March 2023 Newsletter
Solar Panel Rooftop Project Completed at Washington Engine Firehouse
The Village of Croton-on-Hudson recently completed the installation of a 36 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar rooftop system at the Washington Engine Firehouse, located at 81 North Riverside Avenue. The system is expected to save the Village thousands of dollars in electricity costs while cutting the municipal carbon footprint by approximately 16 metric tons per year.
The system, which was designed and installed by Croton Energy Group (CEG), will provide more than enough power to meet the daily electricity needs of the firehouse. The remaining supply will power the facility’s existing heat pumps, which work to heat and cool the building. This will enable the firehouse to replace most of the fuel oil presently used for heating. The entire cost of the project was covered at no cost to Croton taxpayers, thanks to the efforts of the Village’s Sustainability Committee and solar incentives provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Village Prepares the Annual Budget
Since the beginning of the year, the Village Manager and Village Treasurer have been meeting with department heads to prepare the annual Village budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. As required by state law, the Village Manager must file the tentative budget in the office of the Village Clerk on March 20th. Once the tentative budget is filed, the Board of Trustees will begin holding budget work sessions to review the tentative budget and make any revisions necessary.
The Village Budget consists of the General Fund (which funds most Village operations), the Capital Fund (used for capital projects such as purchasing equipment & infrastructure improvements), the Debt Fund (which pays the interest and premium on bonds) & the Water and Sewer Funds (which fund those systems).
Below is the present calendar of dates for budget sessions. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted and will be held in the Georgianna Grant Meeting Room. These dates are subject to change. For up-to-date meeting agendas, please visit the Village website and subscribe to E-Alerts to receive agendas by email.
- Monday, March 27th: Public Hearing on Budget
- Thursday, March 30th: Department of Public Works
- Monday, April 3rd: Police, Fire Department, EMS
- Thursday, April 13th: Recreation, Administration, Fees
- Monday, April 17th: Capital Budget and Recap
- Monday, April 24th: Regular Meeting and Budget Adoption
Train Station Solar Canopy Project Breaks Ground
Major prep work has begun on the Solar Canopy project at the Croton-Harmon Train Station Parking Lot. A total of fourteen canopies will be constructed, generating 4 MWdc of clean power and providing shade for people and vehicles beneath. Lot B is temporarily closed to accommodate the construction staging area, and the contractor has started foundation work in Lot G. After the issuance of the building permit, work will begin on the southern end of the parking lot by the salt shed, and will progress towards the north of the lot. The Village will release updates as the project progresses, including information on potential traffic detours and lot closures. The Solar Canopy project is expected to reduce the Village’s carbon footprint by 1,800 tons of greenhouse gasses per year, while provided needed non-tax revenue to the Village.
2023 Community Survey on Safety & Law Enforcement
The Police Advisory Committee and the Police Department encourage all residents to complete the 2023 Community Survey on Safety and Law Enforcement. Village residents are asked to share thoughts, views, and experiences to enable the Police Department to best serve the community. All feedback is welcomed and needed. Please fill out the survey by March 31st. The survey is available on the Village’s Police website or by scanning the QR to the right. If you do not have computer access, you may complete the survey in-person at the Village Office.
2023 Veterans Banner Program
The Veterans Banner Program is now accepting new orders for 2023. Banners honoring our local veterans will be hung on the various street poles throughout the Village from Memorial Day to Veterans Day. The cost of a banner is $225. Families will have the option to collect the banner at the conclusion of the program or have it displayed again the following year. To order a banner, please complete the form on the Village website. All orders should be submitted no later than April 14, 2023. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Emily Mancini at 914-271-2895 or emancini@crotononhudson-ny.gov.
Click Here to Read the Full Issue