Washingtonville board approves hires, events, contracts and ADA sidewalk upgrades; accepts police grant

The Washingtonville Village Board on Jan. 21 approved a package of resolutions that included hiring two part‑time employees, authorizing the village’s July fireworks display and a beautification grant application, approving a five‑year telephone contract and authorizing ADA sidewalk upgrades at two locations.

Why it matters: The votes set personnel, events and near‑term capital work in motion for the village and put an anticipated $175,000 police grant on the books as additional revenue earmarked for equipment and downtown cameras.

The board voted, 4‑0‑1, to approve a resolution to hire Jose Willow as a part‑time police officer at $28 per hour. The board also approved the employment of Lincoln McCormick as secretary to the planning, zoning and building departments at $22 per hour, with a start date of Jan. 29, 2025.

The board authorized the village’s July 4 fireworks display (rain date July 5) and approved a public‑assembly permit for the Knights of Columbus carnival planned for May 22–26 at Elgin Park, after the board corrected the submitted hours for the application. The fireworks contract was described in the meeting as $9,500 for the fireworks; village staff said they normally apply for an Orange County tourism grant that typically covers about half that cost.

Officials approved a beautification grant application to Greene County Bank for $9,000 to support improvement of E.K. McLaughlin Square and accepted the Washingtonville events committee’s list of 2025 events.

On contracts, the board approved a five‑year agreement with Independent Telecommunications (ITC) for the village…