Dear Neighbors:

The wall behind our Board of Trustees dais prominently features a signed print of one of the great Norman Rockwell’s most famous paintings – “Freedom of Speech”. It is a compelling portrait of a citizen making his case on an important issue at a municipal government public hearing.

That wonderful work of art is always inspiring. But it also reminds us that all of Croton is needed and should feel welcome in front of our speaker’s podium and microphone – especially at public hearings.

Public hearings are one of the best ways for residents of any community to let their elected officials know exactly how they feel about pending legislation being considered — and, if they wish to do so, propose improvements!

Very often our formal action on new local laws will follow these public hearings. For example, at our Board session on Monday evening, we held a public hearing on a proposed local law to prohibit on-site cannabis consumption establishments within the Village. Following the hearing, we adopted that law.

Fortunately for Croton, there are multiple opportunities in the next month for everyone interested to let us know how they feel about some very important issues:

(1) On October 4th we will have a public hearing on a proposed local law to strengthen our Village regulation and public notification requirements for fireworks;

(2) On that same day, we will also have a public hearing on a proposed local law to adjust the time frame for consideration of applications by our Planning Board concerning wetlands;

(3) On October 18th, we will have a public hearing on a proposed local law to place new time constraints on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in the Village; and

(4) Also on October 18th we will have a public hearing on the request by the Hudson National Golf Course to use a portion of its property for solar energy.

More information and background on each one of these public hearings can be found in the agenda for our September 20th Board of Trustees meeting at https://play.champds.com/crotononhudsonny/event/37. All of the hearings will occur during Board meetings which begin at 7:00pm in the Georgiana Grant Meeting Room of our Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building.

Thanks, Croton – we look forward to hearing from all of you who are interested in these topics at the public hearings in the month ahead.

Len Simon, Trustee
Village of Croton-on-Hudson

Dear neighbor, Here is the 553rd 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 – September 20, 2021 

Regular Meeting of the Village Board

7:00 pm

Municipal Building

Memorial flag presentation to Tanya Chuck-Habib in memory of late Trustee John L. Habib

PUBLIC HEARING

Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 11 of 2021 to adopt Chapter 99 of the Village Code, Cannabis On-Site Consumption Opt-Out, to prohibit on-site cannabis consumption establishments within the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.   The NYS law on cannabis would allow on-site establishments for cannabis consumption unless a municipality “opts out”.

UPDATE by Chief of Police John Nikitopoulos on the Police Department Reform Plan.  The Chief will provide an update on what the Police Dept. and the Police  Advisory Task Force committee have done since passage of the Reform Plan.

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Decision and 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 dismissed the suit brought against the Planning Board decision regarding paving of the promenade along the Hudson River at HMB.
2. Compilation of Hydrilla Status Reports from NYS DEC for 2021.  The report covers the status of hydrilla in the Croton River from June 2018 through September 2021.
3. Request from Seaver T. Wang, President of the Croton-on-Hudson Rotary Club, to display banners for their Auto Show on September 26.  Mr. Wang requests permission to put up banners for the Rotary Auto Show one week before the event.
4. Memo from Frank Balbi, Superintendent of Public Works, regarding renovations to the EMS House.  In August, the EMS building at 44 Wayne Street was found to have mold in the basement.  The basement was closed off but EMS personnel remained on the upper floor. Based on analysis by a licensed contractor, to perform the necessary mold abatement as well as repairs needed ( performed in-house by the DPW) will cost $109,000.  He is also recommending that if this work is done, some other repairs and upgrades be performed as part of the work even though they are not part of the mold abatement and repair work. 

5. Email from Toni Senecal Shea requesting to serve alcohol at Senasqua Park on Friday, October 1.   Ms. Senecal met with Manager Healy and two board members to discuss a proposed event on October 1 (Friday) at Senasqua from 4 pm to 8:30 pm.  A previous proposal had called for hours to extend to 10 pm.

ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS

1. Resolution 150 of 2021: authorizing the Village Manager to execute the amended lease agreement from Sol Systems for the Solar Canopy Project at the Croton-Harmon Train Station Parking Lot. This resolution was adopted at the work session of September 13.  It calls for revisions to the lease agreement regarding the solar battery incentive and contaminated soil removal.
2. Resolution 151 of 2021: authorizing the inclusion of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson in the grant application for the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM).   This resolution authorizes the village to be included in a State grant process for up to $100,000 for a new fire boat.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS

5. Consider the appointment of Tyler J. Pece to the position of Police Officer effective October 1, 2021, pending approval of the Westchester County Department of Human Resources, at a salary of $67,235.43. Officer Pece comes from the SUNY New Paltz department and has completed the probabtionary period.
6. Consider adopting a resolution to acknowledge receipt of the 2021 Justice Court Audit.  The Board acknowledges that the required annual audit has been performed.
7. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute an agreement with La Teja Contractors & Landscaping Inc. to provide snow removal services for the 2021-2022 winter season.  La Teja would provide snow removal from properties that have not properly removed snow and ice as required under Village code.
8. Consider scheduling a Public Hearing on amending Chapter 127 of the Village Code, Fireworks, to revamp the procedures for submitting a fireworks application and to provide notice to residents for October 4, 2021, at 7 PM.   The proposed code change would incorporate NYS Code requirements as well as call for additional public notice.  This calls for a Public Hearing.
9. Consider scheduling a Public Hearing on amending Chapter 160 of the Village Code, Noise, to include time constraints on the operation of gas-powered leaf blowers for October 18, 2021, at 7 PM.  The proposed code change would prohibit gas-powered leaf blowers between June1 and August 31 of 202 And January 1 and March 31 of 2023 and thereafter excepting properties in RA-40, RA-60 and WD districts.  Exceptions can be permitted by the Village Manager on a case-by-case basis.  This calls for a Public Hearing o the proposed regulations.
10. Consider adopting a Negative Declaration for SEQRA purposes and a finding of consistency with the Village’s LWRP in regards to the adoption of Local Law Introductory No. 8 of 2021.  This formalizes the Board’s review of Part 2 of the EAF under SEQRA and a Finding of Consistency with the Village’s LWRP regarding the proposed law to update sections of the code including eliminating the prohibition of video arcades.  This is a necessary step prior to adoption of the law.
11. Consider adopting Local Law Introductory No. 8 of 2021 to amend the Zoning Chapter of the Village Code, Section 230, to eliminate the prohibition against video game and arcade machines, update notification procedures for sheds and update penalties for offenses.  Follow “f” above, the  Board will vote on adoption of this update of the Zoning law.
12. Consider scheduling a public hearing to amend Chapter 227 of the Village Code, Wetlands, to amend the date range for public hearings for October 4, 2021, at 7 PM.  This proposed law changes the date range in which a public hearing required to be held when the Planning Board is the approving authority.  This calls for a Public Hearing on the change.
13. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute the Memorandum of Agreement between the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and the Croton Police Association.  This addresses vaccination and testing for COVID among members.
14. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute the Memorandum of Agreement between the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and Local 456, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.  This addresses vaccinations and testing for COVID among Teamster members.
15. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute the Laboratory Services Agreement between the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and Sovereign Laboratory Services, LLC, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, concerning all unvaccinated employees.    The company will perform regular testing for all unvaccinated employees.
16. Consider adopting a finding of consistency with the Village’s LWRP in regards to the bridge washing proposal from NYSDOT.  The Village Board is formalizing its finding of Consistency of the proposed NYSDOT bridge washing action with our local LWRP.
17. Consider authorizing the Village Manager to accept the proposal from “The 145’s Band” for an amount not to exceed $1,000 to perform for the Village of Croton-on-Hudson Fall Festival in Vassallo Park.  This was not part of the previously approved budget for the event so needs authorization to transfer money.  The band will perform from 12:30 to 5:30 at Fall Fest.
18. Consider scheduling a Public Hearing on the special permit applications from Hudson National Golf Club for a proposed tier 3 solar energy use and the Club use on the reduced property for October 18, 2021 at 7 PM.   The Village Board has previously declared itself Lead Agency on this application under SEQRA.  It has completed Part 1 of the EAF, received recommendations from both the Planning Board and the Waterfront Advisory Committee on this application.  The next steps are a public hearing and completion of part 2 of the EAF.  This calls for the public hearing.

Dear neighbor, Here is the 552nd 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 –   September 13, 2021 

Work Session of the Village Board

7:00 p.m. 

1.       1st Quarter Financial Update from the Village Treasurer. The Treasurer will report on the first quarter revenue and expense results for fiscal year 2021/2022

2.       Discussion on Conservation Advisory Council’s proposal regarding gas-powered leaf blowers.  The Board will discuss a proposal for banning such blowers from January 1  to March 31 (starting 2023) and June 1 through August 31 (starting 2022).  For properties located in RA-40 RA-60 and WD, the Village Manager could allow a permit upon application. 

3.       Review of proposed zoning updates for the South Riverside Avenue Area.  The Board will get an update on the status of the proposed updates for the Harmon Gateway Zoning area.

4.       Review of proposed amendments to the Fireworks chapter of the Village Code.  The prosed code revisions incorporate into Village code the provisions of NYS code regarding fireworks.

5.       Consider authorizing the Village Manager to execute the amended lease agreement from Sol Systems for the Solar Canopy Project at the Croton-Harmon Train Station Parking Lot.  While the Village has granted a Special Permit for this project as well as entered into a long-term lease, some aspects of the lease are still being negotiated as the project evolves.  These updates involve the solar battery incentives and contaminated soil removal.

6.       LWRP Consistency Review of Bridge Washing along Route 9.  NYS is doing some clean up work on the two bridge spans on Route 9 over Municipal Place  Since this is in the Village’s Coastal Zone Area, the Village must make a determination of consistency with our LWRP.

7.       Discussion on return to Zoom for Village Board and land use boards.  The NYS Legislature has approved legislation permitting Municipal bords to return to ZOOM meetings.  The public must be allowed to view or listen to the proceedings.  The Board will discuss whether to return to ZOOM meetings.

8.       Consider authorizing the inclusion of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson in the grant application for the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM).  The Board will authorize the application for this grant in the amount of $100,000 for a new fireboat to replace the existing one which is out of service.