Related Articles

• Outdoor Lighting Law

  VILLAGE OF CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON

  County of Orange, State of New York

  RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON ADOPTING A LOCAL LAW REGULATING THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING WITHIN THE VILLAGE

   

   

  Introduced by:            Deputy Mayor James P. Kane

  Seconded by:              Trustee Kenneth A. Schmidt

  Date of Adoption:       May 18, 2020

             

  WHEREAS, a resolution was duly adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson on September 16, 2019, designating the board as Lead Agency and scheduling a public hearing to be held by said Governing Body on November 18, 2019 at 7:01 p.m. at Village Hall to hear all interested persons on a proposed Local Law authoring the Village to adopt regulations that set standards with respect to the installation of outdoor lighting, including standards that would minimize glare and impact on nearby residential properties, within the Village; and

  WHEREAS, on September 16, 2019, the Village board, pursuant to part 617 of the implemented regulations of Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), preliminarily determined that the adoption of said proposed Local Law was a Type I action; and

  WHEREAS, said public hearing was duly held on November 18, 2019, at or about 7:01 p.m. at the Village Hall, and all parties in attendance were permitted an opportunity to speak on behalf of or in opposition to said proposed local law, entitled “Regulating the Installation and Use of Outdoor Lighting within the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson” (the “Local Law”); and

  WHEREAS, after considering comments received from the public, the public hearing was extended on the successive dates of December 17, 2019, January 27, 2020, February 24, 2020, and March 23, 2020, at which time the Village Board referred a full record of the revised draft local law to the Village Planning Board and the Orange County Department of Planning in accordance with GML § 239-m, and extended the public hearing to April 20, 2020; and

  WHEREAS, by correspondence dated April 20, 2020, the Planning Board advised the Village Board that it had no further comments with respect to the local law; and

  WHEREAS, on April 20, 2020, the Village Board conducted the public hearing on the local law, closed the public hearing for further comment, except for receipt of written comments from the Orange County Department of Planning; and

  WHEREAS, by correspondence dated May 1, 2020, the Orange County Department of Planning advised the Village Board that the adoption of the proposed local law would not result in any significant intermunicipal or county-wide impacts, and had no advisory comments with respect to the local law; and

  WHEREAS, notice of said public hearings were duly advertised in the official newspaper of said Village, and noticed according to law; and

  WHEREAS, the Village Board of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, has reviewed the draft local law, long form EAF and comments from the public, and after due deliberation thereon;

  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT:

  1. the proposed local law is classified as a Type I action under SEQRA; it has no significant adverse environmental impacts and the Village Board issues a negative declaration thereon;
  2. the adoption of the proposed local law is in the best interests of the residents of the Village, and the Village Board hereby adopts said Local Law No. 1 of 2020, amending Chapter 172 of the Village Code, to add new Article XV, entitled “Regulating the Installation and Use of Outdoor Lighting with the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson”; and
  3. the Village Board hereby directs that the Village Clerk enter said Local Law in the minutes of this meeting and in the Local Law Book of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, and to give due notice of the adoption of said Local law to the Secretary of State of New York.

   

  Upon Roll Call Vote:

  Mayor Coyne:                         Aye                             Trustee Schmidt:                     Aye

  Deputy Mayor Kane:              Aye                             Trustee Gagliano:                    Aye

  Trustee Carnright:                   Aye    

  Vote:  Resolution Carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

   

  LOCAL LIGHTING LAW

• Revised draft of the Local Outdoor Lighting Law

  Revised local law regulation the installation and use of outdoor lighting with in the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson. Revised Lighting Law

• Resolution of the Public Hearing on proposed local law regulating Solar Energy Uses, Systems, & Equipment

  RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE BOARD
  OF THE VILLAGE OF CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON
  TO SET A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING A PROPOSED LOCAL LAW REGULATING SOLAR ENERGY USES, SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE VILLAGE OF CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON

  5. That a public hearing be held by the Village Board on January 28, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hall located at 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, with respect to amending Chapter 172 of the Village Code

  [entire resolution]

  AMENDED LOCAL LAW REGULATING CERTAIN SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE VILLAGE OF CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON

  LOCAL LAW EXTENDING SOLAR MORATORIUM

  RESOLUTION ADOPTING SOLAR MORATORIUM (EXTENDED)

• Joint Public Statement from Town of Cornwall and Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Boards

  For Immediate Release                                                                                             May 19, 2022

  Subject: Proposed 3-Year Contract Between Cornwall and the New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NWVAC) for Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support Services

  As most residents understand, individual municipalities are responsible for providing and maintaining an effective and sustainable ambulatory service to their communities. Of recent, it has become more difficult to provide this critical volunteer service due to soaring costs and the dwindling number of available volunteers. This issue has been a topic of debate within the New York State legislature recently, with legislation introduced to establish EMS (the provision of urgent pre-hospital treatment and transport for medical care) as an “essential service.” Long overdue, this effort could potentially reconfigure how ambulatory services are administered across New York State. Unless and until the County and/or State elect to make certain changes, municipalities must seek effective methods to sustain and improve services. Experts contend that the paradigm is evolving and that mergers, or consolidation, exist as an intermediate solution.

  For over a year, New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NWVAC) has contracted with the Town and Village to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) services to Cornwall residents for a fee, while Cornwall Volunteer Ambulance Corps (COVAC) provides Basic Life Support (BLS) coverage for a fee, as well. ALS includes the highest level of emergency medicine – paramedic-level treatment – and NWVAC (or another EMS provider with ALS capabilities) has long answered calls within Cornwall for mutual aid, bereft of a contract. COVAC, staffed with Emergency Medical Technicians, or EMTs, has remained a fixture in our community since 1955.

  A number of years ago, COVAC made the request to bill patients directly and a decision was subsequently reached to dissolve the “ambulance district” overseen by the Town. By billing insurance providers directly, this was to be a more efficient process that allowed for the Corps to remain solvent without monies allocated from Cornwall. The global pandemic and an attendant paucity of available volunteers has made staffing across the past several years a concern. This, coupled with significant debt accrual resulted in COVAC’s appeal for subsistence from the taxpayers – which the Town and Village jointly agreed to support.

  Despite the provided financial support, there continue to exist a number of issues that have not been resolved, as relates to the professional administration of ambulatory services to our residents. Public safety is of paramount concern. Both the Town Supervisor and Village Mayor have met privately with COVAC leadership and members of COVAC’s elected board and operational membership appeared before a joint boards’ special meeting on January 11, 2022.

  While COVAC maintains they have mitigated their insolvency issues and improved their first-call response rates, it is the consensus of both boards that NWVAC – widely regarded as the “gold standard” for local ambulatory care – will be contracted to cover both BLS and ALS responsibilities for Cornwall residents. This assumption of responsibilities can be considered a consolidation. Current COVAC members who wish to continue to serve Cornwall residents may interview with NWVAC, and be afforded opportunity to operate out of 1 Clinton Street location, be attired in Cornwall EMS uniforms, and respond to Cornwall service calls in a Cornwall-branded ambulance. This serves both professionalization and training standardization efforts.

  On balance, we believe that this decision for establishment of a contemporary public/private partnership model -- created and supported by multiple municipalities, including Town of New Windsor, Town of Cornwall and Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson -- will ensure our residents receive the high-quality emergency medical care they deserve. NWVAC enables Cornwall leadership to remain confident in the model’s financial viability and sustainability, administrative transparency, leader oversight, and accountability while serving as an example for the region.

  This was not an easy decision. Careful consideration was given to all impacted equities. Town and Village elected officials reflected deeply on the many decades of selfless service that COVAC and its volunteers have provided to our community; indeed, it is an honored local institution. But the primary responsibility of public officials is ensuring their constituents are afforded best available services for their hard-earned tax dollars. In our estimation, the proposed three-year contract with NWVAC ensures this. Know that we have explored innumerable options to guarantee confidence in the provision of EMS. And we have reviewed a number of similar municipal consolidated-services agreements. This is the best path forward for Cornwall.

  On Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., inside the Edward C. Moulton, Jr. Village Board Room, located at Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York 12520, the Town and Village boards will convene a joint special meeting to address this matter publicly. Meeting will be publicly-noticed and contract provisions will be disclosed. The public will be afforded an opportunity to speak and boards will address some factors that led to this decision.

  On behalf of the Town and Village Boards,

  Joshua Thomas Wojehowski
  Supervisor

  James A. Gagliano
  Mayor   

• Draft Lighting Law

  The village board, the village code enforcement officer and the attorney for the village have devoted much time to drafting a lighting law. We have reviewed laws in a number of municipalities, including the Town of Warwick; the City of Black Diamond, WA; and the Town of Charlestown, RI; and have discussed the issue with many people, including village residents. This is a complex issue and we appreciate your patience. Linked here [pdf] is the revised draft lighting law. The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed law at 7 p.m., Monday, January 28, 2019, at Village Hall. [view entire resolution] We welcome your comments.
  Brendan G. Coyne
  Mayor
  845-534-4200; [email protected]

• 

  Mayor’s Message [Village Updates Edition]

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

  It has been awhile since I have provided updates via social media and there is a lot to discuss. Firstly, as I round into my final eleven months in office, you need to know the priorities of which I remain hyper-focused. They remain consistent with what I championed during my first mayoral campaign in 2021: public safety, remediation of crumbling infrastructure, and “the little things.”

  The attached photographs depict some of “the little things.” Our intrepid DPW crews continue to upgrade and tidy up our parks down at the Riverfront, along Dockhill Road and along the Boulevard. Seeding, top soiling, “freshening up” the dilapidated park signs, and assembling new picnic tables for park users. We also continue to find funding for new sidewalks. After the Curie Road project and several curb replacements (such as COH Elementary School frontage), Monday will begin the replacement of more Hudson Street sidewalks and aprons from 2 Alices to Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home. This is a prime walking path and helps to interconnect the Town with our central business district in the Village, and traverses across Village Hall. With the impending Art Walks and other special events, it enhances the walkability of our special village.

  Speaking of art, the Village is in the process of initiating a loan agreement with local sculptor Vivien Collens to emplace several of her large sculptures along Hudson Street and in proximity to where the soon-to-be under construction Dockhill Road connector trail will connect the Lower Village with the Donahue Farm Property and the Riverfront. This will be a value-added feature for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. And for those frustrated by the proliferation of potholes, our crews will be out next week as the weather continues to warm and will make the necessary interim repairs. Please keep in mind that 218 and Academy Avenue are NYS roads. We also are heavily engaged with FEMA, USDA, Scenic Hudson, and Central Hudson regarding remediation and repairs related to flood damages from the four major, hyper-localized storms we have suffered since December of 2022. I know this makes no one happy to hear – but it’s a process and unfortunately, often moves at a glacial pace. Please know that your Village is on it. And expect to see some road surfaces repaved THIS season.

  Now, to the Bandstand. Erected in 1985 in honor of our Village’s centennial, it has taken some beatings from the elements and use. We determined there was major water damage to the ceiling due to a leak within the enclosed gutter system. We hired contractors (including local resident and expert carpenter Doug Spaulding) to painstakingly disassemble portions and make the repairs. Rest well knowing this remediation will result in decades more of enjoyment by Village residents. Next year, we will celebrate the bandstand’s 40th and our Village’s 140-year anniversary. And speaking of the bandstand, thanks to Eddie Hurley for again expertly booking our annual concert series. First concert is May 28th and will feature a combination of classic pop-rock and country-folk music performed by Frank Rudolph’s Main Street Music Studio “Student Band.” That same evening, the Town Supervisor and I will be co-hosting the monthly meeting of the Orange County Association of Towns, Villages, and Cities at Storm King Lounge & Fare. What a great opportunity for mayors and supervisors across County to see this community rock.

  As an aside, on Wednesday, San Miguel Academy held a “boat christening” for their rowing program. Headquartered in Newburgh, SMA performs wonders in inspiring and motivating at-risk children and helping them to succeed in the academic realm while participating in an incredibly successful high school rowing program. I was humbled to be but a small part of the event held at the Riverfront and walked away appreciative that we get to share the gift that is Donahue Memorial Park with an organization that provides so much give-back to our youth.

  Can't also forget to send a huge "thank you" shoutout to the Cornwall Conservation Advisory Council for sponsoring and leading last weekend's River Sweep event at the Riverfront. Carla Castillo and Ted Warren do a wonderful job each year "herding cats" and directing the clean-up efforts. GREAT turnout this year. And what clean-up effort in Cornwall or Cornwall-on-Hudson doesn't include the amazing orange-shirted volunteers from the Cornwall Cleanup Crew? We owe all of these volunteers a HUGE debt of gratitude for helping preserve our waterfront and keep it pristine for residents and visitors and future generations alike to enjoy.

  Lastly, I, along with two Trustees Braine and Paliotta, will be attending the New York Conference of Mayors annual conference at Lake George for a few days next week. Wonderful opportunity to compare “best practices” with elected colleagues and learn a little bit more about policies and protocols in municipal government from the NYCOM team.

  All for now. Thank you all for your interest, involvement, and investment in our community.

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor