Looking for grants continues to be a daily occurrence for the Cornwall Town Board – at the board’s November 19 meeting, the board did just that, listening to a presentation by Frank Filiciotto, a representative of LaBella on the federal Safe Streets For All (SS4A) program.

It’s a program, he explained, that began in 2022 and runs through 2026, with has about $2 billion in funding left in it. Minimum grants are $2.5 million – “it’s a fairly generous program” he said. He said things typically done with the grant funding are creating bike lanes, improving lighting, enhancing crosswalk visibility and even reducing speed limits.

“The goal is to save lives, and you don’t have to be a major city to apply,” Filiciotto said. “With the funds you first create a Safety Action Plan, and then there is money to implement your plan.” If awarded the grant, he added, municipalities have five years to work with the funding.

The board made no decisions about applying for the program at the meeting, but Supervisor Josh Wojehowski did say they would talk about it offline. Filiciotto had suggested possibly applying for the grant as a combined Cornwall/Cornwall-on-Hudson, noting that Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown just recently did that. Showing a larger study area, he said, can be beneficial. Wojehowski also said that the town “has already kind of started” studying its roads, “but not necessarily in a strategic manner”. He said making roads safer and more pedestrian friendly is important to the board.

In other matters handled at the meeting, the board okayed upgrades and modifications to the town’s cell tower (at Town Hall), by both T-Mobile and AT&T, after the proposals were reviewed and approved by the town’s Building Department. In both cases there is a $2500 permit fee for the work to be done.

It was announced the board will open bids for the Taylor Road culvert replacement construction on January 9. The town is seeking bids on the project now.

Also, regarding the Hudson Valley Golf Foundation’s line of credit (pertaining to clearing and grading) with the town, the group requested a third reduction of it, which was approved by the board. Originally $958,978, it was reduced to $503,576 in 2022 and $347,548 this past September. At this point, the property owners had requested a reduction to $95,000, which the town’s engineers (MHE Engineering) said is acceptable.

In several other matters:

• The board also renewed the one-year special use permit of The Darkroom. It was noted that the town has not had any complaints about the operation of the discotheque, located at 263 Main St. The renewal granted is good through January 2026.
• An extension of 721 days, the maximum allowable, was requested by the board, pertaining to the town’s work with the USDA regarding purchasing several properties that are in constant threat of flooding.
• The board okayed the $5800 worth of security cameras, as requested by Cornwall Police Chief Joseph Gebert. They will be paid for with unused New York State Law Enforcement Technology Grant funds.
• It was announced that the board has $4999.99 in grant funds from Orange County Tourism that need to be spent by the end of the fiscal year. Two applications have been received for the money - $1000 from the Cornwall Events Committee for last weekend’s Shop Small Saturday holiday event, and $2500 from the Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce for the Fall Festival and the car show. Wojehowski said the board is also expecting an application from the Cornwall-Highlands Arts Alliance (Art Walk and the recent Artisans Market). The funds must be used toward advertising and marketing of local events.