February 6, 2024

This past weekend, I was honored to be in Peekskill with many Ecuadorian community leaders, our Trustee Quezada, and Assemblywoman Levenberg. Consulate generals from Ecuador also joined us. The serious situation in Ecuador has profoundly affected our friends and neighbors with families in Ecuador and has given rise to unscrupulous attorneys and notaries who are taking advantage of these new immigrants. We hope to find ways to help our community.

Yesterday, the Ossining Police Department unveiled a black-and-white design on our two new replacement vehicles: Ford Hybrid Interceptors. It is a fresh blend of traditional and modern.

Our new OPD vehicles can save about 1300 gallons of fuel per year compared to the 3.7-liter model it replaces while still maintaining high performance. Based on the Ford Explorer, the Ford Hybrid Interceptors were developed independently to be specific for law-enforcement agencies.

If you know me, you know I am a big fan of electric vehicles. I am pleased to share some important information regarding NYS’s EV tax credit and how it has been updated for 2024. In an article from NYSERD: Updated IRA EV Tax Credits Explained, there is a featured story that covers the following topics:

• The EV Tax Credit Changed Again: Here’s What to Know
• EV Tax Credits Can Be Applied as a Point-of-Sale Discount
• Fewer New EV Models Are IRA-Eligible in 2024
• Many Used EV Models Qualify for IRA Tax Credits
• Income Limits Remain Unchanged for 2024
• Leased EVs Can Qualify for the Commercial EV Tax Credit

Third in our series of volunteer committee spotlights:

Civilian Police Complaint Review Board (CPCRB) - The Mission of this committee is to conduct complete reviews of Police Department investigations when complaints are filed against police personnel or the department regarding violations of the Police Department’s rules, regulations, and procedures.

Ossining has had this committee in place well before other municipalities in NYS. The CPCRB is composed of five voting members and two alternates, with one voting member and one alternate from the unincorporated area of the Town of Ossining. In addition, there are two representatives from the Ossining Police Department appointed to the CPCRB by the Chief of Police to provide assistance to the CPCRB. All members receive training on pertinent local, state, and federal laws, the Ossining Police Department manual, and other topics relating to policing—a Board of Trustees liaison and an attorney work with this committee.

Click here to view the Village of Ossining’s Civilian Police Complaint Review Board Page. 

The remaining volunteer boards/ committees to be spotlighted are:

• Board of Ethics
• Environmental Advisory Council
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Landlord-Tenant Relations Council
• Placemaking Committee
• Police Reform Advisory Committee
• Youth Advisory Board
• Zoning Board of Appeals

This week’s Legislative Meeting will take place at 7:30PM on Wednesday, February 7^th, at the Court House.

Some items of note:

• The BOT has a resolution to remove (9) parcels from the Village’s roster of properties that are charged sewer fees, as these properties have been confirmed to, instead, utilize septic fields.
• The BOT also has a resolution authorizing a license agreement with the property owners at 58 Ferris Place to replace and reconstruct their steps and retaining wall, which encroaches into the Village's right of way.
• The Board will call for a resolution to open a Public Hearing on a proposed local law, making changes to the Village’s Special Events policy, which will take place at the March 6th Legislative Meeting.
• Next is a resolution to extend Preferred Developer status to Wilder Balter Partners (WBP) & St. Katherine Group for another 180 days (taking them to May 3, 2024) for the Main Street & Market Square lots.

For those celebrating … I wish you and your loved ones a year of prosperity, happiness, and triumphant success in the Year of the Dragon.

Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org