Mayor James Gagliano was the ‘opening act’ at last week’s Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce meeting, and Supervisor Josh Wojehowski followed up as ‘the closer’.

Those were Gagliano’s descriptions just after Chamber President Scott Teresi introduced the two at the group’s monthly meeting. The two local leaders, as they have done each year for the past three, updated the 50+ members of the group on local goings on.

The two not only reported on what they’ve been doing but also thanked the Chamber members for being so involved in the Cornwall community.

“You did a great job this year,” Wojehowski said, noting specifically the art-related events the Chamber hosted and its help with the installation of the lighted snowflakes on both Main and Hudson Streets. “Please keep advocating for what you want to see in the community. Sometimes your extra push is what motivates us to move.”

The supervisor also said that in the year ahead, as the Town Board begins its work on an updated Comprehensive Plan, “we will be looking for the input of the Chamber and the public. “It’s really important, and we’ve got to get it right,” he said.

Gagliano, in his role as the opener, made a point to note that he had just 68 days left in office as of that day. “This is a little bittersweet,” he said, “I truly appreciate the Chamber, and have enjoyed speaking to you each year, as well as seeing you around our community.”

He basically took a walk through the past four years in his remarks, starting by saying “business is thriving, and public safety is good.”

He spoke about coming into office in 2020 when New York State was mandating municipalities to create police reform’ documents. It was at that point, he said, that his board decided police would wear body cameras, and that when it came to big events, they’d provide additional layers of safety. “Both of those things protect our cops and our community,” he said.

Gagliano also spoke about the pleasure it has been to work with his “civil and collegiate” Board of Trustees and couldn’t help but make a bit of a plug for his deputy mayor, Jim Kane, in his bid for mayor. Kane is currently – although petitions aren’t due until mid-February – is running unopposed for the position.

Gagliano also highlighted some other recent accomplishments of his board – livestreaming municipal meetings, stronger relationships with Hudson Highlands Nature Center and the Cornwall Yacht Club, the expansion of voting hours and improvements to both Donahue Farm and Donahue Park.

What drew applause though was his comment that the relationship between the Town Board and Village Board – and members as individuals – has improved in the last nearly four years.

“Josh got elected a few months after I did and we’ve forged a new relationship between the town and village that has led to some good things,” Gagliano said.

He specifically pointed to the joint $4.5 million New York Forward grant that the two municipalities received and the decision to contract with New Windsor EMS for “the gold standard” of emergency medical care for residents.

Wojehowski also drew applause, first when he spoke about his board’s recent increase in veterans, disabled, senior and first responder income limits for tax breaks. He also reported on the board’s staying under New York State’s mandated tax cap for 2025 – Gagliano made the same announcement for the village budget, which was adopted just two nights earlier.

The supervisor also spoke about economic development in the town, noting that the expected Main St. hotel was to be before the Planning Board on February 3 for its final approvals. “I think that is going to be a game changer for us,” he said. Other projects still in the works include the new DG Mart in Cornwall Plaza, the ongoing renovations of the Storm King Golf Course, talks with the owners of NYMA and a piece of property previously looked at for ‘Cornwall Commons’ and then ‘Treetop Warehouses’ about future development.

“People want more housing, as well as some mixed-use development,” he said, again drawing applause. Wojehowski echoed one of Gagliano’s favorite phrases – “help me get to yes” – when it comes to bettering the community with a variety of development.

The two men took a few minutes of questions before they sat down to enjoy a family-style meal the workers of Leo’s were serving as they spoke. There was a request for some bike racks in the town and village; a question about how the Main St. bridge work is coming along (“phenomenally well,” the supervisor said adding that it should be wrapped up by July 4); increase public transportation; and even forest fires.

“Are we at risk?” Teresi asked.

Gagliano and Wojehowski both said that’s an area they agree needs looked at, after last year’s close-to-home fires in Greenwood Lake and Ulster County, as well as the devastating fires in California. Both men lauded local firefighters but said that some areas – particularly those that have flooded in years past – may need looked at closely.

“We can’t predict anything, but that’s a good point,” Gagliano said, “something we probably need to talk with our fire chiefs about.

As their portion of the meeting closed, from the audience Former Supervisor Randy Clark thanked the two for their service, particularly Gagliano as he prepares to exit public life. To Kane, who was also in the audience, Clark said: “you’ll have big shoes to fill.”