CLEAN Croton Leads Movement to Keep Our Village Beautiful

The Croton Litter-Free Education Advocacy Neighborhood initiative (CLEAN) is a sub-group within the Conservation Advisory Council that aims to organize support and volunteers to keep Croton-on-Hudson clean. Recently, CLEAN coordinated a successful clean-up at Senasqua Park, gathering around twenty bags of plastic and trash. A special thanks to Cub Scout Pack 28 and all the scouts and parents who pitched in!

At Wednesday's meeting, the Board of Trustees authorized CLEAN to adopt a section of Route 9A, from the village border near Baltic Place to Municipal Place, as part of New York State's Adopt-a-Highway Program. The Program allows volunteers to adopt sections of state highways to clean and beautify the roadside.

In conjunction with the upcoming Earth Day celebration in the village, CLEAN Croton invites all residents to participate in the 100 Yard Trash Challenge! The challenge is simple: over the course of the weekend of April 27, outside your home, business or favorite spot in the village, clean up every piece of trash you can find within 100 yards. Send a picture of your haul, along with the details of where you cleaned up and how much your haul weighed, that weekend to cleancroton@johnealer.com. Together, we can make a big difference, one yard at a time. 

Volunteer Sought for the Water Control Commission

The Water Control Commission is responsible for protecting the public interest, general health, safety, and economic and general welfare of the citizens of the village by protecting, preserving, and maintaining our wetlands, water bodies and watercourses.

The Commission is governed by Chapter 227 of the Village Code. A volunteer with training or experience in engineering, water-related science, community planning, conservation, landscape architecture, wildlife management, forestry, ecology, hydrology or other related business or profession is preferred. Meetings are scheduled on an as needed basis. Those interested may apply online.

Westchester County Officials Share County Developments with Croton Community

Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins attended the April 10th Board of Trustees Meeting to deliver an informative update to the Croton community. Among the highlights was the AAA credit rating achieved by the County. Additionally, they outlined the array of services extended to both local governments and county residents. Finally, they showcased recent investments in Croton Point Park, including the innovative addition of a cricket pitch and a modern beachfront bathhouse, aimed at enriching recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. A recording of their remarks can be found here.

Registration Open for I Love My Park Day

Join the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct and the Village of Croton-on-Hudson for I Love My Park Day on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:00 am.  There will be something for everyone: family friendly invasive Garlic mustard pulling for parents and children and a variety of other invasive plant management work including removing prickly Barberry bushes, and vine removal using a pole pruner to save the trees on the trail. Also learn from a stone mason how to build stone walls. No experience necessary; all tools provided. Register as a volunteer at the following link: www.aqueduct.org/ILMPD 

NYSERDA Buyer’s Guide for Electric Yard Equipment

Gas-powered equipment produces harmful levels of noise pollution that’s not only a nuisance to neighbors, but increases the risk of hearing loss, strokes, and heart attacks from both short- and long-term exposure. All-electric equipment is far less noisy when operating. Electric equipment also eliminates the smell of gas and associated emissions. Operating a commercial leaf blower for one hour emits the equivalent air pollution of driving a new passenger vehicle for around 1,100 miles.

If you are ready to ditch the gas can, NYSERDA’s guide covers everything you need to know about electrifying your yard equipment, from the available technologies to equipment maintenance and what to consider when comparing options.

Free Admission to NYS Parks for Veterans & Gold Star Families

New York Veterans and Gold Star Families have free access to NY State Parks & Historic Sites through the expanded Lifetime Liberty Pass Program. Benefits include free access to New York State Parks, campgrounds, boat launches, historic sites & park preserves. The pass also includes free greens fees at state-operated golf courses, free swimming pool entry and discounted campsite & cabin rentals. See the Liberty Pass website more information and to apply.

Applications Open for County's 2024 Launch1000 Program 

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development’s Launch1000 program is accepting applications for aspiring business owners. This free, remote program helps residents test their ideas and launch ventures. It provides education, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Since 2020, over 475 businesses and nonprofits were born from Launch1000, creating hundreds of jobs and millions in revenue. The program is open to anyone in Westchester County regardless of location or technical resources. Priority is given to first-time applicants. Residents who are interested in participating in this year’s program are encouraged to apply today by visiting westchestercatalyst.com/launch1000

Child Care Scholarships Available through Westchester County

Families who need help paying for child care or after school care can contact the Child Care Council of Westchester to learn more about the County’s Westchester Works Child Care Scholarship. See the Westchester Works website for more info and to apply, or call 914-761-3456x140.

Village to Host Housing Forum on May 1

The Village is organizing a Housing Forum on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM. The event will take place at the Harmon Firehouse located at 30 Wayne Street. Representatives from the Westchester County Planning Board, Pace Land Use Law Center, Village Housing Task Force, and Village Board will participate. This forum aims to expand on the discussions held during the 2018 Housing Charette and the 2021 Housing Needs Assessment Forum.

Recent Actions by the Village Board

At our April 10th meeting, the Board of Trustees adopted the following resolutions:

• Authorized Teatown to hold a Trout Release school program at Silver Lake on May 2nd and May 8th.
• Authorized the Village Manager to execute an agreement with SecureWatch24 of New York, NY, to provide maintenance services for the Village's AutoVu License Plate Recognition (LPR) system at an annual cost of $3,600.
• Authorized the Village Manager to execute the Adopt-A-Highway Agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation on behalf of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.
• Authorized the Village Manager to execute the License Agreement with the owners of the property located at 47 Harrison Street to formalize an existing encroachment onto Village-owned property.
•  Authorized the Village Treasurer to amend the 2023-2024 Water and Sewer Fund budgets for necessary utility billing software updates.
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to make an interfund transfer in the amount of $2,200 to cover the compensation of instructors for the winter and spring classes provided by the Recreation Department.
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to make an interfund transfer in the amount of $3,000 to cover the completion of the ongoing building permit archive project.
• Authorized the Village Manager to execute a contract amendment with Catalyst Construction of Middletown, New York, regarding the Grand Street Retaining Wall project.
• Authorized the Village Treasurer to make interfund transfers in the amount of $4,266 to account for the increased need for stenographic and interpreter services in the Village Court.

The full text of resolutions adopted by the Board can be found here.

Upcoming Village events include:

●   Planning Board Meeting - Tuesday, April 16 - 8:00pm

●  Board of Trustees Work Session - Budget: Rec, Admin, Fees - Wednesday, April 17 - 8:00 pm

●   Police Advisory Committee Meeting - Thursday, April 18 - 6:00pm

●   Board of Trustees Work Session - Budget: Capital & Recap - Thursday, April 18 - 7:00pm

●   Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee Meeting - Thursday, April 18 - 7:30pm

Recordings of the statutory board meetings (Board of Trustees, Planning & Zoning) are available under the Village’s live stream channel.