Cortlandt Supervisor Touts Town's 2012 Achievements

Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi released the following list on Aug. 30. Click on the links for Patch articles on many of these topics.

• – “Like Us” on Cortlandt Facebook.
• Continued to keep our low (in 21 years Town taxes all together are less than 1%) and we’ve never had a deficit with a surplus every year. 
• We met the New York State tax cap of 2% (for tax levy).
• Named the on the Hudson River (town owned land).
• built along the Hudson River and dedicated July 31, 2012.
• with our two Villages and a 9/11 Volunteer Foundation.
• Renovated and painted the hangars at Cortlandt Waterfront Park for storage purposes.
• Completed 1.2 million dollars of paving ($600,000. more than 2011).
• a plan for a free energy audit of your home (see our website).
• Enhancement Plans with our residents:
  1. REP – Round-a-bout area, planning beginning in September 2012.
  2. MEP – Montrose hamlet area planning.
  3. VEP – Verplanck hamlet area planning.         Many improvements have been completed

• New street lamps on the Cortlandt Boulevard (Rte. 6) with hanging flower baskets (paid for by the private sector).
• Saved the V.A. Our Veterans fought for us and now we fought to save their necessary services.  Note:  We will continue to monitor to ensure that a similar downsize plan is not initiated. 
• Constructed an and picnic area at the Cortlandt Waterfront Park next to the Hudson River (in the hamlet of Verplanck) on town owned property.  The playground is named after Mr. Jim Martin who transferred this land to the Town. Dedication took place August 23, 2012. 
• Started a new television program entitled “Cortlandt Chats” with Linda (Supervisor Linda Puglisi) to feature groups, organizations and individuals in our community. 
• Continued our “Taking Care of Business” television shows to showcase our local Cortlandt businesses.
• Completed over 300 small projects throughout the Town in D.E.S. (highway, parks, water, etc.).
• Continued to beautify our community and started an “Adopt a Street Corner and Island” program.
• Supervisor Puglisi proudly received a prestigious Purple Heart Award from Purple Heart Veterans for her work to assist Veterans and to Save the V.A. services.
• Continue overseeing the road betterment at Lafayette Avenue/Rte. 202/Conklin Avenue/Hospital exit paid for by New York State D.O.T. (traffic signals/turning lanes).  Note:  To be completed by the summer of 2013.
• Completed engineering plans to repair (paid for by Con Edison) to be completed in 2013/2014.  The lake and watershed is now owned by the Town of Cortlandt. 
• n Cortlandt (however, every day shop in Cortlandt).
• Put up Preserved Open Space Signs to show the community some of the key areas that the Town of Cortlandt has saved land from over-development.  During this administration (21 years) we have added 3,000 acres to our open space and preserved land inventory.
• Established G.I.S. – Geographic Information System and added technology to make our government even more efficient for our residents.
• Welcomed new businesses in Cortlandt:  car dealership, (formerly The Reef),  and in the Cortlandt Town Center, The Yellow Jug Hamburger Restaurant off Rte. 9A, Gasland, reopened and which will open in early 2013 (formerly Circuit City) with more to come.  These businesses alone provided for 270 jobs. 
• The (in total a $55 million project funded by Metro North/MTA) which includes a pedestrian walkway over the tracks, was dedicated February 2012. 
• Held many Veteran’s Ceremonies, events and monthly Cortlandt Veteran’s meetings and an annual Veteran’s picnic to honor the men and women who have defended and served our Country.
• Won the honor of having the contest in Westchester County for 2012.
• Continued to hrough a petition effort for a barrier/median on the Bear Mountain Parkway (a New York highway) and for other necessary improvements.  

Which of these achievements do you feel is the most important? Tell us in the comments!