Cortlandt sets water-meter billing rules, backs storm repairs and calls EMS hearing

The Cortlandt Town Board approved new water-meter compliance rules September 15, setting a December 1 start for a $250 monthly penalty on commercial properties that do not upgrade their meters and a 500-gallon daily estimate for residential properties receiving estimated bills.

The changes came during a meeting that also addressed summer storm damage, set October hearings on emergency medical services and a disabled-veterans tax exemption, and appointed new department leaders. The board opened the evening by recognizing the town summer swim team.

Water bills and meter compliance

The water policy distinguishes between residential estimated readings and commercial meter upgrades. The written measure uses 500 gallons per day as the estimated residential reading; it is not a charge on every household. Commercial properties that fail to upgrade face the separate $250 monthly penalty. Both provisions begin December 1, 2026.

The Town Attorney’s Office can provide relief from the estimated readings and commercial penalty when good cause is shown. Supervisor Richard H. Becker said the town needed reliable consumption readings so that other customers would not cover water that went unbilled.

Storm damage, sewer pumps and roads

Storm-repair approvals included retroactive authorization of $29,000 for Quaker Bridge Road East and $3,000 for a culvert embankment on Sprout Brook Road. Separate measures capped brook-embankment repairs at Sprout Brook Park at $110,000 and repairs at four storm-sewer locations at $200,000.

Becker said town crews had handled much of the summer damage themselves, bringing in contractors when jobs exceeded the town’s equipment capacity. The board also approved sanitary-pump repairs or replacement and backup pumps for Cortlandt Town Center 1 and Cortlandt Boulevard West, with a $60,000 limit in the written measure.

The board authorized additional work for the Root Street–Hollowbrook Road water-main project and the Furnace Woods Sewer Improvement Area, along with applications to the county Stormwater Advisory Board. Becker reported that Lafayette Avenue had been repaved as the Furnace Woods work neared completion.

Hearings set for October

An amended order scheduled an October 20 public hearing on creating Emergency Medical Services District #4. The written hearing order identifies the proposed area as the existing Mt. Airy/Quaker Bridge Fire Protection District and describes separating ambulance-service costs from fire-protection costs.

A second October 20 hearing concerned a proposed exemption for veterans with a permanent and total disability resulting from military service. These September actions called hearings; they did not themselves create the new district or enact the veterans exemption.

The board also approved renaming the three existing ambulance districts as Emergency Medical Services Districts #1, #2 and #3. The written measure explains that their funding supports advanced life support paramedic services as well as ambulance service.

Appointments and community business

Among other business, the board received an offer to sell two Roa Hook-area parcels to the town and referred it to Legal. Becker described their possible use for a future pump station. That discussion and referral were not a property purchase authorization.

In additions to the printed agenda, the board appointed a director of Environmental Services and appointed a deputy director of planning in Technical Services. After an initial call for a vote, the board returned to the required motion and second before the final affirmative voice response.

The board appointed a Spanish-speaking part-time permit clerk, approved replacing damaged ice-rink panels and authorized the Family Fun Day fireworks permit.

An item allowing the supervisor to sign FedEx paperwork for sewer-pump deliveries was removed from the agenda, separate from the sanitary-pump work that was approved.

The opening celebration recognized the Cortlandt summer swim team’s undefeated season and divisional championship; recreation staff also reported a second-place overall championship finish. Later, Cristin Jacoby urged safer driving around schoolchildren and raised ATV and e-bike safety. Becker said the board would review those policies; no new riding rules were adopted in that discussion.