August 13, 2024

Last week the Village Board of Trustees voted in favor of the Village of Ossining Government Operations Climate Action Plan.

In this plan, we pledged to take part in the NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Certification Program and to take proactive measures such as smart land use planning, alternative transportation, improved energy efficiency, and green building, and to greatly reduce energy use and GHG emissions. Our plan sets concrete emission-reduction goals for the Village of Ossining and identifies priority actions to achieve those goals.

I’d like to thank our Climate Smart Task Force, which was comprised of municipal officials and environmental volunteer community leaders, including Assistant Village Manager Maddi Zachacz and Chair of the Environmental Advisory Council Kate Schlott, who collaborated with the Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) in the development of this document, reviewed drafts, and provided valuable feedback on iterations that resulted in the final draft. 

Project MOVER is soon to become a reality, launching later this month! Keep your eyes peeled for eleven docking stations installed throughout the Village as part of Phase One, which will introduce the Bikeshare program component.

We will be sharing more information on the official launch in next week's Mayors Message-- in the meanwhile, visit the Village's Project MOVER webpage to learn more.

Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side, as is sometimes the case this time of year, for last week’s much-awaited free SummerzCool Jam concert at the waterfront. Please be sure to mark your calendars for the rescheduled date next Tuesday, August 20^th: food trucks, fun & activities will begin at 5:00PM.

The public portion of the BOT’s Special Meeting/ Work Session this week will occur at 7:30PM on Wednesday, August 14^th, at 16 Croton Avenue (the Board will convene at 6:30PM for Executive Session).

·        We will begin with a short Special Meeting to address some urgent business: the BOT will authorize moving ahead with a contract for DCAK-MSA Architecture to for architectural design services at the Community Center, and will declare Lead Agency for purposes of SEQRA for the Lower James Street CDBG Project and Chapter 270 (Zoning) changes.

The Work Session agenda will include the following:

·        We will see a Schematic Design presentation from THA, who has been working with us (Staff/ Trustee White/ Placemaking Committee) to design the Multi-Modal Transportation Hub and site.

·        Village Manager Karen D’Attore, Assistant Village Manager Maddi Zachacz and Village Engineer Paul Fraioli will give an update on Project MOVER.

·        Chief Scarduzio will be joining us to discuss HVAC upgrades in (3) of the Village-owned firehouses (Holla Hose, Cataract Hose, and Monitor Hose).

·        Corporation Counsel Stuart Kahan will introduce some additional changes to Chapter 92, which will eliminate reference to foundation permits, as recommended by the BOT, as well as additional changes to Chapter 250 for Overnight and Permit Parking, which seeks to increase the weight limit allowance for non-commercial vehicles (from 5000 to 8000 lbs).

·        Corporation Counsel and the Village Manager will discuss amendments to the LADA agreement for the 30 Water Street project.

·        Finally, Corporation Counsel will present a tax certiorari refund for 174 South Highland Avenue.

Ossining In the News:

Westfair Business Journal:

Ossining Breaks Ground for $105.7M Water Treatment Plant

Ossining/ Croton Patch:

Ossining Breaks Ground on New Water Treatment Plant

Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org