At a glance
The Safety Committee met to review monthly reports from the Fire Department and Police Department. The Fire Department requested $22,777.92 to replace its outdated key fob system, which is no longer supported and cannot be programmed. The Police Department reported February parking revenue up 26% from the prior year and discussed ongoing challenges with the new parking system, including concerns about signage, app functionality, and resident frustration. Chief Franklin discussed body camera reviews, arrest statistics, and a patrol car needing costly repairs. The committee considered a resident request for a stop sign at 7th and State Streets (denied due to railroad tracks) and discussed improving pedestrian safety there instead.
Fire Department Monthly Report
Hudson Fire Department reported 26 calls in February, including two fires, a fuel spill, several car accidents, and alarm responses. Year to date, the department has handled 65 calls, six more than at the same time in 2025.
Key points
- 26 calls in February: two fires (one spread from dumpster to garage behind Maker Space, one small shed fire), one fuel spill, car accidents, lift assists, six non-emergency situations, smoke checks, and 14 public service alarms
- Year-to-date total of 65 calls, up from 59 at end of February 2025
- Department short two members at this meeting due to religious holiday
Fire Department Key Fob System Replacement
The Fire Department needs to replace the computer controlling its key fob entry system. The old Windows 10 computer is no longer supported and cannot transfer the key fob software, leaving the current system frozen in its current state and unable to be updated.
Key points
- $22,777.92 cost on state contract to replace main control system, using existing door readers and wiring but new software and control unit
- Fire Department will program keys internally to keep costs down rather than having technician do it
- Department has requested this funding at budget time for several years but it has been removed each year
- Current buildings budget is $20,000, not enough to cover this expense, requesting funds from general fund
- Future upgrade to app-based digital keys would require replacing every reader at $350 each
Committee will draft resolution to authorize funding from general fund
Fire Department has been requesting this funding in annual budgets for multiple years
Firehouse Calendar and Scheduling
The Fire Department's House Committee now handles scheduling for use of the firehouse meeting hall. City meetings can be scheduled by emailing the fire department or contacting Sean directly.
Key points
- House Committee has streamlined the calendar process for firehouse hall use
- City can still use the hall whenever needed, as long as nothing else is scheduled
- Housing Advisory Board landlord-tenant forum scheduled for April 22, 5 to 8pm
Police Department Monthly Reports (January and February)
HPD reported defensive action incidents, arrests, and emotionally disturbed person calls for both January and February. Two defensive action reports in January involved an intoxicated subject fighting with officers and a fight victim who resisted interview attempts. One defensive action report in February involved a traffic stop where a driver tried to flee.
Key points
- January: two defensive action reports, 32 arrests with 50 total charges, seven emotionally disturbed person calls, one drug overdose call
- First January incident: intoxicated subject arrested for disorderly conduct, punched garage door window after release, fought officers when being un-cuffed
- Second January incident: fight victim near Lies kept hands in pockets and tried to flee when officers attempted interview, taken to ground (injuries from fight vs. officers unclear)
- February: one defensive action report (traffic stop, driver tried to flee, taser drawn but not deployed), 49 arrests with 65 charges, four emotionally disturbed person calls, zero drug overdose calls
- All defensive action reports reviewed by sergeant and admin to ensure policy compliance
Body camera footage is reviewed for all defensive action reports to check for training needs
Parking Revenue and Transaction Volume
February parking tickets totaled 2,750, with 2,380 paid tickets generating $68,000 in revenue, up 26% from the previous year. The month saw 16,793 parking transactions with only 43 tickets in dispute.
Key points
- 2,750 parking tickets issued, 2,380 paid for $68,000 revenue
- Revenue up 26% compared to same period last year
- 16,793 total parking transactions in February
- 43 tickets in dispute for the month, plus a few phone calls and emails (under 100 total complaints out of nearly 17,000 transactions)
Parking System Concerns and Options
Committee members raised concerns about the one-hour minimum parking requirement, transaction fees, and lack of options for residents making quick stops. HPD explained some features of the system and discussed potential improvements.
Key points
- Concern raised about residents paying for a full hour when only parking briefly (transaction fee plus unused time)
- Suggestion made to allow 30-minute increments or a way to stop parking meter and credit unused time
- HPD open to discussing residential parking permits, but that decision rests with full council
- Pro-rating system exists: if parking ends at 5pm, people pay less for parking but still pay transaction fee
- Start time currently 9am, could potentially be pushed back to 8:30am for early workers
- Hudson's parking rates are the cheapest in the region (compared to Albany and other cities)
Council sets parking time slots by resolution, so any change to hour/half-hour increments would require council action
The 89-cent transaction fee when parking company contract ends may allow renegotiation of rates
Parking Kiosks Update
The BEA has quotes for 10 remaining kiosks and conversion of four to solar power. Waiting for BEA approval and resolution to transfer funds. Installation to be scheduled once quotes are signed.
Key points
- BEA has quotes for 10 remaining kiosks and four solar conversions
- Transfer of funds resolution needed before moving forward
- Treasurer drafting resolution for fund transfer
- Installation will be scheduled after signed quotes received
Waiting on Board of Estimate and Apportionment to approve quotes and fund transfer
Public Comment on Parking Signage and Enforcement
Resident Katherine Clark raised concerns about lack of parking signage explaining the system, sudden change in enforcement without adequate communication, and inability of license plate readers to verify municipal lot permits.
Key points
- Only one small sign at top of Warren Street explaining parking, difficult to read while driving
- Enforcement changed drastically in recent months with no advance communication, leaving residents with unexpected tickets
- License plate readers can detect unpaid tickets but cannot verify if a vehicle has a valid municipal lot permit
- Resident with permit who forgets to display it gets ticketed even though parked legally
- Residents without off-street parking feel they are frequently punished despite supporting local businesses
Police Response to Signage and Permit Concerns
HPD explained efforts to communicate parking changes, including flyers distributed to businesses, wallet-sized cards available at City Hall, and the Hudson Hub app for notifications. Department acknowledged challenges and is working to improve signage.
Key points
- Parking enforcement distributed flyers to businesses about new system
- Wallet-sized parking information cards available at City Hall and other locations
- Hudson Hub app (available on city website) sends notifications about parking updates, water breaks, street closures, and other city business
- All parking updates posted on city website under parking section
- Department delayed enforcement in areas without parking signs while DPW installs new signage (DPW schedule depends on water breaks and other priorities)
- More overnight parking signs to be ordered and installed
- Social media push suggested to share tips and tricks for using the system
Parking system changes have been discussed since last year, but not all residents aware of updates or how to find them
Municipal Lot Permits and License Plate Scanning
Municipal lot permits are currently issued by the City Clerk's office but HPD is working to transfer that function to the parking bureau. Permits are transferable between vehicles but must be displayed, and the system cannot yet scan license plates to verify permits.
Key points
- Municipal permits currently issued by City Clerk's office per city code, HPD working to transfer issuance to parking bureau
- City Clerk historically did not collect license plate information because permits were transferable between multiple vehicles
- City Clerk's office now collecting license plates this year, but data not yet entered into parking system since HPD doesn't oversee clerk permits
- License plate scanning to verify permits not yet functional, permits must be visibly displayed per code
- Residents who forget to display valid permit can call parking bureau with permit number to get ticket dismissed
- Repeated failure to display permit after multiple warnings becomes enforcement issue
City code governs municipal permit issuance, changes would require council action
Overnight Parking and Short-Term vs Long-Term Lots
Resident asked why vehicles can park overnight in downtown short-term lots and questioned a white van parked in City Hall lot for a year and a half. HPD explained that city code allows overnight parking with permits and that downtown lots are called short-term because they're meant for visitors to spend money and leave.
Key points
- Overnight parking in downtown lots with permits is allowed by city code
- Downtown lots called short-term because intended for visitors to park, shop, and leave (encouraging commercial activity)
- Amtrak lot is the only designated long-term lot where vehicles can stay indefinitely
- White van parked behind City Hall for over a year is a known issue HPD is working on
- Some residents use municipal lot permits to park overnight after work
Short-term designation refers to intended use for commercial visitors, not a strict time limit enforced by code
Parking Kiosk Zones and Payment Process
Public confusion about how parking kiosks work led to clarification that there are two zones (Warren Street and side streets), and payment at any kiosk in a zone covers parking anywhere in that zone for the purchased time.
Key points
- Two parking zones: Warren Street, and side streets (all one zone)
- Can pay at any kiosk, then park anywhere in that zone for the purchased time (not tied to specific spot)
- Payment by license plate, not by parking space, so no need to feed meter if moving to different spot in same zone
- Takes about 30 seconds to pay at kiosk (enter plate, insert 50 cents for one hour)
- Can also pay via app to avoid transaction fees
- Residents who get ticketed while walking to pay can contact parking bureau with receipt showing payment time vs. ticket time for likely dismissal
Once all kiosks are deployed, they will be within eyesight, reducing need to walk long distances to pay
Data Privacy and License Plate Storage
In response to a question from the previous meeting, HPD confirmed that the parking company does not sell license plate data to third parties, stores it with encryption, and retains data for an extensive period as required by law.
Key points
- Parking company does not sell license plate data to any third party
- Data protected by multiple layers of encryption
- Data retained for extensive period as required by certain laws
Out-of-Service Fire Hydrants
Bill raised the issue of out-of-service fire hydrants, including one on State Street that has been out for two to three years and one on Fourth Street out for seven years. Fire Department explained they would not use a hydrant directly in front of a burning building due to collapse zones.
Key points
- Fire hydrant in 200 block of State Street has been out of service for two to three years
- Fire hydrant on Fourth Street has been out of service for at least seven years
- Fire Department standard practice is not to use hydrant directly in front of fire due to collapse zones and firefighting safety protocols
- DPW Superintendent Rob Perry previously stated out-of-service hydrants not a problem because others are in the area
Firefighting 101: do not use hydrants in immediate vicinity of fire due to collapse zones
Police Review Board Question
Bill asked why Hudson does not have an external board to review police complaints or misconduct, citing Albany as an example. Chief Franklin responded that the Attorney General's office serves that function and that establishing a local review board is not her decision to make.
Key points
- Resident asked if Chief Franklin is comfortable with Hudson not having a local police review board like Albany
- Chief Franklin stated Attorney General's office reviews complaints (resident's prior complaint was rejected by AG office)
- Chief said decision to establish local review board would not be hers to make, would be mayor's or council's decision
Stop Sign Request at 7th and State
A resident at 76 North 7th Street requested a stop sign at 7th and State. The committee declined due to railroad tracks but discussed alternatives including a pedestrian crosswalk with flashing lights and extending the no-parking zone to improve visibility.
Key points
- Resident requested stop sign at 7th and State due to safety concerns for children
- Request denied because of railroad tracks (same traffic safety rule as 6th and Columbia)
- Adding stop sign could create false sense of safety and cause drivers to speed between signs
- Committee discussed pedestrian crosswalk with flashing warning lights as alternative
- Suggestion to extend yellow no-parking curb further up State Street (currently only four spots) to improve visibility
- Parking at corner makes it difficult for fire trucks and personal vehicles to see oncoming traffic, especially at night near establishments in that area
- Intersection very busy at 4pm when DSS lets out
- Crosswalk was previously painted but paint has worn off on the new curb
Chief will pursue signage and extend no-parking zone, mayor has special interest in crosswalks and may already have this intersection on his list
This intersection may have been part of Planning Board recommendations when the development was approved
Patrol Car Repair
One of HPD's patrol cars (a 2017 model with 102,000 miles) has been out of service due to overheating. Repair quote of $6,417.75 includes new radiator and muffler. The department needs to find funding or risk putting more wear on newer vehicles.
Key points
- $6,417.75 quote for radiator, dual mufflers, and related work (mufflers alone over $3,000)
- 2017 vehicle with 102,000 hard miles (equivalent to 300,000 to 400,000 miles with idle time)
- Only 2017 vehicle not yet replaced, all others from that year have been replaced starting in 2022
- Each patrol car assigned to only two to three officers, improves maintenance and accountability
- Officers notice problems earlier when consistently driving same vehicle
- If this car stays down, newer vehicles will take on extra wear and need repairs sooner
HPD searching for funding to cover repair costs
Honoring Officer Lou Brener's 100th Birthday
Joe Connealy requested that HPD ask the mayor to honor former officer Lou Brener, who will turn 100 on March 21st. Chief Franklin agreed to bring it up with the mayor and suggested inviting Officer Brener to a ceremony.
Key points
- Former Hudson police officer Lou Brener turning 100 on March 21st
- Request made for mayor to honor him in some fashion
- Chief Franklin will bring request to mayor
- Suggestion to give him key to the city and invite him to attend ceremony
Officer Brener's 100th birthday
Oakdale Lake Ice Safety
Committee member requested HPD patrols at Oakdale Lake to enforce new stay-off-ice signage. Aerators installed for algae mitigation make the ice thinner than it appears, creating safety hazard.
Key points
- New signage installed at Oakdale Lake warning people to stay off ice
- Aerators left on this winter as part of non-toxic algae bloom mitigation plan
- Aerators make ice thinner than it appears, creating dangerous conditions
- Visible holes in ice but some people still going onto lake
- HPD will send patrols to make announcements and ensure people stay off ice
Aerators are the city's chosen mitigation option for algae blooms as part of a non-toxic treatment method
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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