At a glance
The Common Council Services Committee held its first meeting under a new structure where departments report to committees rather than the full council. Dominic Merante was elected chair and Claire Cousin co-chair. The Youth Department reported on December activities, including holiday programs, a toy distribution, and 160 kids enrolled in the winter basketball league. Friends of Hudson Youth, which contributes $150,000 to $200,000 annually, discussed waterfront programs, lifeguard training, and efforts to prevent harmful algae at Oakdale Lake. The department also addressed a recent boiler failure that closed the center for a week, prompting discussions about maintenance support, emergency contingency planning, and the possibility of a new facility.
Committee Structure & Process Changes
Council President Margaret Morris explained the new committee system where departments report to committees instead of the full council, with meetings scheduled mostly in the first two weeks of each month.
Key points
- Departments will submit monthly reports to the clerk, which will be posted but not discussed at full council meetings
- Committee meetings occur in the first two weeks of the month, with formal council meetings the fourth Tuesday and informal meetings the Monday before
- Reports submitted in one month will be discussed at the following month's committee meeting (e.g., February reports discussed in March)
- Finance committee meets on the day of the formal meeting and follows a different schedule
Public Comment Rules
Morris reviewed new rules of order limiting public comment to one statement per issue, with a two-minute time limit and no back-and-forth debate.
Key points
- Non-members may make one comment of no more than two minutes on any given question
- Chair may set a reasonable overall time frame for public comments
- Public comment is not a debate or forum for hypothetical or policy questions
- Chair may order removal of anyone engaging in disorderly conduct after a warning
Chair & Co-Chair Elections
The committee elected Dominic Merante as chair and Claire Cousin as co-chair for the Services Committee, which will meet the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 PM.
Key points
- Merante is currently chair of Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency and a member of the IDA and Safety Committee
- He committed to attending every meeting either in person or virtually
- Claire Cousin volunteered to serve as co-chair to provide backup coverage
Youth Department December Report
Dr. Calvin Lewis presented the December report covering programs for K through 8th grade, including holiday activities, literacy programs, and a major bike donation.
Key points
- Annual snowball fight held in gym with cotton snowballs
- Each family received a toy and book thanks to donations from sheriff's department and Hudson Farmers Market
- Literacy Voyagers program with FRCC paired books with activities like making snow
- County Waste donated 24 new bikes with helmets, from training wheels to adolescent sizes, to be distributed via raffle
- Columbia Kitchen donated gift cards distributed to about 15 families to support holiday meals
Committee discussed collaborating with HPD for bike safety workshops, especially around e-scooters and e-bikes. The NTSB offers free DVDs and materials produced by kids about bike safety.
Youth Basketball League Update
Over 160 kids enrolled in the winter basketball league across four age divisions using collegiate team names, with volunteers coaching and high school students refereeing.
Key points
- Skills and drills for K-2nd grade had roughly 69 kids learning fundamentals
- Third and fourth grade division had 54 kids on four co-ed teams
- Fifth and sixth grade division had 37 kids
- Teams named after colleges including Baylor, St. John's, Vanderbilt, UNC, Texas A&M, Clemson, Kansas State, and Seton Hall
- League wraps up after one more week
Summer Camp & Staffing Preparations
Registration for Oakdale summer camp opens at the end of February, with the department seeking counselors, lifeguards (16+), and a part-time laborer for grounds maintenance.
Key points
- Counselors in Training (CIT) program available for youth as young as 14 years old
- Lifeguards must be at least 16 and receive training in CPR, AED use, and first aid
- Part-time laborer position supports the cleaner with landscaping and garbage removal
- Registration will prioritize families from 2025 before extending to the broader community
The school district will not be available as a backup site this summer due to capital projects at both school buildings.
Friends of Hudson Youth Presentation
Peter Frank described how Friends of Hudson Youth raises $150,000 to $200,000 annually to support programs, facilities, and workforce development at the Youth Department.
Key points
- Organization started in 2018 as a booster club for the Youth Department
- Waterfront program annual budget is about $100,000, with Friends covering about half for equipment, supplies, and lifeguard costs
- Two senior guards returning this summer will receive Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification, allowing them to teach Red Cross swim lessons on site
- Friends merged with Friends of Oakdale Lake and continues waterfront work including new non-toxic algicide treatment and aerators
- Oakdale Lake stayed open all summer 2025 with no harmful algae, unlike 2024 when it closed for three weeks
Chief Franklin and Berkshire Bike and Board held the first bike safety rodeo last summer sponsored by AAA, with helmet checks, bike checks, and obstacle courses. Plans to make it annual with better outreach.
Boiler Failure & Emergency Response
The Youth Center boiler failed after a major snowstorm, forcing the center to close for a week while waiting for a replacement control panel and troubleshooting the system.
Key points
- Boiler control panel (the motherboard) failed, keeping temperature around 61 degrees instead of the required 65-degree minimum
- Center closed for programming but staff pivoted to meal distribution, delivering pre-packaged meals from Columbia Kitchen to families
- Temperature stabilized at 68 degrees constant as of the meeting, with regular programming resuming the next day
- Vendor was a returning contractor familiar with the systems, some of which they had installed
Lewis noted that maintenance duties unfairly fall on the cleaner, who is working out of title. A dedicated maintenance worker is needed for the building's constant needs.
Facilities & Emergency Contingency Planning
The committee discussed ongoing building challenges, the need for maintenance support, and developing emergency contingency plans for when the center is unavailable.
Key points
- Building is owned by the city, and DPW is available to help with general maintenance issues
- Part-time laborer position for Oakdale is separate from year-round maintenance needs at the center
- Biohazard removal of pigeon droppings completed last week
- With school facilities unavailable this summer due to capital projects, alternative sites needed for inclement weather (possibly firehouse, churches, or other venues)
- Committee offered to help identify and secure backup locations with advance planning for parent notification
- Lewis to send committee details about space requirements and safety needs for backup locations
- Committee to help identify and secure emergency backup sites for summer camp
- Consider fire station as controlled alternative location for programs
Senior Center Representation & Charter Discussion
The committee discussed inviting senior center representation to future meetings and clarifying the city's relationship to the Youth Department in the charter.
Key points
- Senior center has no director currently, only a clerk with no supervisory responsibilities
- Youth commissioner position is vacant, with a short list of candidates and appointment in process
- In the past, youth and aging were under one combined commission before separating
- Cousin suggested more clearly defining the city's responsibilities to the Youth Center in any charter revisions, including maintenance support and building inspections
The charter currently says only that there shall be a department of youth in the city, written before a center-based program existed. Updating it could clarify maintenance, inspection, and support responsibilities.
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FUTURE HUDSON is an experiment in civic engagement: every public meeting of the City of Hudson since January 2026, transcribed and made readable, so any resident can follow what the city is deciding without attending every meeting. This page covers one meeting; see the full archive.
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