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Coterminous Town-Village Information
Hello Town of Crawford Residents,
Many of you signed a petition to form a coterminous town-village in the Town of Crawford. The Town Board has approved this petition, and we are asking registered voters to vote on this referendum on December 12, 2023, between 8am and 9pm at the Crawford Community Center, 115 St. Rt 302, Pine Bush. We believe this move is in keeping with the Master Plan formed in 2014 and adopted on May 18, 2017. At that time, town residents, business owners, town officials and others came together to form a comprehensive plan for the Town of Crawford. Surveys were sent out to all residents, and public Community Visioning sessions were held to determine what we all wanted for our town. Part of the Mission Statement that was formulated included the following:
We pledge to work in partnership with our residents to foster community pride, to develop a vibrant, diversified economy, to plan for the future, to support the health and well-being of all residents and to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of our environment through strong relationships between residents, the Town, businesses, educators, non-profits, and our faith-based community. The Town of Crawford will facilitate a forward-looking, people-friendly community that champions our community’s diversity and results in a better place to live, work, play and raise families.
We believe that forming a coterminous town-village strongly supports the vision of Town of Crawford’s future that we all shared. Many of you have asked questions about what this actually means for our town and residents. We hope the following information answers these questions for you.
What is the petition asking for? The petition is a request by Town residents to transform Crawford from a town to a consolidated or coterminous town-village. Coterminous means having a shared border. The new village would take up the Town of Crawford entirely. This means that no other villages could be formed within our town. At the time of this writing, this is still possible. The residents who signed the petition want to keep the Town of Crawford as it is, without any other villages being formed within our town limits.
What would happen if another village were formed within the Town of Crawford? If another village were formed within the Town of Crawford, they could form their own municipal government, enact their own laws, and create their own highway department and ambulance services. This could, and probably would, result in additional expenses and overlapping taxes for Town of Crawford residents.
If the petition passes, will it prevent other villages being formed within the Town of Crawford? Yes, if the petition passes, it will prevent other villages being created within Town of Crawford borders. We would form a coterminous village which means the village would be the exact same size as the Town of Crawford with the same borders. We would then immediately form the village back into a town called the Consolidated Town of Crawford, but we expect that it will informally continue to be referred to as the Town of Crawford.
Why would we transform the village to a town? Reverting back to a town format would enable us to keep everything in town exactly the way it is: the same highway department, ambulance services, utilities and water service, Town Board, Town Supervisor, Town Clerk and Tax Collector format. It would be the same Town of Crawford we now know, only now we can be sure that no other villages will be formed within our borders.
When do we vote on this proposal? On December 12th, you will have the opportunity to vote on this proposal. It will be a “combined referendum,” because it will ask you to vote on two things: (1) forming a coterminous (sharing the same boundaries with the Town of Crawford) village and (2) transforming that village back into a town.
What exactly will we be voting on? Two yes/no questions will be posed to eligible voters as follows:
Why should I vote yes for each referendum? The existence of a village prevents other villages from incorporating within the same borders. The creation of a town-village within the Town of Crawford’s existing borders will prevent any other villages from incorporating in the Town of Crawford.
What happens if I vote yes to one referendum and no to the other? If you vote yes to one referendum and no to the other, your vote will count as a NO. In order for your vote to count as a YES, you need to vote yes to both items in the referendum: (1) yes to forming a coterminous village and (2) yes to transforming that village to a consolidated town.
What changes will be made to the existing Town Board and Supervisor powers if the petition passes? No changes will be made. The Town Supervisor and each Town Board member will retain the same abilities.
Will there be any extra steps or changes in the process of applying for building permits? No, the procedure will not cause any extra steps or changes in the building-permit application process.
Will there be any changes in our current zoning laws?
No, the procedure itself will not cause any changes to the current zoning laws.
Will this change result in any type of new taxes for the new town-village? No, there will be no impact on taxes for the new town-village.
Will it be necessary to re-assess all the properties in the new town-village? No, there is no need to impose a reassessment of properties within the new town-village.
Will this in any way affect our current school district boundaries? No, the school district boundaries are not affected by this procedure.
What is required for this petition to pass? In order for the petition to pass, a majority of residents have to vote yes to BOTH items in the referendum.
What happens if the petition doesn’t pass? If either referendum fails, the reorganization will not take place, and the process cannot be reinitiated for at least four years. During that time, other villages could be formed within the Town of Crawford. This is why it’s important to vote yes to both items so that we will become a consolidated town and no other villages can be formed within our borders.
Are absentee ballots permitted? Absentee ballots are prohibited for incorporation referendums, so they would not be allowed in this vote.
The Town Supervisor and Town Board strongly encourage all to vote yes to both questions in the dual-referendum to keep our town whole and undivided. If you have any questions or concerns about this vote, feel free to stop in to Town Hall and see the Town Supervisor or Town Clerk or call 845-744-2020.
TOWN OF CRAWFORD
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM ON
THE CONSOLIDATED TOWN OF CRAWFORD
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on December 12, 2023, a combined election (also called a referendum) will be held at which the registered voters of the Town of Crawford are entitled to vote to determine whether the following referendum measures are approved or rejected:
Shall the Village of Crawford Be Incorporated Pursuant to the Elector-Initiated Petition?
Shall the Newly Incorporated Village of Crawford Be Simultaneously Consolidated With the Existing Town of Crawford To Create the Consolidated Town of Crawford Pursuant to the Elector-Initiated Petition?
The Elector-Initiated Petition states that its purpose is to consolidate the Town with a Village to be incorporated to give the Town greater flexibility and authority to provide services to its residents, and to allow greater economy and efficiency, while protecting against the wasteful proliferation of overlapping governments by authorizing the Town to exercise the powers of a village while continuing to operate as a town. The Petition is a combined petition as it seeks to form a village only with the simultaneous consolidation with the Town of Crawford. Non-consolidation would defeat the purpose of the Petition by creating an overlapping and redundant government. Because a single government will continue to exist if the referendum is approved, the Petition states that consolidation will prevent future financial burdens to the Town and its taxpayers that would occur if a new government were incorporated without consolidation.
If the referendum is approved, the incorporated village will be known as the Village of Crawford, having the same boundaries as the Town of Crawford, which will be simultaneously consolidated with the existing Town of Crawford to form the Consolidated Town of Crawford, which will have the same boundaries as the existing Town of Crawford.
The referendum election will be held on December 12, 2023, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM, at the Town of Crawford Senior and Community Center, 115 State Route 302, Pine Bush, New York 12566.
The Combined Petition for a Consolidated Town of Crawford may be examined at the Town Clerk’s office, Town Hall, 121 State Route 302, Pine Bush, New York 12566, during normal business hours. The Town Clerk may be contacted by email at [email protected] or telephone (845) 744-2020. Frequently Asked Questions and other information is also available on the Town’s website at www.townofcrawford.org.
Dated: November 16, 2023
BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD
JESSICA KEMPTER, TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF CRAWFORD TOWN BOARD
RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE RELOCATION OF
MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS AND
AUTHORIZING COMMENCEMENT OF LEGAL ACTION
WHEREAS, there is a national immigration crisis at the border between the United States and Mexico in that unprecedented and overwhelming numbers of migrants and asylum seekers are crossing over the border of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Federal government has failed or refused to anticipate and react to the exigent and emergent circumstances, resulting in thousands of migrants and asylum seekers crossing the U.S. border; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of New York City has failed to adequately address the needs of said migrants and asylum seekers transferred to or otherwise arrived in New York City, and has recently undertaken to relocate hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers to locations in the Hudson Valley and to use local hotels as shelters or dormitory facilities for housing them; and
WHEREAS, the City of New York has not communicated any plan for supervising, processing, and/or providing services to the migrants and asylum seekers who are being transported to Hudson Valley hotels; and
WHEREAS, the use of such hotels by the City of New York as migrant shelters or dormitory facilities is of unknown and indeterminate length, and may last for months or longer; and
WHEREAS, the City of New York has not provided, nor offered to provide, any funds or assistance to the Hudson Valley communities where migrants and asylum seekers are being sent to defray the additional service costs those communities will incur due to the use of local hotels as shelters or dormitory facilities, such as costs related to police and fire protection, emergency services, medical facilities and other services and needs; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Crawford lacks the facilities, services capacity, and funds to provide adequate shelter, assistance, and basic necessities to dependent migrants and asylum seekers that the City of New York is transferring to the Hudson Valley; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Crawford has enacted a zoning code to protect and preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the Town's residents and property owners; and
WHEREAS, the Town's zoning code does not allow the use of hotels or other temporary residence facilities, including camps, for use as long-term residential housing such as shelters or dormitories; and
WHEREAS, New York City's transportation of migrants and asylum seekers to the Town for that purpose is illegal; and
WHEREAS, violation of the Town of Crawford Zoning Code is illegal activity which subjects the offender to both criminal prosecution and civil liability; and
WHEREAS, migrants and asylum seekers could face refusal or eviction from such illegal hotels and short-term residential facilities by the owners thereof, resulting in homelessness for these migrants and asylum seekers.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor, the Town Building Inspector, and the Town's attorneys to commence civil and/or criminal actions against any property owner and operator who illegally uses property as a shelter or dormitory facility.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor and the Town's attorneys to commence a civil action against the City of New York in the event that it undertakes to illegally utilize hotels or other facilities in the Town of Crawford as illegal shelters or dormitory facilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution, along with a letter demanding action to put a stop to New York City's illegal transportation and housing of migrants and asylum seekers in the Hudson Valley, shall be sent to the Mayor of the City of New York, the Town's representatives in the New York State Legislature, and to Governor Kathy Hochul.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution shall be sent to every hotel and temporary residence facility in the Town of Crawford, along with a letter advising the hotel or other facility owners that use of their facilities as a shelter or dormitory facility is illegal and will subject them to criminal prosecution and civil liability.
On the motion of Council Member Michael Menendez seconded by Council Member Angelina Jadrossich the foregoing resolution was adopted on a vote of 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.
Dated: May 18, 2023
Town of Crawford
County of Orange
State of New York
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town of Crawford Town Board will hold a public hearing for the purpose of discussing the Town of Crawford Consolidation Plan on Thursday, August 15, 2024, 7:00pm at the Crawford Town Hall, 121 State Route 302, Pine Bush, New York. A copy of the Consolidation Plan may be examined on the Town of Crawford website and at the following locations: Town Clerk Bulletin Board in Town Hall, Pine Bush Post Office Bulletin Board, Thompson Ridge Post Office, and Bullville Post Office Bulletin Board.
The Town of Crawford will make every effort to assure that the hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone requiring special assistance and/or reasonable accommodations should contact the Town Clerk.
Date: June 20, 2024
Jessica M. Kempter, Town Clerk
CONSOLIDATION PLAN
The stated goals of the Petition for a Consolidated Town of Crawford is to establish a village with the same boundaries as the Town of Crawford in order to give the Town government greater authority, flexibility and efficiency to provide services to its residents without increasing costs by authorizing the Town government to exercise the powers of a village while continuing to operate a single government as a town. The electorate voted to establish a new village having boundaries coterminous with the Town’s boundaries and to consolidate the new village and the Town of Crawford.
The State Comptroller’s office (OSC) subsequently informed the Town’s attorney that such consolidation would create a single government and would not accomplish the goals of the petition and that incorporation of the village with coterminous boundaries alone accomplishes the goals of the petition. Therefore, having established the new village having coterminous boundaries with the Town, the goals of the petition are accomplished, and proceeding with consolidation of governments w
ould not achieve the goals of the petition.
Since the voters approved a consolidation, the state General Municipal Law §760 requires the Town Board to prepare a consolidation plan. In order to accomplish the goals of the petition and the voters, the plan is to maintain the status quo of a village having coterminous boundaries with the Town of Crawford.
The plan, in response to each of the items set forth in General Municipal Law §760(2), is as follows:
(a) Governments. The two government entities are the Town of Crawford and Village of Crawford, which, in order to achieve the goals of the petition, shall not be consolidated.
(b) Name of Governments. Town of Crawford and Village of Crawford, to be known as the “Town of Crawford”.
(c) Rights, Duties and Obligations. The Town/Village of Crawford will be principally operated as a town. The Town of Crawford shall possess all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of a town, together with the rights and powers of a village. In the case of conflict between the rights and powers of a town and a village, the Town Board may determine which shall be applicable. If additional rights, powers or privileges are granted in the future by New York State to towns and/or villages, the Town shall have such rights and powers.
(d) Territorial Boundaries. The territorial boundaries of the entities each shall be the boundaries of the Town of Crawford.
(e) Type and/or Class. The type of the local government entities shall be a town and a village.
(f) Organization and Officials. The Town of Crawford and Village of Crawford shall remain organized as a town and shall have the same positions for officials and employees, both elected and appointed, as the Town of Crawford. The role of each elected official shall not change. Officials shall possess any additional powers of corresponding village officials, with the exception that the Town Supervisor will not possess the chief executive powers of a village mayor. If there is a conflict between the powers of a town official and corresponding village official, the Town Board shall determine which powers are applicable.
To the extent that Town officials are required to also act as Village officials, the Town Supervisor shall act as a village mayor (except the Town Supervisor shall not have the chief executive powers of a village mayor), Town Board members shall act as Village trustees, and the Town Clerk shall act as a Village clerk. There shall be no separate elections for village officials, except to the extent required, in which case the same person shall seek election for the town office and corresponding village office. There is no need for a transitional plan and the schedule for elections and appointments of officials will be retained.
(g) Costs and Savings. There will be minimal transition costs. The intention is for the government to operate more efficiently and with increased powers.
(h) Assets. The Town’s assets are set forth in its annual report, incorporated herein by reference and publicly available in the Town Clerk’s office. This plan will not affect Town or Village assets.
(i) Liabilities and Indebtedness. The Town’s liabilities and indebtedness are set forth in its annual report, incorporated herein by reference and publicly available in the Town Clerk’s office. This plan will not affect Town or Village liabilities and indebtedness.
(j) Terms of Disposition. The Town will retain its assets, liabilities and indebtedness. The Village will not have independent assets, liabilities or indebtedness.
(k) Laws, Rules and Regulations. The Town’s laws, rules, regulations, orders and the like, as may be amended from time to time, shall remain in full force and effect in the Town and Village, and shall be administered and enforced accordingly.
(l) Effective Date of Consolidation. In order to achieve the purposes and goals of the petition, there shall be no effective date of consolidation.
(m) Notice of Hearing on Plan. A public hearing on the proposed plan shall be held on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 7:00 PM at the Town Hall, Route 302, Pine Bush, New York 12566.
NOTICE OF ESTOPPEL
The resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on October 21, 2021, and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which the Town of Crawford, in the County of Orange, New York is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the publication of this notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the constitution.
BOND RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF CRAWFORD, ADOPTED OCTOBER 21, 2021, APPROPRIATING $725,000.00 FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF FACILITIES OF PINE BUSH WATER DISTRICT IN SAID TOWN AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $725,000.00 SERIAL BONDS TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION.
___________________________________
JESSICA KEMPTER
Town Clerk
Object or purpose: Improvement of facilities of the
Pine Bush Water District
Amount of obligations to be issued: $725,000
Period of probable usefulness: Forty (40) years
SEQR Status: Type I
A complete copy of the Bond Resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, 121 Route 302, Pine Bush, New York.
Dated: October 21, 2021
Pine Bush, New York