Dear Neighbors:

There is substantial funding available from both the federal and state governments for infrastructure improvements — and Croton is committed to doing what it takes to get our fair share of these resources.

At our Board meeting Monday night, we resolved to seek funding from the “Transportation Alternatives Program” (TAP) which is a federal program administered at the state level, in our case by the NY State Department of Transportation (NYDOT). Our professional grant writing team will soon begin preparing the application and our Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will also advise us during each step of the process.

TAP is typically used to plan, design, and promote pedestrian and bicycle safety and undertake projects such as connecting gaps in existing sidewalks, bike lanes, and related activities. The minimum grant request is $500,000 with a $5 million maximum. Eighty Percent (80%) of the eligible project costs (including final design, bidding, and hard construction) would be reimbursed with TAP, with a 20% local match required. A portion of that local share could be met by the time of our own Department of Public Works (DPW) should DPW participate in the project, a likely to occurrence. The application will be submitted by January 9, 2024 with award decisions by NYDOT later that year.

One possible focus of the grant that has been discussed could be Cleveland Drive, including a series of new sidewalks, a traffic circle at Five Corners and bike lanes if feasible. Given the proximity of schools and the library, there are both “safe routes to schools” and mobility benefits which could accrue to all of Croton should we proceed with Cleveland Drive as the centerpiece of our grant.

Decisions on the final application components will await further collaboration and coordination with our grants team and our Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. We’ll be sure to keep you all informed on next steps on TAP.

Seeking TAP funding for vital Croton priorities makes good sense for our Village. And, since it is your federal tax dollars which funds this national program, we are very eager to have them returned to you in the form of much needed transportation improvements to help us all.

Len Simon, Trustee

Village of Croton-on-Hudson

Dear Friends and Neighbors;

I am running for Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson. I was elected as Mayor in 2017 and it has been my honor and privilege to serve our Village and my hometown.

I’ve worked with my colleagues on the Board to enact policies that reflect our community’s values while remaining under the tax cap.

Working together, we have been named the number one clean energy community in New York State and earned the highest Climate Smart Community rating of any village in the state. We added solar arrays at the Dept. of Public Works Building and the Washington Engine Firehouse. We installed electric vehicle charging stations at the train station and the municipal building. We initiated a food scrap recycling program.

We established a Diversity & Inclusion Committee and made Juneteenth a Village holiday. We developed a police reform plan and created a Police Advisory Committee.

We reached collective bargaining agreements with the village unions. We created a housing task force and are on track to double our supply of affordable housing.

We have completed important infrastructure investments such as the Elliot Way boardwalk connecting Senasqua & Croton Landing, the Croton Point Avenue improvement project, and the South Riverside sidewalk extension.

We’ve maintained our bond rating despite the fiscal challenges of the pandemic. We have the largest fund balance in Village history, and we have reduced Village debt by more than $4M.

Our Board has broadened the tax base, developed new non-property tax revenue sources and managed spending & borrowing. Because of this comprehensive approach, we were able to adopt our first budget in more than a decade without a property tax rate increase.

We have made significant progress, but there is still more work to be done. I ask for your vote for myself and my running mates, Nora Nicholson & Cara Politi, so that we can continue to move Croton forward.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Brian Pugh, Mayor

Dear Neighbors:

I am writing to ask Village of Croton-on-Hudson residents to vote for me, Nora Nicholson, for the Village Board. I began serving on the Village Board in January 2023 when Mayor Brian Pugh appointed me to fill a vacancy, and I am now running for my seat. As many know, the Democratic slate is running without opposition this year. This does make being a first-time candidate easier, but without opposition, there have not been any public forums available to talk through the issues, which is unfortunate. Discussion, debate, and compromise are valuable, and I look forward to continuing to hear from village residents with their suggestions and concerns. I am committed to improving communication and taking steps to promote more transparency in Village matters. I grew up here in Croton and love this community. That is why I have decided to serve on the Board.

Our natural environment is our greatest treasure. Keeping our parks well-maintained and improving our facilities is one of my priorities. I support the formation of Friends of Croton Parks and look forward to that nonprofit flourishing in the coming years. I also am a strong supporter of moving Gouveia Park forward into a place that residents can enjoy, and that can serve as a Center for Art and Culture. I am concerned about our environment and the effects of global warming and want the village to continue to lead in sustainable energy. My family and I were lucky enough to be part of the initial compost pilot in the Village this year, and I look forward to expanding that program. I am proud of the progress that has been made in Croton over the past few years and for its recognition as one of the greenest in New York State.

We need to continue supporting safer, more pedestrian-friendly streets and focus on improving our roads and sidewalks. We also need to continue to support our local businesses. Being a small business owner is hard, and we must do what we can to support our businesses. I am keenly aware of the conversations around the Village about housing development and the concerns that we are moving too fast. I am committed to responsible development with adequate growth.

In my time on the Board, I have been impressed with Mayor Pugh and his leadership in fiscal responsibility, housing, and the environment, and I am honored to run alongside him. Although I will miss Trustee Sherry Horowitz greatly as a colleague, Cara Politi will bring deep professional experience in communications and nonprofits to the Board and a fresh perspective.

I appreciate your vote on November 4 and also want to extend my endorsement of the slate of Democrats in the town of Cortlandt as well as Emiljana Ulaj for the County Board of Legislators. We are all committed to the people of Croton-on-Hudson and progress moving forward.

Best,
Nora Nicholson

Village Board of Trustees Croton-on-Hudson

Dear Neighbors,

At last night’s Village Board work session, the Village Board unanimously adopted a statement that defines
and articulates the foundational principles and values that guide our communal life. The statement reads as
follows:

“The Village of Croton-on-Hudson affirms the human rights of all who visit, work or live in our Village. We aim to be
an inclusive and safe place for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, sexual identity,
faith, disability, language, socioeconomic status and immigration status.”

The statement is durable: it is rooted in the belief in human rights for all.

The statement is positive and affirming.

The statement is proactive: it proclaims the value and dignity of all human life.

The statement is descriptive: it describes the values on which our Village chooses to identify itself.

The statement is concise. This is important because the statement can now be easily and prominently highlighted on the Village’s
website as a stand alone statement.

But possibly, the most important aspect of this proclamation, is that it lays the foundation for the implementation of policies and practices that will translate the words on a page into the reality of our Village committing itself to affirming the rights of all people to dignity, respect and protection. In adopting this statement, The Board has also agreed to authorize and empower the new leadership and additional members of the Village Diversity and Inclusion Committee to work in tandem with the Board. To do the work of researching and gathering data so they can advise and assist the Board in establishing the necessary practices and procedures to make the Village a safe, welcoming place of equity and opportunity for all who live, work and visit here.

The Board hopes that residents also approve of the statement, and that it aptly expresses our Village’s asprations.

Sincerely, Sherry Horowitz, Trustee, Croton-on-Hudson Village Board

Dear Neighbors;

What a wonderful weekend in Croton! After being moved several times the Village Wide Tag Sale took place on Saturday! It was fantastic to do some treasure hunting around the village and catch up with old friends and neighbors. Many thanks to the Assistant Village Manager Emily Mancini for her tenacity in planning this event and keeping up with the date changes. A fun stat the Village Tag Sale map had 15k views. It is definitely a community favorite!

Also, on Saturday the 125th Anniversary Committee held a scavenger hunt around Croton that tested Village history and trivia. All participants had a great time. And another innovative event tradition was hopefully born out of Croton’s 125th year.

And then came Sunday also coined Everything Croton Day! The 43rd running is the Harry Chapin Run Against Hunger brought so many out on a beautiful morning to enjoy some exercise, see friends, and raise over $27k to fight hunger. The organizers and volunteers did an incredible job.

And how wonderful it was to walk right from the race into to town to take in Oktoberfest. ! Wonderful food, music, and a great celebration of community. Many thanks to the CBC for putting on such a wonderful event!

And to finish up the evening the 125th Anniversary committee held a lovely cocktail party at the Croton Yacht Club. It was another opportunity to see old friends, meet neighbors, and celebrate the beautiful place we live.

Many thanks to all of the Village staff, especially the DPW that allowed these events to run seamlessly. And special thanks to all of the volunteers without which none of these events could happen.

Onwards into the next busy fall weekend!

Nora Nicholson
Village Trustee Croton-on-Hudson

Dear Neighbors:

This week the Village was notified that two outstanding Croton Seniors were accepted into the Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Cornelia Cotton and Carl Grimm.

For as long as I have lived in Croton, Cornelia and Carl have each had a strong presence in our community. Cornelia as a founder of Croton’s Council on the Arts and founding Board member of the Croton Housing Task Force. As well, she is curator of Croton’s Art Collection in the Municipal Building. Cornelia is also an accomplished singer, photographer and the director/owner of the Cornelia Cotton Art Gallery.

Carl, a long-time Architect, has benefited Croton with community volunteerism as a Board member of Croton’s Conservation Advisory Council, the Historical Society, Friends of Old Croton Aqueduct, and as a member of the NY Trail Conference Invasive Strike Force crew. Carl is also a long-time member of Croton’s Sustainability Committee, playing an important role in Croton’s Statewide leadership in this area.

Carl and Cornelia will be inducted into the County Senior Hall of Fame on December 1st. Please join me in congratulating them.

Ann Gallelli, Trustee

Dear Neighbors:

Since 1961, the NY Conference of Mayors has annually honored public officials who have served a single community for twenty-five years or more by awarding them a “Certificate of Public Service.”

At Monday’s regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson. I had the honor of recognizing village employees that reached milestones in their service to the public:

Mike Esposito, Asst. General Foreman: 25 Years
Chris Antonecchia, Motor Equipment Operator: 30 Years
John O’Brien, Motor Equipment Operator: 35 Years

Our Village benefits from their service, experience and dedication. I’m so glad that the Conference of Mayors has helped us recognize all that they do for our community.

Sincerely,

Brian Pugh, Mayor

Dear Neighbors:

Croton has made important advances in providing housing opportunities for our community. We have done so in a deliberative manner with zoning updates where necessary and strong citizen participation through efforts such as our Comprehensive Plan, Housing and LOT A Task Forces, and with the continuous involvement of our Planning Board.

As we move forward on the housing front, it is helpful to have a state level partner that will recognize the Village’s work and assist us in ways that enhances our future progress.

In the package of legislative recommendations our Board adopted in March, we asked the State of New York to work with municipalities to increase housing through incentives. We are pleased to see that is exactly what has been done.

In July Governor Kathy Hochul, by Executive Order, established the “Pro-Housing Community Program” to “reward local governments that are working hard to address New York’s housing crisis.” Those receiving designation as a Pro Housing Community will gain additional consideration when applying for key state grant programs, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the NY Forward program and the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund.

A municipality is eligible to be a Pro-Housing Community in the downstate area (which includes Croton) if it shows either of the following: (1) Permits increasing housing stock by 1% over the past year; or (2) Permits increasing housing stock by 3% over the past three years.

The Village has met both of these goals. Over the past year, our permitted housing stock grew by 2.04% while our permitted housing stock grew by 3.56% over the past three years.

At our Board meeting on October 16th, we directed the Village Manager to inform the NYS Department of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) that Croton has met the targets to be a Pro Housing Community. We should be notified within 90 days if we have been certified.

At a meeting last week of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association, I asked Ruth Anne Visnauskas, the President and CEO of HCR, if other programs would be considered in the incentives category, such as those in water and sewer or transportation. She replied that additional programs may be brought into Pro Housing Communities as it evolves.

Designation as a Pro Housing Community will be good news for Croton because it means greater access to significant state resources to help our local businesses, infrastructure and community development. We look forward to keeping you up to date on this exciting new opportunity.

Len Simon, Trustee

Village of Croton-on-Hudson

Dear Neighbors:

Our Village Board of Trustees has been working over the last several years to provide more multifamily housing opportunities for Croton. This effort has been guided by the excellent work of our Housing Task Force, our Comprehensive Plan and the Westchester County Housing Needs Assessment, all of which are available on the Village’s website, and, of course, considerable public involvement in a variety of ways.

But as we move forward on specific projects, we know that multifamily housing can take a variety of different forms. A good example of that idea is the Special Permit application from Ameriland Brook LLC, to add a three-story mixed-use building next to the existing one-story commercial building located at 352 South Riverside Avenue. This new building, which would contain five two-bedroom apartments and retail space on the lower level, would be located in the space between the Samurai Sushi and Habachi Restaurant and the Harmon Deli.

This form of “infill” development for multi-family housing is compatible with the South Riverside Harmon business district and is consistent with the Zoning Amendments we adopted in 2022 for this neighborhood.

All of the background materials for this proposed project can be viewed at our September 26th Board agenda at https://play.champds.com/crotononhudsonny/event/889.

Consideration of a multi-family housing proposal is a rigorous process, and that is certainly the case regarding 352 South Riverside. As a first step, after consultation with all interested parties, including our Planning Board and our Waterfront Advisory Council, both of which provided us very helpful recommendations, the Board of Trustees declared itself Lead Agency for SEQRA purposes in connection with this project. Subsequent to that action, the Board undertook the relevant environmental reviews, which can also be viewed at the above September 26th meeting link. During that meeting, a public hearing on the special permit application was also held.

Following the review and hearing, the Board issued the special permit for the project. As I write this note on October 3rd, it is headed to the Planning Board tonight for the Site Plan Approval process, any associated approvals, and any waiver of off-street parking. I know the Planning Board will do an excellent job in determining the next steps for this project.

The process of developing new housing is a thorough one to ensure the best possible results for our Village. 352 South Riverside has successfully navigated many important steps forward, with important ones yet to come. Should it proceed to completion, it will be the address of five new Croton homes, whose occupants will enjoy our vibrant Harmon neighborhood while adding their unique energy, enthusiasm and ideas to our entire community.

Len Simon, Trustee

Village of Croton on Hudson

Dear Neighbors:

At the last regular meeting of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson’s Board of Trustees the Manager provided the Board with an update on the Department of Public Works’ street repaving program. This fall, the DPW will be repaving eight roadways: Piney Point Avenue; Loconto Street; Hessian Hills Road; Hixson Road; Michaels Lane; Palmer Avenue; Oneida Avenue; and Eklof Court.

Streets currently being worked on by Con Edison are not included in the Village’s resurfacing program and will be repaved by Con Edison once their gas main work is completed.

DPW will be able to make use of a bid previously awarded by the Village of Ossining to Rinaldi Brothers to undertake the paving. This will save time and allow the resurfacing project to start as soon as the contractor is available.

This fall’s roadwork follows a summer of activity detailed in the DPW’s quarterly report, including: replanting the 9/11 Memorial; extending the South Riverside Avenue sidewalk to the ShopRite plaza; repairing 6 catch basins; cleaning & jetting 10 miles of sewer and street sweeping 357 miles of roadway .

Our DPW has also been critical in the recent storms. They have performed preventative work, clearing drains, in advance of the storms, minimizing back-ups and quickly cleared roadways afterwards.

We are so lucky to have such a talented DPW. They’ve skill has allowed us to in-house projects that would have previously required a contractor, meaning in most cases the only cost to taxpayers is for material, while completing work that improves our quality of life and protects public health & safety.

Brian Pugh, Mayor