June 4, 2024

We want to hear from you!

Join us for the upcoming Station Plaza Community Workshops being held this week on Thursday and Saturday. Village staff will be at Here Coffee + Beer from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 6th, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 8th, to collect your input on the future of Station Plaza.

Additionally, we will share updates on pending projects, including:

• 30 Water Street Construction/Timing Train Station
• Train Station Solar Canopy
• Project Mover

Please join the Village of Ossining & the Ossining Recreation and Parks Department for a ribbon cutting as we officially re-open our Aquatic Center to the Ossining Community.

These renovations were funded in large part by the $500K CREST (Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology Program) funds through the NYS Dormitory Authority (DASNY) grant, secured for Ossining by former Assemblywoman Galef.

We have been hard at work on a variety of updates and upgrades, including a total resurfacing of the pool itself, increased and enhanced lighting through LED fixtures, and a relocated pool office. Our locker room update is equally impressive, featuring a family changing room, new wall and floor tile, countertops, sinks, fixtures, upgraded showers, lockers, and mirrors.

Our Aquatic Center is not just a pool but a vibrant hub of community life. It is a place where residents of all ages come together, whether for fitness classes, lap swimming, open swim, swim team events, or swim lessons for over 350 Ossining's youth each week. It's a testament to our community's commitment to health, wellness, and togetherness.

Our special thanks to former Assemblywoman Sandy Galef for securing $500,000.00 in grant funding to get this project started after several years of planning. We are excited to unveil this first step in what will be a building-wide renovation over the coming years, funded in large part by New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Driven by public input and designed for how Ossining lives, works, and plays, these upgrades are essential to maintaining a quality facility in the years to come.

This past Saturday, the Juneteenth flag was raised in Market Square. I attend this ceremony every year and was at this weekend's ceremony. I learned so much from this year’s speakers about various aspects of the history surrounding this date. The Juneteenth flag, alongside the American flag, will be flown for the entire month of June.

In addition to the Village of Ossining flying the Juneteenth flag, we will host the annual Pride flag-raising ceremony on Wednesday, June 5^th, at 4:00 PM in Market Square. Please join me and the Ossining LGBTQ+ Alliance as the rainbow flag is raised for the month of June.  What a wonderful opportunity to honor our community.

Last week, the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation (WMPF) hosted its 50th annual awards program & dinner. During the awards ceremony, the Village of Ossining Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Marlene Cheatham received the Distinguished Citizen Planner Award.

The Distinguished Citizen Planner Award recognizes the contributions of Land Use Board members, including planning, zoning, and conservation board members, from Westchester County's municipalities who have made outstanding and special contributions to fostering good planning and inspired and gained the respect of fellow board members. Our appointed and trained volunteer boards are an essential part of the success of our municipality which gains input directly from the public.

Thank you, Marlene, for your years of dedicated service!

The Town of Ossining’s Assessor’s Office has published the 2024 Tentative Assessment Roll.

Property owners were mailed a Change of Assessment Notice last week with prior and current year values. If you have not received your Notice or need further assistance, please get in touch with the accessor's office at 914-762-8274 xt 611.

Welcome back to our newly renovated Aquatic Center!

I am thrilled to announce the completion of the renovation at the Ossining Aquatic Center, which will bring numerous benefits to our community. Exciting times are ahead! With the Department of Health lifting the reduction of daily capacity, we are excited to have a new pool schedule and a host of additional classes and programming. Our locker room enhancements are equally impressive, featuring a family changing room, new wall and floor tile, countertops, sinks, fixtures, upgraded showers, lockers, and mirrors. We are eagerly looking forward to more improvements!

We thank you for your patience during the construction period. We understand the pool renovations took longer than expected, and we apologize for any inconvenience. 

In response to resident and business complaints and community input, the Village of Ossining adopted Local Law 5-2024, “Vacant Building and Storefront Registry," which became effective May 20, 2024. Overall, the goal is to hold landlords more responsible for the maintenance and safety of their vacant buildings, which have become problematic for our community.

Here is what this law entails:

• Vacant buildings and storefronts must be registered with the Building Department. Forms for registration are available from the Building Department.
• Property owner are to submit a vacant building or vacant storefront plan to be approved by the Building Inspector or Assistant Building Inspector.
• All plans must include the establishment of an escrow not to exceed $5,000 for maintenance of the vacant building or structure.
• Repair and maintenance of vacant buildings and storefronts includes: i) remove combustible waste; ii) secure all windows and other entries; iii) keep sprinklers and fire alarm systems in operating condition; iv) repair holes to walls and roof; v) pest control; and vi) keep windows in clean and unobstructed condition.
• Property owners for all registered vacant buildings and storefronts to maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum policy limits of $1,000,000 per person and $2,000,000 aggregate.
• Vacant buildings and vacant storefronts are subject to inspection by Building Department personnel.
• Penalties for offenses: i) first violation- not less than $500 nor more than $1,000; ii) second violation within 12 months of first violation- not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,500; iii) third and subsequent violations within 18 months of the first violation- not less than $3,500 nor more than $5,000.

Click here to read the local law.

I am pleased to share the Small Business Administration announcement regarding opening Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) in New York.

Below is the press release (and can be found here)

ATLANTA - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it will open Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) in New York. SBA is opening these Centers to assist New York businesses and residents with losses due to the severe storms and flash flooding that occurred on July 9-10, 2023.

 “Our Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are one of the most powerful resources at SBA’s disposal to support business owners and residents in the midst of a disaster,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., Associate Administrator for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. “Business owners and residents can meet in person with our specialists to apply for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of our programs designed to help them navigate their recovery.”

The declaration covers Ontario and Orange counties, and the adjacent counties of Dutchess, Livingston, Monroe, Putnam, Rockland, Seneca, Steuben, Sullivan, Ulster, Wayne, Westchester, and Yates in New York; Passaic and Sussex in New Jersey; and Pike in Pennsylvania.

This week’s Legislative Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on

Wednesday, June 5^th, at the Court House.

Some items of note:

1. We will begin with a special presentation from Trustee Fritsche on OSHA’s proposed rulemaking to change the “Fire Brigade Standard” and the very serious impacts it would, as drafted, have on volunteer fire departments.
2. The BOT then has a resolution to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s working definition of antisemitism. 
3. The Board will have a resolution to call for a Public Hearing on a Local Law repealing sections of Chapters 95 (Buildings and Structures) and 162 (Housing/ Property Maintenance) and adding Chapter 92 to help align the Village's code with NYS. The Public Hearing will occur on June 18^th (a Tuesday! Village offices are closed on Wednesday, June 19^th, in observance of Juneteenth).
4. Similarly, the Board will also have a resolution to call for a Public Hearing on a Local Law adding Chapter 205, which will create a Rental Registry. The Public Hearing will also take place on Tuesday, June 18^th.
5. The BOT will then have a resolution to adopt Local Law #6 of 2024, which implements changes to Chapter 147 (Food Establishments) related to Refreshment Licenses. The changes are limited to adding the definitions of "alcoholic beverage," "liquor," and "spirits" and refining the definition of "refreshment business."
6. The BOT will have a resolution to send the Zoning Text Amendments re: the Indian Brook/ Croton Gorge overlay to the Village’s Planning Board for review and comment.
7. The Board will then have a resolution to authorize the charging of a $5 per unit administrative fee for all (444) ETPA units in the Village—this is authorized under the law to help the Village to administer the ETPA program. This is charged to the property owner, who also must pay $20 per unit per year as a condition of the program (the $20 per unit per year is prepaid by the Village on the property owner's behalf and is collected annually along with the $5 admin fee).
8. The Board will then have a series of capital project resolutions.
9. The BOT will end with (3) appointments: one to the Landlord Tenant Relations Council and two to the OFD.

Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org