View Recorded Video of Meeting

Dear Residents and Friends of the greater Cornwall area,

Tonight, Thursday, September 21, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m., inside the Edward C. Moulton, Jr. boardroom located at Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, the Village Board will be joined by the Town Council for a special meeting related to a preliminary review of a DRAFT water system master plan (prepared by the Village Engineer).

This meeting is the third joint session of recent vintage and will serve as an opportunity for the board and council to have a first look at exactly where Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson stand related to our aging, failing, and crumbling water system infrastructure. Presentations from Village Engineer Jason Pitingaro and Water Superintendent Michael Trainor will kick things off. Afterwards, the two elected bodies will engage in initial talks regarding the current state of our infrastructure and potential paths forward.

The meeting is scheduled for two and one-half hours and is OPEN to the public, space available. It will also be livestreamed and remotely accessible to witness in real time via a link to be provided on the Village website and Facebook page. Those unable to join can also access archived video of the proceedings to be posted later to our YouTube page. There will also be a limited period towards the end of the meeting for public comment for those in attendance.

Please understand – this is the INITIAL unveiling of the draft plan. Every issue will not be resolved tonight. This meeting is designed for the Village – which controls the greater Cornwall area’s water system infrastructure (to include 16,000 customers, 52 miles of subterranean water mains, five reservoirs and attendant dams, a well field, and treatment facilities) – to lay out focused priorities for repairs, remediation, and upgrades to a water system introduced in 1888. 

Full transparency is the goal, followed by prioritized “action items.” Exists no panacea of solutions or bottomless pot of funding to solve every crisis now. But we would be derelict in our duties as custodians of our community’s precious resource not to begin to address them soon – as opposed to continuous kicking of the metaphorical can down the road. Let’s begin the process of proactivity and cease the reactionary posture. There are only so many band-aids we can apply to our system. Join us tonight or tune in later to hear the discussion regarding our future.

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson residents:

Have heard questions arise regarding the recently-poured 30' x 50' concrete pad tucked against the railroad tracks and nestled alongside the stream at the bottom of Dock Hill Road and within the confines of Donahue Memorial Park.

This pad serves as first phase of a pavilion project approved by the Village Board and supported via partial funding secured through a Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) grant award in 2021.

The pavilion kit should arrive before Fall and the plan is the have installed before end of this construction season. Once erected, it will serve as a covered gathering space replete with picnic tables to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. It helps mitigate visits during inclement weather and will also be available for scheduled, Board-approved family, group, and community events. The attached photograph depicts view of pavilion, once constructed.

Important note: not one pine tree or lilac bush were harmed in this securing of designated space and we feel this will enhance the utility and opportunities at beautiful Donahue Memorial Park while safeguarding our native flora and fauna.

On behalf of the Village Board,

James A. "Jimmy" Gagliano

Mayor

NOTICE: Last night’s heavy rainstorms washed out portions of the CSX railway yet again. Coupled with the current forecast for more precipitation, CSX contractors have reoccupied Donahue Memorial Park (DMP) in order to repair washed-out tracks. This means more personnel, heavy equipment and material to be returned to the riverfront.

DMP WILL reopen to the general public on schedule today at Noon. Please – all visitors, I request that you fully respect the roped-off and barricaded construction areas and avoid the work crews that will be toiling around the clock to restore train service as soon as possible.

Thank you for understanding.

Mayor Gagliano  

Mayor’s Message

[Donahue Memorial Park Reopening Plan Edition]:

Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

Effective Friday, July 14, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.:

Donahue Memorial Park (DMP) – known as “the Riverfront” – will be REOPENED to general public tomorrow, Friday, July 14, 2023 at NOON. Please note that there exist some cordoned-off parking sections north of Dock Hill Road intersection with Shore Road, due to damage from CSX’s repair operations as park was utilized as a staging area for equipment and material. Respect these barricades. We are working to get this area repaired after the season and will coordinate with CSX to ensure they handle cost. There are also a number of pieces of heavy equipment that belong to CSX and its contractors. Please avoid these as well. Our Village’s Department of Public Works employees worked diligently throughout the day today to clean up debris and leftover material from this past week’s emergency work and ensure we could reopen.

I would also like to extend my appreciation to the vast majority of folks who understood the inconvenience and helped speed this process along by respecting the closure on Wednesday. The Village Board fully recognizes how important to our community the park is. And we recognize how critical the summer season is to the small businesses who survive on July and August tourism. Thank you again to all those who worked with me and cooperated to see this through.

Know that many members of our community are still reeling from the aftereffects of Sunday’s storm. I have been amazed at the resiliency, positive spirit, and grim humor exhibited by so many whose homes and properties were impacted. This Board is committed to working relentlessly to see that we do everything within our powers to help make folks whole again.

Questions/Problems/Issues – come see me at Village Hall.

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

Mayor’s Message

[Busy Week of Updates and Village Clerk Retirement Edition]:

Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

Lots going on this week. Our newly-appointed, part-time Village Treasurer, Ms. Gabrielle Ferrier begins her employment with the Village on Monday (today) and tomorrow (Tuesday) the County will host the Democratic Primary Election at Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street, between hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Only registered Democrats are allowed to vote in this election.

On Wednesday, the Village will host the second Local Planning Committee meeting – between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. -- as part of the NY Forward grant process. Residents are encouraged to attend (there is also an opportunity to view the livestream link to be posted on our website and Facebook page). We are moving into the project submittals period. Check out www.cornwallnyf.com for announcements, information, and answers to all of your questions.

Thursday, the Orange County Clerk’s Office will send its Mobile DMV unit to Village Hall parking lot. Hours of operation: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and then, following quick lunch break, again from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity to get enhanced driver’s licenses and handle a myriad of other matters right here in Village Hall’s municipal parking lot.

Finally – it is with deepest regrets that I announce that Village Clerk Jeanne Mahoney’s final day at Village Hall is this Friday. She served this community, along with numerous editions of Village Boards, and four mayors humbly, honorably and with distinction. We will host an Open House on Friday between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Stop by to pay a water bill, procure a waterfront parking permit, grouse at the mayor, and most importantly – wish Jeanne well after her 29 years as a loyal Village employee. She will be missed. Effective Monday, July 3, 2023: Deputy Village Clerk Doris Wickiser will assume the interim Village Clerk duties and Secretary to the Planning Board Meagan Gschwind will rotate up into the interim Deputy Village Clerk role. As always, Clerk Suzy Yarmus will be the glue that binds the front office together.  

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

May 30, 2023

Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

Please see the attendant photo attachments that highlight our 2023 Bandstand Concert series schedule (that begins tonight at 6:30 p.m.), the upcoming Movies on the Hudson event (Top Gun Maverick) scheduled for this Friday evening at the riverfront, beginning with a musical set from The Gioias at 6:30 p.m., and finally, top off your weekend with culmination of 2023 RiverFest at Donahue Memorial Park on Sunday, June 4th, between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Hope to see you at one, two, or all of three of these quintessentially Cornwall-on-Hudson events.

On behalf of your Village Board,
James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Mayor

May 12, 2023

Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

It’s Friday night – make it your own personal “date night” with the return of our “Movies on the Hudson” at Donahue Memorial Park. All the fun begins at 6:00 p.m. when "First Round" takes to the stage to play some of your favorite car-cruising music. Then once the sun sets, sit back and enjoy the original “Fast and Furious” movie from 2001. Weather forecast is absolutely PERFECT. What a way to spend an evening along the majestic Hudson River. I’ll be there to welcome all! Please don’t use that as a solid reason not to attend.

We also “cut the ribbon” this morning at our new composting toilets facility and they will remain open well past dusk tonight to conveniently service all of our band/movie attendees!

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor