The Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson will continue to pay taxes on its water system properties located in the town outside the village, as the village’s request to exempt them from taxes was denied by the Town Board on January 23. That’s not unusual; “we do this every year,” Supervisor Josh Wojehowski said.

The town pays about $31,000 in town taxes on the properties. In recent months Wojehowski, Mayor James A. Gagliano and Superintendent of Schools Terry Dade have talked about ways to address the situation, with current water rates for outside users adjusted to reflect the village paying municipal taxes on the properties.

At the busy meeting, the board acted on about 20 matters total. Among the other matters:

- The board retained special counsel, Naughton and Torre, to assist them in “development projects” – namely the property most recently under Planning Board consideration for the Treetop Warehouses. “We want to take a fresh look at this parcel and start conversations with the property owner to come up with a resolution that’s going to work for everybody,” Josh Wojehowski said. It’s been just about a year since the Planning Board heard anything regarding the Treetop project, he said, so while it still officially exists, “it seems dead”.

- Two change orders for ongoing work at Sands Ring Homestead by J. Beers & Company were approved. One will replace a doorway/window sill, and the other will add $1500 worth of insulation.

- A 2014 Ford Taurus with 99,252 miles on it was declared as surplus equipment; it is a retired police car.

- The Cornwall Garden Club was granted permission to hold its annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 10 in front of Town Hall. “Get there early,” Wojehowski said, “they always sell out.” Also approved was the Cornwall-Highlands Arts Alliance’s request to hold their ‘First Fridays’ ArtWalk on Main and Bridge Streets. Those will take place on May 2, June 6, July 5 (a Saturday), August 1 and September 5, from 5-8 p.m.

- A part-time police officer, Michael Gheller, was hired.

- The board discussed two culverts which are in the process of being replaced. On Jackson Ave. they okayed a $1.2 million agreement with Bridge NY for work to be done, and the supervisor announced that the “long anticipated” Boulevard culvert replacement project finally has been approved by FEMA. “The goal is to have it fully replaced by the end of summer,” he said, adding that it has been closed since the July 9, 2023 flood.

- A contract with Aquatic Management Program of Brookfield, Conn. was approved to apply for the NYS and federal permits to treat Rings Pond and then apply treatments to it. It will cost the town $3420 in total.