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  Mayor’s Message (Donahue Memorial Park Composting Toilets Installation Edition)

  December 14, 2022

   

  Mayor’s Message (Donahue Memorial Park Composting Toilets Installation Edition):

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

  A number of years ago, the Village was awarded a $60,000.00 DASNY grant for the procurement and installation of an environmentally-friendly composting toilets facility to be positioned down at Donahue Memorial Park on the Cornwall-on-Hudson waterfront. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York serves as our state’s “public finance and construction authority” and is charged with building health and education infrastructure. It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic moved folks outdoors and motivated many residents and visitors alike to enjoy leisurely outdoor activities at the riverfront. The influx of park users necessitates a more permanent restroom facility and in keeping with Donahue Memorial Park’s standing as the birthplace of the modern Environmental Movement’s efforts along the Hudson River Valley, composting toilets made for a great solution. It’s a great marriage of necessity and values commitment.

  By definition, composting toilets “provide an alternative to flush toilets by disposing of human waste while minimizing the use of water.” The process “mixes the waste with sawdust, peat moss or coconut coir and vents the flow of air outward.” This sequence “eliminates odor through an anaerobic processing system.” Don’t ask me how it works. I received a “C” in Engineering in college, and the professor was very generous with that mark. Seriously, we are excited to see how this all works and trust it improves experiences at DMP, while contributing to our sustainability and resiliency as a community. Attached are six images of yesterday’s installation. Many thanks to the folks at Quality Auto Body for housing and transporting the unit for us and to Spagnoli Excavating for the install.

  Finally, thanks again to all of our volunteers and the many committees who pitched in, worked together, and made our inaugural Winter Wonderland and dual Town and Village tree-lightings an unqualified success. Stay tuned for details regarding our upcoming annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Village Square. We have added some new wrinkles that are designed to make this the most epic ball drop ever as we welcome in 2023!

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor

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  Mayor’s Message -Donahue Memorial Park Canadian Geese Mitigation Edition

  April 19, 2022

   

  Mayor’s Message (Donahue Memorial Park Canadian Geese Mitigation Edition):

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

  Apologies for double messages today, but wanted to alert residents and visitors to Donahue Memorial Park to an ongoing Village project. Last year, we received a number of complaints regarding the plentiful amount of Canadian Geese fecal matter at the park. It could certainly be a health hazard to those who sit or lie in the grass, as well as a safety hazard posed to those who slip on the feces. After reaching out to the USDA Wildlife Services Division, was advised of their efforts to capture and either harvest (donated to food banks) or relocation provision. When we publicly announced we were exploring this means, a number of residents requested we attempt other, more humane options. Several offered to donate mitigation devices that included latex, faux-predator (with-lifelike tails) geese deterrents. Two generous donors – Rick and Barbara Gioia and Tom Dicarrado provided some to Village at no cost. We thank them for their generosity.

  The faux-predators will be emplaced around DMP. Will routinely rotate them to different positions during scheduled mowings of the park. Fingers crossed they serve as a solution. So, advise family and friends NOT to call Animal Control over our “foxes” and coyotes.” We expect, with good reason, to get some chuckles over this – but know we are exhausting all humane methods in order to find a way to coexist with our local wildlife.

  
  

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor

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  Mayor’s Message [Donahue Memorial Park Reopening Plan Edition]:

  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

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  Mayor’s Message - Donahue Memorial Park Closure Edition

  Mayor’s Message

  [Donahue Memorial Park Closure Edition]:

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

  Effective IMMEDIATELY:

  Donahue Memorial Park (DMP) – known locally as “the Riverfront” – is CLOSED to the general public until further notice. Storm damages to the railway has resulted in CSX bringing in contractors and material to repair the tracks to as far south as West Point. DMP is the closest possible staging area for personnel, equipment, and material. I have been at the riverfront multiple times since Sunday evening. It is at its most perilous at the moment – due to a multitude of heavy equipment (excavators and dump trucks) deployed to make railway repairs.

   

  I was working with CSX to ensure that this wouldn’t impact next weekend, as we have kayak companies and rowing associations that depend on weekend usage. They were hoping for quick repairs. While I understand public frustrations and am empathetic – public safety is paramount. Cornwall-on-Hudson police have been instructed to advise those unaware of this notice and on foot to CLEAR the park. Vehicles that drive around the posted CLOSED signage will be cited.

   

  Businesses and summer recreational companies have property at the waterfront and may need to check on damages. I will allow this so long as your travel to and from DMP is conducted slowly and safely. But there will be NO launches from the waterfront of ANY watercraft until this order is rescinded. I will personally notify every impacted entity. Any questions/issues, you may contact this mayor at (845) 534-4200 (x311) or my personal cell: (845) 913-5745.

  As soon as conditions on the ground change, I will IMMEDIATELY notice a change of order. Thank you for your understanding and compliance with this public safety order.

   

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor
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  Mayor’s Message [Spring Projects Edition]:

  Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson friends and residents,

  As the weather warms up, you’ll begin to see our Department of Public Works and associated contractors out preparing for the Spring/Summer Seasons. As a reminder: Yard Waste Pick-up begins Monday, April 1, 2024 and Bulk Pickup is scheduled for Monday, April 22, 2024.

  A few ongoing projects that I felt worthy and instructive to share with you. As our Village celebrates its 140-year anniversary in 2025 and our bandstand prepares to celebrate its 140^th-anniversary in August of 2026, please know that the Village will be making some repairs and providing upkeep to the current bandstand (which was a replacement in 1985). The weather has not been kind to the structure and we are committed to refurbishing this cherished facility in time for the opening Tuesday of our Bandstand Concert Series scheduled for May 28, 2024.

  I’ve attached some photos hereon as well. Photos one through three highlight the great work our DPW crews are doing to repair our dock sections at Donahue Memorial Park. Sixteen years of waves and weather put a beating on the old dock. Photo four highlights the work being done at the Pavilion to interconnect a paver walkway with Shore Road, the Pavilion, and our composting toilets -- and provide electricity to the Pavilion. And finally, photos five, six, and seven are of sidewalk work currently ongoing along Curie Road. Homeowners, apartment dwellers, and children walking to the Middle School have patiently awaited this project completion for a number of years. Safety is a primary consideration – but the walkability aesthetics are a bonus.

  These are just a tiny sampling of the early-Spring projects your Village is currently undertaking.  

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor

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  Mayor’s Message [Cornwall-on-Hudson Current Ongoing Projects Edition]:

  Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson residents,

  IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR HIKERS:

  The Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson will be conducting an “oil and chip” repair to the roadway that leads off of Bayview Avenue to the Donahue Farm Property on Monday, July 1, 2024. This roadway is the ingress/egress to the Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead at Storm King and is overseen by Scenic Hudson. The Village’s plan to improve the roadway to the parking lot at the trailhead have been signed off on by Scenic Hudson. Why are we doing this? Because the Donahue Farm Property is owned by the Village and we are required to maintain it. Having our DPW equipment remove snow and maintain access to the trailhead puts a severe beating and wear-and-tear on our fleet of vehicles. By utilizing “oil and chip” treatment – or commonly referred to as “chip seal” or “bituminous seal coat” – the existing roadway is covered with “a layer of oil and stone that seals blacktop and provides a wearable surface at a fraction of the cost of resurfacing.” Ergo, Monday – the roadway to the trailhead will be CLOSED. You can walk in to gain access to our hiking trails. But the roadway will not reopen until Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

  If you have been to the farm property of recent, you’ll also notice that the Village – in concert with Scenic Hudson and our very own volunteer-led Donahue Committee – recently razed the kennel building. This is part of our improvements and beautification efforts and tied to the recent awarding of project monies from the NY Forward grant. We worked around some mature growth trees and will restore landscape to nature until the Donahue Committee puts forth a plan to erect a structure in the kennel’s footprint that supports our long-term property improvement goals.

  Make sure to swing by the Hudson Highland Nature Museum’s Wildlife Education Campus (WEC) on the Boulevard. The Village was able to assist in repaving the parking lot last Fall, improving drainage issues in the process, and recently had a local business (Foley Landscaping Contractors) construct a new paver walkway and repair the steps leading into the WEC.

  I have nine months and four days left in office. I will make the most out of every moment left. With a multitude of FEMA and USDA storms-related projects to proctor and oversee, as well as stewarding the NY Forward projects through engineering and design assessments and bids and contracts, there is a lot left to handle. Make no mistake about it – this Village Board is up to the daunting tasks ahead. Buckle up. Trust me -- you’re going to like what you see in the Village.

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor