Supervisor's Update – Friday, February 19, 2021

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Last Updated: 19 February 2021 19 February 2021

It seems like the snow is never going to end, but Spring is around the corner. I hope everyone stayed safe and kept off the roads to the best of their ability. I just took a brief tour and our Town Highway and Parks crews have done a great job again. They are exhausted, as you can imagine, so please give them a virtual high five next time you drive by. We hope the next wave will be less snow and not so long so the guys can catch a break.

 

Some of us spent time at the beginning of the week continuing our municipal education at the NYS Association of Towns annual conference and training. Usually we get to meet in person in the city, but of course it was all virtual this year. Most of the conference was focused on budgeting, planning, and coping with the economic impact of the pandemic, as well as lessons learned and silver linings that can be takeaways for improved efficiencies, planning, land use considerations, and operations. Shout outs to my office staff as well as Town Clerk Susanne Donnelly and Tax Receiver Holly Perlowitz for their participation and dedication to our community. We also had a chance to vote on a legislative agenda for the Association to lobby for on our behalf at the state and federal level for changes that would make it easier for us to do our jobs serving you. Today we had a meeting of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association with the Westchester Delegation of the State Legislature also discussing legislation we support (and oppose) so they can continue to work hard in Albany to help our communities thrive even during these difficult times.

 

The Town of Ossining is looking for volunteers to connect seniors with appointments for vaccines! The Biden Administration has projected that vaccines will be available for the majority of Americans by July. This is exciting news and we want to make sure everyone that wants the vaccine can get one. One issue we have consistently seen so far is a reliance on technology to get an appointment, but some seniors do not have cell phones that can receive texts and some are uncomfortable navigating websites. The Town is organizing a system of volunteers that will seek out open appointments and help seniors reserve them. If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 914-762-6001. This program has not launched yet, but we have been inspired by the Greenburgh COVID Angels program that has been very successful, and we are grateful to them for sharing their resources to help us get started.

 

Currently, the number of vaccines allocated for New York State is still low, which is frustrating for us all, especially as we continue to deal with the uncertainty COVID-19 has unleashed over the past year. But hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel if we can all be patient for a little longer. An April appointment may seem far away, but it is sooner than you think. If you are not eligible, please do not attempt to make an appointment yet. Local pharmacies may only vaccinate those 65 years old and up, whereas the state run facilities can vaccinate everyone. You can make appointments through the New York State website (they must determine your eligibility first).

 

If you have questions about the vaccine, you are not alone. In December, when the vaccine was launched, I met over Zoom with experts from New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley to learn more about what this would mean for our residents. If you have questions about the vaccine, check out my conversation with Dr. Craig Hametz and NY Presbyterian HV President Stacey Petrower here. You can also call the New York State vaccine helpline by dialing 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. The State is managing a separate hotline for reports of vaccine fraud and abuse. That number is 1-833-VAX-SCAM. As a reminder, vaccines are free for all residents and you cannot pay to reserve an appointment to receive one.

 

 

The Town of Ossining is hiring! Our justice court is looking for a part-time intermediate clerk. You can check out the full job posting and application on our website. Applications are due to Victoria Cafarelli by February 26^th at 2:30pm. You can submit an application online or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you are submitting an application via email, be sure to save your application before sending.

 

 

The Playland Summer Jobs Fair is virtual this year. Check out their website for a list of the jobs available, employee incentives, and application information. Interviews begin tomorrow, so be sure to submit an application if you have not done so already.

 

 

This week at our Board Meeting, the Town enjoyed a happy anniversary with a presentation on the Food Scraps Recycling program from Green Ossining’s Suzie Ross, Nadya Hall of Teatown, Marcus DaSilva who oversees the site, and Victoria Cafarelli from my office. Food Scraps are expensive to incinerate and are a disappointing loss of resources. Last year, the Town launched the Food Scraps Recycling program to convert our left over kitchen items into compost. You can joining our mailing list or purchase a food scraps bin at the Ossining Composts website. Purchase of a bin is not required to participate in the Food Scraps Recycling program. Do you know what items to sort into recycling and what belongs in the trash? Check out this fun challenge, posted on our Facebook page.

 

 

Art classes for winter session are available at the Cedar Lane Arts Center. Visit the Community Pass page to learn about arts and athletic programs being offered by the Ossining Recreation Department (open to Village of Ossining residents, unincorporated town residents, and residents of the Village of Briarcliff).

 

 

The Briarcliff Public Library has created book lists for Black History month, with dedicated pinterest threads for easy online browsing. Check out their Black History Month general recommendations, or dive in further with the Black Lives and Stories thread or the Art & Cuisine: Celebrating Black History thread.

 

 

It’s income tax season! The Ossining Public Library is hosting AARP’s Tax-Aide again this year, with some new procedures in place due to COVID-19. Appointments are available every Thursday starting this week, but by appointment only. No walk-ups will be allowed. To make an appointment, call (914) 810-3384. Be sure to leave your full name, phone number, and the best time to reach you in your message. In order to make the appointment, volunteers will be calling you back to ask a couple of questions, explain new protocols, and help you prepare for your in-person appointment so the process remains as streamlined and safe as possible. The AARP is also providing no-contact tax preparation help this year too, which entails the transmission of instructions, forms, permissions, and scans of tax documents via e-mail. If you would like to take advantage of this service, also call (914) 810-2284.

 

This week, the Sing Sing Prison Museum’s Justice Talks Series featured Ossining Village Historian Joyce Sharrock Cole, who gave a presentation on leading Black families in Ossining. The program introduced current residents to past generations of local greatness, with photographs of historic homeowners, businesses owners, and recognizable places.You can watch this fascinating presentation on local history on the Sing Sing Prison Museum Facebook Page (even if you do not have a Facebook account of your own).

 

 

And now for some events!

 

Bethany Arts Community is celebrating Black History Month with a star-studded exploration of Ossining’s history, complete with musical performances, artists’ talks, an art history class, and an exhibition of Black History & Culture. Check out their calendar for a list of upcoming virtual and in-person events.

 

 

The Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative is holding several meetings in February. There is a public feedback session focused on the needs of the Black community tomorrow, Saturday February 20th at 10am. There is also a Spanish-language session on February 27^th at 10am. These are just some of the many opportunities to weigh in on Police Reform.

 

You've got mail...about EnergySmart Homes Ossining + Briarcliff! Letters were mailed out this week, sharing resources for homeowners looking to reduce their wintertime heating and summertime cooling costs. Join us at the "Energy Savings and Climate Action at Home" webinar on Tuesday February 23, 6:00pm-7:00pm to find out how to save money and lower energy usage in your home with air source heat pumps, geothermal systems and energy efficiency solutions. Breakout Q&A with the contractors from 7:00pm-7:30pm. RSVP to the webinar on the Sustainable Westchester website or call (914) 242-4725 ext. 122. Looking for more general info? You can look over an introductory brochure here.

 

The Ossining Parks Habitat Stewards are leading a guided Forest Species ID walk on Saturday, February 27^th. Meet at 10 at Ryder Park Pond to learn how to identify the trees on the park’s woodland trails. Register for the program through Community Pass.

 

Sugaring Days are back at Teatown at the Warren Sugarhouse! The sugarhouse is one of the site’s longest-standing structures, and is where they produce their maple syrup! You and your family can join in on the fun with Saturday programs running Saturday Feb 27, Mar 6, Mar 13, Mar 20 and Sunday programs on Feb 28, Mar 7, Mar 14. Tours are limited to one family (no more than 5 people) for 20 minutes each. Tickets are $10/family for Members, $15/family for non-members. Register on the Teatown website.

 

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater will be holding its annual Spirit of the Hudson Gala and Auction on March 4. The celebration honors water protectors and raises money for educational programs regarding the river. There will also be a fun musical performance from Gordon Bok. Of course, the event is virtual – which is perfect for these snow-filled days. You can buy tickets on the Clearwater website.

 

 

The next Town of Ossining Board Meeting will be Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 on Zoom. Join us with Meeting ID 829 0529 4769 and passcode 357975 . You can also dial in to hear the live audio by calling 929-205-6099. At this meeting we will be getting a departmental report from our Tax Receiver Holly Perlowitz. Stay tuned for several exciting new legislative initiatives coming in March – from public events to more environmentally conscious building codes. We have a lot on our plates this spring, but we hope it will all be positive improvements for our constituents! Meetings are recorded and uploaded to Facebook and YouTube in case our residents are interested in catching up on anything they missed.

Thanks – stay warm and stay safe this weekend! I know this snow has been a lot, but here are some positive numbers – we are 23 days away from the start of Daylight saving and 29 days away from the first day of spring. We are soooo close! Before you know it, there will be flower buds sticking up out of the snow.

 

--Dana

 

If your business, non-profit, or community group has an event that you would like to submit to be a part of the Supervisor's Update, please e-mail a flyer and brief description to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are happy to pass along events that provide a benefit to the community and support our local economy. Thank you for helping us to highlight all the best Ossining has to offer!

Town Board Regular Meeting - Tuesday, February 23, 2021

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Last Updated: 19 February 2021 19 February 2021

Town Board Regular Meeting

Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 7:30pm

THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING ONLY

Pursuant to Governor’s Executive Order 202.1 dated March 12, 2020

Members of the public can view the meeting via computer or mobile app:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82905294769?pwd=ZmdNMXdRTnlzUi8za2VpUWlYcm1LQT09

Please note password for this meeting: 357975

Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone:

Meeting ID: 829 0529 4769

(929) 205-6099

 

Meeting Agenda:  pdf 02 23 21 Regular Meeting (212 KB)

 

pdf Town of Ossining Voucher Detail 02 23 2021 (2020) (13 KB)

pdf Town of Ossining Voucher Detail 02 23 21 (2021) (29 KB)

Winter Storm Update

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Last Updated: 18 February 2021 18 February 2021

The Town of Ossining is carefully monitoring today's winter storm. According to the most recent forecasts, the storm will continue through the day today with heavy snow, continuing tomorrow morning and tapering off later in the day.

Town Offices will be closed today as of 12 noon, but employees are working remotely and can be reached by phone or email. We have not determined whether the buildings will be open tomorrow. For contact information for all Town departments, please visit the Town's website.

The walk-up window at the Town Justice Court will be closing at noon today due to the storm.

The Town of Ossining Highway Department is responding and working to clear roadways of snow. Please keep vehicles off the roads to allow for safe clearing of roadways and passage of emergency vehicles. If there is a fire hydrant or sidewalk near your property, please clear them. Also, please do not shovel or plow snow into the road when clearing your own driveways and walkways.

For Unincorporated Ossining, refuse collection is on schedule for today per Suburban Carting. You can receive alerts and review your refuse schedule using the Recycle Right Westchester feature (also available as an app). Tomorrow's schedule has not been determined, we will provide more information as it becomes available.

The Village of Ossining's snow emergency remains in effect. During a snow emergency in the Village of Ossining, stopping/standing/parking is prohibited on designated Snow Emergency Streets. For more information on the Village’s snow emergency, please visit the Village of Ossining website. Please be reminded that there is no overnight parking allowed on roadways in the Town of Ossining from November 1 through March 31 each year. 

As always, we recommend that you prepare for the worst: keep flashlights and extra batteries at the ready, charge up your cell phones and laptops, and check in on elderly friends and neighbors. In the event of a power outage, call 1-800-75-CONED, or text "REG" to "OUTAGE" to make a report. You can also download the ConEd app on your iPhone or Android smartphone to easily report outages and check on estimated restoration times -- you will need to have your account number handy to register with the app, so be sure to have it on hand to get set up. You can also use these services to report downed wires, which should also be reported to the police department, by calling the non emergency number at (914) 941-4099. Remember to not touch downed power lines – they will likely still be electrified and pose a serious risk.

Thank you for your cooperation – stay safe!