Please find the most up to date notices from the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson.
February 25, 2022
Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:
This one is LONG overdue. This morning, Old Man Winter’s stubborn refusal to depart the region in a timely fashion, and on good terms, made me realize how truly blessed we are to have such a dedicated and committed Village Department of Public Works. I pledge to do a better job publicly acknowledging and highlighting our amazing workforce more frequently. Next editions will spotlight the Water Department and the Police Department.
For this DPW, Highway, and Sanitation Departments’ edition, how about these guys?
Photo One: (L-R) Casey Brown, Superintendent Dave Halvorsen, and Andrew Poalla after the Village Hall parking lot was plowed and treated this morning (repeatedly).
Photo Two: They balked at my camera-happy posture after plowing and treating our Village streets since 3:30 a.m., but I corralled them at the DPW Building. From left to right, Andy Stathes, Wayne Yeoman, Tommy Lyons, Pat Conley, and Eric Vandemark.
Photo Three: I asked the DPW to refinish, renovate, refurbish, and bring back to life a more than 100-year-old work session table that is in all likelihood the OLDEST piece of furniture in existence in Village government. Handcrafted in Indianapolis around the turn of the century, it was in sore need of repair and a tiny bit of TLC. These guys nailed it. Expert craftsmen, all. Left to right, Pat Cody, Luis “Sweet Lou” De la Cruz, and Pat Conley. Museum-quality piece now. We know that this table served as the mayor’s “desk” and conveyance for board meetings when it existed at the old Village Hall at 3 River Avenue (currently Pepettini Restaurant) until the early 1990s. It is a Village treasure.
Thank you, Village Department of Public Works. We all truly appreciate your work.
On behalf of a truly grateful Village Board and community,
James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Mayor
November 20, 2020
Dear Village Folks:
As COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Orange County, the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson needs to continue to safeguard its residents and employees. We recognize the need to have our employees available especially as the snow season approaches.
With that in mind, Village Hall will be closed to the public again as of Monday, Nov. 30, at least until Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. We will continue to provide services as usual. The drop box has become a convenient way to pay bills.
Governor Cuomo has stressed that New Yorkers should limit their travel outside the state and there are certain guidelines the Village must follow. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me: 534-4200 x307 or 845-416-8018.
I hope in this season of gratitude that we can recognize our many blessings. Stay safe. On behalf of the Village Board and all of our employees, I wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Brendan Coyne
Dear Residents:
I want to thank you all for your patience and cooperation as we cope with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Village Hall Office doors are closed and will continue to remain closed until Friday, April 10, 2020, at which time we’ll determine if it is safe to open. We are staggering hours to provide Village services and conduct Village business.
Please continue to pay bills through the dropbox marked BILLS on the parking lot side of Village Hall to limit interaction between residents and village employees. If you have questions about Village business, please contact us at 534-4200 or info@cornwall-on-hudson.org.
Senior citizens may wish to take advantage of Safe Seniors, an assistance program provided by the Village Police Department. See link.
If you’d like to volunteer, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, right here in the Village at 195 Hudson Street, is always looking for volunteers, now more than ever. To volunteer, check the website: www.regionalfoodbank.net/volunteer/.
Please follow the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control regarding hygiene and isolating. Let’s take care of ourselves, families and neighbors. In addition to our health professionals and first responders, let’s be grateful for our Village public works, water and clerical employees.
It’s good to see so many people walking, jogging and bicycling. Enjoy Donahue Memorial Park and the Village’s other parks. Let’s continue to support our local restaurants by ordering food to take out.
The Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson is a strong community. Let’s help one another get through this challenging time. Stay healthy!
Brendan G. Coyne, Mayor
Friday, February 2, 2021
What a snow storm! We haven’t had so much snow in some time.
Thanks once again to our Public Works employees for digging us out and clearing our streets. They worked long hours to keep us safe. I also want to thank our Water Department employees for clearing our water supply properties to keep the water flowing.
The agreement allowing the Village to create a hiking trail on the property owned by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission has spurred some conversation. Bob McCue has just published a new book, Cornwall Landing – Our Times and I’ve enjoyed talking with him about the past and future of the property once owned by the Consolidated Edison utility company. Bob’s book is filled with photos, including some of the former hotel, the Villa Pennisi that once stood on the Palisades property. Bob has graciously donated a copy of his book to the Village Museum.
The Village Board and Cornwall Town Board will hold a joint public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday regarding annexation of town property where the Village has its Black Rock Water Treatment Plant. The annexation will save the Village $60,000 in town and school taxes annually.
I’m are still working on details of the purchase of the Donahue Farm property. We hope to close soon.
Monday’s Village Work Session includes a resolution to pass a new comprehensive plan. I’m grateful to our Comprehensive Plan Committee that has held more than 30 meetings over three years in working on a document to replace our 60-year-old plan.
Have a great weekend!
All the best,
January 14, 2025
Mayor’s Message [Public Safety, “Et Alia” Edition]:
Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, visitors, and friends,
Firstly, an apology upfront for what may seem an extended period of absence in the “mayor’s message” communications I do so enjoy sharing with our community. Certainly not a reflection of a lack of matters and issues currently being addressed and resolved. The wheels of progress have continued to grind along unimpeded or obstructed. I simply choose this platform when I sense matters of serious consequence to address – or opportunities to laud our amazing Village employees and volunteer organizations. That said, this will serve as my penultimate written message to you all as mayor of this wonderful Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. My second (and final) term concludes on April 7th and there will be a new elected leader of the Village for us all to rally behind and cheer on continued successes for our elected officials as they continue to lead us into the second quarter of the 21st century. But more on all of that soon.
Let’s begin with several somber reflections. Three days shy of the New Year, the nation lost its 39th president, Jimmy Carter: a native of Plains, Georgia and the leader of the free world during a fairly tumultuous period of our nation’s – and the world’s – history. He led with grace and truly inspired millions upon millions across the globe during his post-presidency efforts with Habitat for Humanity. Village flags have been lowered to half-mast position in keeping with federal guidelines that instruct the observances be held for a full thirty days following a POTUS’s passing. They will briefly be raised back to full-mast position in observance of inauguration day on January 20th and then be re-lowered for the remaining eight days of remembrance in honor of President Carter. I did not *invent this accommodation. It has been announced by a number of state governments and the Speaker of the House of Representatives – to apply to Congress. Please keep President Carter and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
We also lost one of our own beloved elected leaders and community pillars on January 8th. Charles “Rudy” Hahn was a well-respected member of this Village, serving 24 years on our Village Board and as deputy mayor. Difficult to find anyone around these parts who could say a cross word about Mr. Hahn. He built an incredible legacy in Cornwall-on-Hudson – none more so than his children and grandchildren; all deeply embedded in and committed to Cornwall-on-Hudson. Please keep them all in your prayers. Their patriarch made a huge impact in COH.
And also, Thursday, January 16th, Cornwall’s own true American HERO and Medal of Honor recipient, Captain Paul W. Bucha, will be formally laid to rest at his alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point. Captain Bucha peacefully passed away on July 31, 2024. Thursday’s ceremonies will be replete with full military honors. Please continue to keep his brave wife and Cornwall resident, Cynthia, “Chintz,” Bell-Bucha in your thoughts and prayers.
Now, to serious matters related to PUBLIC SAFETY. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger once perfectly posited that “[g]overnment’s first duty and highest obligation is public safety.” He was spot-on. Nothing – absolutely NOTHING – is as sacrosanct a contract with our community than the one that demands we elected officials do everything within our power and control to keep our communities safe. It’s why this Board compelled our police department to be outfitted with body worn cameras. They assist in keeping the public – and our cops – safe(r). It’s also why some four years ago, we took a hard look at the events in COH that resulted in mass gatherings . It’s no easy (or popular) feat, at times, to pull employees in on holidays, away from their families, and have them staff additional uniformed foot posts or assist in prepositioning heavy equipment and vehicles to provide a greater level of security for crowds of revelers that gather to celebrate. One only has to look at what just occurred in Germany during the Christmas Market attack and the vehicular attack on Bourbon Street that occurred shortly after we celebrated our ball drop in COH. The threat matrix, my FBI background informs, should constantly shift and adjust to blunt the advantage our complacencies provide to terrorists, or those seeking to inflict harm. In Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” he warned of an adversaries’ penchant for acting “like water,” taking the path of least resistance, and always finding the easiest route. Undertaking these “new normal” precautions does not guarantee us 100% safety. But it is a first step in hardening our defenses.
Same necessary defenses the current FBI director warned of on “60 Minutes” on Sunday evening. Speaking of the ominous threats posed by the People’s Republic of China, Director Wray particularly highlighted vulnerabilities within our critical infrastructure grid. And the first vital critical infrastructure sector he mentioned was water treatment facilities – something the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson is responsible for in its role as the lead agency in charge of the Cornwall Water System. In light of this shared intelligence, the Village will seek to begin a comprehensive review of the security template attached to our water treatment plants and reservoirs. It is necessary and timely. Just as we will seek to procure moveable sidewalk bollards to further integrate and increase security posture when we draw large crowds to events. Any resident with additional ideas or concerns in this realm, please come see the mayor to discuss.
Finally, with 83 days left in office, I commit to not limping across the finish line and promise to finish my final days as mayor with the same enthusiasm and commitment to ALL with which I entered on duty. And while I will share more (much more) about the current state of the Village and what lies ahead in my final treatise to the community in March, please know that I have considered the holding of this office to be the honor and the privilege of my lifetime. Thank you.
On behalf of your Village Board,