Dear neighbor, Here is the 530thinstallment 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  30, 2021

 Special Meeting of the Village Board

4:00 pm

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Filing of oath of office of newly appointed member of the Board of Trustees to fill an unexpired term. Please note the Oath of Office book has been signed prior to the meeting.   

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Public Hearing on Tentative 2021-2022 Village Budget.Note: This public hearing will be continued at the Meeting of April 5 at 6 pm. A presentation providing an overview of the tentative proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 can be viewed by clicking on Agendas from the Village website and selecting the March 29 meeting. Manager King will present brief highlights of the proposed 2021/22 budget which calls for a 3.82% increase in the tax rate.   This does not comply with the NYS Tax Levy Cap. This year’s allowable limit is $12,341,899, an increase of $412,549 over last year.  The proposed levy for the 21/22 FY is $12,474,070 which is $132,171 over the allowable limit. The median assessed property in the Village would pay $149 more in taxes.  Non-tax revenue is down $2,187,047 from the prior year. Last year, in anticipation of pandemic related   loss of revenue, the Board cut $415,388 in expenses.  The 2021/22 proposed budget cuts an additional $365,810 over and above last year’s cuts.  The complete detailed budget documents are available on the Village website, www.crotononhudson-ny.gov.  CLICK on the Budget Public Hearing Notice in the center of the Home Page.

Dear neighbor, Here is the 529th 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 22, 2021

Work Session of the Village Board

6:00 p.m.

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1.      Review of Proposed 2021-2022 Village Budget by Village Manager Janine King.  Manager King will present brief highlights of the proposed 2021/22 budget which calls for a 3.82% increase in the tax rate.   This does not comply with the NYS Tax Levy Cap. This year’s allowable limit is $12,341,899, an increase of $412,549 over last year.  The proposed levy for the 21/22 FY is $12,474,070 which is $132,171 over the allowable limit. The median assessed property in the Village would pay $149 more in taxes.  

Non-tax revenue is down $2,187,047 from the prior year. Last year, in anticipation of pandemic related   loss of revenue, the Board cut $415,388 in expenses.  The 2021/22 proposed budget cuts an additional $365,810 over and above last year’s cuts.

The Public Hearing on the Budget will be held on Monday, March 29 at 4 pm.

2.      Discussion of First Floor Renovations for Police Department.  The discussion will center on the previously approved plan to upgrade the Municipal Building first floor to accommodate Police department needs and requirements.  Changes/updates are proposed for the offices, locker room, booking/holding area, front office, front and side entrances, well as radios, cameras, security and computer upgrades.

3.      Review of items from the Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee: Master Plan Document, Slow Down Croton & Complete Streets Policy.  The BPC will present the three proposals they have developed and are supporting in their efforts and mission to  improve street safety throughout the Village.  The documents and a survey they conducted are available on the Village website under Boards and Committees.

4.      Discussion on the implementation of the residential parking permit system on Young Avenue and Hastings Avenue.  IN 2029 and 2020, in response to complaints from residents on these streets and a Village-conducted survey of these residents, the village made a Home Rule Request to the NYS Legislature to allow the Village to implement a residential parking system on these Village streets.  The discussion will focus on implementation.

Dear Neighbors & Friends: It is with a heavy heart that we announce the tragic & untimely passing of Croton-on-Hudson Trustee John Habib. John will be sorely missed for his infectious energy, mega-watt smile, passion for public service, and abiding love for his hometown.  John grew up in Croton-on-Hudson and was a graduate of Holy Name of Mary and Croton Harmon High School. John earned his undergraduate degree from Colgate University and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law. During his professional career, John held several executive positions with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Chamber of Commerce, as well as major law firms handling commercial litigation.  Before being elected as a Trustee, John served as Chair of the Business Development Committee. While in office, John spearheaded the establishment of the Croton Business Council, using his expertise from the private sector to help organize and energize the business community. John was known for always being full of ideas and never hesitating to question conventional wisdom. The Village’s notice of John’s passing is available here. Our thoughts are with John’s beloved wife, Tanya Chuck-Habib, and his extended family here in Croton and beyond.  The Croton Democratic Committee

Dear neighbor, Here is the 528thinstallment 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  15, 2021

 Regular Meeting of the Village Board

6:00 pm

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PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Public Hearing to consider the special permit renewal for Smoke Town Discount, located at 50A Maple Street.

The applicant is seeking a renewal with no expiration period. The current permit is for three-years and expires in July, 2021.

CORRESPONDENCE:

1. Email from John Munson, Fire Council Secretary, detailing membership changes in the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department.    Secretary Munson updates the Village on changes in the status of various members of the Fire department.
2. Email from John Munson, Fire Council Secretary, requesting approval for the annual “Big Bucks Raffle” to be drawn October 2021.  The Village is required to approve Fire Department fund-raiser raffles.
3. Email from Dennis Kooney of the Croton Yacht Club providing various documentation in accordance with the property lease.  Mr. Kooney provides the annual lease report for 2021.  The report outlines the various property repairs and improvements planned for this year as well as membership information.
4. Email from the Croton-Harmon High School Student Activism Club requesting use of Vassallo Park for the annual Take Back the Night program on April 29, 2021.  The Student Activism Club is asking to be able to have their annual Take Back the Night event at Vassallo Park on Friday, April 29 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  For several years this event has included a walk from Five corners to the Black Cow for a gathering to listen to speakers.  Due to the pandemic, they are asking to be able to meet in the park instead of inside.

e.     Letter from Sandra Bullock, Village Treasurer, regarding her date of retirement.  Treasurer Bullock announces her intention to retire as of July 30, 2021.  She looks forward to her retirement but will be working towards making a smooth transition.    f.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

1. Consider the establishment of a Police Advisory Committee for the Village of Croton-on-Hudson. In accordance with the recently adopted Police Reform Plan, this resolution authorizes the formation of a Police Advisory Committee composed of  5 to 7 members, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Trustees, for staggered three-year terms.
2. Consider scheduling a public hearing to consider the 2021-2022 Tentative Village Budget for March 29, 2021, at 4 PM, via Zoom videoconference.  As required by law, a public hearing will be scheduled  on the forthcoming Tentative Budget to be filed by the Village Manager as Budget Officer by March 20^th.

Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to amend the 2020-2021 General Fund Budget in the amount of $3,397.13 for monies received from the 2020-2021 Justice Court Assistance Program.  This accounts for money received from a grant through the NYS.

4. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute the STOP-DWI Crackdown Weekends Reimbursement Agreement with Westchester County for the period between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, for an amount not to exceed $10,000.  The Village has participated in this program over several years. This agreement with the County provides for reimbursement to the Village from the County for special enforcement details to conduct high visibility road checks, saturation patrols, and drug recognition expert call outs.  The program is conducted on select holiday weekends throughout the year.

5. Consider authorizing an amendment to the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) to permit the accrual of five points per month for active members during the period of March 16, 2020, and June 16, 2020, in regards to Special Response Rules that curtailed regular point-earning activities.  Due to the COVID pandemic restrictions, members of the Fire Department were restricted from activities that would have earned them points in the Fire Department Service Award Program.  This would permit them to accrue up to 5 Service Award points for the designated period.

6. Consider adoption of the Public Employer Health Emergency Plan for the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.  Recent NYS legislation requires municipalities to adopt a Plan of Operations to be in effect if the Governor declares a health emergency due to a communicable disease.  The plan includes procedures to be followed regarding sanitizing, distancing, etc.  It is available from the Village website as part of the back up documents for the agenda of this meeting.

7. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute an agreement with Hudson River Recreation for a recreational kayak program at Echo Canoe Launch for the period of May 1, 2021, through November 30, 2021.  After not renewing this agreement in 2019 in order to understand and examine the program’s impacts, this resolution would renew the program for 1 year with a 3-year renewal possibility.  The program would run from May 1 to November 30.  HHR would pay a annual Storage fee of $1,150 plus an operation fee of the greater of $1,125 or 8% of HRR gross income, increasing over 3 years if renewed..  The complete agreement is available in the backup documents to this agenda item on the Village website.
8. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute a contract extension with La Teja Contractors & Landscaping, Inc., of Ossining, New York, for the 2021 lawn maintenance program as permitted by Bid No. 2-2020.  DPW Superintendent has recommended extending the contract of La Teja for an additional year at the same price  of $44,530.