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  Mayor's Update - June 12

  Friday, June 12, 2020

  Village Folks:

   

  Good to see some more activity in the village this week as the Mid-Hudson Region entered Phase 2. Lots of diners eager to dine out enjoyed dinner outdoors at our restaurants: Painter’s, Peppetini’s, Rock Wall and Village Pizza. Please support them; they are important to the village, in more ways than one.

   

  Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the deadline for the Cornwall school district and the Cornwall library elections till Tuesday, June 16. They must be mailed to the school district’s administration building (the former library building) at 4 Idlewild Avenue, Cornwall-on-Hudson.

   

  The New York State Department of Health issued COVID-19 guidelines for summer camps. The guidelines are extensive. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that the village can proceed with its Summer Recreation Program.

  The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum will open Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21. Registration is required: www.hhnm.org/grasshoppergrove.

   

  Village Hall doors remain closed at least through Monday, July 6. The Village continues to hold its meetings virtually. The next Village Board meeting is at 7 p.m., Monday, June 15. You can contact us at 534-4200 or [email protected]. Our website is www.cornwall-on-hudson.org.

   

  Please continue to comply with the guidelines put forth by the Centre for Disease Control: Maintain six feet between people and wear a mask when you can’t.

   

  Stay healthy! Enjoy your weekend.

  Brendan G. Coyne

  Mayor

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  Mayor's Update - July 10

  Friday, July 10, 2020

  Village Folks:

  The Mid-Hudson Region entered Phase 4 of Governor Cuomo’s re-opening as of Tuesday, July 7. Phase 4 includes opening outdoor arts and entertainment to 33% percent capacity, and professional sports without fans. Amusement parks, bowling alleys and movie theaters still are closed.

  Village Hall re-opened its doors Monday, July 6. We’ve seen a bunch of people come in to get riverfront permits and to pay water bills. Visitors have complied with safety plans and proceedings have gone smoothly. The drop-box remains a convenient way to pay bills 24/7.

   

  It was great to see lots of people at the bandstand Tuesday, July 7, for the first summer concert. The next concert features Midnight Slim & Laurieanne at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 14. Please honor social distancing and wear a mask when you can’t.

   

  Thanks to the Public Works Department for dealing with the torrential thunderstorm Wednesday, July 8. The village received more than four inches of rain between noon and 3:30 p.m. and experienced extensive flooding. Thanks also to Storm King Engine for pumping out some basements.

   

  The Village Board will combine work sessions and business meetings in July and August. The July 20 Business Meeting will be held via teleconference.  

   

  Stay Healthy!

  Brendan G. Coyne

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  Mayor's Update 1-29-21

  Friday, January 29, 2021

  Dear Village Folks:

  Baby, it’s cold outside! Hope you are all keeping warm and safe.        

  At our busy Business Meeting Monday night, the Village Board passed a dozen or so resolutions. We postponed passing the 2020 Comprehensive Plan so trustees could take a look at yet another revised draft. I hope to pass the plan at our February 8 Work Session. I’m looking forward to passing the plan – our current Comprehensive Plan is 60 years old.

  The board discussed the annexation of Cornwall Town property where the Village has its Black Rock Water Treatment Plant. The annexation has been on my radar for many months. It will save the Village $60,000 in town and school taxes. I am grateful to Supervisor Dick Randazzo and the Town Board for agreeing to allow the Village to annex the property.

  We talked about the purchase of the Donahue Farm property. I’m still working on details with counsel and our engineering firm, and the board is researching financing. 

  The board also discussed the property owned by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission at the Rt. 218 gate. The commission has granted the Village permission to create a hiking trail on the property. I’ve long wanted to regain use of this property, which Consolidated Edison took from the Village to build a power plant on Storm King Mountain. When Con Ed lost the “Battle of Storm King Mountain,” it gave the property to the Palisades commission.

  The Village Riverfront Committee hiked the property last Saturday. Chairman Dave Work and I met with the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference on Monday for guidance on creating the new trail. Some of you will be familiar with the hotel that once graced the property; it had several names, one of them being the Villa Pennisi.

  All the best,

  Brendan Coyne

  Mayor

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  Mayor's Update 3-5-21

  Friday, March 5, 2021

   

  Dear Village Folks:

   

  The next Village Work Session is Monday, February 8, via teleconference. The agenda includes the Police Reform Plan. The Police Reform Committee has worked over the course of three months and I believe the plan is appropriate for a small Village like ours that has a low crime rate. I am grateful to the 13 members of the committee. The Village must file its plan in Albany by April 1.

   

  We will hope discuss the proposed short-term rental law. We plan to hold a Public Hearing on the proposed law at our March 22 Business Meeting.

   

  The Village Election is Tuesday, March 16, from noon to 9 p.m. at Village Hall. Registration day is tomorrow, Saturday, March 6, from noon to 5 p.m. at Village Hall.

   

  The weather has been back and forth, typical of March. But warmer days are coming and spring will soon be here so we can get out more often.

   

  Have a good weekend!

   

  All the best,

  Brendan Coyne

  Mayor

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  Mayor's Update 3-12-21

  Friday, March 12, 2021

   

  Dear Village Folks:

   

  I’m happy to confirm that online payment of utility bills (water, sewer and garbage) will begin in April. More details will be available soon.

   

  The board passed the Police Reform Plan at its March 8 Work Session. The board made a few minor changes. I sent the plan to Albany the next day. Again, thanks to the members of the committee. 

   

  We also discussed the proposed short-term rental law at the work session and suggested some changes. We hope to post the proposed law next week. The Public Hearing on the proposed law will be postponed to our April 19 Business Meeting.

   

  The Village Election is Tuesday, March 16, from noon to 9 p.m. at Village Hall.

   

  Enjoy the spring-like weather and have a good weekend.

   

  All the best,

  Brendan Coyne

  Mayor

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  Mayor's Update 7-2-21

  July 2, 2021

   

  Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

   

  Happy Independence Day on Sunday, the anniversary of our great nation’s democratic experiment. We should all be proud to be American on this day – and every other day. Keep in mind that while fireworks are postponed until next year, the IDC will still hold some 4^th events, to include the Pet Show on Saturday, and Sunday’s parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. -- as opposed to its usual 5:00 p.m. start. Let celebrate our nation and the long-awaited return to some post-pandemic normalcy together as friends and neighbors.

  Reminder that July’s work session and business meeting of the Board of Trustees will be conjoined and held on Monday, July 26^th. Our meeting protocol now includes livestreaming, 24/7 availability, on our YouTube channel (link posted at a future date).

  If you happen to walk or drive past Village Hall, you might notice the emplacement of our Village seal on the building’s exterior. Photos attached. Let us know what you think.

  One of the long-range items I have asked Jeanne Mahoney, our Village Clerk, to tackle is a review of Cornwall-on-Hudson business meeting agendas and minutes dating back to 1885. Our plan is to identify and compile a comprehensive listing of all Village leaders -- Did you know that before the Village had a mayor, there was a president? We must keep track of our history. It is far too easy to forget it and then it becomes lost to the ages.

  Here are a few other historical morsels Jeanne uncovered:

  1. The Town used to be referred to as “the Upper Village.”

  2. In 1897 – taxes were $1.061 per $100.00 (budget was 0.226 for “ordinary   expenses”, 0.375 for “extraordinary expenses”, and 0.46 for “highway.”

  3. Also, in 1897, the Village Board entered into a 3-year contract with Cornwall Electric Lighting & Power Co. for 110 street lamps to be placed along “streets, avenues, squares, and public parks”.  Lamps would be lit from “dusk to dawn except on nights and parts of nights where the moon unobstructed by clouds is of sufficient brightness to render artificial light unnecessary.”

  4. April of 1899 – The position of Highway & Water Superintendent was established and Adam Jager was appointed to the position.  Later that same month, Supt. Jager was also “authorized to perform police duty”. 

   

  Stay tuned for more COH history soon.

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano