At a glance
Hudson's Common Council met on February 24, 2026, approving eight resolutions and receiving detailed reports on finances, sidewalk work, and tax foreclosures. The treasurer provided a year-end budget update showing mixed results: sales tax exceeded projections while parking and lodging revenues fell short. The council approved home rehab contracts, voted on DOT compliance measures for sidewalks, and authorized a snow removal budget transfer. Members discussed extending outreach to property owners facing foreclosure for small amounts under $1,000, a Little League field tax exemption settlement, and a request to exempt the youth center assistant director position from a hiring freeze.
Roll Call and Agenda Approval
Council President Morris opened the meeting at approximately 1:56, conducted roll call with all members present, and approved dispensing with reading of minutes from January 12th and 20th meetings.
Key points
- All council members present: Morris, Hadad, Hagen, Foster, Roberts, Felton, Volo, Cousin, Morancy
- Motion to dispense with reading of January 12th and 20th meeting minutes approved unanimously
- Finance committee unable to meet before this session, treasurer reporting directly
Treasurer's Report: Building and Plumbing Permits
Treasurer Heather Campbell presented budget-to-actual numbers through December 2025, noting that final numbers would change once chargebacks and reconciliations were completed before filing the annual financial report.
Key points
- Plumbing permits: budgeted $20,000, collected $8,800 year-to-date, 2026 budget kept flat at $20,000
- Building permits: budgeted $375,000, collected $208,000, 2026 budget reduced to $250,000
- Revenue may increase after code enforcement officer chargebacks are processed
- Several adjustments and chargebacks pending between now and annual financial report filing
All December figures are subject to adjustment as the city completes expenditure chargebacks, revenue chargebacks, and bank reconciliations before filing its annual financial report with New York State.
Parking Revenues and Ticket Collections
Parking revenues came in below budget in most categories for 2025, but the treasurer estimated substantial additional revenue would be recorded once deposits and chargebacks were processed.
Key points
- On and off-street parking: budgeted $264,000, collected $184,000 (about 70%), budget held flat for 2026
- Front Street lot: budgeted $527,500, collected $362,000, estimated final total around $480,000 after chargebacks (about $40,000 per month), 2026 budget set at $480,000
- Parking permits: budgeted $65,000, collected $59,000, relatively close to target
- Parking tickets: budgeted $440,000, collected $447,000, estimated final total around $580,000, 2026 budget increased to $750,000 reflecting new Warren Street meters
- Bank reconciliations behind schedule due to staff shortages and software implementation, but catching up
On and off-street parking revenue appears light partly because kiosks and rate increases anticipated for June 2025 were not implemented on schedule. The 2026 budget assumes those increases will take effect.
Sales, Cannabis, Mortgage, and Lodging Tax
The treasurer reported mixed results on tax revenues, with sales tax exceeding budget while lodging tax fell short. Cannabis tax came in well below initial projections but showed growth in the final quarter.
Key points
- Sales tax: budgeted $2.4 million, collected $2.541 million, 2026 budget set at $2.5 million
- Lodging tax: budgeted $750,000, collected $581,000 through December, estimated $50,000 chargeback possible, 2026 budget reduced to $575,000
- Adult-use cannabis: budgeted $235,000, collected $131,000 (including chargeback), 2026 budget reduced to $160,000, final quarter showed $40,000 indicating growth trend
- Mortgage tax: budgeted $220,000, collected $207,000, 2026 budget kept at $220,000
Financial Systems, Audits, and Budgeting Software
The treasurer outlined challenges with the city's new general ledger software and noted that Hudson would be required to undergo both a regular citywide audit and a single federal audit for 2025.
Key points
- City required to file federal assistance expenditure form, triggering single federal audit and DOT audit requirements
- Federal audit based on multiple projects with federal funding, DOT audit primarily due to Ferry Street Bridge
- New general ledger and collection software still has unresolved issues, budgeting capability promised by vendor did not work
- Treasurer created entire citywide budget across all funds manually in Excel, not sustainable long-term
- City will investigate vendor's new budget solution software and likely request council funding
The entire 2026 citywide budget was created by hand in Excel because promised software functionality did not exist. This creates significant risk of human error and is not feasible for future budget cycles.
Tax Foreclosure Process and Outreach
The city continues to reduce the foreclosure list through installment agreements and outreach. Nine properties have entered installment agreements, and the treasurer proposed additional outreach to property owners owing less than $1,000 before conducting title searches.
Key points
- Nine properties successfully entered installment agreements, one more scheduled, one more requested but not scheduled
- One more letter planned to property owners owing less than $1,000 to avoid adding expensive title search costs (over $200 per search, possibly double that now)
- Of the original 151 properties, 115 have been redeemed, leaving 36 properties owing approximately $2.1 million
- Five properties account for 64% of the balance, ten properties account for 83%
- Council members offered to reach out to constituents on the under-$1,000 list, treasurer to provide names and letter text
Hudson authorized a foreclosure list in 2024 of 151 properties owing back taxes. Through persistent outreach (multiple attorney letters, treasurer statements, and installment agreements), the city has reduced the list to 36 properties, removing 115 without the expense of formal proceedings.
The foreclosure list is already public information filed with the county, so council members providing constituent outreach does not raise confidentiality concerns.
98 Paddock Place Sale and Planning Board Collaboration
The treasurer updated council on the pending sale of 98 Paddock Place and improved collaboration with the planning board on escrow processes.
Key points
- Council previously authorized sale of 98 Paddock Place
- DPW confirmed building not negatively impacted by freezing weather or snow, water turned off, building secured
- Corporation counsel targeting April 2026 for sale
- Productive discussions held with Ron Bogle (planning board) on streamlining escrow processes
Retirement Reporting and Payroll Challenges
New York State retirement system implemented mandatory enhanced reporting, but the city's ADP payroll implementation problems are preventing compliance. The issue has persisted for months with no clear solution yet.
Key points
- New York State and Local Retirement System implemented mandatory gold standard enhanced reporting
- City struggling with compliance for months due to bad ADP payroll implementation
- Problems identified but solutions unclear, ADP may not be able to resolve some issues
- Any fixes from ADP will likely involve additional costs
- Multiple timekeepers and no centralized payroll person make monthly reporting exponentially more challenging
The city's decentralized payroll structure (multiple timekeepers, no single person in charge) compounds software problems and makes error correction difficult. Mistakes prevent the retirement reporting system from working, requiring investigation each month.
Procurement Policy and Budget Transfer Limits
The treasurer proposed updating the city's procurement policy and budget transfer limits to align with state standards and reflect current dollar values.
Key points
- Current city procurement policy outdated, not modified in years
- Treasurer proposes adopting New York State procurement policy by reference so city policy automatically updates with state changes
- City currently has $10,000 maximum, state at $30,000
- Budget transfer limits also outdated (department head $500, BEA $1,000, council anything over $1,000)
- Proposed increases: department head $1,000, BEA $5,000, council $10,000 and above
- Legal committee will draft language to update code
Adopting the state procurement policy by reference is common practice among municipalities. It ensures the city stays current as state requirements change without requiring repeated local law amendments.
Council Health Insurance and Salary Structure
The treasurer raised a longstanding problem where council members' salaries do not cover their health insurance costs, creating administrative burden tracking who has paid what.
Key points
- Council members do not net enough from paychecks to cover health insurance premiums
- City must request council members provide money to cover the difference
- Creates tracking problem of who paid what and who still owes
- Treasurer proposes pegging council salaries to health insurance costs as a policy
- Issue to be discussed at next finance committee meeting with rough cost estimates
SID Fee on Tax Bills and Collection Status
After substantial work, the city successfully added the sidewalk initiative district (SID) fee to tax bills. A few property owners questioned assessments, but overall rollout went smoothly.
Key points
- SID fee successfully added to tax bill after extensive effort
- Informative notice explaining the fee included with bills
- A few people questioned why they were assessed, some claimed public works board exemptions
- Public works board working on those cases, but overall number of complaints small
- No collections yet as bills just went out, some exemption and credit issues already settled
The SID charge was placed in the second quarter tax bill (rather than first or third, which include city and county taxes) to avoid increasing the largest payment amounts. The fourth quarter was avoided to keep it the smallest payment of the year.
SID Fund Payments and Loan Repayment
The city will fund the SID at 50% of expected collections twice per year regardless of actual collection rates, and the public works board will repay $50,000 toward the $500,000 city loan in 2026.
Key points
- SID fund to receive 50% of expected collections in first quarter of fiscal year, 50% in third quarter
- SID made whole regardless of actual collection rate, mirroring water and sewer relevy process
- Public works board budgeted $50,000 loan repayment in 2026
- At current rate, would take a decade to repay the $500,000 loan, likely needs to be more aggressive in future years
Ferry Street Bridge and DRRI Reimbursements
The city borrowed over $7 million in a one-year bond anticipation note expiring in June to fund Ferry Street Bridge and DRRI projects. Without timely reimbursements, the city may need to borrow again.
Key points
- City borrowed over $7 million in one-year bond anticipation note for Ferry Street Bridge and DRRI, expires mid-June 2026
- Without reimbursements before June, insufficient cash flow to cover expenditures without additional borrowing
- DPW commissioner and engineering firm having multiple discussions about reimbursement filing
- If reimbursement arrives in July after June borrowing, will be very frustrating
- Bonds can be structured for early payback but often not financially beneficial due to rate changes
The city's $7 million bond anticipation note for Ferry Street Bridge and DRRI expires in mid-June 2026. If state reimbursements do not arrive by then, Hudson will need to borrow again on a short-term basis, possibly only weeks before the money arrives.
Sewer Upgrade Financing and Debt Exclusion Approval
The city closed on EFC financing for phase one of a major sewer upgrade and received state approval for sewer debt exclusion from the constitutional debt limit, preserving borrowing capacity.
Key points
- Closed on EFC financing for phase one of major sewer upgrade
- EFC very quick to turn around reimbursement requests, reducing amount city needs to float
- Interfund loan of approximately $600,000 made for project
- Filed application for sewer debt exclusion from constitutional debt limit, approved by state
- Approval critical, rejection would have significantly limited city's ability to borrow for other projects
Resolution Votes: Grants, Transfers, and Appointments
Council voted on eight resolutions previously introduced at the informal meeting, all passing unanimously or near-unanimously.
Key points
- Hudson River Restorative Grant resolution approved
- Firefox 2025 transfers from police department approved
- Fire department transfers for fiscal year 2025 approved
- Budget transfer for survey of old park approved
- Reappointment of CAC (Community Advisory Committee) members approved
- Reappointment of David Marsden as community member to public works board approved
- Revised license agreement with Dot Scoop Club approved, changes included reducing insurance tail from three years to one year, clarifying voluntary role of seasonal members, defining pier and dock, removing subclause about fuel pumping
Home Rehab and Accessibility Grants Contracts
Michelle Tufolo from Housing and Justice presented two contracts for home rehab and accessibility modification grants that had not appeared at the informal meeting. Council approved both after discussion.
Key points
- Amendment to existing CT Mail contract adds environmental site assessment service for home rehab and accessibility grants, procured through RFP
- New contract with engineering firm (also RFP, lowest bid, MWBE) for engineering studies on homeowner projects like lifts and structural work
- Three properties currently need engineering services, option to add one or two more
- Properties not public information for privacy reasons
- Work will begin spring 2025 after year of setup, getting team and processes in place
- Rehab specialist, code enforcement, and housing staff sign off on completed work, permits pulled for inspections
- Contractors procured through bid process, homeowners select contractor, if homeowner wants more expensive option they pay difference
- Work has one-year warranty, products have lifespan warranties
These contracts are funded by grants Hudson received a year ago. The city is not matching funds. Homeowners receive 100% cost coverage unless they choose a contractor who is not the lowest qualified bidder, in which case they pay the difference.
Little League Field Tax Exemption Settlement
Council approved a settlement granting tax-exempt status for 2025 to a property leased by Benjamin Moral Little League, resolving an article 7 proceeding. The exemption is binding for three years if conditions remain unchanged.
Key points
- Property owned by Galvin Initiative Foundation, leased to Benjamin Moral Little League (a nonprofit)
- Petitioner applied for exemption under real property tax law 420A, initially denied by city
- Settlement grants exemption for 2025 assessment, tax refund of approximately $1,200 to be paid with interest (waived if paid within 60 days)
- Three-year binding period is statutory under article 7 tax law, but conditional on annual renewal applications proving continued nonprofit use
- Exemption would transfer with property if use and ownership remain exempt, but would require re-verification
- Only field in Columbia County for Little League softball, guarantees program three years of stability
Though the settlement is binding for three years under state tax law, the property owner must annually verify that it still qualifies for exemption. If use changes or the property transfers to a non-exempt owner, the exemption terminates immediately.
Snow Emergency Budget Transfer
Council approved an emergency budget transfer for DPW snow removal, as the city ran out of both salt and overtime budget during an active winter.
Key points
- City out of salt and out of overtime budget for snow removal
- Transfer approved to allow continued plowing and salting
- Council anticipates this may be large enough but possibly still insufficient
- Another storm possible, and snow season includes November and December (not just January and February)
- Council will likely revisit this before end of fiscal year
A council member asked whether the city could recover snow removal funds if the state declares an emergency and the county is included. The question was taken to committee for research.
Public Works Board Report on DOJ Sidewalk Compliance
Gary Puckett provided a detailed update on the city's sidewalk work stemming from the 2024 DOJ settlement. The public works board has spent nearly $400,000 of the $500,000 city loan, with $104,000 remaining.
Key points
- DOJ settlement required ADA compliance for sidewalks, curb ramps, paths to government buildings, and city hall renovations
- City hired Hyman Hayes to audit and identify ADA problems, divided city into eight areas
- DRRI addressed most ADA issues below Third Street, some Front Street curbs not completed due to cost
- DPW hired Precision Safe Sidewalks to grind curb ramps on Warren Street, some are slippery when wet
- Public works board focused on curb ramps connecting to public and municipal buildings: youth center at Third and Cherry, police department at Seventh and Union, intersections at Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh between Warren and State
- Used Hudson Hub online portal and water/sewer mailings for public communication
- Processed property assessments, merged with county database, handled exemptions for firefighters and veterans by piggybacking on county system
- Offered work credits, conducted inspections, negotiations, and appeals process
- To date, $396,335 spent (Portford and Associates project management, construction, Labor CDBG application), $103,665 remaining
- Repaying city loan at $50,000 per year in 2026, board prioritizing getting work done over aggressive repayment in early years
- Board members: Tiffany Martin (mayor's ADA coordinator), Tyler Critzman (public works commissioner), Gary Puckett (council representative and chair), David Marston and George Croninert (community members)
The DOJ settlement addressed ADA compliance across multiple areas: sidewalks and curb ramps, city hall renovations, the grievance process, website accessibility, and paths to government programming like the library (where the senior center is located). The sidewalk initiative district was created as the long-term funding mechanism.
The public works board has not yet done a full audit to confirm all Hyman Hayes identified issues are resolved. Some work was not completed (such as certain Front Street curbs under DRRI) and remains outstanding.
Videoconferencing Policy Update Process
Council attorney Ken Dow explained the process for updating videoconferencing rules. The current policy is a local law that must be repealed, then replaced with a resolution for greater flexibility.
Key points
- Current videoconferencing rules are codified as a local law, cannot be superseded by resolution
- Authorizing state statute set to expire in July, likely to be renewed but could be modified
- Recommend repealing current law and adopting new rules as a resolution instead of law
- Resolution offers more flexibility for future tweaks without full local law procedure and e-code costs
- Both repeal (local law) and new policy (resolution) require public hearings
- Local law repeal and resolution can be introduced at informal meeting, hearings scheduled concurrently
- Five days' notice required to schedule public hearing, hearing must occur before adoption
- Target: introduce at next informal (Monday), publish notice, hold hearing the following Tuesday (eight days later), adopt same night
Public Comment: Youth Center Hiring Freeze Exemption
Stephanie Brown urged Mayor Ferris to exempt the youth center assistant director position from the hiring freeze, citing the urgent need for two leaders before the demanding summer camp season at Oakdale Lake.
Key points
- Hiring freeze created by mayoral decree (not legislation), so mayor can create exemptions
- Assistant director position critical for summer camp planning, staff vetting and hiring, training protocols
- Two leaders needed for oversight at three locations: Hudson Youth Center, Hudson Area Library, Oakdale Lake
- Participation at Oakdale Lake has exploded in recent years
- Safety and supervision require months of advance preparation
- Staffing repositioning and overlap happens during transition to summer headquarters
- Youth department faces multiple liabilities if Oakdale Lake staffing not prioritized well in advance
Public Comment: Short-Term Rental Restrictions
Rebecca Bull urged the council not to weaken current short-term rental restrictions, citing the value of year-round neighbors and the example of European cities and Provincetown, Massachusetts, which have banned or severely restricted Airbnbs.
Key points
- Current restrictions discourage investors and encourage full-time residency
- Speaker values living year-round next to people she knows (example: texting neighbor about open basement door during snow)
- European cities with long view on cultural preservation have banned or severely restricted new Airbnbs since 2021: Berlin, Munich, Barcelona, Portugal, Vienna, Florence, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Stuttgart, Palermo
- Provincetown, Massachusetts (similar to Hudson) struggles with lack of year-round housing, workforce shortages, declining school enrollment
- Speaker urges council to consider only strengthening current law, not degrading it
Public Comment: Mayor's Aid Payment on Bills
Justin Weaver questioned a payment of approximately $489 to the mayor's aid listed on the bills. The president clarified it was for job postings for the code enforcement officer position.
Key points
- Payment of $489 to Tiffany Martin (mayor's aid) listed on bills
- Payment was for postings for code enforcement officer position
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.
How it was made
The meeting video was transcribed automatically; the transcript was then organized into sections and summarized. The raw transcript is above, every claim can be checked against it.
What to be skeptical of
The transcript is automated and contains speech-recognition errors; names and numbers may be wrong. This page has not been reviewed by a human. Nothing here is an official record, the city's official minutes are authoritative.