Village Board approves water project

The Highland Falls Village Board met Tuesday, a day later than usual due to the Martin Luther King Day closure of Village Hall.

Among the items on the agenda was the authorizations for Mayor Joe D’Onofrio to sign a $306,000+ agreement for engineering services for an Ondaora Park water main replacement project and a $11,750 proposal from Axis Geospatial for an aerial survey of that area of the village for the project. The board took the action to move forward on the project which they have now named the Ondaora/Cragston Potable Water Main Replacement Project. It is expected to take place in the year ahead.

The board also authorized D’Onofrio to sign a contract with the LA Group for $20,000 to develop the Comprehensive Plan Update for the village. The amount will include a $10,000 match via a Hudson River Valley Greenway grant.

In other matters:
— Sue Lewis, Kathy McCormick, Kathy Gnazzo, Cathy Beach and Peter Kilner (alternate) will serve as election inspectors at the village’s March 16 election.

Also regarding the election, a resolution declaring that anyone voting in person that day must wear a mask when doing so. Village Clerk Gina Taylor also noted that COVID-19 is a valid reason to request an absentee ballot; to request one visit www.highlandfallsny.org).

— The board approved an outdoor event, the annual “People Who Make A Difference” award ceremony, hosted by The Center and Hudson Valley Women’s Association & Friends, to honor people who serve others, at Memorial Park on April 10 at 10 a.m.

— A moment of silence was to be observed for community residents Darryl Conley, Kate Squicciarini, Richard Cafarelli and Mary Pimento, as well as for COVID-19 victims and the U.S. military.

— Finally, two Village Hall closures were noted. The first is Monday, Jan. 25, when Village Hall employees will be working on records management upstairs in the building all day and the building will be closed to the public.

Additionally, it was also noted that the Monday, Feb. 15 board meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 16 due to the Presidents’ Day holiday. Village Hall will be closed on Feb. 15. The board’s next meeting is set for Monday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. at Village Hall. Recorded meetings can be watched at www.highlandfallsny.org.