Related Articles

• 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   

• Public Hearing Notice- Municipal Seperate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)

  WHEREAS, the Village Board wished to set a time and place for a public hearing to consider the adoption of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) audit.

  NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY –

  RESOLVED, that the Village Board hereby determines that it will be the lead agency with respect to the review of (the “project”) in accord with New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and part 617 of the regulations implementing SEQRA, since there are no other agencies that have the authority to approve the project; and it is further –

  RESOLVED, that the Village Board hereby classifies the action as an unlisted action under SEQRA; and it is further –

  RESOLVED, that a public hearing be held by the Village Board in order to receive comments and suggestions regarding the audit of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), and to receive any comments concerning the potential adverse environmental impacts of the proposed legislation in accord with SEQRA, on April 15, 2019 at 7:01 p.m. at the Village Hall located at 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York; and it is further –

  RESOLVED, that the Village Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause said public notice of said hearing to be given as provided by law.

  Dated: February 11, 2019

  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
  JEANNE MAHONEY, VILLAGE CLERK

• PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEMS (MS4)

              WHEREAS, the Village Board wished to set a time and place for a public hearing to consider the adoption of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) audit.

  NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY –

              RESOLVED, that the Village Board hereby determines that it will be the lead agency with respect to the review of (the “project”) in accord with New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and part 617 of the regulations implementing SEQRA, since there are no other agencies that have the authority to approve the project; and it is further –

              RESOLVED, that the Village Board hereby classifies the action as an unlisted action under SEQRA; and it is further –

            RESOLVED, that a public hearing be held by the Village Board in order to receive comments and suggestions regarding the audit of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), and to receive any comments concerning the potential adverse environmental impacts of the proposed legislation in accord with SEQRA, on March 23, 2020 at 7:01 p.m. at the Village Hall located at 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York; and it is further –

              RESOLVED, that the Village Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause said public notice of said hearing to be given as provided by law. 

  Dated: February 24, 2020

                                                              BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

                                                              JEANNE MAHONEY, VILLAGE CLERK

• 

  Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing

  Under the chairmanship of Led Klosky, the Comprehensive Plan Committee includes Mary Aspin, Dominic Cordisco, Bill Grisoli and Lorraine McGuinness. They met more than 30 times over the course of three years, meeting with village department supervisors and others. In its final phase, the committee benefitted from the expertise of Kristen O’Donnell, a planner with Lanc & Tully; Mayor Brendan Coyne secured a grant to pay half of the planner’s fee.
  As with many events in 2020, COVID-19 prevented the committee from finalizing its draft earlier this year. The committee held a public meeting Nov. 12.

  A Public Hearing will be held December 14.

  PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Village Board of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson will hold a public hearing on December 14, 2020 at 7:01 P.M., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York 12520, to consider the proposed Comprehensive Plan.

              Due to public health and safety concerns, the public hearing will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting, following these instructions: Link:  https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/421860237 or by dial-in at :+1 (571) 317-3122, Access Code: 421-860-23.

  A copy of the proposed Comprehensive Plan may be reviewed on here on the Village website.  Written comments may be submitted prior to or at the public hearing.  Oral comments may be made at the public hearing.  Persons may appear in person or by agent.

  Dated:  November 16, 2020

• 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)

• 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