Common Council, Informal Meeting

1. 0:39motion starts. >> Okay. So, 6 p.m. Uh, this is the informal meeting of the common council March 16th. Uh, can we begin with the whole title? >> Council member Hadad >> here. >> Member >> here. Council member Moranti >> here. >> Council member Cousin here. >> Council member Bolo here. >> Council member Belton is behind. >> Council member Foster. Council members Roberts absent and Ron. >> We have Ro is >> council members Ron and Sarah. Are they excused? >> Well, they're they're not they're not just not relaxing. >> Yeah. So, the uh minutes from the last meetings have been put on file. Uh all department reports have been posted and we're going to begin with um committee
2. 1:43reports. Um I think finance you don't have anything since there was no meeting correct. >> No meeting. >> Okay. So uh you want to begin with safety pen just highlights of we have committee but just highlights of the last month. >> Um we got a the normal monthly report. Um not a huge amount of activity which is great. Uh there was not a ton of discussion. Um the discussion we did have uh was brought up by a issue was brought up from four community members that wanted to discuss the possibility of a residential parking permit for the commercial district which is just Warren Street. So we had some discussion about that and we'll see what happens between now and the next month and see if we can get something language relating to parks. That was pretty much it. uh infrastructure.
3. 2:47Yeah. Um we had a presentation from North. Um there he was looking forward to shadowing a $350,000 repair project coming up at the schooling plant maybe in the next year. felt like he was going to work on some funding or just getting it in our heads that there's going to be some efforts to use funding there. Um he brought up the fact that he this summer there will be two park employees instead of three and it could impact the uh amount of mowing that they get done. Um there was a communication from um a resident about Broadwalk signal at Fair View uh and Green Street that if you're crossing Fair View there um you're a little unprotected and Rob explained that as the project was being built there the way of the landing point of the crosswalk would kept getting pushed
4. 3:50away from the corner and that's not ideal. Um there may be something we can do with ting to give them a head start there. So that um and then there was a couple complaints about the uh quality of the asphalt on the sides of Glenwood which is a bike boulevard or bike school bus route. Um and then uh I talked about a couple capital projects that I'm just brainstorming and getting some information from LALA engineers about and that's what we're uh services Dominic highlights. >> Sure. Um there not much from seniors. I did go over there uh since we don't have a representative and just uh spoke to um M. tea garden and most of the programming uh that is going on from 9 to one is done by the town including the
5. 4:54meals program. Uh we have I think one program uh through Hudson which is I think it's the Zumba uh that's being offered. It's basically it's a drop in program. Uh so we uh did uh talk about the possibility of I'm going to create a survey and send it to individuals uh living in Bliss and Province Point uh for seniors to see if they would be attending uh the senior center if there's transportation on a regular basis from their location to hopefully, you know, give them an opportunity to uh use the senior center if they have transportation. So I'm wondering if transportation is the barrier uh from seniors attending uh the senior center. The youth department uh couple things. The basketball program uh was a success. that finished up two
6. 5:58weeks ago and Calvin is in talks with the mayor regarding the assistant dire director position how that can be uh reinstituted uh and how it can be funded and the um programs he he's got some good ideas got some good ideas for uh some programming uh down the line including a Saturday breakfast club and also the during the break uh which is great. Uh they opened up their doors for activities uh at the youth center where in the past during school breaks the facility was closed. So for three of those days they opened up um and and uh for individuals and also did a field trip uh to the museum on Friday. So uh that's some good stuff that's opening that up. Uh there is one uh important note that their cabin has come up with a contingency plan uh in the event that what happened with the with the heater happens again um to have
7. 7:03an alternative programming at the firehouse with the grabandgo program uh supplies so they can do programming at the firehouse if that ever happens again for some reason that they can't use uh the use. I think that's >> yeah that's about right. I I was the techie at that meeting. >> Okay. >> Uh legal committee uh we met we discussed two issues uh short-term rental uh language relating to um the situation where individuals who live here for 50 days uh can rent out their homes for up to 60. Uh and that is on the that's on my list of things um to look at local law to look at this evening. Um after discussion and having gotten some data from Michelle Tulo on the number of people residents who actually do this um the recommendation from the legal committee is that we do not change the number of days that uh the rental can can go beyond the 60 days. uh but then we put language in uh
8. 8:08requiring that there be a local contact and that is in the local law piece that's here this evening. The other thing that we discussed at length um was a uh proposed revision to the code that was brought forward by a community member uh relating to the definition of quantification of the usage of the dock in 2011. um that is still in committee. There are still issues for us to resolve um around uh concerns that were raised by the lawyers for Karuso and so we still need to work through um exactly what our scope could be in doing that. Uh so we'll continue to discuss that in committee. So the one thing that came out from legal this month is the STR language that you'll see later. And that's it for legal. Uh any questions on the committee reports? No. Okay. Um next up is uh it's listed here is a proclamation. This is actually
9. 9:15going to be a resolution next week. I I'll put the resolution form up at the top there. So Claire, do you want to talk to us about our proclamation here that you put together? >> Sure. Um so the Hudson Blue Hawks varsity boys basketball team won the Patun Conference. um >> yeah and they're on their way to the final four for state. So this is just a supportive resolution um honoring the hard work of them and the coaches um and talking about the pipeline of youth programming all the way through to high school sports. Uh I don't know if anybody got a chance to read it yet. Um if there's anything you want to add to it um or change now would be a good time. >> Are there any I've read I don't have any pins. I mean, anybody got anything else they want to add or J? Okay. So, we will have that for next week >> and I plan to invite the team to probably receive it. >> Yes, exactly. >> Um, we did have a a communication from a community member who does use the uh 60 days. So, that was posted on in the communications folder for under STR. And
10. 10:17so, now we're going to go to resolutions, Logan. So, I'm just going to introduce these. Uh, so these are all things we will vote on next week. Uh first one is resolution relating to the commissioners of deeds. Next resolution I believe Heather is on. Um the next resolution is this is a uh 2025 budget issue budget transfer uh from the water fund uh from personal services to water hospitalization HA reimbursement. Uh the next one which is fairly lengthy um is a resolution relating to incumbrances. So Heather is Heather on Logan. >> Yeah. >> Heather, do you want to just give the uh the uh council a very brief description of what these incumbrances are? You don't have to go through each one, but just what's involved here. And if anyone has questions on any particular
11. 11:18incumbrance, they can ask. >> Okay, that's fine. [snorts] Um, so basically incumbrances are the recognition that there are elements of the 2025 budget that have to be carried forward and modified to the 2026 budget. There's basically two categories that that fits in. Uh the first category would be a purchase that a purchase order that was made in 2025 with the intent of using 2025 budget monies to cover that purchase. Um, we closed the 2025 books at the end of this month. So, up until this month, departments can call, it's called what's called charging back. So, they could buy if they get something in say February that they ordered in December, they can charge that expenditure back to 2025. After the end of March, they can no longer do that. So for any products or services that were committed for in 2025 using 2025 budget, we have to take that money and move it from the 2025 budget to the
12. 12:212026 budget. So when the product or service finally comes in, they have the cash available to pay it. So basically the expense doesn't hit 25. So that money is available, we put it back into 26 so the product or service can be paid for. The other major category is um basically any kinds of grants or donations if they've already been committed. Um you'll see there's a lot for FOHI. Uh because you know when FOHI gives us money, they give us money with the assumption that that money will be spent and if there are balances left in the money that they have donated, those balances get carried forward to the next year. It doesn't it can't just fall to fund balance because it was provided as a committed uh a committed um amount of money to be spent against in this case a youth department. You'll also see dive team donations, fire department donations, >> [clears throat] >> etc. and so forth. Um and and that's basically the topline summary of what that is. >> Any any questions on the u uh the next resolution relates to uh
13. 13:25year end budget transfer. Um the this is a uh number [clears throat] of areas where uh additional funds were needed to balance and the fund funding is coming from hospital medical insurance across an array of um of areas. Uh any questions on this one? Okay. Uh the next one is a budget amendment. Uh this relates to a um replacement of card access system which is required for the fire department. Uh their current system is not uh consistent is not compatible with their new operating system. So this is actually a budget amendment for the 2026 budget. Uh anyone have any questions on this one? Okay. Um that's amendment. Uh, and then the next one. And for this one, I do want I will introduce her, but I'm also going to be looking for a vote on this. Uh, is Chief Franklin on line?
14. 14:33>> Yeah. >> Good. Um, so, Chief Franklin and, uh, Sheriff Savati um are seeking funding for a community project. I posted also the proposal for that project. Uh this would be a Columbia County recreation center and uh they she had requested letters of support. Um we have letters of support or rather she has letters of support from uh multipities. Um let's see here on my list. Uh we have um friends you greater promise neighborhood uh the DA's office eight parents in from the parents for healthy Hudson I think and the mayor's office I believe also has submitted one and so I put together a a letter of support for this project um from the council uh if anyone has any revisions they would like to make I'd like to give Chief Franklin an opportunity to describe to you what his policy was about.
15. 15:46>> She's uh she's muted right now. >> So, Chief, we cannot hear you. >> I'm sorry. What was the question? >> Uh just want to give you uh an opportunity to describe to the council this project where we have put together the letter of support from the common council uh that you and uh sheriff uh Salvatore are heading up. >> Oh, sure. So, I mean, this is the very early stages and um Josh Riley's office has a capital uh excuse me, a community funding um grant opportunity and I met with one of his representatives a couple of weeks ago um and just discussed something that I thought was pretty important to myself, Sheriff Salvatore, residents, excuse me. uh residents of Hudson and Columbia
16. 16:49County um and the fact that we don't have um a designated center for youth senior programming um or essentially a hub for all of the our whole community to come together. Um and so we envision a project where we have multi-generational programming, uh mentorship, um yeah, and just support for everyone in our community in one space. >> And the proposal is available for review. Um so I'm not seeing any hands raised in the room. Um, >> chief, just one question. Is this going to the facility going to then um host the youth center or it's going to be competition youth center or do you see an opportunity to sell the youth center to help fund a new
17. 17:55uh facility located uh in city limits? Uh yeah. So what I envision is that this center encompasses the youth center. It's by no means a project to to get rid of the youth center, but to make a broader um like expand uh the programming to support all of Colombia. >> It would not necessarily be within city limits. It would be it's a Columbia County next. Columbia and Green County or Columbia. >> No, so it would be for Columbia County being that we um are municipality within the county and then I did uh have a meeting a brief meeting today with FOHI and Calvin to kind of discuss um like that vision a little bit more. >> I think it's fairly too early probably to have >> Yeah, it's it's very in the early stages right now.
18. 18:59>> [clears throat] >> Well, let me know if you need blueprints because I have blueprints of my dream when I hit the lottery for the years. So, let me know if that's a great idea. >> Yeah, and obviously this is this is this should be a discussion communitywide. Um the I had to submit the proposal pretty quickly. It was like a a three-day time span of when I received the information to submit it. So, it all happened very fast. Like again, this is very initial stages and I don't know if we'll even be considered um to move forward with funding. Uh it goes to um Representative Josh Riley. They decide which projects are, I guess, worth their while to to advocate for in Washington and then we would know from there. >> Thank you. So can I get a motion to vote in support of committing the better question is is the grants is all federal funds are
19. 20:01dimension funds or do you know >> I believe it's all federal funding >> and we have a motion to vote. Motion >> motion >> motion from Henry second from Claire. Uh roll call vote you we know who's asking for. >> Okay. Council member Hadad. >> Hi. >> Council member Bolo. >> Hi. >> Council member member. >> Yes. >> Council member Cousin. >> Hi. >> Council member Moranti. >> Hi. >> Council member Bosford. >> Hi. >> And president >> Mars. Mars. >> Hi. >> Okay. So, Chief, uh, we will, the letter is already out there. I will email that, uh, I got that out tomorrow, um, and send you a copy. >> Thank you. And thank you, everyone. >> Thank you.
20. 21:04>> So, uh, next up, um, Logan is the short-term rental, uh, local law. So, this is just being laid on your desks. Um, I had initially proposed putting language in specific to individuals who are renting their homes out for up to 60 days, but on review of the full law, um, our council recommended putting the change into section uh, 1A. So that the requirement that short-term rentals are permitted to operate within the city of Hudson and this is kind of applies both to people who are have a short-term rental on their property and also folks who are renting out their home for up to 60 days uh in any of the following circumstances and then that the law lays out the various circumstances provided that all such rentals will require designation of a local contact person and provision of contact information to the Hudson Police Department and to the code enforcement office. And so that would ensure obviously if you are the individual living in the property you have a short-term rental you would be
21. 22:07the probably be the local contact but somebody who is not going to be in town would have to have a local contact. We did get a recommendation and I will follow up with the mayor's office and the legal committee which I forgot to mention uh that we should post on the city website that if anyone has an issue or um has a concern about the short-term rental that appears not to be in compliance uh that Michelle Tulo is the contact person because not everyone is aware of the fact that there is an individual in city hall that that they should contact. So, I will follow up with the mayor, but um I'm we're just laying this on your desk tonight. Uh this will require a public hearing. 90% certain that it's going to be a mayor's public hearing, but I need to confirm that with the mayor's office. Um and any questions on this particular change to the short-term ramp, >> can you summarize the discussion um of extending it beyond 50 days? I think it was 120 days initially. Well, we were looking at 120 days. A couple of
22. 23:09residents who do this had approached I have been approached by a couple of people. I know other council members have been saying that they would really like to be able to extend it to a longer period. Um so in considering that um I went back to Michelle and she pulled a year's worth of data and in that period there were only 13 registered. Now there are some potentially who are not registered but there were 13 registered uh people who were using that part of the law and of those the majority were uh renting out their homes for a 15 to 30-day period which would be consistent with renting out your home when you're on vacation. Uh there were a couple or two or three who were close to the 60 limit but the majority of those 30 people were well below the 60 limit. So in our discussion it didn't seem that this was and there is there is some uh community we've had community uh communications not supporting extending it. Um and I think in light of the fact
23. 24:11that there are so few people that this would pertain to that the legal committee was recommending that we not change the uh length of beyond the 60 days. Is that pretty fair summary for those of you who are on? Yeah. Any other questions? >> Yeah, I had a question. Um, I've done some did some research in our law since then and there's a difference between full-time residents and part-time residents and full-time residents have almost no restriction, but there's no definition of what when you switch from part-time resident to full-time res. Everyone takes vacation. Is there >> Yeah. Do you know it or the the part-time residents have to live here 50 days? >> Well, that I understand, but if you are a full-time resident, your restrictions seem much less. There's been no definition of restrictions. So, I don't know if this woman the letter received, if you take the summer off, are you a full-time
24. 25:14resident? like if you're here 9 months like what's >> so she falls into the category of somebody who is here for over 50 days who wants to the distinction is not so much that and there are a lot of problems with this law and one of them is that residents are not >> but the where the reason she falls under this is that she while she is not in town wants to rent out her entire home >> right so it's not the differential is I have a unit on my tax property that I'm renting out. Maybe I'm in my own 365 days a year. Maybe I'm not, but it's a unit that I actually have a residence on the same tax, >> but there are many challenges. So, >> I understand your point. >> Yes, I believe the full present. >> Oh, >> so maybe we have to revisit the definition of residence eventually. Yes, we there's I think we probably should revisit some things on as well. But the
25. 26:16one thing that is clear to me is that there ought to be a local contact. >> Yeah. >> Um and that's particularly for people who are by definition not here when their entire home is rented out. So we're not taking any action on this tonight. Um there will be a public hearing. Um, see that one? Uh, I don't have any old business to bring up. Uh, does anyone want to bring up new business? Yeah, unfortunately. Go ahead. Um, I'll leave it at that. I'd like to make a statement about President Morris's reason for accident. But it received a lot of attention practically when they work at the pro. The reaction has become political in two directions. Some called for her removal from office and other defender with boy. I learned of the accident on February
26. 27:1823rd. I called Margaret and asked her what is happening and if she was all right. She told me with a minor tap of the building she was fine and she had given her insurance information for the building. Then the video showed up on social media and I felt I could not deny what I had saw. I saw President Morris dismissed this shopkeeper, delayed the police, and resist the building. She eventually shared her insurance policy hours after the accident of the court. The mayor then asked President Morris for an explanation. I anticipated an apology and to move on. I was disappointed with what we received. Professionally, this has been a distraction. Personally, I felt like um I was being expected to delete something different than what I had watched in the videos. Uh that's basically all I wanted to say. It lies with President Morris. Uh if she wants to talk further or anything about it, but that's >> address my thoughts.
27. 28:19>> I would be happy to make a statement. Um and Claire had indicated that she did want to statement. So I do understand that there is concern in the community regarding the accident that happened last month. On February 20th, I was involved in a minor accident on parking lot on War Street. As I pulled into the parking space, my car still on the ice and the left front of my car attacked the building in front of me. I got out to inspect and saw no damage to my car. At that time, I did not believe since my car was undamaged that I had caused any damage to the building. The building owners came into the parking lot. They pointed to an issue on the wall and they said that I had damaged the building. I found that encounter was starting to become uncomfortable and confrontational and I did not want to get into confrontation. They indicated they would call the police. I decided to remove myself from the situation, leaving my car where it was until the police were present. It
28. 29:22was not several hours later. It was a few minutes later. When the police department came, I cooperated fully, providing them my driver's license and other documents. I also provided my phone number to the zoning order. At no time did I ask for nor did I receive any special treatment from the police department. I did not identify myself as an elected official, which would have been wholly inappropriate. The officer I've seen was professional and courteous. As soon as the incident report was available, I submitted a claim to my insurance which is currently in process uh giving the address of the building. I do not post on social media. I do not respond to anything on social media and I've been made aware of these posts uh about the incident from people. I apologize for my desire to avoid a confrontation has caused concern in the community and I really do not have anything further to say on the topic. It's a private issue. My insurance is on there. >> Is there any more new business? >> I'm just I appreciate your um statement and when I asked initially for the
29. 30:25statement um it was also for transparency for us as council members to be able to respond to the public. Um because as Jason said in his statement, what people are seeing on the video, the court of public opinion makes sense out of our hands. We can't change their mind based on what they're seeing. But I would love to be able to defend your account versus what's online and be able to assure the public that we are all working as co-workers and are aware of what's happening um to just be able to have that conversation. >> Actually issue a statement to both newspapers and all sorts of gossip a couple of weeks ago. So I'm just issuing it again here >> and I appreciate it. >> Is if is there no more new business? I would like I'm not if you want to comment on this. I'm taking no public comment on this issue. >> Public comment of the cadm. >> Is it on this issue? >> No. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Uh I was just curious the transfers from 2025 balances that are appropriated in 26. I
30. 31:30think there's 91,000 senior center grants and donations and I always appreciate a little more co because this comes as a surprise to me and I thought I was keeping track. >> I'm talking about 91,000 last line item. >> You're talking about the incumbrance. >> Yeah, it's not the fund balances that are being moved. >> No, this is an encumbrance, right? So, Heather, if you're still on, on the bottom line on page one, senior center user grants and donations, there's $91,000641. Yes. So, uh, the youth center received a very sizable donation in 2025, north of $80,000, a single donation, uh, from, uh, somebody who used to participate with the senior center and left money to the youth, uh, I'm sorry, to the senior center as well as many other, um, entities in Hudson as part of her will. Um, that money was not significantly spent in 2025. So, as we said, because it was money donated to the city with
31. 32:34the specific purpose of being used for the senior center, any remaining balance will get moved into the 2026 budget. I will also note that as part of the 2026 budget, um the BEA determined that we would use uh those funds in order to offset the majority of the costs of running the senior center in 2026. So, there will not be much of that left at the end of 2026. Thank you. That's clear. Okay. It's a nice little I didn't know that. Yes. >> You have another member online. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Go ahead, brother. >> Yeah. Hi. [clears throat] Um, you hear me loud and clear? >> Yes. >> Good. Um, I'd like to bring up an issue that, um, I consider to be even for like the past four years to be the elephant in the
32. 33:38room, so to speak. The elephant in the room that you're in, not me. Um, and I want to state some facts and then I want I'm just going to make some comments in the in in the form of a couple of rhetorical questions. Here are the facts that you should all be interested in. You should all be aware of it at least seems to me. But the person that uh these facts are in regards to isn't in the room right now. It's council member Dwan Sar Sarowir. In 2016, about 10 years ago, in May of 2016, Dwan Sarowir and somebody by the name of Azmiran Sonia purchased a house at 46 Greenacres Road in Greenport. Now, the the mailing address, of course, is Hudson, New York 12534, but the physical house that Dwan and Asarin purchased almost 10 years ago is certainly not within the boundaries of
33. 34:41the city of Hudson. As a matter of fact, it's about uh at least 3/4 of a mile u north of the uh border with Hudson, Greenport. Um uh as I said, on Green Acres Road, which is off Joselyn Boulevard. And Dwan is claiming that he's not living there with his wife or partner, whoever as Mary Sonia is, that he purchased the house with and where his child or children live. Diwan Sarowir is claiming that he lives on Colombia Street in the first block of Colombia and has been for the last four or has it been six years that he doesn't live with his wife or partner that he bought a house with on Greenacres Road in the town of Greenport, New York. Now, I know that if you go to Greenacres Road in Greenport just about any night, you're bound to find Dwan's car parked out front. you won't find it parked in the hundred block of or the first block of
34. 35:44Columbia Street uh where he claims to live and reside in the in the in the ward that he supposedly represents. This has been an open this is excuse me I I I want to say last giving you a heads up that your time is almost up. >> Here are the questions. Do any of you for one second believe that Dwan Sarowir actually sleeps at night in the city of Hudson >> and not in Greenport? And if Dwan Saroir indeed lives in Greenport, you have a big problem. So thank you uh for that comment. Um we're not going to discuss personal lives. >> Yeah. I don't wear people. Um, any other new business? >> Yes. >> Did I understand you say that you're not going to take questions about the accident? >> No. >> On what grounds? >> Uh, it is my privilege as chair of this to decide whether or not I'm allowing public comment.
35. 36:47>> Okay. >> Any other new business? >> Oh, go ahead. [clears throat] >> Just for clarity, what Mr. Hudson just brought it up. If there are issues with people representing themselves as dealing with Hudson, but they may not be, are you are you is there a platform or a venue in which to investigate that or check that? And I know this is not the time to have >> I I can't off the top of my head. I can't come up with that. Um I think I would look at the voter registration. >> Yeah. would be board of elections would be the first place where I would committee was spoken it was bit like if there is any I'm not just talking about the member I'm talking about any member concern >> oh outside in the ward where they uh they move while they're on the council we talk about how >> um >> anyone who votes outside of their who doesn't live where they don't election
36. 37:52>> okay good so then it would go to board of elections, not to the common council. >> We can look into the question. >> I'm just I'm just asking. I'm not talking about this particular in general >> as a process. Is there a process? We can look into that, but I don't have an answer right now. >> I do. Yes. What is legal? >> We're looking. >> If we're not allowing public comment, should they submit for it to be put on the record if they have something that they would like to say? >> Are you talking about my instrument? >> Yeah. I think they put plenty on the record on Facebook. >> On Facebook, there's members that I believe wanted to say something. So, should they submit something to the council to be >> he you can email me? So, that's not a problem. Um, I think the bill's comments bring up something that we probably talked about before, but I believe there's other people in this room that the following of people home. Um, >> sorry. I I believe that there's Bill in particular has been following some people home others in this room and um I think it's a concern. Yes,
37. 38:58>> I can speak to that. I am the target of those. Can can we uh I'd like to move on from this because I do not want this to turn into um personal um you know allegations uh against people without them being present. So, can we if there's no new business, can we [clears throat] have a motion to adjourn? >> I have a motion that Jason give us some evidence of his claim, please. >> Shut up, Bill. >> Let's try to It's okay. Let's try to remain civil. >> Thank you. >> Can we have an to motion? >> Who's the civil second? >> All in favor? >> Thank you all very very much.

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