCE:

a.     Letter from Peter Lavery of Finney Farm Road regarding the proposed leaf blower    legislation.   Mr. Lavery objects to the recommendation of the Conservation Advisory Committee regarding banning of gas-powered leaf blowers. He believes there are factual errors in their report and the studies they cite may not be applicable to Croton.  He believes that Noise is the real problem and that noisy equipment should be regulated under the Noise ordinance.  He makes some recommendations for amendments to the Noise ordinance.

b.      Survey results from Black Rock Dog Park permit holders.  Dog Park permit holders were asked their preference for dog park hours at the Black Rock Dog Park as well as at Croton Landing.  Individual responses were received from 49 people. There are 57 individuals holding permits for 67 dogs.  The largest preference ( about 27%) was for hours of 8am to 11 am and 4 pm to 7 pm at Black Rock Park.  Only about 1% preferred 8 am to 8 pm at Croton Landing. 

c.     Report from the Village Manager concerning Con Edison’s response to Tropical Storm Isaias.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

1. Consider adoption of the LGS-1 Schedule establishing retention periods for various government records.  In NYS different levels of government have different requirements for the retention and management of documents.  This is a new schedule of retention developed by the State that would apply to all levels of the NYS governments.
2. Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to amend the 2020-2021 General Fund Budget in the amount of $1,000 for monies received from the New York State Justice Court Assistance Program. The Village Justice Court has received this money to help deal with some Covid-19 expenses.
3. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute the memorandum of understanding with Sustainable Westchester to renew the Community Choice Aggregation program for the period beginning January 1, 2021.   This would continue Croton’s Community Choice Aggregation arrangement with Sustainable Westchester and Constellation.  The current agreement ends in 2020.
4. Consider the provisional appointment of Lt. John Nikitopoulos to the position of Chief of Police effective August 29, 2020, at an annual salary of $165,000.  Lt. Nikitopoulos has been with the Croton Police Department since 1986 and has served in many capacities including Sergeant, Detective and Lieutenant.   Currently there is no binding County Civil Service Promotional List for Police Chief in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.  Lt. Nikitopoulos will serve as Provisional Chief, according to the regulations of the County Department of Human Resources, until next Civil Service for Police Chief is offered and taken.
5. Consider the reduction of Village fees for on-street vending and vending in the parks through October 31, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  To help business owners deal with the revenue effects of the Covid-19 virus, the Village would reduce it fees fo the above vending permits by 50%, ending on October 31, 2020.
6. Consider authorizing the selling of alcoholic beverages in Senasqua Park during certain hours and days.  This would require a fee of $100 and be subject to times and days set by the Village Manager.

To the Editor:

There are many lessons from the life of the late Congressman John Lewis – from courage on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to 15 years of tenacity to create the National Museum of African American History Culture and Heritage. But for those of us interested in local government, there’s a great John Lewis story that teaches a lesson about commitment and principle.

Before he was Congressman Lewis, he was Atlanta Councilman Lewis from 1981-1986. When he ran in 1981, he opposed a four-lane super-highway in downtown Atlanta to connect with the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Councilman Lewis believed it would increase traffic, cause middle-class and business exits, and hurt Black neighborhoods.

Jimmy Carter wanted the project badly. As President, he’d named Lewis Associate Director of the ACTION Agency, responsible for VISTA and other programs. The new Mayor of Atlanta, Andrew Young was also strongly for the project. He’d been John Lewis’ partner in the civil rights struggle for two decades.

President Carter and Mayor Young worked relentlessly but unsuccessfully to change Councilman Lewis’ position. The project passed but because of the opposition from Councilman Lewis and others, a compromise turned it into a two lane road.

Lewis’ stance on the highway hurt him politically. He never served on an important committee or chaired any committee on the Atlanta City Council in the next five years. But the feared devastation of the original project was avoided by the compromise version. He took a firm stand to protect the people he served and was unconcerned about what it meant to him personally. But that was no surprise – it is who John Lewis was as a civil rights leader, Councilman, Congressman and American icon.

The Carter Library and the road were built. That road, originally named Presidential Parkway, was renamed Freedom Parkway years later. But since August 2018, it has been the John Lewis Freedom Parkway.

Thanks, John Lewis, for your enduring lifetime of lessons, which should always guide us here at home.

Len Simon

Democratic Candidate for

Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees

Dear neighbor, Here is the 502ndinstallment 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 – August 3, 2020

Regular Meeting of the Village Board

5:30 pm

(Zoom )

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NOTE:  This meeting will start with an Executive Session at 5:30 pm.  The Call to Order for the Regular Meeting will begin, via Zoom, at 6:30 pm.

Executive Session:  Consider a request from the Village Manager to hold an Executive Session to discuss matters of personnel and matters regarding the lease of real property.

PUBLIC HEARING:

1.  Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory 6 of 2020 to amend Chapter 168 of the Village Code, Parks and Recreation Areas, to prohibit the use of remote-controlled aircraft in Village-owned parks.   This law would prohibit drones, as well as other remote-controlled aircraft, being launched in Village parks, excepting Gouveia Park.

CORRESPONDENCE:

a. Email from John Munson, Fire Council Secretary, regarding fire department membership changes.  Secretary Munson notes the change in status of several members as well as the addition of several new members of the Fire Department.

2. Letter from Jud Ramaker, Race Director for the Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger, regarding this year’s virtual event.   Mr. Ramaker notifies us that the 40^th Annual Run Against Hunger will be virtual event this year.  During the period of October 10 – 18, participants will be able to take part in any of three events – the 1 mile Fun Run, 5K Run and Walk and the 10K Run – at any time in the period listed above and at any location of their choosing – track, trail, road or even a distant state.   The Village Police and the Village DPW will not be as involved as in past years.
3. Report from the Municipal Place Advisory Task Force on the draft request for proposals (RFP) for the development of a Village-owned parcel (“The Katz Property”) at 41-51 Maple Street.  The Task Force  appointed by Mayor Pugh met twice and reviewed the draft RFP.  The Board of Trustees will discuss the RFP and Task Force comments at a work session later in August.
4. Compilation of energy data from municipal buildings for 2019 in accordance with the Village’s Benchmarking Policy.  The report shows the monthly usage of natural gas and electricity for all Village-owned buildings.  

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

1.   Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute an inter-municipal agreement with Westchester County for use of the firing range at the county police academy for firearms training purposes at a cost of $630 per visit for the period ending July 31, 2025.  This IMA is a 5-year agreement, allowing Croton Police to utilize the County training facility.

2. Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to make an interfund transfer in the amount of $9,675 for costs related to equipment repairs at the Skyview Pump Station.  This repair was an emergency repair and not included in the annual budget.  The money will be transferred from the Contingency Account.

3. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute an easement agreement providing a right-of-way ingress and egress easement for the property located at 41 Harrison Street.   The Board reviewed this proposed easement at several work sessions.  This resolution finds the proposed easement to be in the best interests of the Village.  It will facilitate off-street parking in the area.

4. Consider accepting the letter of resignation for retirement purposes from Chief of Police Russel H. Harper effective August 29, 2020. Chief Harper thanks the Village for the opportunity to serve as Chief of Police.  Chief Harper has served on the Croton Police force for 40 years.