Common Council, Regular Meeting

1. 3:10Uh the regular meeting for March 24th of the council is now session. Please rise for the pledge of under Godisible and justice for all the president Morris Present.
2. 3:44Council member Hadad
3. 3:46present.
4. 3:47Hi.
5. 3:51Here.
6. 3:52Sarah
7. 3:53here.
8. 3:54Foster
9. 3:55here.
10. 3:56Roberts here.
11. 3:57Belton here. Lola
12. 4:00here.
13. 4:02Here. Morante.
14. 4:05Forum present. May I have a motion to dispense the meeting of the minutes for February 24th and 26th and place second?
15. 4:20All in favor?
16. 4:22Any opposed?
17. 4:26Um, may I have a motion and second to place the committee report on file? Uh, motion by second. All in favor? I
18. 4:39uh also may I have a motion and second to receive communication and place them on fire. Motion
19. 4:47uh Roberts and I'm going to change the order of the agenda slightly. Um we are going to I think I have mic. Is that what you have?
20. 5:01Yep. Um, may I have a motion uh to and a second to pay the billware?
21. 5:13All in favor?
22. 5:14No, sorry. You have to roll.
23. 5:19President Morice,
24. 5:20yes.
25. 5:21Council member Hadad.
26. 5:22Hi.
27. 5:24Fernhagen.
28. 5:27Hi.
29. 5:28Sarah.
30. 5:30Hi. Foster.
31. 5:32Hi
32. 5:33Roberts.
33. 5:34Hi.
34. 5:35Belin.
35. 5:35Hi.
36. 5:37Hi.
37. 5:38President.
38. 5:39Hi.
39. 5:40Moranti.
40. 5:41Very.
41. 5:42Thanks. Uh, next item I just want to mention. We had on our agenda for this evening. Uh, local law revising section 325283 of the city code. Uh, this we had it in our um informal last week. Uh this relates to requiring a local contact uh for all short members because this particular uh local law resides under the zoning section of the code, it requires a common council public hearing. Um so we have scheduled a public hearing to occur immediately before the next informal meeting and then we will be able to vote on it in
42. 6:23formal meeting in April. So I'm holding that off until the April meeting and we we'll do a public hearing before the inform. We don't have to do a separate thing.
43. 6:34The public hearing date instead or No, not yet.
44. 6:37Uh after
45. 6:39I think you have
46. 6:40March this afternoon and I said
47. 6:43yeah March
48. 6:45and it's going to be right before it's going to be at 5:30. Um, okay. Now we're going to go through our resolutions. Uh, may I have a motion and second for the appointing of commissioners? Second.
49. 7:08Call vote. President Morris.
50. 7:11Yes.
51. 7:12Council member.
52. 7:14Hi.
53. 7:15Ernhagen.
54. 7:16Brownie.
55. 7:17Hi.
56. 7:18Sar.
57. 7:19Hi.
58. 7:19Foster.
59. 7:20Hi. Roberts.
60. 7:22Hi
61. 7:23Belton.
62. 7:24Hi
63. 7:24Bolo.
64. 7:25Hi
65. 7:26Ken.
66. 7:27Hi
67. 7:27Moranti.
68. 7:30Uh now may I have a motion and second uh for the resolution relating to uh border fund transfer for hospitalization. Sar and Fer call.
69. 7:45President Morris.
70. 7:46Yes.
71. 7:46Council member Had.
72. 7:48Hi. Bernhagen Brown.
73. 7:51Hi
74. 7:52Star.
75. 7:53Hi
76. 7:53Foster.
77. 7:54Hi
78. 7:55Robert.
79. 7:56Hi
80. 7:57Belton.
81. 7:57Hi
82. 7:58VA.
83. 7:59Hi
84. 8:00Cousin.
85. 8:01Hi
86. 8:02Moransancy.
87. 8:03Carrie.
88. 8:04Okay. Uh the next uh is a resolution relating to incumbrances to the 2026 budget that we reviewed last week. May I have a motion and second vote only for cousin and habad roll?
89. 8:22President Morris.
90. 8:23Yes.
91. 8:24Council member.
92. 8:25Hi.
93. 8:26Hagen. Ronnie.
94. 8:29Hi.
95. 8:30Sar.
96. 8:30Hi
97. 8:31Foster.
98. 8:32Hi
99. 8:33Roberts.
100. 8:34Hi
101. 8:35Bel.
102. 8:35Hi
103. 8:37hi
104. 8:38cousin. Hi,
105. 8:40Moranti.
106. 8:43Uh, our next resolution again last week uh we was a uh year-end budget transfers these are chargebacks uh motion and second for the 2025 year end budget transfers there. Um a roll call vote.
107. 9:01President Morris.
108. 9:02Yes. Council
109. 9:03member Hadi Hagen Ro. Hi. Bar.
110. 9:09Hi
111. 9:10Foster.
112. 9:11Hi
113. 9:12Roberts.
114. 9:12Hi
115. 9:13Den. Hi
116. 9:15Vha.
117. 9:16Hi
118. 9:17Cousin.
119. 9:17Hi
120. 9:18Moranti. Car. Okay. Um our next resolution relates to actually a budget of amendment relating to replacement of the cloud access system for the fire department. The current as we reviewed last week their current system doesn't work with an upgrade in their technology. So this is a necessary budget amendment to address that problem. Uh may I have a motion and a second to vote on that budget amendment? As a motion and second roll.
121. 9:49President Morris.
122. 9:50Uh yes.
123. 9:51Council member Had.
124. 9:52Hi.
125. 9:53Fernhagen.
126. 9:56Hi.
127. 9:57Soster.
128. 10:00Roberts.
129. 10:01Hi.
130. 10:03Sorry D. Hi.
131. 10:05Vote twice.
132. 10:06Volo
133. 10:08present.
134. 10:09Hi.
135. 10:10Moranti.
136. 10:12Okay. Um and now and why we have so many people here this evening. Uh we are very happy with a resolution that recognizes the achievements of the 2026 blue box. Um motion from fair second from Claire. Do you want to talk to us about this and perhaps read the resolution and the proclamation?
137. 10:37First of all, congratulations. We're very proud of all
138. 10:51resolution recognizing the achievements of the 2026 Hudson Blue Hawks varsity boys basketball team. Whereas the 2026 Hudson Blue Hawks varsity boys basketball team has brought tremendous pride to the city of Hudson through its outstanding 2026 season and victory of the Patrun Conference Championships. And whereas youth athletics in Hudson represent more than competition. There are a vital community pipeline that begins in youth leagues, recreation programs, and neighborhood gyms and continues through our schools to shape confident students, leaders, and citizens. And whereas the members of the Hudson Bluehawk varsity team exemplify this tradition of leadership both on and
139. 11:29off the court, volunteering their time as referees for local youth leagues, excelling as student scholars, contributing as dedicated members of the school band, and serving as upstanding young citizens who embody the qualities of exemplary role models for Hudson's next generation. And whereas the 2026 team has further cemented its place in Hudson basketball history by capturing the section 2 championship, marking Hudson's second section 2 boys basketball title in the past 10 years and the program's first at the class A level following the program's championship in the 2015 2016 season
140. 12:05while competing in class D. And whereas prior to the 2015 2016 title run, Hudson had not captured a section 2 championship since the 1973 1974 season, making the program's recent success a testament to sustained commitment and excellence. And whereas head coach Shawn Brisco, now in his 15th season, has led the Blue Hawks with distinction, earning five Patrum Conference Championships, Guiding Cuts into its first section 2 title in 42 years during the 2015 2016 season. in that same year leading the team to the New York State Class B Final Four with a remarkable 26 to1 record
141. 12:43while amassing 220 career wins as a coach and mentor to Hudson's young athletes, the 2025 2026 team has advanced to the New York State Class A Final Four Contest. And whereas the strength of the program is also reflected in it in its exceptional coaching staff, including assistant coach Tyrone Hedgepath, who as a student athlete was possibly the first eighth grader to ever play varsity basketball for Hudson during the 1978 1979 season, and who has since dedicated decades to mentoring youth through countless hours at the Hudson Youth Center while founding Got Game Sports and the Hudson Hawks AAOU program, helping cultivate
142. 13:22the very pipeline of talent that sustains Hudson. 's athletics. And whereas assistant coach and junior varsity coach, Isaiah Herd, remains one of Hudson's most accomplished athletes, having once held the title of Hudson's all-time leading scorer, earning two patrun uh conference MVP honors and being recognized among the top 25 athletes in Columbia County history by the register star and who now dedicates his time to mentoring and developing the next generation of Bluehawks. And whereas this year's success has been further highlighted by the remarkable accomplishments of Keith Robinson, whose
143. 13:56individual accolades and record-breaking achievements, including breaking the record of coach Isaiah Herd as Hudson's all-time leading scorer as a sophomore, were made possible through the unwavering support, teamwork, and commitment of all of his fellow players. And now therefore, be it resolved that we as the Hudson Common Council do hereby commend and congratulate the Hudson Bluehawks varsity boys basketball team, their coaches, families, and supporters for an extraordinary season, and for representing the city of Hudson with excellence, character, and pride. And be it further resolved that the city of Hudson proudly celebrates these student athletes. Not only for the championships that they've earned, but the example they set every day in our schools, in our neighborhoods, and in service to younger athletes who look for them look to them for inspiration. Their dedication, sportsmanship, and commitment to community embody the very best of Hudson. And their success stands as a reminder that when a city invests in its youth, the entire community rises with them. In witness whereof, this
144. 14:55proclamation is offered with deep pride and gratitude, recognizing the 2026 Hudson Bluehawks varsity boys basketball championship team for a remarkable season and for inspiring future generations of Hudson athletes to dream bigger, work harder, and carry forward the proud tradition of Bluehawk basketball. this over the mayor and I'm senator We do have
145. 15:50president on the approved line.
146. 15:54Yeah,
147. 15:54absolutely. We have a couple chairs if you want to line them up.
148. 15:57So, why don't you
149. 15:58Yeah. Do you can you guys come up here so we can take a group picture? presentation all the way over. Oh boy. Organ's got Thank you. Thank you guys.
150. 17:46Hey, can I say something real quick? I just want to thank you guys for really appreciate us what we do. Um, and I hope we can keep doing this every year, but I know it's going to be tough, but I just want to say to the mayor. Um, where's at the coffee shop? I'm getting some coffee and everything. Listen up, guys. Listen up. And as we was getting coffee, was talking about the game. We were saying things and I was like, "Okay, let me see what he really know about the game." So, as we was talking, he was saying this. I was saying that and he said something to me that made me say, "He know the game."
151. 18:32He said, he said, "You guys are great getting no 50/50, boys." So, I said, "Who speaks like that? You don't win the game." So, he knew about loose balls on the floor and everything like that and you have to win that part of the game. So when he said that, I said, "My man know the game."
152. 18:58Thank you guys. Appreciate it.
153. 19:00Thank you.
154. 19:07This is interesting.
155. 19:10They only have a little bit. You're most
156. 19:42No, that was Yeah.
157. 19:51They lost against
158. 19:56that was very nice. Thank you.
159. 19:59So, old business of any um do we have any um new business?
160. 20:06Oh, I have a little new business.
161. 20:08Yes. Go ahead.
162. 20:10Okay. Since the police committee, sorry, police committee, since the safety committee meeting, uh, then we immediately had the wash out at Joseph Hill. Um, we immediately had the diversion for the Underh Hill Road. Um, sorry, Harry Howard. And we have a few complaints and some detours are in effect. Um, and signage is still coming, but uh, we I had a few emails. I know Joe's office did. I know the uh, chief did. So, I think this morning um, the chief and Joe have a couple of cars out during the
163. 20:51school rush just to try to calm some of the traffic down. I know it's a little fast. Um, so if anybody has any other suggestions, obviously come and bring send them to Joe, send them to the safety committee and we'll try to tweak the route because I I'm assuming there's no timeline right now. We're still being still
164. 21:09being I was told it would be approximately a month at least.
165. 21:13Okay. So, a month at least and who knows what's going to happen as it evolves. Please,
166. 21:18I was going to say Dominic made a public statement on um Facebook that he got a lot of backlash on. So that's one of the reasons why at the previous meeting I said like if we as a council or in partnership with the mayor can come up like official language that we're all copying and pasting at different sites. I think that'll alleviate some of the backlash that Dominic received. I mean it was his constituents our constituents that made the complaint. So I think that that's why he felt the urge to respond and say something about it. Um, but if
167. 21:47there is official detours,
168. 21:49maybe the Hudson Hub can post what the detour routes are and then we can follow copy that language other places.
169. 21:55Yeah.
170. 21:56And so there has there have also been some requests that from folks who live on New Seal.
171. 22:01Oh yeah. Yeah.
172. 22:02Do you want to talk about
173. 22:04um my next new thing is about uh different safety issue on that in a second. Let's continue on. People at the fourth point have asked for a sidewalk along the side there
174. 22:18for the bike bus, right?
175. 22:20For the bike bus.
176. 22:21Yeah, for the front of the bike path side. Uh so people from like Lucille and everyone else walk down into town and have a sidewalk. Um I've asked Gary and there's no plan to see as of now. So I don't know what's possible.
177. 22:35Yeah, I think that's something that maybe go to DPW. Yeah, we can send it from safety to DPW and see if maybe we can do some at least paint for
178. 22:45I do I've looked at that spot a lot especially when
179. 22:49I think money
180. 22:51could be done with money
181. 22:52too uh
182. 22:54money and time
183. 22:55well that's that's my roster but um can we search for other funding for source because it's it's not repairing a sidewalk that
184. 23:06there is no sidewalk there is no sidewalk Perhaps we can find a grant to build the sidewalk instead of repair sidewalk because
185. 23:14cities seem to be focused on repairing sidewalk.
186. 23:17I think that's the Empire State Trail bike, I believe.
187. 23:20Yeah, that's where the bike bike.
188. 23:23Yeah.
189. 23:24Well, he's saying is that the Empire State Trail because that would change what you can do there, right?
190. 23:28Yeah. No,
191. 23:29the little street that's the most
192. 23:34No, that's not the Empire Trail. No, I'm saying that that it's not the trail. Correct. Lucille is
193. 23:40it's a short.
194. 23:43It's in the fourth.
195. 23:44It's above the street,
196. 23:46but the sidewalk between there and town.
197. 23:49Yes.
198. 23:51At the moment, it's very sight. There's no sidewalk for people to walk.
199. 23:56Even to get to the Empire Trail from Carol Street, you you have to walk
200. 24:03in the grass along. Well, I think the issue that came up right now is because of this particular situation, it's very dangerous and and people are asking for some relief so that they can at least walk into
201. 24:16Yes.
202. 24:16Yes.
203. 24:18So hopefully a temporary
204. 24:23Yeah. This is an issue where and I was looking at the maps and I think the only way that they can get out of Blue Seal because it's closed from Washington from Pock to Washington. So their only way out is to turn left on Harry and go back and barbecue or so. So they're like completely cut off.
205. 24:42I walked today.
206. 24:44I walked across but they might.
207. 25:00All right, that's easy peasy. small potatoes.
208. 25:05I have one more.
209. 25:06Okay.
210. 25:06For new business. Um, I also got a couple uh questions from some members that of the community that live around the pocketbook factory and they are uh looking to have a nightclub act uh this coming week and it seems to be a reoccurring theme that they're going to try to um have for the rest I don't know for the rest of summer is that it's a nightclub from 1000 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Um and if if nobody remembers his um history in Hudson with night life
211. 25:45has been difficult um in the last several decades up until the last eight nine years. Um when the chief had the previous chief Moore had a conversation with a number of the establishments in town to maybe close a little early. At this moment, no place in town that serves alcohol as with a standing liquor license as a bar is open past midnight during the week or 1:00 a.m. on the weekend. And I feel that the quality of life has changed dramatically since that happened. We don't have nearly as many
212. 26:22of the gun incidents as we used to, especially around alcohol. and we have far less drugreated incidents, especially around alcohol. And this change from what their initial um plan was to the city to have this establishment on North 6th seems to be contrary to that. And uh I we're going to look at maybe passing a uh looking at language at the safety committee to um limit when venues can serve as well as have live entertainment.
213. 26:59I think there are two separate issues there. So, one of them is the serving class 1:00 a.m. on weekends, and there are a couple that do servings on one. And the live entertainment issue, I think, is a separate issue in that it's in this surrounded by homes.
214. 27:16Uh, and uh even if there's no alcohol involved, it's still surrounded by homes. And it is a music venue. I was thinking back to when Helsinki had venues. They did a lot of music events. um they were never on and I we used to go all the time they were never went past 11 o'clock and so I think that this is certainly something that needs a discussion.
215. 27:40Yeah, absolutely. Um just bringing it up to say it's going to happen. It's I'll add it to the agenda. If anybody has received any of these complaints, please bring them.
216. 27:48Um most of the complaints I got were from the fourth and the third board. Sorry, the fourth and the fifth were. So um
217. 27:55nothing is there no law
218. 28:00I don't know York state law permits sale unbounds the sale of alcohol until 4 a.m. uh I think even on weekdays and when I researched Columbia County to see if there were I was trying to see if there were specific and the and the arrangement that Henry's talking about a few years ago wasn't put into code. It was an agreement among the establishments. Um but I couldn't find like it being in code to say not going to be open beyond this time. Uh, I did look at a number of municipalities in the area where they do have things
219. 28:39shutting down at midnight and I'd have to go back and get a list of municipalities, but there are a number where I can't find any bars open after but because I I looked up I looked in Duchess County. Um, I I did I think I I might have done Saratoga Springs as well, but I looked at a number of different places to see what what kind of hours there were and and it just didn't seem to be too many that were open those hours.
220. 29:06I I guess my question is just clarification. So like once a planning board approves a plan, then if like if they're trying to have later events and what was in their plan, then it's us.
221. 29:17Well, we I don't see we don't know. remember that the it was in compliance with the noise ordinance because there were neighbors that petitioned
222. 29:26both about the noise and the construction and they they said that they would
223. 29:30right but I think I think step number one has got to be
224. 29:34I know I'm just asking process why that is the plan that they were approved for that the enforcement come through common council
225. 29:41well we well no we don't enforce we don't enforce but I think the first thing to do is figure out what was Yeah, we should probably go through it, discuss it.
226. 29:51We need to go through and see what's
227. 29:52And I asked that because there are a couple of other complaints outside of the noise ordinance
228. 29:57about just like how they presented their project and how it's actually
229. 30:01been implemented both parking, hiring and firing um
230. 30:05roof units not putting up the sound that they were.
231. 30:09There was a lot there's a lot of complaints around that specific project that sidewalks. I I think as a council would at least let us go back and see what was actually approved because that's where we need to start from and then if we we are responsible to our constituents and to listening to their complaints and responding to their complaints and so I think once we figure out what that was actually approved then we can go back to the entities that are responsible for enforcing what was approved and put a
232. 30:42fact on them and say look we have these complaints from residents in this area and um this does not appear to be in compliance. The noise ordinance we do have ordinances around noise.
233. 30:52I've already tried Margaret but it was when Craig was here and he told me to stop it basically.
234. 31:00Well, let's not talk individual personalities here. Let's just talk about what what's our next steps here to move forward to because we we are responsible to listen to our constituents and to respond to that concern and then see how we can move this forward to the entities that are empowered to do enforcement which is not us
235. 31:19new slate right as a side note
236. 31:27there were other complaints last year about noise issue but down there was a uh there were speakers who were every every other weekend.
237. 31:37Oh, I remember that. Yeah.
238. 31:38So, um that's not necessarily uh late in the evening, but it's during the
239. 31:44but I don't know the noise. normally between this we figure out these noise is by decelerator
240. 31:54right so if it's happening during the middle of the day
241. 31:58there are different
242. 32:0310:00 I think
243. 32:0610:00 I will
244. 32:10also also there are other uh there are certain things that are excluded from the noise level uh such as uh maintenance
245. 32:19alert from
246. 32:20those things are not ejected
247. 32:24all of those things are excluded from that regulation. So, because that was something that came up as well about the street cleaners at 3:00 in the morning,
248. 32:36but that yes, but that was actually exempt from the noise or all right. So, we have a couple of things that you're going to take a look at and you're going to take a look talk maybe to DPW about the the new seal piece uh and potentially temporarily or the whatever we can do for the summer maybe. Okay. Something until we can get a permanent fix.
249. 33:01Concerned though that if we have people walking along there and it does give way.
250. 33:06What?
251. 33:07Someone might die.
252. 33:09I don't think you can do foot traffic over. Can you do foot traffic? You can't go over uh Harry Howard right now.
253. 33:15I did it today.
254. 33:16I did it today.
255. 33:17Is it blocked off with like tape saying we can't go here? The streets the streets
256. 33:24block
257. 33:26roads close.
258. 33:29I haven't walked through it. I just went up to it. Just assume.
259. 33:32Look into whether it is.
260. 33:35Yeah. Let's ask down
261. 33:38if
262. 33:40Yeah, cuz like if it says cone,
263. 33:43we'll move the thin.
264. 33:44It says road closed. We don't have liability because it says road closed. But if you provide
265. 33:48access in.
266. 33:51Yeah.
267. 33:52It's okay to
268. 33:56check instructions. So, we could go Lucille, but don't turn right.
269. 34:01Any any other comments? Any other new business from the council? Okay. Uh, members of the public.
270. 34:09So, Saturday I walked over Harry Howard. I walked all the way from uh Warren to the Elks and there was a sign that said sign closed.
271. 34:21Okay.
272. 34:21But it wasn't a proper barricade.
273. 34:24It was just very easy to
274. 34:27but you you saw that it was so you did it on your own. Works for me.
275. 34:36It was It didn't look impaired. I can tell.
276. 34:41Yeah. Well, I'm saying what we're saying is at that point if you fell and died, you wouldn't be
277. 34:46Yeah. Wasn't about liable.
278. 34:50Yeah.
279. 34:51Any any hands raised?
280. 34:52No.
281. 34:53Okay. Do we have any other new business?
282. 34:57Okay. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion.
283. 35:01Second.
284. 35:02Second.
285. 35:04Thank you all very much. Have a lovely evening. And if you were about transaction, you knew I saw

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