Related Articles

• 

  Mayor’s Message [Residents with Storm Damage Relief Processes Edition]:

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

  Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul traveled to Highland Falls, in order announce New York State’s $3 million commitment to provide flood damage assistance for homeowners.

  Read: “Individual Assistance” -- NOT related to municipal damages and public remediation compensation. Important note -- does not replace Individual Assistance from FEMA, so long as Orange County qualifies, following an anticipated Federal Disaster Declaration from President.

  Homeowners may apply to receive funding to cover the cost of urgent repairs necessary to restore their home to a safe-for-habitation condition. Eligible work may include repair or replacement of electrical and plumbing systems, heating systems and appliances, flooring, drywall, insulation, windows, doors, siding, and roofing. A full listing of qualified repairs will be available on the RUPCO website.

  Grants up to $50,000 will be awarded based on a scope of work approved by the Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corporation (RDAC). Applicants must be homeowners whose primary residence is located within Orange County, NY and who have family incomes that exist at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income level.

  Eligible homeowners can apply for funding at www.rupco.org or call (845) 713-4568 (x 114) for more information.

  I was supremely proud of the relief efforts and leadership I witnessed on display yesterday in Highland Falls and across the past couple of weeks that saw the Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, pay a visit to Cornwall, as well as our Congressman, Pat Ryan, and other local elected officials, to include NYS Senator James Skoufis, Assemblyman Chris Eachus, and County Legislator Kevin Hines. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Sheriff Paul Arteta have also been “in the trenches,” crisscrossing the county on a daily basis to meet with residents and assess damages. Know that our community has the full attention of our elected leaders.

  Lastly, I want to recognize our incredible municipal employees within the Department of Public Works, Water Department, and COH Police Department. Their selflessness, hard work, and commitment to this community continues to inspire me. Thank you, all.

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor
• 

  Mayor's Message - Summer Playground Camp Edition

  Mayor’s Message [2023 Summer Playground Camp Edition]:

  Village residents,

  Attached are two important notices that highlight arrangements made between the Town of Cornwall, Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, and Cornwall Central School District; related to 2023 Summer Camp/Summer Playground. With almost all of the district’s school facilities being taken offline this summer for necessary renovations and repairs, the CCSD recognized the inherent difficulties for working parents if our municipalities were unable to secure a school venue to host our camps this year -- and possibly next year, as well.

  A deal was struck to conjoin the Village and Town camps and utilize Cornwall Elementary School, located at 99 Lee Road in Cornwall, NY 12518. For efficiency and oversight purposes and to limit footprint of an expected 250 (give or take) grade school kids, kindergarteners will be directed to the Town’s Kinder Kamp (flyer one) and rising first through eighth graders will enroll as per instructions provided on flyer two. There will be no separations or distinctions related to “town” or “village” kids – only by age groups.

  These necessary adjustments may result in some frustrations over changes. Please know that this is “new” for all of us and Cornwall’s leaders are working to minimize disruptions to your plans. Camp will run from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. -- an additional hour for those accustomed to COH’s Summer Playground schedule. And to make this work, the still well-below-market-value tuition rate has been set for ALL Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson residents at $300.00 for the full six-week camp. This will require both Town Council and Village Board to subsidize monies to make “numbers” work and provide some financial relief for residents due to current sky-high inflation and rising “everything” costs.

  As per the flyers, the Town of Cornwall Recreation Department (located at Munger Cottage) will handle registrations Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. There will be no separate Village registration. For families of campers accustomed to attending Summer Playground, we understand that Cornwall Elementary School at Lee Road slightly increases your commute for drop-off and pickups. If transportation is problematic, please notify Rec. Department staff at registration, and the Village will determine if numbers support provision of some type of shuttle service. Again, please be patient with us as we all deal with a “new normal” for near future. We fully understand how critical camp is for child development and working parents’ schedules. This Town, Village and CCSD collaboration was only viable and available solution here.  

  On behalf of the Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Village Mayor

• 

  Mayor's Message - 2023 Bandstand Concert Series, Movie Night on the Hudson, and RiverFest Edition

  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

• 

  Mayor's Message 9-7-21

  September 7, 2021   ***IMPORTANT MESSAGE***

   

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

  I trust that this message finds everyone safe and healthy in the wake of Tropical Storm Ida’s flood-inducing rainfall. Please know that Village Public Works employees, along with SKE2 volunteers, have been working relentlessly to ensure that clogged culverts, storm drains have been cleared, basements have had floodwaters pumped out and waters redirected, and yard debris continues to be removed. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.

  I also just conferred with Town Supervisor Dick Randazzo and followed up with a telephone call to the Manager of Orange County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Emergency Planner, Dominick Greene. Mr. Greene advises that there may be funds available for “individual assistance” from FEMA. He encouraged us to manage expectations, as there will be “needs based” assessments. This translates to the construct that bases relief monies on your household income level, as well as your existing insurance coverage. Items such as structural damage, loss of furnace, or electrical panel compromise are considered priorities. Other appliances, say a second refrigerator in your basement are obviously lower-priority losses. FEMA allows 22 days from disaster event for the County to submit a list of residents’ claims. Keep in mind, any individual claim may or may not be entertained. But we would be derelict in not compiling a list for submission and ascertaining what, if anything, can/may be replaced by FEMA.

  With this in mind. I must have said list turned over to Orange County NLT Monday, September 20^th, 2021. Therefore, any resident interested in submitting for potential claim consideration MUST have the below information emailed to the Village Hall Clerk at [email protected] NLT COB (4:30 p.m.) on Friday, September 17^th, 2021.

  Residents who sustained damage to their property, please provide ONLY the following general information:

  Name, address, email address, telephone number and a brief description of the damages you have incurred.  Please include a general description of flood damage; location such as basement, first floor, second floor; and types of damage and loss, i.e. electrical, furnace, finished basement, personal property, etc. 

  The state of emergency for the Village of COH was lifted this morning. Thank you for your patience during our response to this weather event.

  Stay safe and healthy.

  Very respectfully,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

• 

  Mayor’s Message [Impending Weather Warning Edition]

  January 9, 2023

  Mayor’s Message [Impending Weather Warning Edition]:

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

  As the region braces for yet another significant weather event -- one which compounds melting snow, high winds, and yet another hyper-localized rainfall, here are some forecasting and precautionary information provided by the County Executive’s Office and the Orange County Deputy Commissioner for Emergency Management, Alan C. Mack:

  “[T]he Orange County Emergency Management team is closely monitoring the forecast for upcoming Winter Storm Finn. Today’s storm, combined with recent Winter Storm Ember, may be problematic because of wind and potential flooding. The National Weather Service forecast shows temperatures leaving the low twenties up to a high of 52 degrees. At the same time, the wind will slowly ramp up to steady-state 22 MPH with gusts up to the mid-thirties. At 10:00 AM, we’ll have another small round of snow, with no appreciable accumulation. None of these (on their own) are a problem, but starting at 1:00 PM, rain begins to fall around the County until 1:00 PM Wednesday. 7:00 PM Tuesday night thru 7:00 AM Wednesday is the main problem. The rain is forecasted to fall hard and fast with excessive volume. We may receive over two inches of rain between 7:00 PM -7:00 AM. This is a lot of rain on its own, but the snow on the ground will melt with the higher temperatures and the large volume of rain. The snow that fell during Ember had a 7:1 liquid to snow ratio (seven inches of snow equals one inch of water). Based on past experiences, we believe we’re going to see some significant localized flooding.”

  So, as our Village (and Town) crews continue to labor to mitigate flooding within the greater Cornwall area, and in coordination with Cornwall’s Office of Emergency Management Director Kurt Hahn, we are making available a supply of sand bags and sand within the Village at our Municipal Water Building located at 21 Maple Avenue. Any Village OR Town residents seeking to use sandbags to redirect water can stop by and are encouraged to take up to TEN sandbags. You will have to fill them yourself with material and shovels provided. Please take only up to ten bags. Honor System is in effect. You may use our municipal lot to fill bags while securing them and park without obstructing. Please respect the neighborhood while you are doing so. This was the best agreed-upon location that will be open 24/7 and available until material supply runs out.

  For Village residents: To be kept informed, you  may register for the Village’s messaging system by either texting the keyword COH1250 to 99411 or by clicking on the below weblink:

  https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF39E0553EE3

  The guidance from the County is to be taken seriously. Within the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, our stalwart road crews continue to remove snow from the streets and are working to clear any and all obstructed storm drains, ensuring a path for melting snow and impending rainfall. The volume of rain we are expecting – much like the storms of 12/23/2022, 7/9/2023, and 12/17/2023 – will overwhelm our storm drain system. Some of our infrastructure simply cannot handle what the Governor of New York State has referred to as a “1,000-year storm” – the types of storms we are seeing all too frequently of late. We will continue to keep residents updated with any relevant storm-related news or precautions. Please reach out with any needs.

  Mayor’s office number: (845) 534-4200 (x311).

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor

• 

  Mayor’s Message (Public Safety Edition):

  March 28, 2022

   

  Mayor’s Message (Public Safety Edition):

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

  On behalf of the Village Board, I could not be prouder to announce that the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department rolled out body-worn cameras this morning. As a career law enforcement professional, it has always been of paramount importance to me to ensure transparency for the constituency we are sworn to protect and serve, as well as guarantee the legal protections of armed public servants who willingly go into harm’s way on behalf of all of us. This was LONG overdue and serves as victory for all.

  

  Pictured is Village Police Department’s lone appointed sergeant, John Peña, modeling the body-worn camera accoutrement on his ballistic vest during the B-Line tour today. If any resident or visitor to the Village has questions regarding our roll-out and usage of said BWCs, please stop into the police department or Village Hall and speak to Chief Steve Dixon or me. Or, simply stop any Village officer on the street and inquire regarding protocols. We are supremely proud of this effort that has taken a full year to effect.

  James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

  Mayor