 |
Fellow Residents,
There’s much underway and I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on several items, including progress on the Village’s comprehensive plan, the annual budget cycle, the next Friday Night Live, and finally, an issue of public safety.
The Board of Trustees has published our final draft of the Comprehensive Plan document. This document spells out much of our priorities for the next five to ten years. It was originally developed by a dedicated group of volunteers appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Board has exhaustively reviewed and integrated its comments into the plan. You can view it here (http://www.hastingsgov.org/Pages/HastingsNY_Documents/016D548A-000F8513). We will be planning a
public hearing on the document at some point in May once the budget has been passed. Please feel free to read some or all of this document prior to then and submit any suggestions or thoughts you may have to me at mayor@hastingsgov.org.
Speaking of budgets, the Village Manager has issued his draft budget to the Board of Trustees. It can be viewed here (http://www.hastingsgov.org/Pages/HastingsNY_Documents/016DD473-000F8513). It includes a number of capital expenses we have to cover such as the removal of an aged gasoline tank at the DPW and several new vehicles, among others. There are also substantial increases budgeted for insurance and fuel expenses. The requested tax increase would be on the order
of just under 4.5%. The Board will spend much of the month of April reviewing this budget.
This Friday, April 1st, we have our next Friday Night Live. It will feature displays of local art in pop-up galleries throughout the downtown in a number of our local stores and restaurants, and a gallery tour of the Newington-Cropsey Foundation museum. There will also be a “Fool’s Ball” to benefit the Village Arts Committee at 8:30 at the Community Center, $25/head $40 for a couple, costumes or festive attire requested. More information here at
http://www.rivertownsguide.com/fnl. The winter seems to be departing at its own precious speed, so, really, what more of an excuse do we need for a chance to enjoy each other’s company at this event?
And finally, we had a series of break-ins this last Thursday night in a Hastings neighborhood by a burglar who relied on open windows to gain entrance to people’s homes. He was spotted and scared off by a resident and remains at large. This individual may be responsible for a series of similar burglaries in Yonkers. While no one wants to worry about these sorts of incidents here in our village, they unfortunately happen. Please secure your ground floor doors and windows, as well as lock your car doors. You don't need to live in fear, but you also don’t want to make it easy for the unscrupulous.
Sincerely,
Peter Swiderski
Mayor
914-755-0014
| |
