Dear neighbor, Here is the 561st 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 – December 20, 2021 

Regular Meeting of the Village Board

7:00 pm

Municipal Building

PUBLIC HEARING:

1.      Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 15 of 2021 to amend Chapter 208 of the Village Code, Trees, to amend the approving authority for tree removal permits in relation to steep slope applications.   This proposed amendment clarifies that  in connection with any site plan, minor site plan, subdivision plat, wetlands permit or steep slope permit application being processed by the Planning Board where tree removal is under consideration, it is the Planning Board that is the approving authority as part of that process.  The proposed amendment clarifies but does not change the current process.

2.      Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 16 of 2021 to amend Chapter 204 of the Village Code, Taxation, to amend the alternate and Cold War veteran exemptions.  NYS has increased the allowable amounts for veteran’s exemptions including non-combat, combat and disabled veterans.  Tax Assessor Waitkins recommends adoption.

3.      Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 17 of 2021 to amend Chapter 215 of the Village Code, Vehicles and Traffic, to implement a residential parking permit system along certain areas of Hastings Avenue and Young Avenue in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.   It would create a residential parking zone system for the hours between 7am and 7 pm, whereby residents can obtain permits, between Benedict and Oneida on Young Avenue and between Benedict and Devon on Hastings.

CORRESPONDENCE:

a.      Fire Department election results from Fire Council Secretary Munson.  The New Fire Department officers are Chief John Munson, First Assistant Chief Josh Karpoff, and Second Assistant Chief Chris Colombo.

b.      Firefighter membership update from Fire Council Secretary Munson.   Secretary Munson reports on changes in the Fire Department membership including seven new Active memberrships.

c.       Letter of Resignation from Dr. Merrily Besvinick from the Water Control Commission.  Thanked the Village for the opportunity to serve the Village she loves.

d.      Memorandums from Matrix Solar and Chazen Companies regarding the proposed solar energy project at Hudson National Golf Club.  The most recent reviews by the Village consultant, Chazen, on outstanding issues regarding the proposed application are available on the Project page from the Village’s website.  These issues include, among others, adverse change to natural resources; and increase in the potential for erosion, flooding or drainage problems.  The Village Attorney will be discussing next steps in the SEQRA process.

e.       41-51 Maple Application Response Letter from New York State Homes & Community Renewal.   The developers for this property had applied for financing help from the NYS Home and Community Renewal program.  They were notified that they were not successful in the December round of grants .

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS:

1.      Consider appointing Detective Thomas Leonard to the rank of Police Sergeant at the annual salary of $139,229.35 per the current Croton Police Association bargaining agreement effective January 1, 2022. Chief Nikitopolous is recommending this appointment to replace one of two Sergeants, one of whom has retired and the second has moved to a different position in the Department.

2.      Consider appointing Officer Thomas Levins to the rank of Police Sergeant at the annual salary of $139,229.35 per the current Croton Police Association bargaining agreement effective January 1, 2022.   Chief Nikitopolous is recommending this appointment to replace one of two Sergeants, one of whom has retired and the second has moved to a different position in the Department.

3.      Consider scheduling a Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 14 of 2021 to amend Chapter 160 of the Village Code, Noise, to establish regulations on gas-powered leaf blowers on January 18, 2022, at 7:00 PM in the Georgianna Grant Meeting Room of the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building.   The regulations would apply from June 1 to August 31 in 2022 and from January 1 to March 31 in 2023 and continue in succeeding years.  The regulations would allow properties greater than 40,000 square feet to apply for a permit to operate a leaf blower during these periods with conditions.

4.      Consider authorizing Mayor Pugh to sign the necessary Letter of Commitment indicating support for NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Community (CEC) program and that such grant funds received by the Village will be used as indicated in that letter.   The Village commits to take the necessary steps in NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Community (CEC) program competition to qualify to receive up to $15,000 in grants that do not require matching or other funds from the Village.  The particular application is the installation of additional electric vehicle chargers in Croton.

5.      Consider approving the agreement between the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and Croton Little League to permit the erection of a scoreboard at Firefighters Memorial Field.  Proposed work would be funded by the Little League.

6.      Consider approving the Stipulation of Agreement between the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and the Croton Police Association.

7.      Consider authorizing the Village Treasurer to amend the General Fund 2021-2022 budget in the amount of $467,183.42, and the Sewer Fund 2021-2022 budget in the  based services.   At the beginning of the fiscal year, personnel costs in DPW are all included in one account.  As work is performed in different departments, the associated personnel costs are transferred to that account.  

8.      Consider scheduling a Public Hearing to consider the zoning petition for the North End Gateway District on January 18, 2022, at 7:00 PM in the Georgianna Grant Meeting Room of the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building.  The proposed zoning amendment would apply to the Northend Gateway Overlay zone.  It would set bulk regulations and use regulations for the overlay district.  Currently these regulations do not exist for this district.  The underlying zone of this area, comprising 8 lots, is O-1 and C-1.

QUARTERLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS:   available from the Village website (included in the Agenda for this meeting) for the following departments:  Manager office, parking, recreation, clerk’s office, court, engineering office, treasurer’s office, police and DPW.