Please find the most up to date notices from the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson.
December 4, 2023
Dear Town/Village Water Clients of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson’s Water System,
A blurb in last week’s Cornwall Local in its “Around the Village” feature has led to some fears and concerns expressed on social media and related to the Village’s “Water Meter Replacement Project.” These fears are unfounded and related to some speculative, inaccurate, and erroneous information being circulated in posted comments section. Here are the FACTS:
The Cornwall water system includes 2,671 meters. ONLY 360 of these meters required updating. Letters were mailed ONLY to the customers requiring upgraded replacements; with initial notice sent via USPS in June of 2023, followed by a second notice in August of 2023, with a final notice mailed out in November of 2023. New fee rate for those who ignored these mailings goes into effect in January of 2024. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THE UPGRADED METERS.
To date, our Water Department has replaced 265 out of the 360 outdated models (73.6%). Our team is scheduled to replace another 26 meters by end of this calendar year. This translates to 291 of the original 360 (79.7%) – which leaves 69 outstanding meter replacements (39 in Town and 30 in Village) for total project completion.
The remaining 69 meters represent just 2.58% of our customer base. Over 97% of our water customers already possess a meter on their property which can be read remotely. The $75.00 manual read fee – which helps pay for having to pull our small team of employees off of other projects related to maintaining some 52 miles of water pipes, five reservoirs, a well field, and multiple treatment facilities in order to deliver safe, drinkable water to your tap, so that they can make a house call to read a meter -- will pertain to less than 3% of our end state consumers.
Important Note: This fee will only be assessed if the property owner has NOT made ANY attempt to schedule an appointment.
If residents are unsure of what type of meter that they have, they can call our Administrative Assistant Stephanie Xagoraris at (845) 534-4200 Ext. 250. She can advise whether meter requires replacement. I have posted photographs of what is considered “old” and “upgraded.”
BENEFITS: The new meters will read water consumption to the tenth of a gallon allowing for FAR more accurate billing. The old meters read consumption in 1,000-gallon increments.
New meters will allow residents to also remotely monitor their own water consumption system and set usage alerts from any internet capable device.
The new meters also allow our staff to more accurately monitor water consumption on a daily basis, while comparing it to our daily water production to monitor for water system leaks.
I hope this explainer helps to clear up any confusion. Water Superintendent Trainor and his team do an outstanding job delivering this precious resource to our homes, schools, and businesses. Both he and I (and our water staff) are available to any resident with questions or concerns.
On behalf of the Village Board,
James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Mayor
Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,
It deeply saddens me to reflect on the horrific terror attacks on the State of Israel as Israelis were completing their seven-day-long Jewish festival of Sukkot on Saturday. Hamas terrorists based out of Palestine fired thousands of missiles on indiscriminate targets and then breached fences separating Israel from Gaza in order to unleash a bloody terror attack. We are all well aware of the details of civilians being slaughtered, babies beheaded, women raped, and hostages abducted.
Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the innocent civilians purposely targeted and slain. Also, appreciate the pain and fear of the families whose loved ones were taken hostage. New York State has a large Jewish population – our friends, neighbors, and fellow community members. We shall stand with them during this darkest of hours for the State of Israel. Eleven American citizens have been confirmed dead during the attack and an unknown number of American citizens may be held hostage. We pray for their well-being and safe release.
I have ordered all Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY flags on four municipal properties flown in the half-mast position until Friday COB. Regarding queries about official proclamations of support, I have never felt appropriate for the Village Board to engage in geopolitical or even national matters via empty resolution gestures that won’t lead to any concrete solutions (same position we held in regard to Ukraine’s fight against Russia). Our flag lowerings are our one-time symbolic gesture of support. We acknowledge fact that we stand with Israel -- our longtime ally in the Middle East. Terrorism is a global scourge that the world community must eradicate.
With heavy heart and on behalf of your Village Board,
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,
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.
James A. "Jimmy" Gagliano
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]:
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.
[Busy Week of Updates and Village Clerk Retirement Edition]:
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.