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This month, I will submit the tentative 2025-2026 Village Budget to the Board of Trustees for their review and consideration. As you will read about in this newsletter, there are a number of work sessions and meetings scheduled to discuss the budget in detail. While details continue to be fine-tuned in advance of the March 20 filing date, I want to thank all the department heads in the Village for their work in submitting well-reasoned budget requests.
On Thursday, February 20, I joined our state, county and local leaders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Maple Commons, the new housing development on Maple Street. Previously a Village-owned vacant parcel, it has been redeveloped with 33 units of affordable housing. Governor Kathy Hochul marked the occasion by issuing a press release, which you can read by clicking here.
Grievance Day took place on Tuesday, February 18, and the Village Board sat as the Board of Assessment Review (BAR). This year, a total of 11 grievances were received (four residential and seven commercial). After considering the requests, the BAR granted two grievances, and denied the remainder.
On the topic of assessments, the Village Board is considering the adoption of Local Law Introductory No. 14 of 2024 to consolidate the Village’s assessment function with the Town of Cortlandt. A webinar, which will be recorded and available on the Village website, will be held later today to provide a general overview of the process and discuss how a property’s assessment is determined (more on this below). The Village Board will be holding a public hearing on the law on March 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. Residents are welcome to attend to share their thoughts or send them in advance using our contact form (choose “Public Comments for Board Meeting”).
Some quick updates regarding other projects in the Village:
- Gouveia Park: The Village Board approved a proposal to hire Sullivan Architecture to develop pre-design drawings for the house to ensure the building is suitable for public use. DPW plans to begin working on the site later this year on items such as drainage, site lighting, etc.
- Farrington Road Steps: The consulting firm working on this project, Site Design Consultants, is in the process of developing the plans to reconstruct the steps, which connect Farrington Road and Terrace Place/Brook Street.
- Harmon Firehouse: The Village Board awarded two bids at their most recent meetings for the HVAC system and interior doors in the new addition being constructed to house Croton EMS. The project is on track to be completed this summer.
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Dobbs Park: Staff have begun preliminary design work for the replacement of the playground and basketball court at Dobbs Park in coordination with Westchester County. The current project timeline anticipates presenting design plans to the community this summer.
- Lounsbury Road Water Main: The Village Board approved a proposal to hire WSP USA to engineer plans to reline the water main along Lounsbury Road. The main is over 80 years old and relining is recommended to improve water quality in the neighborhood.
Finally, please remember to check the Projects and Initiatives page of the Village website for updates on various other work being done. These pages are updated regularly as more information becomes available. If you have a question or comment regarding anything in this report, please contact me at bhealy@crotononhudson-ny.gov or 914-271-4848.
Sincerely,
Bryan T. Healy
Village Manager
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Village Prepares the Annual Budget
The Village Budget consists of the General Fund (which funds most Village operations), the Capital Fund (used for capital projects such as purchasing equipment & infrastructure improvements), the Debt Fund (which pays the interest and premium on bonds) & the Water and Sewer Funds (which fund those systems).
Below is the present calendar of dates for budget sessions. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted and will be held in the Georgianna Grant Meeting Room. These dates are subject to change. For up-to-date meeting agendas, please visit the Village website and subscribe to E-Alerts to receive agendas by email.
- Wednesday, March 26 – Public Hearing on Budget
- Wednesday, April 2 – Department of Public Works
- Thursday, April 3 – Police, Fire Department, EMS
- Thursday, April 10 – Recreation, Admin, Committees, Fees
- Wednesday, April 16 – Capital & Recap
- Wednesday, April 23 – Budget Adoption
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Assessment Consolidation Webinar - March 5th
Village Manager Bryan Healy and Village Treasurer Daniel Tucker will be presenting a webinar this Wednesday, March 5, at noon to provide a general overview of assessment consolidation and how a property assessment is determined. Interested residents and property owners may register for the webinar by clicking here.
There will be a time for general Q&A at the end of the webinar; questions on individual properties will not be addressed in this format. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Village website for future viewing.
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Reminders for Dog Owners
As the spring season approaches, here are a few reminders about dog regulations in the Village. Chapter 108 of the Village Code provides more details on the below information.
To ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment, please remember that dogs must be kept on a leash when in public spaces, and owners must clean up after their pets during walks.
All dogs need to be properly licensed with the Village. To learn more about licensing your dog, please click here.
Dogs are permitted on-leash at Gouveia Park, Black Rock Park and along the walking path at Croton Landing Park. Dogs are prohibited in all other parks and recreation areas.
The Village has an off-leash dog park located in Black Rock Park. All residents must obtain a permit for the dog park. For more information about the guidelines, click here.
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Utility Bill Payment Reminder!
Utility bills will be sent out on March 15th and are due by April 15th.
Payment may be made by U.S. Mail, left in the 24/7 dropbox outside the Municipal Building or by visiting the Municipal Building, 1 Van Wyck Street, during normal business hours.
Alternatively, you can conveniently make an online payment through the Village website here.
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Helpsy and the Village Partner for Recycling Program
The Village of Croton-on-Hudson has partnered with Helpsy to offer a free, home pickup clothing recycling service for residents. Village residents can schedule at-home pickups on Thursdays throughout the year.
To learn more about this program and to schedule a pickup, click here.
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Best of Westchester Elimination Round!
Congratulations to all the Croton Businesses who have moved on to The Best of Westchester Elimination Ballot round! Voting will be open through March 13, 2025 at 5 PM. Click here to support and vote.
Listed alphabetically: Asagao Sushi, Bagels on Hudson, Baked by Susan, Capriccio Pizzeria & Restaurant, Carmen's Unisex, CKO Kickboxing Croton, Croton Apple Farm, Croton Mini Deli, Croton Mini Deli, Croton River Artisan Gallery, Croton Tapsmith, Elegantspreadsbyjess, Franzoso Contracting Inc., Matters Coffee, Ocean House Oyster Bar & Grill, Raga Indian Cuisine, Samurai Sushi Japanese Restaurant, Second Mouse Cheese (Croton-resident owned), Sprout Westchester (Young Judaea Day Camp), The Black Cow Coffee Co., The Blue Pig Ice Cream, The Green Growler, The Hudson Oven, Upper Village Blooms, Van Wyck Wines & Liquors, Yuka's Latin Fusion.
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Croton-on-Hudson 2025 Veterans Banner Program | |
The Village of Croton-on-Hudson is proud to offer the Hometown Hero Banner Program to honor and recognize the sacrifice and commitment of those who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces. These banners, purchased by friends, families, community organizations, or businesses, are displayed prominently along main roads in the community from Memorial Day through Veterans Day each year.
Each banner measures 30"x60" and costs $225, which includes the banner, hardware for hanging, installation, and storage. Banners are displayed annually from Memorial Day to Veterans Day.
To order a banner, please click here to complete the form and upload a photo. All orders should be submitted no later than April 15, 2025. If you have any questions, regarding this program, please contact Amy MacNamara at the Village Manager's office at amacnamara@crotononhudson-ny.gov or 914-271-4848.
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EMS Facility Progressing
Spirits are high as the DPW team prepares to construct the final exterior wall of the new EMS facility on Wayne Street. Despite a cold, windy winter, the crews have worked hard to stay on schedule.
The next steps in the project include setting the roof joists, installing the roof, adding exterior sheathing, and installing windows. Everyone is looking forward to seeing the final product this summer!
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KAYAK & CANOE STORAGE RACKS
The 2025 Boating Season registration begins on March 10th. The Croton Recreation Department offers seasonal rack rentals at Echo Canoe Launch and Croton Landing to enable residents to store their kayaks and canoes by the water.
Village and School District residents may apply for a rental space online beginning March 10, 2025. Non-residents may apply beginning on April 1, 2025.
Due to limited availability, available spots will be assigned on a first-come, first served basis. To learn more and apply, click here.
For questions, please contact Croton Recreation at (914) 271-3006.
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2025 SUMMER CAMPS – SAVE THE DATES!
Camp registration will begin on March 18. Applications will be available online and at the Recreation Department.
Additional specialty camps and programs will be listed in the 2025 Spring/Summer Recreation Brochure, which will be published the first week of April.
2025 Camp Sessions
Session 1: July 1 – July 11 (skip July 4)
Session 2: July 14 – July 25
Session 3: July 28 – August 8
Full Season: July 1 – August 8
2025 DAY CAMP
Ages: Campers entering 1st grade through completion of 6th grade
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:15 PM
Location: Holy Name of Mary Church
2025 TINY TOTS CAMP
Ages: 4 to 6 years old
Time: 9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Location: St. Augustine’s Church
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2025 Summer Employment Opportunities
with Croton Recreation
The Recreation Department has begun accepting applications for 2025 summer employment opportunities, including day camp counselors, life guards at Silver Lake, and gate attendants at Silver Lake and Senasqua Park.
Applicants must be at least 16 years old as of July 1st. Lifeguards must be at least 15 years old as of July 1st. Working papers issued by the school Guidance Department are required for those under 18 years of age. For more information and to apply, click here.
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CLEAN (Croton Litter-Free Education Advocacy Neighborhood Initiative) Monthly Cleanup | |
CLEAN will hold regular cleanup events on the second Saturday of every month from March to November at 11 a.m. Locations and details for each date will be shared closer to the event.
The first scheduled cleanup is on Saturday, March 8, 2025, along North Riverside Avenue.
Meeting Point: Washington Engine Firehouse, 81 North Riverside Avenue.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear warm, bright clothing, and bring work gloves and sturdy shoes. Hi-vis vests and trash bags will be provided. Contact John Ealer, CLEAN Croton Coordinator at jealerccac@gmail.com or call (310) 403-5646 for more information.
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Croton Green Living Series
The presentation of “Native Plants for Caterpillars and Butterflies,” will be on Tuesday, March 18th at 7 PM in the Ottinger Room of the Croton Free Library.
Are you hankering to get out and create a garden for wildlife this spring? Come learn about easy-to-grow native plants that support some of our favorite insects. Slideshow presented by Eva Thaddeus, co-chair of the Croton Garden Club and owner of Wild Gardens Nursery.
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Boater Safety Class at CYC
Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Croton Yacht Club, 6 Elliott Way
Starting January 1, 2025, NY State requires a boating safety certificate for ALL operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age. All operators, including those operating personal watercraft including jest skis, must have a boating safety certificate. For pre-registration and more information visit: NY Boating Safety Course Registration.
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