Weekly Digest

What happened.The Board of Estimate and Apportionment (the mayor, the Common Council president and the treasurer) is meeting with each city department, one afternoon at a time, to build the 2027 budget. On Monday it reviewed the Common Council, the City Clerk, records, animal control and code enforcement. A member said public money should stop paying for events the city does not control, and the clerk said the vault for birth and death records is full.

Why it matters.The General Fund pays for most city services. These sessions are where each department's request is questioned before the board makes its recommendation, and the Council adopts the budget after the sessions end November 6.

Where it’s headed.Today: Legal, Housing, the Mayor's office and the Assessor. Monday, October 5: Public Works, the Conservation Advisory Council and the Planning Board. Sessions are at City Hall.

What happened.At Tuesday's Finance Committee, the treasurer said the 2025 audit was finished and the General Fund ended the year about $155,000 behind, after a drop of $1.3 million in 2024. She said sales tax is running behind its usual pace and could come in near $2.1 million against $2.5 million budgeted. An unbudgeted $508,000 state payment arrived, and the snow removal money is spent.

Why it matters.She explained why the city's state filing shows less unassigned savings than its audit: New York counts loans to other city funds that are outstanding more than a year as not spendable. Counted that way, unassigned savings are about $1.4 million, against about $2.6 million for two months of spending, the minimum the Government Finance Officers Association recommends.

Where it’s headed.The treasurer said the audit goes online today. These figures were read aloud and have not yet been checked against it.

What happened.The Common Council passed a resolution stating its opinion that the city's Mill Street property is municipal parkland, and that using it for anything else may need the state's approval. Council members Mohammed Rony and Claire Cousin abstained; every other member voted aye.

Why it matters.The site is the subject of a neighbors' lawsuit over a planned housing project. One member said the question should be left to the court; members in favor recalled using the site for recreation. A neighbor said the suit asks only that any change of use go to the state legislature.

Where it’s headed.The resolution states an opinion; the neighbors' lawsuit continues in court. Council President Margaret Morris said on September 17 that papers in the case are due in October, and a member referred to October 9 in Tuesday's debate. To support the Mill Street Neighbors' legal action, donate to their fund.

What happened.The Planning Board has gone out of its way to keep the Housing Authority's Bliss Towers application moving. It held off starting its decision deadline while the zoning variance was pending, sent questions the day after its August meeting so the authority could start answering, toured the site, and tonight holds its third special meeting on the project. The Zoning Board of Appeals granted the variance on September 9. The Planning Board closed its public hearing on September 8, which gives it until about November 9 to act, ahead of the state's target of a December financial closing.

Why it matters.The authority still has work to do to meet its obligations to the board. The board's engineer listed items needed before approval: city confirmation of water and sewer capacity, state approvals for the sewer extension, stormwater and brownfield work, fire truck access plans, a complete plan set, and a construction logistics and traffic plan. The authority's own documents disagree on its unit count and on how residents will enter the buildings, and it owes written answers on vibration, the townhouse design and how the plan fits the city's adopted plans.

Where it’s headed.Tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Disclosure: This digest is published by me, Peter Spear, and I am a member of the Hudson Planning Board.

What happened.Asked by a resident, the Council president said she, the police chief and the mayor have met and are developing a plan, and that the police already follow the policies in proposed state legislation.

Why it matters.A member who toured the system said no one outside the police department has access to its data.

Where it’s headed.Residents can email the police chief, the mayor and the Council president. A member asked that comments also go to the full Council.

What happened.The Housing Trust Fund's advisory committee drafted a 2027 budget, and the Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency's board reviewed it on September 24. The fund would spend $21,000: $15,000 for Hudson Roots, the rental assistance program it supports, $5,000 toward the agency's audit and administration costs and $1,000 for contingency. It would ask the city's Board of Estimate and Apportionment for $28,000.

Why it matters.Without a city contribution the fund would have $10,800 left at the end of 2027. One member suggested cutting Hudson Roots to $10,000 to cover future audit costs; another said the board should not negotiate against itself before the city decides. Staff also said few local lawyers will represent tenants facing eviction.

Where it’s headed.The agency plans a budget workshop in October. Staff said the city's budget goes to the Council by November 10.

What happened.The treasurer told the Finance Committee the list is down from 152 properties, which still owe about $950,000 in taxes and $480,000 in interest. Foreclosure is about three months away, and several owners have signed installment plans.

Why it matters.She said interest and penalties are new revenue for the city, while collecting back taxes turns money already counted as revenue into cash.

Where it’s headed.The list, updated September 24, is posted online, the treasurer said.

What happened.Presenters told the Common Council the Columbia County Wellness Hub would have 28 emergency units, each with a private bedroom and bath, and 35 one-bedroom supportive apartments, with staff on site around the clock and three meals a day. They called it about a $42 million project.

Why it matters.It grew out of a county-wide review begun in 2020 of gaps in services for people who often cycle through social services and the justice system. Members asked about local hiring, families and pedestrian safety; the presenters said the county agreed to extend bus service to the site.

Where it’s headed.The presenters hope for site plan approval in Greenport within a couple of months and financing in 2027.

What happened.The Council took a roll call on a local law raising penalties for some parking violations. At least three members voted no, one calling for a resident parking program instead and another citing inflation. The result was not announced in the recording.

Why it matters.Before the vote a resident said the meters work in only one language, sit too high for some disabled people and assume comfort with technology. The Council president said many of the penalties do not involve meters and that anyone can appeal a ticket.

Where it’s headed.The meter concerns go on the Council's agenda next month.

What happened.The Council enacted two code enforcement local laws for buildings, with every recorded vote aye. The version discussed at the Legal Committee on September 17 and the Council on September 21 raised the fine for demolishing without a permit from $250 to $5,000.

Where it’s headed.At the September 21 meeting, the Council was told the laws take effect once filed with the Secretary of State.