At a glance
Hudson Common Council held its regular meeting on March 24, 2026, beginning with a celebration of the Hudson Blue Hawks varsity boys basketball team, which won the 2026 Section 2 Class A Championship and advanced to the state Final Four. Council approved routine resolutions including bill payments, commissioner appointments, budget transfers, and a budget amendment for fire department equipment. New business focused on traffic safety concerns following the washout of Joseph Hill Drive, which created detours that residents described as dangerous, and multiple complaints about a nightclub venue on North 6th Street operating until 3 a.m., prompting discussions about potential noise and hours regulations.
Opening and Roll Call
President Morris called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance. All council members were present.
Key points
- Meeting called to order at approximately 7:10 p.m.
- Roll call showed full attendance: Morris, Hadad, Fernhagen, Sarah, Foster, Roberts, Belton, Volo, Cousins, and Morante all present
Approval of Minutes and Reports
Council voted to dispense with reading the minutes from February 24th and 26th, placed committee reports on file, and received communications.
Key points
- Minutes from February 24th and 26th approved without reading
- Committee reports placed on file
- Communications received and filed
Bill Warrant Approval
Council approved payment of bills by roll call vote.
Key points
- Motion made to pay bill warrants
- Roll call vote conducted with all members voting yes
- Bills approved for payment
Short-Term Rental Law Postponed
President Morris announced that a local law requiring local contacts for short-term rentals would be postponed until April to allow for a required public hearing.
Key points
- Local law revising section 325-283 of city code discussed at previous informal meeting
- Law requires local contact information for all short-term rentals
- Because it affects zoning code, a public hearing is required before Common Council can vote
- Public hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. immediately before the April informal meeting
- Vote will occur at the April formal meeting
A public hearing on the short-term rental local law will be held at 5:30 p.m. before the next informal meeting, followed by a vote at the April formal meeting.
Resolution: Appointing Commissioners
Council approved a resolution appointing commissioners by roll call vote.
Key points
- Motion and second to approve commissioner appointments
- Roll call vote conducted with all members voting yes
- Resolution passed unanimously
Resolution: Budget Transfer for Hospitalization
Council approved a budget transfer relating to hospitalization costs.
Key points
- Resolution for border fund transfer for hospitalization brought forward
- Roll call vote conducted
- All members voted yes, resolution passed
Resolution: 2026 Budget Encumbrances
Council approved encumbrances to the 2026 budget that had been reviewed at the previous week's informal meeting.
Key points
- Resolution relating to encumbrances to the 2026 budget
- Previously reviewed at informal meeting
- Roll call vote conducted with all members voting yes
Resolution: 2025 Year-End Budget Transfers
Council approved year-end budget transfers for 2025, described as chargebacks.
Key points
- Resolution for 2025 year-end budget transfers
- Transfers described as chargebacks
- Previously reviewed at informal meeting
- Roll call vote conducted, all members voted yes
Resolution: Fire Department Cloud Access System Budget Amendment
Council approved a budget amendment to replace the fire department's cloud access system, which became incompatible with a technology upgrade.
Key points
- Budget amendment needed for replacement of fire department cloud access system
- Current system doesn't work with an upgrade in department technology
- Previously reviewed at informal meeting
- Roll call vote conducted, all members voted yes
Recognition of Hudson Blue Hawks Basketball Championship
Council honored the 2026 Hudson Blue Hawks varsity boys basketball team for winning the Section 2 Class A Championship and advancing to the state Final Four.
Key points
- Council member Claire Foster read a resolution and proclamation recognizing the team's achievements
- Blue Hawks won the 2026 Patroon Conference Championship and Section 2 Class A title
- Team advanced to New York State Class A Final Four
- This is Hudson's second Section 2 championship in 10 years, the first at Class A level
- Previous championship was in 2015-2016 season at Class D level
- Prior to 2015-2016, Hudson hadn't won a section title since 1973-1974 season
- Head Coach Shawn Brisco in his 15th season, with 220 career wins and five Patroon Conference Championships
- Assistant Coach Tyrone Hedgepath was possibly the first eighth grader to play varsity basketball for Hudson in 1978-1979
- Hedgepath founded Got Game Sports and the Hudson Hawks AAU program
- Assistant Coach Isaiah Herd is one of Hudson's most accomplished athletes, former all-time leading scorer
- Keith Robinson broke Coach Herd's all-time scoring record as a sophomore
- Players volunteer as referees for youth leagues and excel as students and citizens
- Resolution praised the team for representing Hudson with excellence, character, and pride
The resolution emphasized that youth athletics in Hudson represent a vital community pipeline beginning in youth leagues and recreation programs, shaping confident students, leaders, and citizens. The coaching staff's decades of dedication to mentoring youth through programs like the Hudson Youth Center and Got Game Sports has sustained Hudson's athletic tradition.
Joseph Hill Drive Washout and Traffic Detours
Council discussed traffic and safety concerns following the washout at Joseph Hill Drive, which created detours affecting multiple neighborhoods.
Key points
- Washout occurred at Joseph Hill Drive shortly after the previous safety committee meeting
- Detour established for Underhill Road residents through Harry Howard Avenue
- Multiple complaints received by council members, Joe's office, and police chief
- Police deployed cars during school rush hours to manage traffic speeds
- Residents of Blue Seal area effectively cut off, only exit is turning left on Harry Howard
- Repair timeline estimated at approximately one month, possibly longer
- Signage still being installed for detour routes
- Council discussed need for official language to post on social media about detours after one council member received backlash for public statements
Joseph Hill Drive is expected to remain closed for approximately one month while repairs are made. Detour routes are in effect, with additional signage being installed.
The one-month repair timeline is an estimate and may change as the situation evolves.
Sidewalk Request on New Seal Avenue
Residents of the Fourth Ward requested a sidewalk along New Seal Avenue to provide safe pedestrian access to the Empire State Trail bike path and downtown.
Key points
- Request came from residents in the Fourth Ward area, including Lucille Street
- Currently no sidewalk for people walking from that area into town
- Area is near the Empire State Trail bike path
- People currently must walk in grass or on the street
- Safety concerns heightened by current detour situation due to Joseph Hill Drive closure
- No current plan from city to address the issue
- Council suggested referring to DPW committee and exploring grant funding
- Discussed possibility of at least painting a temporary walkway for the summer
The sidewalk request will be referred from the safety committee to the DPW committee to explore options, including potential grant funding for new sidewalk construction rather than sidewalk repair funds.
Harry Howard Avenue Pedestrian Access
Council discussed whether pedestrians can safely cross the damaged section of Harry Howard Avenue near the Joseph Hill Drive washout.
Key points
- Discussion about whether foot traffic can cross Harry Howard Avenue where it's closed to vehicles
- One council member reported walking across it that day
- Street marked as closed with signage, but not fully barricaded
- Concerns raised about liability if the roadway gives way under pedestrian traffic
- Council agreed to check with DPW about official status and whether pedestrian access is safe or permitted
- If area is marked as closed, liability would fall on individuals who cross despite signage
The safety and legality of pedestrian access across the damaged section of Harry Howard Avenue needs clarification from the Department of Public Works.
Pocketbook Factory Nightclub and Noise Concerns
Council member raised concerns about a venue at the Pocketbook Factory planning to operate as a nightclub from 10 or 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., contrary to recent community standards around late-night alcohol service.
Key points
- Venue planning nightclub events from late evening until 3 a.m., with recurring schedule planned
- Multiple complaints received from residents in Fourth and Fifth Wards
- Council member noted Hudson's difficult history with nightlife over recent decades
- About 8-9 years ago, previous Police Chief Moore negotiated with establishments to close earlier
- Currently no place in Hudson with a liquor license stays open past midnight on weekdays or 1 a.m. on weekends
- Quality of life has improved since earlier closing times, with fewer gun incidents and drug-related incidents around alcohol
- New nightclub hours seen as contrary to this progress
- Safety committee will look at language to potentially limit when venues can serve alcohol and have live entertainment
- New York State law permits alcohol sales until 4 a.m.
- Earlier closing time agreement was not in city code, just an agreement among establishments
- Council member researched other municipalities, found many have bars closing at midnight
- President Morris distinguished between two separate issues: serving hours and live entertainment in residential areas
- Concerns include compliance with what was approved by planning board
- Additional complaints beyond noise ordinance, including parking, hiring practices, roof units, and soundproofing commitments
The safety committee will review language for potential regulations limiting venue hours and live entertainment, and will first examine what the planning board actually approved for the Pocketbook Factory venue.
President Morris recalled that when Helsinki Hudson held music events, they never went past 11 p.m., even though it was also a music venue.
Residents have raised concerns beyond the noise ordinance about this project, including parking, hiring and firing practices, roof units, soundproofing commitments, and sidewalk issues. Council will need to review what was actually approved before determining enforcement steps.
Other Noise Complaints
Council briefly discussed other noise complaints in the city, including outdoor speakers in a different area.
Key points
- Last year there were complaints about outdoor speakers operating every other weekend in another location
- These complaints involved daytime noise, not late evening
- City noise ordinance measures sound levels with decibel limits
- Different noise levels permitted depending on time of day
- Certain activities like maintenance and street cleaning are exempt from noise ordinance
- Street cleaners operating at 3 a.m. are not subject to noise regulations
Adjournment
Council adjourned the meeting after confirming no additional new business.
Key points
- No additional new business from council members or public
- Motion to adjourn made and seconded
- Meeting adjourned
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.