Planning Board, Organizational Meeting

1. 0:05We have some special guests in the room tonight. I have some students who are in local high school uh stand up and let us say welcome you to a public meeting. They're doing this for an assignment so they're going to get credit for it unlike the rest of us. Um, so we'll call the meeting to order and we'll start with a roll call for Atlanta. >> Chairman Bogle, >> you call me Ron >> here. >> Jean, >> here. >> Peter >> present. >> And we are present at going to now deal with approving the minutes to the December 9th meeting. I'll start by asking if there are any changes or corrections in the minutes as they were distributed. Hearing none and without objection, u the minutes are approved for December 9th, 2025.
2. 1:09Um this is an unusual meeting because things have kind of come together pretty quickly. [clears throat] Um I was sworn in Monday and then I left town for a week. Um and I didn't have any idea. I discovered Linda when I got back which was a great relief because she [snorts] knows things and uh so that was a big help but it's intentionally not a business meeting uh because of the plate appointments and u sort of need to go ahead and get things underway. So, this is a kind of a hybrid, well, literally hybrid, but um organizational meeting um mostly a chance for us to sit together, get a little bit acquainted. Um I'm going to take a little chairman's privilege and talk a little bit what some of my hopes are for the board. But tonight, there is a little bit of business in the other business category down the bottom of the agenda. Linda has some invoices that have been posted that we need to approve. Uh other board members may have some additional
3. 2:10business that they want to bring to our attention. Uh without objection, even though we don't have citizen comments, happy to hear any response from students or citizens that they would like to speak during the other business part of the meeting. Um so that's kind of the the the nature of this meeting and in the future of course we'll be back in the business of hearing applicants and reviewing applications etc. I would like to just share some thoughts that I've had over the last couple of days about, you know, why I'm doing this and what I hope we can achieve together as a board. And um uh I'm going to rely on my notes a little bit more than I probably planned because frankly I'm pretty nervous about this first meeting. So feel to meet on that. Um, I guess I'd like to just articulate some of the the expectations about our work together and um and what I hope we can see as our vision and our objectives as a as a board. Um, I think this board
4. 3:13will be at its best when members bring independent thinking, uh, informed opinions and a willingness to do their homework in preparation for our monthly meetings. It's entirely appropriate for board members to conduct independent research uh to reach their own conclusions and uh risk asking hard questions and uh holding different points of view. That's what makes a dynamic debate a dynamic and interesting and self-informing uh board. if we can bring challenges to each other and ideas to each other. At the same time, we need to run a meeting that is orderly and professional in manner. So, we'll have clear procedures. uh I don't suppose that we become overly structured with rules and laws, but I do think it's helpful to have some basic structure in place to help uh that helps helps it a a good debate, but one that is meaningful and moves us forward in a clear and independent way.
5. 4:15[clears throat] Um there is no official or artificial time limit on board members comments. uh while there is as we'll talk about later on citizens comments I think our responsible is to be our responsibility is to be thorough but also to be disciplined and respectful of each other's time um it seems like so often u our planning conversations default to someone being a loser and someone being a winner and that is probably maybe typical in all of our experience but I think there's a third way and the third way maybe takes a little bit more imagination. Um, we can be an attractive destination for visitors and at the same time address affordable housing. Uh, we can support legacy industries in our community and at the same time create a welcoming environment for new businesses. Um, so we can do more than one thing and that's pick winners and pick losers. Sometimes we have to be creative and
6. 5:17find uh and my notes are on a board at this point to say having another lovely day today. The weather's thinking of early spring you think. Is it too early to be thinking early for that? I apologize for I think I left it on the printer. >> Is it on the back of the page? >> Is it there? Oh, front end back. We bought a [laughter] new print. I didn't I didn't know we did that. So, I'll continue with that thought of the idea that we can be creative and not just say one team wins, one team loses. We can protect neighborhood character and at the same time allow thoughtful well-designed growth. So good planning sometimes does require choosing sides, but it can also be about seeking alternative solutions, forging thoughtful compromise, and always advance thinking about how we advance the long-term well-being of our setting. I also see the planning board as more
7. 6:19than a body that simply reacts to applications that come across our desk. Uh when appropriate, we should help shape the shared vision in our community. uh we should understand and support the implementation of the new comprehensive plan uh coordinate with other boards and commissions including the conservation advisory council uh the zoning board of appeals and the historic preservation commission. It seems that so much of our work overlays with theirs that cooperative cooperation and collaboration would strengthen our decision-m and uh um and our community. We should also be thoughtful about and supporting partners in our community and I'm especially thinking about Bard College as they begin to integrate into the life of our town and certainly real estate and issues of that nature with the Florida board. We look forward to being a creative partner with this new this new partner in our town. Ultimately, the reason we're here is pretty straightforward. Our work should be to help build a city that supports a
8. 7:22better quality of life for the people who live here. That purpose is reflected in Hudson's comprehensive plan which represents the community collective vision for how the city should grow, change, and sustain itself over time. Our uh role as a planning board is to help translate that vision into fair, thoughtful and wellusing decision. Through our actions and through the physical form and design of the city that results from our actions, we have an opportunity to elevate, enrich, and strengthen daily life for all of our neighbors, friends, and citizens, and support a sense of dignity, belonging, and worth everyone. If we keep that purpose in mind, the individual decisions that we give with will seem clearer when we keep the public's better interest in mind. Well, that's just an overview of a kind of hopeful and aspirational uh comment about our work together. Um,
9. 8:26if we only act as a voting board, it's easier. If we only vote things up and down, it's easier. As we engage in trying to find creative alternatives and solutions that might not be naturally a part of our role, then that takes more work. if we start partnering with other agencies, commissions and boards, that takes more effort. So, uh I think part of what we have to do is ask ourselves to step up to um maybe a different kind of obligation than just participating in our monthly meetings and how we spend our time between those meetings affecting change and and creating partnerships and work together with others in the city. So anyway, that's what I wanted to start out with. I hope that is at least interesting and doesn't sound too much like a ramble and uh and we'll move on with our introduction. So I I just thought it'd be nice to share a little bit about our thoughts individually [clears throat]
10. 9:27about why we're on the board and what we're doing here and what we hope to accomplish and what strengths, interests or passions that we bring to it. And I'll start out. I think it's next on the agenda. Yeah. So I've spent most my career uh managing nonprofit organizations that work with cities most often on issues of transition and change at the intersection of design, design thinking, uh public policy, governance, but also with a heavy dose of community engagement and a quite often a principal focus on neighborhoods and communities that are underserved and under [clears throat] supporting and and so I bring that kind of belief that um cities can change lives and cities can create solutions that elevate and strengthens every citizen in in the community and but it it takes intentionality. It takes purpose and it takes the willingness
11. 10:29sometimes to do things maybe a little differently because the strategies we use may not be working as well and so maybe we need new strategies, new approaches to addressing old challenges. Um so I bring that point of view in terms of what I hope to contribute at least initially. I just think it's so important to have well organized meetings that respect the minority as well as the majority that are professional uh in nature and that help the community have trust in the work that we're doing. And so working with you all as a group, that's the one thing that I'll really be focused on. Um especially as I kind of get my feet wet and and understand how we want to work together and what what our culture wants to be as a group working together. So my introduction, who wants to go next? I will call on you if you don't want me. [clears throat]
12. 11:29>> Okay, Jane, you're you're next. You're the senior member. >> Yeah, I'm a senior, but that doesn't give you any benefits. [laughter] Um I'm left resident of most of you should know maybe know that police officer 32 years. I've been on the planning board maybe uh I think three different times over the span of uh 10 years. I'm very much interested in Hudson as the chairman had said um we need to work together. We need to work together as a unit here. Um in the past there have been some slight problems. Um, we need to overlook that to become professionals as we should be. My outlook on the city is being a lifelong resident, I've seen the good, the bad, any indifference. [clears throat] As a police officer, it was the same way. But today, I'd like to
13. 12:35go along with affordable housing. and everybody's talking about affordable housing. We as the planning board when the applications come in, you can support that. It's a long hard road for these applicants because there's so much red tape, but we have to deal with it as a committee. um employment in the city. We as a family board don't have much to do with that, but we definitely need employment for a younger generation as this group of uh fourth graders are here tonight. Um so with that, I'm looking forward to working with the Doom committee, the old committee, and let's move forward. I love actually my girlfriend that's >> I don't know parents people probably call me George >> anyway that's an aside I'm not a lifelong resident of Hudson um I initially moved here 26 years ago 2000
14. 13:41and then I moved away to you know for undergrad [snorts] and a graduate school um I do have experience in the government and the nonprofit sector like the nonprofit sector as well as the medical and the underlying health fields. Um so so I've kind of have like a interesting you know career career path um but my just so that I don't ramble. So my interest in the planning board is just to you know work with the new board as it's constituted and also um also some my other retaining colleagues and just to try to do what's best for the city of Hudson within of course within um you know the the regulations and our mandate and so I definitely look forward to working with everybody [clears throat] >> Gabby uh Gabrielle as I go by here in additional capacity uh Hoffman. And I guess I started coming to Hudson in the '9s when I was a student at Bard or before that actually when my sister was
15. 14:44a student at Bard and then we moved here when we had our first kid maybe 12 years ago and have left and come back. But to see how the city changed over the course of those 25, 30 plus years. Um, and to realize that we civilians, I have zero experience that warrants me to sit here, uh, could participate in how the city was changing and evolving. I'm from New York City and you know I've been pushed out of every neighborhood I've ever lived in um over the course of my life and felt totally powerless in what was happening there. Um, so to land back in Hudson after living and and leaving with my family at two kids and uh I went to a planning board meeting upon coming back and I was just asking questions afterward.
16. 15:45How does it work? Who are these people? What is the planning board? and to realize that it was just um us residents with maybe no experience uh helping to shape what the city was becoming in a in a real way [clears throat] um was just sort of mindblowing to me. Um I'm still not sure how I feel about it honestly. Um, but I think it's kind of incredible and uh I think that to have seen how much Hudson has changed not just in the last 30 years but even in the last eight since I last lived here is just inspiring. Not because all I love all the the changes, but because things can change so dramatically, so quickly. And I think we have an opportunity to turn this city into everything it could possibly be. And I really think that actually um and take
17. 16:50care of its residents first and foremost and use the things that we might not love about the city. uh to help support the lives of the residents and make sure that we all are leading dynamic, fulfilling, beautiful, surprising, supported, nourishing lives and we can use those annoying Saturday tourist tax dollars to do that. said if we can be visionaries and I think it's kind of amazing that like me who has no business sitting at this table can be sitting here amongst all of us um challenging each other to dream bigger and bigger about what this city can be. Um and taking the opportunity to really try to be brave and be bold and what that can be. So >> Peter is the other to appoint you for
18. 17:56now. You're [clears throat] welcome. It was odd for me to be welcoming. >> Oh, no. I appreciate it. No, it's good to be here. >> So, yeah, my name is Peter Spear and um I'm very happy to be on the planning board. I I guess first I would want to thank Mayor Paris for inviting me to be here and to be on the planning board. I've spent a lot of time, as most of you know, making a lot of noise about um how I feel like things could be um done differently in order to serve all of us in better and more creative ways. And so I really welcome the opportunity to sit with neighbors and work together through difficult things in order to be um helpful, be of use to the city of Hudson. Um um I thought a lot about what I might say. I guess a little bit about me. I moved to Hudson in 2002 from San Francisco. I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder that I never lived in New York City. Um and um I uh um I had a store on Warren Street at 314 Warren Street. I sold antiques with some
19. 18:57friends um from India. The antiques were from India. My friends were not. Um, [clears throat] and then I built my own business and and my business for my work, which is relevant, I think, to the question of what I bring here and even all the noise I've made in the past is I do market research um for organizations. I help organizations understand the experience of their customers so they can make better decisions and they can make more confident decisions. That is more helpful. And in my world, I would be a planner. I'm a brand planner. And so there's a way that my skill set and my way of thinking about things lays right on top of urban planning. Um and so I bring that kind of um belief in community engagement and in bringing people together and really putting residents first and um the human experience of the city first um at the heart of what I want to do here. And I think um for the most part I just want to do my part as a neighbor on the planning board and I want to I feel like the planning board has been an
20. 20:00underutilized um body that can be more proactive um and advocate for creative solutions that improves everybody's life. Um and I'm really excited to do my part in in that. And I think maybe um yeah, I think that's all I have to say. I just I'm really grateful already to everybody that you guys have been here for a while and um I appreciate all the things that everybody does to make Hudson a better place. >> Um I'mra I'm sure everyone knows I've lived here my entire life whether that was in actual Hudson or Greenport which many people think are Hudson. Uh um my profession is I'm an attorney. Um outside of that, I also own a business in Hudson as well. Um I've always enjoyed advocating for people and for what I believe in. Um, and I think being
21. 21:06a local, I felt that I was a conduit, I suppose. Um, as a lot of locals thought things were happening that maybe shouldn't be happening. Um, and I think even newcomers think that things on the border happening that shouldn't be happening. Um but as a local I felt that I could speak to the locals and help them understand that you know there are the codes that we have to follow and um their zoning and as long as the business fits within those means they are welcome to be here. Um, and I think a lot of people lose sight of that and it becomes a first then argument and not that they are legally allowed to do what they're asking to do and um, you know, unless it's something real really horrible for the city. Um, you know, we're just here to guide. >> I think Linda should introduce herself
22. 22:09too because she's part of Oh, no. She's been in this position since 2002. She serves all of the boards about and she knows more than everybody. >> Sure. >> And uh we want to keep London on her side. >> Thank you. That's easy so far. >> Um thanks for that. Those are great words and great intentions. And I I think the word that jumps out at me most is we can have to be brave sometimes doing the tough stuff. So um but I didn't know you got benefits. I don't get any better except the benefit of being able to see our fingerprints on things that really matter in our community. And what a gift that is, right? Because what I like about this board and this film because the scale is observable. It's comprehensive. You you you can see your community in front of
23. 23:14you every day and your and your neighbors and sometimes a little too often. But um so I agree with the comments that have been made and I appreciate the leadership and passion you bring to the to the position. Um, so one of the things you're supposed to do in an organizational meeting, I'm total is review some of the basic rules of conduct and and and some of this is going to be, you know, plenty familiar, but I want to kind of put a few things in place with the objective of of creating a different kind of culture around our meetings. Um, and again, I I agree, uh, Jane, that past is past. We get to define our own present. And so here are some of the core meeting procedures that I would like to cover just briefly and then I'll send these to you. Uh some of these are very standard, some of them may not be. Um and again the objective is to support fairness clarity and efficient uh meetings and and a clear public record u which is a
24. 24:19part of what we produce once a month is a public record. So, motions and seconds, standard stuff. We'll operate with um a motion have a second. If you have a motion you want to make, I'll either call for the motion, let show your hand. Uh and uh and the second doesn't have to be called or someone can can speak up if you want to. Um but uh but that's how we'll get business on the table. Um, I'll restate the motion priority to vote just so we're all clear that that we all know what we're voting on and that's going to be the sort of the the backbone of our of our action agenda. Um, it's important that discussions stay within the motion. So, if we're talking uh about a motion and we're staying within the context of that subject, that's great. if we start veering out to maybe a broader topic, I may want to bring us in a little bit to keep us in the in the uh in the lane that we need to be in. Um but um but again, that's not a unusual u procedure. Uh the role of the chair, I think my
25. 25:23role is to facilitate a balanced and orderly discussion uh without bias toward a particular outcome. um which is in a way not fair because I'm a member of the board also but I'm also supposed to facilitate a fair and open and honest discussion. So if I'm guiding the discussion in a particular direction and trying to put my thumb on the scales that's not fair to the other board members. So my role is kind of twofold. One, I'll facilitate without bias [clears throat] for the most part. I mean, I there may be times where I I can't control myself, but but that would be my intention. But after everyone has had a chance to speak, then I'll speak my my opinion. But I want to be sure that everybody feels like they've had an opportunity to express their opinions before I speak. Generally, that will be my operating strategy. Um, do I have on the back here, J? Um on the back
26. 26:28two three four did I mention that organizational skills are not my long thank you um members should wait to be recognized uh by the chair if we're speaking um this is not a control [clears throat] method by by the way but it just helps maintain orderly discussion and avoids cross talk so if you want to speak uh just show me sign raise your hand and uh I'll call on you um this also supports a clear and more accurate minutes when when we're speaking with one voice rather than oversp speaking I think on major votes we're going to try doing roll call um on on operational things on on simple matters not so much, but uh it'll create a clearer record for uh for our actions and um um we'll try that for a while and see if we like it. There are
27. 27:30some new techniques for voting that we might want to look into that use technology. Um and I'm happy to explore any ideas you might have in terms of what your preference might be. But I think a simple yay or nay in mass, it doesn't really create the kind of detailed records that we really want to create. Um once we close discussion and move to the roll call then there's no further discussion at that point. So at roll call you only vote. You don't add additional comments to your vote or you don't explain your vote. And that once we've in discussion that's when discussion is public comment is um is a is a is a a tricky uh topic and and was a tricky issue [clears throat] in some of the earlier meetings that I did and I want us to learn from that. Um, I think public comment is essential to the planning process. Um, and um, but a couple of ground rules that I'll actually spend time on later in the
28. 28:33agenda, but but the basic ground rules for public comments is that uh, the comments should be directed to the chair, not to the entire or to the entire board, but no single board member should be uh uh directed have comments directed to that from from the public. That's just a a a simple rule. And then also public comments need to be related to items on the agenda rather than topics that might be uh on previous agendas or possibly future agendas. Um one of the u things I'd like to explore with you all on the applicant presentation. Um I think it's important that the applicant be able to come and do a coherent uninterrupted presentation. Um, and we reserve our questions for after they have finished making their pitch. Um, if we start asking questions midway, it may be taking them off their topic or it may be asking questions that they plan to answer later. So, I think I think as a rule for now, when we're when we're hearing from our applicants, we we
29. 29:38sit respectfully, listen, um, and then ask questions after they're completed, unless we're so confused that we're going to lose the the the the meaning of their presentation unless we can clear something up. And let's treat that as exceptions, but but we can we can do that as well. And that's those are my comments for general framework. Peter, >> I have a comment um here asking about um if the consultants are to be introduced as is indicated on the agenda. >> Well, Linda and I uh decided that since there's no business tonight, we didn't need the consultants at the table. So, um [clears throat] but we've already met Linda, so we don't need to introduce her again. and everybody knows Lloyd uh who's an exopicio member of the >> Thank you. >> Um thought it would be helpful to do just a general overview of the uh applications that are before uh the board at some
30. 30:42point in the process. Um not for deliberation but just kind of a high level review. If nothing else, it's a good orientation for Peter and me, but maybe it's also a good review for all of us just kind of reminding what business we're dealing with right now. So, as the senior member of our board, I asked Jane if he'd be willing to lead that discussion, and he graciously agreed to do that. So, Jane, I'll turn the field over to you. Okay. If memory serves me right, and I did research on it [clears throat] in the past couple of days, I think we had nine different applications before us. One of them is just a recent application that came in. It's Schumat Restaurant, 22 Parkplace, going to be the ery, I believe. The application just came in. the uh application fees that be paid um
31. 31:44online on the Munich lab is all the information that is requested review it are you on Mab now you are and Peter you okay good um Hudson Hotel Annex 1416 North 4th That project is a Galvin Foundation project on the corner of North Fourth and Prison Alley. Um they're looking to do a project that encomp encompasses the construction of a 14 unit 6,100 ft building with an off street parking access from prison. Um there's a issue before the Hudson planning board
32. 32:50as planning commission about the area being designated as a historical area. So that's under review. When we get to go through our meetings and discuss [clears throat] it, we'll have more more information on that project. John L. Edwards School. uh that was recently purchased uh that's under review. There's a a lot of material that is needed and will be requested for that project. That's an on uh project housing authority. I think you're here. Yes. as in the housing authority. They're looking to uh take down the buildings, put new buildings in uh through a three-phase project, two new two-phase project, and um relocating,
33. 33:52[clears throat] taking down some buildings, putting up new buildings, relocating the tenants. Um they're increasing I believe the uh resident rate as far as number of people number of units in all in all the area 8 and 10 Van Link Road and seven Academy Hill Drive that's a housing project where condominiums are I call condominiums on Westman Avenue by the way uh they apply to >> [clears throat] >> build some additional units there that's still under review and over these projects these major projects there's a lot of information that is needed and requested by the board by the board um and a lot of time the applicants don't think it's necessary but we as a board have to be well informed to make proper decision to grant or reject those applications
34. 34:56And that's that's not that's initiative that'll be big projects. The foundry 724 726 Columbia Street. Uh I believe that's going to be the the theater. That's basically on its end end of the application process. There's an issue with the driving and the parking. Um but that should be pretty goes through the um approving or disapproving it. State Street Lofts, that's a project that's by the [clears throat] same developers of the I believe Mil Street projects and they haven't been before the board in still months now that I'm not sure for it. Um, so I I I can't elaborate on that because I don't have the information. And
35. 35:58another one, Mil Oasis, 735 737 Columbia Street. That was the old garage uh gas station area on Upper Columbia Street. They haven't been before us either um in several months. Um they wanted to make a a event center, restaurant, um, things of that nature. So, that's still it's active. It's not active, but it's still an application that we have to receive. I can't think of any more on this. The board members have any uh anything that I missed. Warren, we 1012 warrant. >> It's done. Yeah, we got that done. Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's conditions. >> Okay. Um, anything else that's [snorts] just
36. 37:1512 street that that was that was the um sinkage. I mean there's nothing to do with renovation on interior renovation adding on to the existing building expand expand the uh business there. Um there's always a lot of information here. That's that's a lot of bunch multiple request which is which is legitimate just a lot of red tape and a lot of time consumption but that's that's another project that we have it's a proposed bar the restaurant van you know to make to make the changes inside and outside in the district. So that's that's another
37. 38:21[clears throat] Thanks. Any additional comments about projects on your way? So in our next meeting u we'll return to the business of reviewing applications and and um so thanks for that update. Um so one more comment I'd like to make and that's about public participation. Um um state of New York requires public participation in public hearings, but it doesn't require public participation in our regular meetings. Uh however, I think we should continue [clears throat] to make that practice. Um it's an important part of the planning process to benefit from um from the public's point of view. Uh I think that we stick
38. 39:28with a procedure of limits to three minutes and I know that feels restrictive but um it's really to help ensure fairness that everybody gets to speak and also to keep our meetings manageable from a time the length of meeting point of view which is a high priority. Uh [clears throat] I'm hopeful that our meetings will not average three or four hours and perhaps more like two hours. I know Jean's disappointed because [laughter] what else is he going to do in the second Tuesday? >> Um the there has been some discussion that public comment should be restricted to only people who live here. That's that's logical. It makes sense. That is our public. Those are the taxpayers. But the state of New York doesn't permit that. So um any any member of the public that wants to speak should be allowed to speak. I'd like to return to a practice of doing a premeating signups so that we have a record of who's speaking and we can ask
39. 40:32if they are a resident or property owner or business owner or none of the above. So that doesn't prejudice their comments but it helps us have context about what people are saying and where where they're coming from in terms of their perspective. Um so we'll set that up for our next meeting with a signup sheet. Um structure of public comments is one matter. Uh the role of public comments is another. And I I I've written this statement with precision. So I'm going to read it. Public input is not an obstacle to good planning. It is a core part of it. Members of the public being bring lived experiences, local knowledge, technical expertise, and information that may not otherwise be part of the record. Our job is not to judge the worthiness of the public and the public input based on perceived motives, but to ensure that all community voices are heard, treated with respect, and appropriately
40. 41:34considered. That's my personal value statement about the role of public comments. Um, if you share [clears throat] that perspective, Brent, and if not, we should talk one on one later. So um so public participation will continue to be an important part of our meeting and we will provide every opportunity we can to have meaningful platforms for members of the community to participate speak and engage with us um business. So first of business we're going to u vote on payments for Denver. Linda, what information do you have for us on that? Yes. Have they posted on They're not posted yet. Well, they're not posted. No. What what we have done in the past is I received the invoices from the consultants, the lawyers, whoever does
41. 42:38work for us. Okay. and then through the escro um the f through the favor I decided whe to cover the bills or not. So right now we have [clears throat] and two builds two invoices. First one is Roden, excuse me, [clears throat] Roden Housing SH sale and Polyoro. They they were the attorneys representing the uh planning board and I have an invoice dated December 5th, 2025 for the amount of $5,638.14. Second one I have is Barton Lunis Lrus I'm sorry
42. 43:44uh dated January 12th 2026 for $11,57.50 50 cents. And what we've done in repair was someone makes a motion to pay the bills, second it, and then pay those out. And then in the all the all the money's on each account is taken on the escrow for each account. And if there's not enough money in the escrow account for the applicant, then we as a committee decide how much to replenish that amount and notify the applicant. If there's no monies available, they do not uh [clears throat] give us any replenishment and we stop working under application. It's not fair for everybody here to do work to do work and they're not paying you away. Okay. So if we do make a motion to pay the billion
43. 44:49uh it could be my motion or anybody else from the committee. I invite a motion for payment of invoices out second. I think this is a roll call. >> Go ahead. >> Yes. >> I >> Yes. >> Passes. Thank you. And getting to the escrow towns for the bills that are included in here is um 60 South Front Street Kitties. That's already been approved. The project is closed out, but we did get a bill since then from Barton and Ludis Judas for $107.50. So what we need to do is notify them that they always >> and what's the mechanism for doing that. Okay. [laughter] I need that. >> So she she going to be notifies of sends
44. 45:54him a letter or a telephone call and um hopefully we get to 601 Union Street. >> You all right? >> Okay. 601 Union Street. They've ow they've owed us $11.25 for the last year. Okay. >> Are we charging interest? >> Not yet. Um and then we just got a bill from our attorney for some work that she had to do on their application which was $26. So right now they're $3725 short. They owe us $37.25. Now, this is another one for Linda to notify them. And my feelings in the past that after she notifies them and start paying then we take some kind of legal action against them for collection >> for $11 >> for $37.25. >> Let's just say that on the cont
45. 46:56$107.50. So, but all the other all the other comments are good. Any other remain on this? Thanks for being thanks board. Um, so I want to ask if there's any other business for board members that they'd like to bring to the meeting tonight. Any other comments that like to be offered by the one? Yes, sir. um will be recorded and it's being broadcast live. >> Yes. >> And it's going to be every meeting. >> Yes. >> Okay. No, because we had uh issues in the past. So that's okay. Well, there there may be some nature some business nature that needs to be confidential may go into executive session and that wouldn't be broadcast. But under general procedures, we have decided to join the rest of the city and do live streaming prayer meetings. Okay. Um
46. 47:59I would offer as a special order if anybody wants to make comments from the from the citizens please identify yourself and are a resident or non-resident. >> Yeah, my name is Diana. I'm a resident of Pensson. Um, I started the new year with like a lot of energy for like digging down and being, you know, kind of doubling down in my involvement at, you know, coming to city hall meetings. And I really appreciate, you know, being able to sit in on this and like listen to you guys going through all the details and your inspirations and how you're going to get stuff done this year. I had I emailed the common council about this, but I realized I didn't email you guys. And I've had some conversation with um Margaret about this, which is that um one way to facilitate public interaction, you know, and kind of like awareness and knowledgeable input at these meetings is to have better audio and sort of access to like AV in this room. Um, so I just wanted to bring that
47. 49:03to your attention. Margaret was very much like, yes, I agree. Um, we could be doing a better job of like projecting sound in the room. I've been in situations where I'm in the room and I can't hear everything that's being said. people's backs are to me and I realize I'm not the center, you know, person, but it's like if I'm here, I've been told at different times to like actually go back and watch the video. And it's like I was in the room, but I have to go watch the video to find out what I missed. And so, I just would like to um encourage you guys to kind of like work amongst yourselves. And I'd be happy to like provide any input or help with that. But um being able to hear everything in the room and also I know we're um limited in this like footprint of this space. There's a lot of stuff in here, but like it's sometimes it's just hard to know what opinion to have on something when you're hearing maybe
48. 50:07you're hearing it, but you can't actually see the v visuals that are being described. So, I just want to as somebody who's like not in the circle but who's like trying to participate, it's a it's a bit of a struggle out here. So, just wanted to um you know see what can be done about that. >> Thank you for that comment. Any other comments from citizens, high school students? Any comments, observations, thoughts, advice? You all want to be planning board members when you grow? >> Good. >> May I make a comment? Of >> course. Uh Peter Frank uh I live in the first ward. Uh two things. Uh I very much appreciate the aspirational nature of this conversation um and the chair's remarks at the beginning about the importance of informed opinions and of doing work between meetings. Um in that regard, I know that the state requires mandatory training for all planning board members. And my understanding in talking to former members of the planning board is
49. 51:09that that was applied um rather randomly and that planning board members didn't always do their annual training. And I'm wondering if in this iteration of the planning board if every member of the planning board will will will do that training. I I think that it's great to have you know consultants, lawyers and engineers. Um but to the extent that the actual members of the planning board can can have a thorough knowledge of land use law and regulation um you know I I just think it's you know to to the uh best interests of everybody in this city. Um, I also understand that uh individual municipalities can set their own standards for what qualifies, you know, to meet the statemandated requirements and can actually increase them. And I'm wondering what the chair's opinion is on on that uh on those requirements. this morning a week ago. There's a lot
50. 52:12of things I don't have an opinion on yet, but training does seem to make a lot of sense, and I think it would make for a a proper pathway to uh at least aim ourselves towards some of the lofty object objectives we identified tonight. >> Um, thank you. And and >> I'm just informed that it's required anyway. So, I guess the answer is yes. Well, required is one thing, enforced is another. So, understood. Lloyd, >> may I make a second comment? >> Yeah, certainly. >> Um, in regarding comments from, you know, residents versus non-residents. Um, I I noticed that you mentioned uh residents, uh, business owners. I I also think you know people who work in the city are very important. You know I think the healthcare workers who work at the hospital are important stakeholders. Um [clears throat]
51. 53:15whether or not they own a business or own property in Hudson. So I would think that you know that the definition of stakeholders at the planning board needs to be very wide. I also think that we're a very small community that the two square miles of Hudson is in a sense artificial. We are in a very uh uh intertwined ecosystem with our neighbors particularly in Greenport. Our economy is is very connected to theirs. Um for instance, there's a proposal now in Greenport for what I think is a very positive uh housing development off of Healey Boulevard. Um as a resident of Hudson, that development, you know, impacts Hudson's workforce. It impacts Hudson's economy in major ways. I would like to think that that that the Greenport Planning Board would welcome my opinion as a Hudson resident to express my opinion about that project. And I think the Hudson planning board should equally respect our neighbors in
52. 54:17Greenport when uh projects coming before the planning board have a direct impact on their well-being. >> Those comments are very helpful. Thank you, Lloyd. Lloyd Alden Kenning, third ward resident. Just curious because I don't seem to recollect what State Street Lots is. Is that new or is that where is that located? >> Fourth of State Street. >> Fourth. Is that the parking lot? >> I bet the county res used to be schooling >> that was milk. Okay. Yeah. Thanks. >> Any other comments on Thank [clears throat] you all for being a part of our meeting? Our next meeting is the second Tuesday of February, which is halfway to spring. Thank you very much. At least at least a third of the way to spring. Um I'm going to propose uh unless there's objection that we return to a 6:00 uh convening time. Uh if there is no objection, then we can make that decision tonight. If there's a need to discuss that further, uh we can
53. 55:21wait and and make that decision in the next meeting. So, I'm not going to ask for a vote, but I would ask if there's an objection to uh convening at 6:00 p.m. on um Tuesday, February the 10th. Please, please let me know. Any objections? Okay. So, we'll officially return our meeting time to 6 p.m. starting at the next meeting. And if there's no further business and we'll adjourn today's meeting, thank you all so much and so delighted to be a part of it. Thank you.

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