At a glance
This was the first meeting of the Common Council's Code and Infrastructure Committee. The committee elected John as chair and a co-chair, then received a detailed report from DPW Superintendent Rob Perry covering sewer operations, water infrastructure, snow removal operations, and parking enforcement. The meeting focused heavily on snow removal costs, which have already exceeded most of the 2026 budget due to an active winter season. The committee will need to request additional funding from contingency reserves to cover overtime and salt costs for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Organizational Business and Committee Formation
The committee opened its first meeting with procedural business, including electing a chair and co-chair and reviewing public comment rules that apply to all council meetings.
Key points
- John was nominated and elected as committee chair, with a co-chair also selected
- The committee will meet in the second week of each month, allowing reports to reflect data from the current month
- Public comment at committee meetings is at the chair's discretion, limited to two minutes per person on any given question
- Comments must address the committee, not other members of the public, and disorderly conduct can result in removal from the meeting
- Department heads will submit reports to the city clerk, which will be posted for informal meetings and made available to the public
Sewer Operations and Septage Revenue
Rob Perry reported on sewer plant operations, including strong septage revenue performance and updates on the major $68 million sewer capital project.
Key points
- Septage revenue for November was $43,824 and December was $34,000, finishing the year at $527,495 against a $525,000 budget
- Septage represents only half a percent of total flow through the sewer plant but accounts for 32% of revenue, a very high margin operation
- The $68 million capital project will proceed in two phases, the first focusing on Columbia Street from Second to Park Place
- First design drafts are expected in March, with bidding potentially ready by April for the estimated $30 million first phase
- The project will replace the stone sewer from the 1830s with new sanitary and storm sewers
The project will keep two lanes open on the south side of Columbia Street with flaggers directing alternating one-way traffic. Parking will be eliminated block by block as work progresses. The full street will be repaved once underground work is complete.
Columbia Street Project Logistics
Committee members asked detailed questions about how the Columbia Street sewer replacement will affect traffic and parking during construction.
Key points
- Both new sewer lines will be installed on the south side of the street to keep the existing stone sewer active during construction
- Traffic will be maintained with flaggers directing alternating one-way flow, only enough room for two lanes
- Parking will be eliminated in a 200-foot bubble around active excavation, moving block by block as work progresses
- The old stone sewer will be filled with flowable concrete from the top down after the new system is operational
- Columbia Street will be fully repaved after construction, something that cannot be done now because the infrastructure underneath is deteriorated
- The second phase ($30 million) will cover Green Street, Upper Columbia, and Fair View with smaller mains but more dense housing and more lateral connections
This is part of a $68 million two-phase capital project to replace century-old sewer infrastructure. The second phase will involve Green Street and surrounding areas.
Water Department Operations and Winter Breaks
Perry reported on water plant maintenance and multiple water main breaks caused by extreme cold penetrating deeper into the ground.
Key points
- Filter actuators (smart valves that regulate flow) are being replaced filter by filter, they are 20 years old and cost about $10,000 each
- The city's water main crosses the Fairview Avenue bridge above the tracks, not under them as previously believed
- Several water main breaks occurred this season at Sixth and Columbia, Second and Union, Spring Street, State Street, Glenwood, and other locations
- Extreme cold causes the frost line to penetrate deeper, putting pressure on mains below and causing breaks
- A car hit a hydrant on Glenwood, the breakaway flange did not fully separate and caused water to spray like in the movies
Snow Removal Operations and Compliance
Perry reviewed snow operations, including parking enforcement during snow emergencies, equipment maintenance, and the effectiveness of public notification systems.
Key points
- The first snow emergency in December resulted in 44 cars towed, but the last two events had zero tows due to 100% compliance
- Out of 450 parked cars, 40 were in violation during the first event, a 90% compliance rate that Perry considers a success
- Notifications go out through Hudson Hub, social media, websites, and physical signs posted during snow removal
- The large snowblower breaks shear pins (sacrificial parts) multiple times per event depending on snow conditions, each taking 10 minutes to replace
- The city removed snow to three dump sites, with piles reaching 13 feet high (the reach of the backhoe), representing one-third of the city's snow from the last storm
- Two contractors from Macadam and two from Cartwright provided trucks three times the size of city trucks to keep the snowblower continuously working
After initial enforcement, residents responded well to snow emergency parking bans, with 100% compliance in recent events.
Snow Budget Crisis and Need for Additional Funding
Perry presented detailed budget numbers showing that snow removal costs have nearly exhausted the 2026 budget in only four pay periods, requiring additional funding from contingency reserves.
Key points
- The snow overtime account (0.1) started with $30,000, but $21,913 has been spent in just three pay periods, leaving less than $1,000
- The materials account (0.4) started with $62,000, with $57,300 already committed to salt ($40,000), snowblower repair ($4,700), and contractor hauling ($12,600)
- The city bid for 700 tons of salt through the state contract at $69 per ton, municipalities must use at least 50% of their bid amount
- Going over 100% of the bid triggers a 10% premium, going over 120% triggers 15%, and after 150% the city must buy on the open market
- Perry used a nine-year trend showing costs typically exceed $100,000, but the BFA based the $92,000 budget on only 2023 and 2024 data
- With two more storms expected this week, including one potentially on a holiday (double-time costs), the budget will definitely need supplemental funding
Perry drafted a sample resolution to transfer funds from contingency, estimating at least $10,000 needed for overtime and additional amounts for materials depending on remaining winter weather.
Parking Sign Heights and Installation
Perry explained the decision to mount new parking signs high on street light poles and offered a solution if the height is deemed problematic.
Key points
- Signs were mounted high on street lights to avoid conflicts with other signage like Pride flags and event notices that use the same poles
- The signs attach to U-channels that fit in grooves on the light poles with clamps, they can be unscrewed and slid down if needed
- Street lights were used instead of dedicated posts because lights already exist throughout the expanded footprint of the parking program
- Installing new posts would require drilling, creating conflicts with underground utilities, and purchasing materials and concrete
- Old meter posts were removed by cutting them with a sawzall, lifting them slightly, pounding them down, and filling with concrete
- In areas where street lights end (like near alleys), signs were mounted on existing meter posts at about 3.5 feet high
A committee member raised concern about the low height of signs on meter posts (3.5 feet) potentially being a hazard for children on busy summer streets. This was referred to the safety committee.
Property Foreclosure, Cemetery Interment, and City Hall Roof Leak
Perry provided brief updates on a foreclosed property, an unusual cemetery event, and a roof repair needed at City Hall.
Key points
- Photos showed the interior of 98 Pacific after foreclosure, with belongings left behind by former residents
- The city no longer clears out foreclosed properties with taxpayer equipment because surplus proceeds go to the delinquent property owner
- A 93-year-old resident was interred at the small cemetery on Paul Avenue, in a plot purchased over 100 years ago, a rare event Perry had never witnessed before
- City Hall (Washington Hose) has a roof leak where flashing came off a corner, a roofer will need to repair and button everything up
Public Comment on Parking Rules
A member of the public asked who decides which streets have overnight parking rules and why some streets like Prospect Avenue have no rules at all.
Key points
- The public commenter wanted to know who decides what streets have overnight parking restrictions
- Perry explained that parking regulations are set by the police department, not DPW
- The commenter noted that Prospect Avenue and Washington Street have no overnight parking rules
- Perry reiterated that DPW enforces the rules but the police department sets them and determines which streets have restrictions
- The chair directed the commenter to follow up with the police department and noted the safety committee would be the appropriate venue for that discussion
Committee Goals and Future Agenda
The chair asked committee members to think about goals for their term and topics they want to address, with several areas of focus identified for future meetings.
Key points
- The chair asked committee members to consider what they want to accomplish during their terms
- One member expressed interest in signage and implementation of last year's parking decisions, noting overlap with the safety committee
- Another member wants to focus on accountability for damaged street signs, ensuring delivery trucks or property owners pay for repairs when they cause damage
- The chair wants to address challenges from cut-through traffic (vehicles never intending to stop in Hudson) and high pedestrian populations downtown
- The mayor plans to meet with each committee chair to develop year-long agendas and clarify areas of overlap between committees
- The informal meeting in March will include a broader discussion of committee focus areas after individual chair meetings
Several topics overlap between this committee and the safety committee, including parking signage, traffic flow, and pedestrian safety. The mayor will help coordinate focus areas.
About this page
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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