MAYOR'S NEWSLETTER
From the Desk of Mayor Brian Pugh
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One blood donation can save up to three lives! There's no replacement for human blood, making donations essential for those recovering from accidents or battling illnesses. By giving blood, you're directly helping patients receive the transfusions they need.
Date: Today, November 30th, 2024
Time: Until 4:00 PM
Location: Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Walk-ins are welcome (if space permits), but appointments are preferred: Call 800-933-2566 or visit www.nybc.org/donate to secure your spot.
Together, we can ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply for all who need it.
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Local Holiday Celebrations
With Thanksgiving behind us we look ahead to the winter holidays. Here are some local opportunities to get into the spirit:
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Winter Holiday Celebration: Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Vassallo Park.
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Croton Artisans Holiday Boutique: Friday, December 6 (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM), Saturday, December 7 (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM), Sunday, December 8 (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM) in the Community Room, Stanley Kellerhouse Municipal Building, 1 Van Wyck Street.
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Holiday Artisan Market Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM in the Ottinger Room, Croton Free Library.
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Breakfast with Santa: Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Harmon Firehouse, 30 Wayne Street.
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Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department Candy Cane Run: the morning of Saturday, December 14, 2024 throughout the Village streets.
Please enjoy these local offerings and have a happy & healthy holiday season.
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Croton-on-Hudson Sets New Clean Energy Record
Croton-on-Hudson has received the highest rating in New York State's Clean Energy Communities program (CEC), thanks to the hard work of the Village’s Sustainability Committee, chaired by Lindsay Audin. Through CEC, the Village has secured almost $700,000 in grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to fund various clean energy projects, including solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers. The village is committed to improving its infrastructure, cutting its carbon footprint, and investing in an economically and environmentally sustainable future.
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HEART Committee Honors Pete Tsagarakis
Pete Tsagarakis was the first honoree of the Village’s HEART Committee (Helping, Exemplifying, Aiding, Respecting, and Teaching). Mr. Tsagarakis was recognized for his exceptional contributions to the community. Mr. Tsagarakis, a Croton resident for over 50 years, has been a dedicated member of the Croton Lions Club since 1991, always ready to lend a helping hand.
A local legend and business owner, Mr. Tsagarakis opened the Croton Colonial Restaurant in 1968 and has been a generous supporter of numerous local causes, including the Harry Chapin Run Against Hunger, Croton Caring Committee, and BluePath. In addition, Mr. Tsagarakis is known around the village for innumerable acts of individual generosity and personal kindness.
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Public Hearing on Good Cause Eviction
The Village Board has begun consideration of adopting Local Law 15 of 2024, adding a provision for “good cause eviction” in the Village Code. A public hearing on a local law for Croton-on-Hudson will be held on January 8th at 7 PM.
Good cause eviction is a type of eviction law that limits a landlord's ability to evict a tenant without a valid reason. A Good Cause eviction law typically requires that a landlord must demonstrate a specific reason for the eviction, such as: 1) Non-payment of rent; 2) Violation of the lease agreement; 3) Nuisance behavior; and 4) Illicit activities on the property.
A local Good Cause Eviction law would also establish a “local rent standard,” which is the amount of rent increase considered reasonable in a given year. The local rent standard is set every year at the rate of inflation plus 5%, with a maximum of 10% total. Ultimately, a court will have the final decision on whether a rent increase is unreasonable in the event of an eviction case. Property owners may provide reasons for a higher rent increase for a court to consider, such as significant repairs or other increased costs.
Since April 20, 2024, villages, towns, or cities outside New York City that wish to protect tenants with such a good cause eviction requirement must pass a local law pursuant to § 213 of the NYS Real Property Law.
So far, nine municipalities across New York State have opted into “good cause” eviction. That includes the cities of Albany, Beacon, Hudson, Kingston, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Rochester and the villages of Nyack and New Paltz.
Additional information can be found here.
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Flags at the Municipal Building were lowered to half-staff twice this month at the direction of the governor to honor the tragic loss of two members of the New York family: Stephen Ebling & Dariel Vasquez.
Mr. Ebling was a NY Thruway Maintenance Supervisor in the Silver Creek Maintenance Section, Ebling was fatally injured on Thruway in the Town of Hanover on November 4. Mr. Vasquez was an 18-year-old Parks and Recreation aide who died fighting the Jennings Creek wildfire on November 11th.
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Air Quality Alert
Due to wildfires in New Jersey, Westchester County issued an Air Quality Alert on November 9th. During the current drought there remains a risk of wildfires that can negatively impact air quality. Monitor air quality updates on the Village website.
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Remembering Our Veterans
As Americans, we are among the happy few that, in all human history, have been able to live in peace and enjoy the benefits of constitutional democracy. We owe that to our veterans.
Thank you to American Legion Fox Eklof Post 505, Carrie E. Tompkins Kindness Club, the Croton Yacht Club and the Town of Cortlandt for organizing such meaningful commemorations of Veterans Day last week.
Our Croton-on-Hudson community recognizes our veterans in a number of ways. As part of our Hometown Heroes initiative, the DPW hangs banners in honor of local veterans from Memorial Day to Veterans Day. The Village will accept applications for veterans banners for 2025starting next month. Readers interested in the Hometown Heroes banner program should call the Village Office at 914-271-2895.
The Village Board has also authorized the maximum property tax exemption for veterans under state law. Applications for the veterans exemptions (in addition to exemptions for seniors, people with disabilities & volunteer firefighters) must be filed with the Assessor's Office in the Village by December 31st of each year. Taxpayers with questions about these exemptions should contact our Village Assessor at 914-271-4783.
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Bobcat Sighting in Croton-on-Hudson
A bobcat has recently been spotted in our community. While they are typically shy, it's important to be aware of their presence. Remember to keep pets indoors, avoid feeding wildlife, and stay safe if you encounter one.
For more information, visit the NYS DEC website.
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Quaker Bridge Update
On November 6th, the Quaker Bridge was closed by Westchester County Department of Public Works & Transportation. This closure follows a new weight rating issued by the New York State Department of Transportation, necessitating this action to prioritize public safety. Westchester County DPW provided the Village with the following statement:
The Quaker Bridge was originally constructed in 1894. While it has been rehabilitated over the years, the last rehabilitation was completed in 2010. The bridge has low height restrictions and severely deteriorated steel members under the bridge deck that are difficult to reach for ongoing repairs. As part of their recent annual bridge inspection, NYS DOT observed more severe deterioration of the steel members under the bridge deck than in previous inspections. These inspections occur every year for this bridge. Because of the condition of the bridge, repair options are not a viable alternative. The County has a responsibility to ensure a safe crossing for the traveling public. Westchester County DPW and its consultant are proceeding with a complete bridge replacement.
The County has initiated the design for the replacement of the bridge. One component of the design process is developing a timetable for the construction duration. The County is targeting a construction start date in the third quarter of 2025 and is evaluating alternatives to accelerate that process.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and asked to follow the designated detour routes to avoid congestion and maintain safety on smaller streets. Updates regarding the bridge's status will be provided as more information becomes available.
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DEP Postpones Delaware Aqueduct Project
Due to dry conditions in the New York City watershed area, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been forced to temporarily halt the final phase of the Delaware Aqueduct repair project. The shutdown was expected to result in variations in the water levels and flows from the Croton River reservoir system.
DEP will now focus on restarting the $2B project in October 2025, when water demand is typically lower. This will allow for the final connection of the bypass tunnel near Newburgh, permanently addressing the leak.
For more information, visit the Village website.
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Upcoming Village Meetings
Please note that all board meetings are being held in-person at the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building, unless stated otherwise:
- Monday, December 2, 2024 at 6:30 PM: Board of Trustees Swearing-In Ceremony & Organizational/Regular Meeting
- Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 7 PM: Arts & Humanities Advisory Council Meeting (Meets at Croton Free Library)
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Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 7 PM: Board of Trustees Work Session
- Friday, December 6, 2024 at 2:45 PM: IDEA Advisory Committee Meeting
For Zoom links, please visit the Village website calendar. Recordings of the statutory board meetings (Board of Trustees, Planning & Zoning) are available under the Village’s live stream channel.
Information on these and other upcoming events can be found here.
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