The Cornwall-on-Hudson village clerk has been authorized to put out an advertisement seeking bids for a USDA-funded project for the repair and improvement of the drainage system along Mountain Road.

The action took place at the Village Board’s September 21 meeting after the village’s engineer has been putting together specs for the project. The need for the improvements was brought to light after three major rainstorms between December 2022 and December 2023.

In some other business from the meeting:
Signs. A public hearing to replace the village’s sign law will remain open until Oct. 5 when the Board of Trustees is expected to vote on a final draft. During the March election season, it was determined the current law is antiquated because political signs were being treated differently from other signs, which attorney Joe McKay advised is unconstitutional. Those who also wanted to post a political sign had to make a permit application and pay a fee, a requirement which will be eliminated under the new law. After reviewing multiple laws, McKay determined the Town of Cornwall’s to be the most comprehensive and drafted a new law mimicking it. The law will require temporary signs to be removed within 30 days of the conclusion of an event. Placement will be prohibited on any village-owned property or rights-of-way. Signs would need to be on private property and one would need permission from an owner to place a sign on their property.

Vacancies. Water Department Superintendent Daniel Nye is looking to fill two vacant positions. The first is to backfill his previous position as water maintenance working leader. A CDL license Class B or higher is required. The second position is for a water plant operator. Anthony Gagliano has the educational experience, but still needs to log more hours to obtain his water treatment operator license. Nye said he’s looking to hire someone with a Grade 2A, 2B water license. Rich Smith and others have been stepping up in the meantime.

Tree lighting. Mark your calendar - the village’s annual tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28 at the Village Square.

Hydrant flushing: The annual fall hydrant flushing will begin in the Town of Cornwall on October 5 and conclude about nine days later. Village hydrants will be flushed starting around Oct. 14. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

E-bikes. Police Chief Steven Dixon was asked to provide information on e-bikes. He said there are three classes of bikes: pedal-assist only (motor only works when pedaling), those powered by motor alone (no pedaling required), and those with a motor that can propel a bike without pedaling. Motor assistance for class one and two is limited to 20 miles per hour and class three to 25 mph. Cyclists should yield to pedestrians and ride with traffic, not against it. Riding on the sidewalk is prohibited unless allowed by local law. Operators must be 16 years of age or older. Those who are 16- or 17-years-old must wear a helmet. Passengers must have their own seat and those under one-year-old are prohibited. Dixon said officers have been counseling riders on the laws. Mayor James Kane suggested the board may have to revisit the village’s local law to prohibit e-bikes on sidewalks.