Supervisor

Supervisor's Update - March 20, 2020

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Last Updated: 27 March 2020 27 March 2020

News of COVID-19 continues to dominate the news, this week we learned that Ossining has its first confirmed cases of the virus.  As we begin to see growing positive cases, and unfortunately deaths, my thoughts are constantly with the families impacted by this virus.  Of course, in addition to the spread of this disease happening rapidly, one of the main reasons we have been seeing increased numbers of positive cases is that testing has increased across the State so maybe those who weren't previously identified as positive, now are.  This has certainly been an extremely challenging time for not just our own community, but also our state, country, and even the world as a whole.  We know that the best way to protect yourself and your neighbors is to practice social distancing and avoid communal surfaces, as well as communal gatherings.

We have been coordinating with State and County officials to address our needs in the community.  I have been encouraged by Governor Cuomo and County Executive Latimer’s leadership at this time as they make sound, yet difficult, policy decisions to attempt to contain the spread of this virus.  Policies, mandates, and guidance from our State and County partners have been changing by the day, and sometimes even by the hour, as they continue to assess the developing situation and determine what steps need to be taken in response.  As you read the rest of my update, please bear in mind that this is an evolving situation and I am doing my best along with my staff to provide the most accurate and most current information as possible.  I encourage you to sign up for updates from New York State so you can remain informed with up to date and accurate information.  Also, what is published by the State provides Spanish translation resources.  As of this afternoon, the latest directive from Governor Cuomo is that all businesses and non-profits reduce their in-person, non-essential workforce to zero and no in person, non-essential gatherings of any size be held.  We also learned that evictions for commercial and residential properties are prohibited for 90 days.  We are still waiting for the Executive Order relating to today's press conference to be released in writing, at which point we will hopefully have a better understanding about what exactly this means for our community. 

The latest guidance we have received regarding municipal staff, is that we should decrease our in-person, workforce to 50% or less.  To that end, I have been working closely with our Department Heads to coordinate work from home arrangements or staggered schedules in most Town Departments to ensure the highest degree of safety and security for our staff as possible.  Additionally, earlier this week, we announced in collaboration with our partners in the Village of Ossining that all Town and Village offices closed to the public effective this past Tuesday, March 17.

However, even if we aren’t in our usual work locations, or you can’t visit us in person – we are still very much here for you!  All offices, with the exception of the Justice Court, remain fully operational.  There are many services that are now available online, including dog license renewals, tax payments, FOIL requests, assessment records, and your garbage/recycling schedule (if you live in the unincorporated Town you can even download an app that lets you check your schedule daily on your phone, specific to your address!). If we do not already have a remote solution set up for a specific function, each Department is ready, willing, and able to find a solution to provide all services either via mail, e-mail, or over the phone.  Contact information for each department is available on each individual department's page of the Town website.  Even though we have experienced changes in our staffing levels at our offices, rest assured, we continue to be available via phone and e-mail.  If you have any difficulty contacting a Town department, please contact the Town Supervisor’s office at (914) 762-6001.  We are in the process of re-focusing our COVID-19 Resources page to be a dedicated space for residents to access up to date status of Town services, so you can remain informed in real time.

Next Tuesday will be a first for the Town of Ossining, as we have scheduled our first video conferenced Town Board Meeting.  This method for public meetings was recently authorized by Governor Cuomo in an Executive Order temporarily modifying laws governing meetings of public bodies in an effort to reduce in-person meetings that could cause the virus to spread.  Members of the public will be able to view the meeting live online, or listen by telephone if they choose.  Please visit the meeting notice for specific information about how to join.  Please note that if you do choose to join via phone to listen in, the host, participants, and attendees will be able to view your telephone number.  The meeting will be recorded and posted to the Town's YouTube page later next week.

Read more: Supervisor's Update - March 20, 2020

Supervisor's Update - March 13, 2020

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Last Updated: 17 March 2020 17 March 2020

We have spent significant time this week coordinating with officials at the County and State level to help address the growing concerns of Coronavirus (COVID-19). As I am sure many of you are aware, on Saturday, March 7 Governor Cuomo declared a State of Emergency and began a series of week-long conferences to provide updates on the status of the virus. As of this email we want to assure residents that we have not yet been informed of any positive cases for any residents of the Town of Ossining. We ask you to continue to make your best efforts to stay healthy and prevent the spread of the virus. The Town and County have each dedicated a section of their website to current Coronavirus information. The CDC website also continues to be a good resource. We ask that you please refer only to official sources of information to prevent unnecessary fear and panic. As a reminder, if you feel you have developed flu-like symptoms please call your medical provider or a hospital before appearing for testing. For questions regarding COVID-19, please call the New York State Coronavirus Hotline 1-888-364-3065 or dial 211 for information.

We understand the Coronavirus has placed a strain on many. We are making every effort to keep disruption to a minimum while balancing the health of our residents. We continue to be impressed by people attempting to help during this process. Our local not-for-profits and faith based organizations have been working around the clock, coordinating with both the Village and Town of Ossining, to collaborate on efforts to provide necessary food and other resources to those in need. Con Ed is temporarily suspending any electric and gas service shutoffs involving customers having payment difficulties. Any service terminations will be limited to safety precautions such as a gas leak. Credit card companies and banks should be contacted directly by customers with questions. Unfortunately, price gouging has been reported in the state. To report price gouging on any items (including cleaning supplies, toilet paper, or soap) please call the New York State Department of Consumer Protection. They have launched a toll-free hotline 1-800-697-1220 and will investigate. Additionally, we ask our residents to please consider the impact of social isolation on seniors. Though it may seem like a small effort, Facetime and phone calls can go a long way. Avoid visiting in person, as you may be exposing them to the virus even if you are asymptomatic.  Most importantly, bear in mind that Westchester County and Ossining are wonderful tapestries of people from many different backgrounds, religions, and languages.  Events like this outbreak can cause stress and anxiety which can lead to biases against those of specific ethnicities or countries of origin, or religious background.  Please remember that we are all co-workers, neighbors, schoolmates, fellow community members, and be kind to one another.  We are all in this together!

Due to these rapidly escalating concerns, the Village of Ossining announced that all Village buildings will be deep cleaned in the coming days. To facilitate this, the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center will be closed on Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16.  Consequently, all Ossining Village Recreation classes, lap swim, activities, and events are also canceled on those days. The Cedar Lane Arts Center will also be closed on those days for cleaning. The collection site for the Food Scraps Recycling program will remain open, but kits will not be available for purchase on Monday.

We have been working with our department heads to ensure continuity of Town services, given the strain this situation has put on our staff and constituents.  Please stay tuned for updates early next week about potential changes in public access to Town offices.  In the meantime, online services always remain available for public use, including dog license renewals, tax payments, FOIL requests, assessment records, and your garbage/recycling schedule (if you live in the unincorporated Town you can even download an app that lets you check your schedule daily on your phone, specific to your address!). We are also happy to work with you via e-mail or over the phone. Contact information for each department is available on each individual department's page of the Town website. We encourage everyone to consider reaching out via phone or e-mail prior to visiting our offices.

Read more: Supervisor's Update - March 13, 2020

Supervisor's Update - March 6, 2020

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Last Updated: 17 March 2020 17 March 2020

As you can imagine, we have dedicated a large portion of this past week to addressing the Town's preparedness for the worldwide outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), as instances of the virus have begun to pop up within New York State, and Westchester County specifically.  We participated in a conference call with County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester County Department of Health on Tuesday afternoon to receive further information about the initial diagnosis of a man in New Rochelle, followed up with a meeting of Town and Village of Ossining Emergency Management on Wednesday morning to discuss locally-specific plans to ensure continuity of service by both Town and Village departments and emergency responders.  Later on Wednesday evening, I attended a forum led by Dan Blum, outgoing president and CEO of Phelps Hospital and big supporter of OVAC and the Mid Hudson Ambulance District, regarding steps they have taken to ensure the hospital can serve people effectively and efficiently, on and off the hospital campus, should cases of this illness significantly multiply in the area.  They assured us they are well prepared for this type of emergency, with many back up opportunities available to them, should they need.  The County Commissioner of Health, Sherlita Amler, was also in attendance to relay updated information, literally changing by the minute, as well as answer any questions.  Information about this outbreak is ever changing, so I encourage you to frequently check the Westchester County Department of Health website for more information.  We will also keep you updated with any developments that may affect Town of Ossining residents in the coming days and weeks.  A message that was pushed out by both Town and Village government earlier this week with more information, is available here.  

The most important thing we can do right now is stay calm, and take common sense steps to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, but also seasonal illnesses like the flu.  You might see signs like the one below around Town offices, encouraging everyone to truly do their part by washing hands, covering sneezes and coughs, and most importantly, stay home when you are sick!  To that end, Town departments have been re-stocked with cleaning supplies to regularly  clean frequently touched surfaces like counters where the public is served, keyboards, and telephones.  We have also been assured by the facilities staff at the Village of Ossining that proper cleaning supplies are being used within our shared buildings.  Town staff have been encouraged to take a sick day if they don't feel well -- now is not the time to try and power through!  We encourage you to do the same, please do not come to conduct Town business if you, your children, or close family members are sick, or may have been exposed to this virus.  There are so many services you can access online, including dog license renewals, tax payments, FOIL requests, assessment records, and check your garbage/recycling schedule (if you live in the unincorporated Town you can even download an app that lets you check your schedule daily on your phone, specific to your address!). Most departments are also happy to work with you to find a way to conduct business via e-mail or over the phone, just give them a call.  Contact information for each department is available on each individual department's page of the Town website. 

Read more: Supervisor's Update - March 6, 2020

Supervisor's Update - February 28, 2020

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Last Updated: 17 March 2020 17 March 2020

We started out this week with a press conference officially launching our food scrap recycling program here in the Town of Ossining!  Along with our friends at Teatown Lake Reservation, Green Ossining, representatives from Town, the Villages of Ossining and Briarcliff, Westchester County, and state government, and other stakeholders, we cut the ribbon at our drop off site at Cedar Lane Park.  You can now purchase your residential kit for $20 at Cedar Lane Arts Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 9:30am to 4pm, or at Teatown from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week, and get started collecting!  Food scraps that are dropped off at Cedar Lane Park will be recycled into compost at a commercial compost facility in Ulster County.  This program is open to all Town of Ossining residents (including those that live in the Villages of Ossining and Briarcliff) so I hope everyone takes advantage of this exciting new offering.  For more information, visit www.ossiningcomposts.org.

Huge thanks to our collective team from the Town of Ossining and Teatown for all of the hard work relating to this program.

Thanks to our Town Parks staff for their hard work getting the site set up and ready to go.  Parks Foreman Mario Velardo attended our Town Board meeting this past Tuesday and shared some "behind the scenes" pics of what it took to get our new food scrap collection point set up, and all of the other exciting work they have been doing the past few months.  Check out the YouTube video recording of the meeting to see his report, as well as a Departmental Report from our Receiver of Taxes Holly Perlowitz.

On Monday night, I attended the Village of Ossining Stakeholders meeting to discuss Events policies in the Village and solicit feedback from the community.  As we embrace more and more events (concerts, food vendors, festivals, parades, and more) in our public parks and open spaces, we find we need to adapt our policies to make them more flexible to the organizers’ needs but also more responsive to our municipal needs based on resources needed to support some of these wonderful offerings.  We are hoping that as the Village of Ossining develops their policies, we can also adapt them as makes sense for the Town to simplify the process and make it equitable and reasonable for everyone.  If you have any suggestions about how to make the Village and/or Town event policies better, please feel free to send them to me in the Town Supervisor’s office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or alternately to the Village of Ossining Manager’s office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

At Tuesday night's Town Board meeting, we started off with a moment of silence in memory of Marilyn G. Scwartz who passed away on February 21.  Marilyn served the Town of Ossining starting in 1978 as a member of the Town Board, serving several terms through the 1980s and early 1990s.  Marilyn even stepped into the role of Supervisor for six months in 1993, filling the unexpired term of former Supervisor Richard Wishnie.  We thank Marilyn for her many years of service to the Town of Ossining, and extend our deepest condolences to her friends and family, especially her children Janet and Bill, during this sad time. 

Read more: Supervisor's Update - February 28, 2020