Dear neighbor, Here is the 541st 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 –   June 14, 2021

Work Session of the Village Board

6:00 p.m.

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1. Review the proposed Indian Brook-Croton Gorge Watershed Overlay Zone. 

Five municipalities, Cortlandt, New Castle, Town and Village of Ossining, and Village of Croton   formed the Indian Brook-Croton Gorge Watershed group many years ago to protect the water supply in these watersheds.  The group has issued an RFP to undertake the study and development of a Watershed Overlay zone that would establish protective zoning rules in the watershed area.  Before the RFP is finalized it must be reviewed and approved by the municipalities involved.   The Board will discuss whether the Village wishes to proceed with the development of such an overlay zone. The majority of the IBCG watershed area does not have municipal water or sewers.

2. Discussion regarding a proposed mural to be painted at Senasqua Park.  Local artist Dillon O’Keefe is proposing a mural on the wall of the Bathhouse at Senasqua Park which depicts the words “Croton-on-Hudson” against a sunset on the Hudson River.

3. Review the vendor usage of Senasqua Park under the revised permitting process.  The Board will discuss the billing/fee process under the current permitting process whereby vendors pay a  permit fee and are later billed a fee to cover the presence of a Park ranger.

4. Review of survey results regarding the residential parking permit system on Young Avenue and Hastings  Avenue.   In 2019, the Village conducted a survey for residents of Young and Hastings Avenues regarding their preference for time-limited parking on the street vs a residential permitting system.  Based on the results at that time, the Village requested our NYS representatives to introduce bills in the State Assembly and Senate permitting residential parking permits on a public street.  It was approved.  However, since changes have occurred in parking due to the pandemic, the Village sent a 2021 survey which indicated a negative interest.  (Survey results are in the back up documents.)  The Board will discuss how it wants to move ahead or not on this matter.

5. Discussion regarding the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act and its possible impact on Croton-on-Hudson.  The Board must decide whether to “opt out” or not of the provisions of the recently passed Marijuana Law. The Village can always “opt -in” at any time in the future but must decide whether to “opt-out” by December 31, 2021. 

 The following questions will also be discussed:  1) Shall the Village Code section prohibiting smoking and vaping tobacco in parks and recreation areas be expanded to prohibit the smoking and vaping of marijuana in those areas? 2) Shall the Village adopt a local law prohibiting dispensaries of marijuana and other cannabis products within the Village boundaries? 3) Shall the Village adopt a local law prohibiting cannabis consumption sites (“lounges”) from operating within the Village boundaries?

If the Board decides to proceed with a local law prohibiting either #2 or #3, the law must be passed by December 31, 2021. The Village can always “opt-in” at a future date,  but cannot “opt-out” after December 31st. The local laws are subject to permissive referendum, so it would be our recommendation to adopt the laws by the beginning of September to permit the referendum question to be added to the November 2021 ballot, if necessary, and avoid the expense of a special election.

Dear neighbor, Here is the 540thinstallment 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 – June 7,, 2021

 Regular Meeting of the Village Board

6:00 pm

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PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1.. Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory 4 of 2021 to amend Chapter 197 of the Village Code, Streets and Sidewalks, to include an appeals process for the removal of snow and ice on sidewalks.  This would add a method for appealing a violation of snow removal on sidewalks which currently is not in the code.

2. Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory 5 of 2021 to amend Chapter 70 of the Village Code,Alarm Systems, to update the appeals process for contesting denial, suspension, revocation orcharges.  This would add a method for appealing an Alarm System violation or charge which currently is not in the code.  3. Public Hearing on the Village’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) fundingapplication.  In order to apply and qualify for CBDG grants, the projects must be identified and apublic hearing must be held.  The four projects that the Village is considered applying for grantfunding for are: the improvement of the Brook Street parking lot, the replacement of the DobbsPark playground equipment and resurfacing of the Dobbs Park basketball court, the replacementof the retaining wall along lower Grand Street and the replacement of an existing sidewalk alongSouth Riverside Avenue between Oneida Avenue and Bungalow Road;

CORRESPONDENCE:

a. Letter from Marjorie Blum & Jack Manno regarding a $1,000 donation for a bench at Croton Landing.   Ms. Blum and Mr. Manno have generously donated a bench for the park.

b. Email from Cynthia Lippolis of the Croton Rotary Club requesting permission to use the Croton-Harmon Train Station parking lot for their annual car show on September 26. As done last year, there will also be a car parade.

c. Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Westchester County Supreme Court in the matter of Maria Elena DiBella v. Village of Croton-on-Hudson, Croton-on-Hudson Planning Board and Half Moon Bay Homeowners Association. 

The court has issued a “temporary restraining order prohibiting THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSOF THE HALF MOON BAY HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. (the “HOA Board”)from paving the Discovery Cove Promenade until this motion is decided.” The matter was brought against the Planning Board, the Village of Croton and the HMB Homeowners Association by the homeowner.

d. Letter from Kelly Turturro, DEC Regional Director, regarding the Croton Gorge Unique Area.   The letter is a response to both County Executive Lattimer and Mayor Pugh.  It states that the DEC is continuing to monitor the situation, mentions the Trail Stewards will be returning this season on weekends and holidays and the DEC Forest Rangers will be monitoring the area as well.

e. Memo from Daniel O’Connor, Village Engineer, requesting an extension of a building permit for 1250 Albany Post Road.   Mr. O’Connor recommends a building permit extension for 6 months due to construction delays related to Covid.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

a. Consider adoption of the 2021-2022 Bond Resolutions for the purpose of   funding the capital budget.  The resolutions are for bonding approval for items that were in the 2021/2022 Capital Budget that was approved in April.  The five resolutions/bonds total $909,509.

b. Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to establish a trust account for donations towards the creation of the Black Rock Park bocce courts.  A special account will be created for this project.

c. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute an agreement with Croton-Harmon Car Service (dba J&S Taxi) for the rental of two spaces at the Croton-Harmon Train Station parking lot for the period beginning June 1, 2021, through May 31, 2023.   The Village extends the parking spot rental for two additional years to May 2023.

d. Acknowledge receipt of a special permit application from Joseph Lippolis for a first-floor residential dwelling at 368 S. Riverside Avenue and consider determining that the Proposed Action is a Type II Action under SEQRA and referring the necessary documents to the Village Planning Board as required by law.    The applicant received a variance from the ZBA for this use.  A special permit from the Village Board is now required.  The Board is referring it to the Planning Board for review and recommendations.

e. Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to amend the 2020-2021 General Fund Budget in the amount of $2,765 for expenses related to sidewalk snow removal.  The Village has received $2765 from snow removal billings where the owners were charged for its removal.

f. Consider scheduling a public hearing on Local Law Introductory 7 of 2021 to amend Chapter 108 of the Village Code, Dogs, to clarify the allowable hours for leashed dogs in Black Rock Park, for June 21, 2021, at 6 PM, via Zoom videoconference.   This calls for a public hearing to amend the law pertaining to hours for leashed dogs in Black rock Park.  The new language states that leashed dogs can be in the park in the same timeframes as allowed in the unleashed area of the park..

g. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to accept the proposal from AKRF of White Plains, New York, for consulting planning services for zoning updates to the Harmon/South Riverside Gateway zoning district for an amount not to exceed $35,000.  The Village Board is considering an expansion of the Harmon Gateway zoning to include additional parcels, including the Parking Lot A parcel, as well as considering permitting all residential uses in the Gateway area with a Special Permit.  AKRF will study the zoning requirements and implications of this proposal.

h. Consider awarding Bid 3-2021 for street resurfacing to Morano Brothers Construction of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, in the amount of $215,200.  As part of its annual street maintenance work, bids were solicited and 6 were received. Superintendent Balbi has recommended Morano  Brothers receive the contract.

i. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute a contract with Regan Development Corporation for the sale of the Village-owned property at 41-51 Maple Street.   The updated terms of acquisition and development call for a payment to the Village of $2 million with a PILOT of $70,000/year, increasing 3% annually, for 30 years as well as a User payment to the Village of $20,000/year for 30 years.

j. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute a support contract with Rio Supply for the period of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, in the amount of $5,500.  Rio supplies the software that supports the Water Departments hand held meter reading.  The contract is for one year. k. Consider authorizing the Mayor to execute the Sponsor Authorization Form for the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department Length of Service Award Program for 2020.  The list of eligible members was circulated in April 2021.  The Mayor must be authorized to sign it.