On the evening of December 4th, 2023, I was sworn into office for a second term as Mayor. Nora Nicholson and Cara Politi were sworn in to the Village Board of Trustees. A recording of the ceremony can be viewed here.

Nora Nicholson was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Board in December 2022. Nora grew up in Croton and moved back recently with her husband and two daughters who attend Croton-Harmon schools. She has a Masters in Public Administration and works for Volunteer New York, a nonprofit based in Tarrytown as Manager of Corporate Relations. Nora was elected to a full term on November 7, 2023.

Cara Politi is a newcomer to the Board of Trustees and was elected in November 2023. Cara moved to Croton in 2017 with her daughter, now a CET third grader. Cara works as a messaging and communications strategist for a foundation that supports nonprofit social impact organizations, and her background and degree is in environmental science & sustainability.

Thanks to the collaboration of my colleagues on the Board, the guidance of our volunteer Village committees, and the professionalism of our Village staff, we have made significant progress on a number of fronts since my first term. I am pleased to share some of the following highlights from the past few years:

• The Village earned the title of the Number 1 Clean Energy Community in New York State and the highest Climate Smart Community rating of any village in NY;

• The Village was named the best place to live in New York State by USA Today;

• The completion of 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;

• The Village Board responded to the 2019 Westchester County Housing needs assessment, which found that 200 households in the Village spent half their income or more on rent, by expanding rent stabilization to all eligible units and authorizing new affordable housing for the Village;

• The creation of a Police Advisory Committee in accordance with Executive Order 203;

• The establishment of a Diversity & Inclusion Committee to create a spirit of diversity and inclusion for all that live, work in, and visit the Village of Croton-on-Hudson;

• The Village maintained its bond rating despite the fiscal challenges of the pandemic. We have reduced Village debt by more than $4M, and ended the last fiscal year with a historically strong fund balance; and

• We stayed within the tax cap and enacted the first budget in more than a decade with no tax rate increase.

Looking ahead to 2024, we can anticipate the completion of the affordable housing at 41-51 Maple Street and the interconnection of the 4MW carport solar array at the Croton-Harmon train station. 

Croton PD Makes Arrest in Recent Burglaries

Earlier this week, the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department arrested a 36-year-old man suspected of two home burglaries which have taken place in the Village in recent weeks. The Croton-on-Hudson Police Department was assisted in the investigation and search for the suspect by the Peekskill Police Department K9 Unit, New York State Police, Westchester County Police Department, MTA Police Department and Westchester County Police Aviation Unit.

More information can be found here. If you have any information regarding these incidents, please contact the Detective Division of the Croton Police Department at 914-271-5177.

Outgoing Trustee Sherry Horowitz Honored

At the November 27th, 2023 Board Meeting, Trustee Sherry Horowitz was recognized for her exemplary service to the Village of Croton-on-Hudson. Sherry has served the Village tirelessly for many decades as an educator and public servant. Sherry was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2017, and provided strong leadership on several Village initiatives, including securing energy from 100% renewable sources through the Westchester Power Program, the development of the Lorraine Hansberry Coalition, and the founding of the Croton Repair Café.

Assemblymember Dana Levenberg joined us for Sherry’s final meeting. The presentation of a Key to the Village & Proclamation declaring November 28th, 2023 as 'Sherry Horowitz Day' in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson can be viewed here.

Though Sherry will now depart the Board after serving three terms, she will continue to serve the Croton Community as an engaged citizen. As of this week, she has been appointed to the Arts & Humanities Advisory Council, the Conservation Advisory Council, and the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Photo From Left: Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, Trustee Ian Murtaugh, Trustee Nora M. Nicholson, Trustee Sherry Horowitz, Trustee Len Simon, Mayor Brian Pugh.

Juilliard Jazz Celebrates Croton’s 125th

Croton's Andy Farber brought the Juilliard all-star band to a packed house in the Croton-Harmon High School Auditorium as the concluding event for this year organized by the Croton-on-Hudson's 125th Anniversary Committee. A heartfelt thank you to the 125th Anniversary Committee for their incredible hard work throughout the year, organizing over 25 unique events to celebrate this historic milestone.

Additional photos of the concert can be found here. The 125th Committee has commemorated the Village’s quasquicentennial with a variety of events, including a boat parade, history walk and a reenactment of the Village’s incorporation.

Members Needed for Boards & Committees

The Village Board of Trustees is currently accepting applications for the boards and committees outlined below. If you have an interest in joining any of the below boards or committees, please apply using the online application form, found by clicking here.

• Police Advisory Committee -The Police Advisory Committee is tasked with advising the Chief of Police on issues and concerns of interest to local residents.
• Recreation Advisory Committee -The Recreation Advisory Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Recreation Department and the Village Board.

Additional information can be found here.

Recent Actions by the Village Board

At our November 27th and December 4th meetings, the Board of Trustees adopted the following resolutions:

• Increased the membership capacity for the Arts & Humanities Advisory Council from nine members to eleven members;
• Authorized the Village Manager to execute the License Agreement with LEAP F.C. allowing LEAP to conduct youth recreation activities in Vassallo Park;
• Renewed of the special permit for M & J Auto Repair at 485 South Riverside Avenue for a period of 18 months;
• Authorized an interfund transfer in the amount of $4,050 for the appraisal of Village-owned property;
• Authorized an interfund transfer in the amount of $6,000 for the purpose of covering expenses for roadway repair for roadways that have been excavated for the purpose of repairing water leaks;
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to establish petty cash accounts for various Village Departments;
• Approved an agreement assuming the maintenance responsibilities of the planned rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) units along State Route 129 in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson as requested by New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT);
• Extended the contract for generator maintenance services to Gentech Ltd. of New Windsor, NY, for a one-year period beginning December 9, 2023, through December 9, 2024;
• Authorized the Village Manager to award the bid for the Village's welding services to Santella Welding in the not-to-exceed amount of $34,720 for the period beginning December 6, 2023, through December 6, 2024;
• Authorized the Village Manager to execute the amended Intermunicipal Agreement between the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and the County of Westchester related to the replacement of a retaining wall along lower Grand Street;
• Authorized the Village Manager to execute a license agreement with Fratelli's Trattoria Inc. for the restaurant's use of Village-owned property for the period beginning March 15, 2023, through March 15, 2028;
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to make an interfund transfer in the amount of $8,467.50 to account for unanticipated repairs to the sanitary sewer system;
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to issue a tax refund to the property owner of 11 Newton Court in the revised amount of $318.25;
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to make an interfund transfer in the amount of $250 to utilize the Village shuttle bus for a local holiday shopping event;
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to make FY23 Year End Budget Transfers in the General Fund, Water Fund and Sewer Fund;
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget related to the New York State & Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) annual invoice; and
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget in the amount of $31,253 for expenses related to the Wireless Infrastructure Master Plan Study.

Video and back-up material for the meeting can be found here.

Holiday Home Decorating Contest

The Village of Croton-on-Hudson Recreation Department is hosting the 2nd Annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest. Light up the winter by showing off your best seasonal display! Fill out the online application by 12/5, decorate your home, and be sure to “light it up” during the judging period. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 holiday houses. Whether you are decorating your house as a family or riding through the village to see the decorated homes, I hope you will enjoy the holiday cheer.

Upcoming meetings and events in the Village include:

●     Saturday 12/9: Repair Café

●     Saturday 12/9: Vaccine Clinic @ Croton Free Library

●     Sunday 12/10: Holiday Toy Drive

●     Tuesday 12/12: Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting

●     Tuesday 12/12: Conservation Advisory Council Meeting

●     Wednesday 12/13: Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

●     Friday 12/15: Croton 125 Time Capsule Dedication

●     Friday 12/15: Croton Welcome Wagon Cookie Exchange

●     Saturday 12/16: Citizen Preparedness Corps

●     Saturday 12/16: Community Blood Drive

●     Saturday 12/16: Fire Department Holiday Parade

●     Monday 12/18: Naloxone Training: Learn How to Save a Life!

For more information on these events click here. Recordings of the statutory board meetings (Board of Trustees, Planning & Zoning) are available under the Village’s live stream channel.