Public Works Board, Regular Meeting

1. 0:02a lot higher than that. Well, that's something we can discuss. Is there anything I should
2. 2:27Yeah. Can she hear us right now? Can you hear us? Okay. Is everybody in? >> Hey, you 5:30. >> Hello everyone. >> Hello. This is the public's works board meeting for March 23rd and room introducing ourselves for roll call and >> Tiffany Martin George Ker >> and with us our project manager Ryan L Property and Associates. >> Thank you sir. How's everyone doing? Good. >> Good. First, let's welcome Tiffany to this uh group. We've been working together for over a year now almost together. And uh we welcome you, Porto.
3. 3:33>> Thank you so much. >> It's a good group. Um and I enjoy working with this team. >> Thanks for the flexibility on the nights. Thursdays are >> often very problematic. Thank you. >> Okay. I unfortunately do not have the February means minutes in front of me, but does anyone have any issues or questions or comments about those minutes? We really were just sort of threading water last month. Um, and I think we're at a point where we can uh really look at uh 2026 and and approach it a new. But uh Ryan, would you uh give us any update that you might have? >> Sure. So, the last since the last meeting, I think there's been a few correspondences between myself and Tyler based on some a few more residents had questions. Uh, one of the questions was came from a veteran exemption and they own two properties in the city of Hudson and the way that the county system, one
4. 4:36is developed with a home, the other one's vacant. >> So, I guess this is something that I learned. I didn't realize that the county does not include the veteran exemption status on vacant land. So in looking at that a little further, the board may wish to further discuss the how someone who is a veteran who owns more than one property or has property that's being assessed an SID fee but doesn't have a exemption for that parcel based on county real properties. uh formula cuz that's what we use to generate the file um for that we submit as part of the tax uh roles. In doing this conversation with Mark Taylor at the the county um he had asked me if I knew what the city's goal for submission of the next year's file, you know, roles would be for the SID. I know last year we were through a couple of hiccups. I think we're at a point now where we
5. 5:39shouldn't have those this time, but I don't know if there is a date yet. I know Tyler had talked about potentially needing to set a date for credit applications and things like that. So, um I think that's kind of the only thing that we've had to discuss since the last meeting. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So, just touching base on that. Um last year, our deadline was May 1st, I want to say. >> I think it was. Yeah. >> Um I know we missed a meeting or so, so maybe we want to talk about maybe having it at the end of May. Um say June 1st or something like that. That's just a board discussion. Um and then also just touching on Ryan's uh veterans for the if you have multiple properties, that's also going to be for a firefighter exemption as well. Um, that's something that we need to discuss if we're, you know, going to have multiple properties for credit apps for these veterans or firefights. Um, I I can't imagine that it's going to be a lot. Uh, but it's something that we just need to discuss
6. 6:41so we can clean it up and move on. Was one person who reached out who ended up having a second. She bought the property right next to hers. It was vacant. She ended up getting a invoice for $50. She was a veteran, so she was exempt at her house, but the property next door was vacant. So, she got a $50, you know, tax. Um, she was fine with paying the tax this year. I told her that, you know, we've never come across this yet. >> Thank you for reaching out. Um, and that we would discuss it as a board. So, it's just something that we need to vote on and clean up. Um, and that and the deadline Um, just touching else on on what Ryan said, there was about a half a dozen inquiries on the SIG. I'm not sure when the flyer went out, but there must have been something mistake in the link. Tiffany and I got a bunch of emails back and forth. People said we put it in exactly how it's written. Um, it must, you know, one of the letters might have
7. 7:45been mixed up and I know the URL is a hundred, you know, letters long. So, um, so maybe we need to clean that up. Um, that's it. >> Terrific. Um, spend a few minutes on some of the correspondents that came in and the issues that have come up and you've been addressing them head on. >> Yep. Um, a few of them just didn't have the link, right? So, they couldn't figure out. >> Okay. >> They didn't even know what was going on. They What's an SID for you? What is this? Um once we sent them the correct link, they got on, they understood it. I explained, you know, to them that the city was doing this sidewalk improvement plan. I kind of use a basic email that was, you know, just basic to all of them to understand. Um there was also another property who did not fill out the total work that was complete. Mhm. >> So, when we did the credit application last year, they were based on, you know,
8. 8:50they didn't fill out the application all the way. So, they got a $100 credit um or I'm sorry, they didn't receive their $100 credit. So, she reached out cuz Allen um she reached out and what we did was we gave once she finally gave us the correct paperwork, we gave her an additional year on the back end. So, she paid her fee this year. We gave her She still got her ended up being nine out of 10 years because of when we worked with this community. >> Mhm. >> Um Oh, I had another property who who didn't have the application. Once we sent the application to them, they submitted it. That's one of these. Um then we also had see here we also had a new one come in which looks like they have everything except the application. So,
9. 9:52we'll just forward the application over to him and get that window as well on the one that we reject very many last year. >> Um, and I don't remember this. Do you remember the address by now? Was it that half? No, that was another issue. They have to address the two. This was back in February, right? Feb January. January, we had two denials. >> January this year. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Um, one of them was they received a $50 fee. They said that there was no um they there was no sidewalk. We had we sent them a letter explaining to them that even if you don't have a sidewalk, you still have a $50 fee. That was one of the denials. Um I'm not remembering off the top of my head what the other ones
10. 10:54they were too they were too simple. >> Um I want to discuss all of these points on the new business. Is there anything else before we move into the new business? >> Um the only other thing concern that I had I know we're moving the meeting. Um I just didn't know because I jumped on this committee late. Will that be an issue with any of our needing the resolutions with the council? I I didn't >> That's why we moved in the first place. So, I just want to make sure that we're okay. >> Yeah. Um our moving it to was to allow us to approve any bills that came in last minute so we can get it to the common council. >> We're just going to have to stay on top of it. >> Um and so I think that's, you know, okay. Um, >> with that said, let's first address the deadline date. I know last year I was very concerned just about our ability to deliver good, clean data and and Brian was able to do that. So, I'm comfortable
11. 12:01in extending now to June 1 if you are. >> It's fine with me. Um I don't you know I think the first year was really >> you know where we were going to get mo the most applications for credits right you know that's when everybody said oh the tax let me submit um so I I mean we have three >> so if we if we get three more >> you know and we want them to submit so >> yeah I mean June 1 is is fine and like me and Ryan were discussing I think even last year we had a couple that came in late. You know, we were pushing for the deadline. Someone gets something in late, we can, you know, work it out. >> Yeah. One of the things that um I was um happy to see that as it grew, we were very flexible. You know, it was a new law and we really bent over backward. I'd like to think we bent over backwards to accommodate. >> Um so, with that said, is uh let's bring it to a vote. All in favor of extending
12. 13:05our deadline for applications for exemptions and prior work to June 1st. Uh I >> I great. >> Uh so be it. >> Um >> Gary, one other question. Maybe this I don't know if this is a known date, but I think the same thing happened last year. The firefighters uh they have to submit that by a certain date. Do you know that date? Isn't there? >> I don't know the date, but right to get on. >> Yeah. So they would just make sure that I think it's yearly they have to submit that or any I don't how often they have to submit that. >> Um I I knew all this. Um they do have to submit it to their company um or house. Um >> my only point was make it known so that they need to do it. It doesn't miss because of a a silly deadline. But I think the veterans in general are going to come from the county except for if someone owns multiple properties. I don't know how the fire did the fire department come from the county as well or was it a company?
13. 14:06>> Uh no, it comes from the county. >> Yeah. >> And we verge and we we piggybacked onto that. >> Y >> um and with that said, our piggybacking or taking a feed from the county is is a bit off track from the way the law currently is stated. But the fact that the exemptions are going through our our clerks here at city hall really does um comply with the language that says paperwork has to be submitted um because we're then passing it on to the county. So um and I continue to think that you know taking that data that's being collected by the county is the right way of going about it. Right. So, um, so what do you want to do? You want to reach out to the chief and just let him know that there that of our deadline. And >> you know what? First, I'm going to go
14. 15:07back and look at the county language. >> Okay. >> I don't remember a specific date, but I guess there must be. Um, and certainly we have a date, right? So, um, that >> in a minute. I think we need to talk about communications as well in general. And this is all sort of leading to that. So let's talk about communications. Um I was, you know, I thought we did a good job in communicating with the public last year. You know, we used a lot of different uh uh different avenues. Um but when I was at um the mayor's um town hall in the first ward, there was just a lot of feedback that they did not know what was going on and that I found it hard to believe, but one person indicated that they called up city hall and no one knew how to help them, which doesn't doesn't
15. 16:12I I was getting phone calls that you know from from from the clerks giving out my number which was fine particularly around veterans. So I I I find it very surprising that that could have happened. Um but you know no you know that that was feedback from one person. Others were very others were confused about the timeline. Someone was suggesting that this uh assessment uh would only be in place for 10 years. That is not the case at all. This is there is no uh uh uh uh uh cease date associated with the only thing I can think of is 10 years being associated with getting credits, right? Um so, you know, I'd like a little discussion on and Tiffany, I'd like your input too because you're coming in and you're getting a lot of the communications and you were at a meeting. Um, what can we be doing better in communication? >> Just thinking about what we did last
16. 17:15year. We had the two flyers, social media post, right? That Hudson Hub app. >> I'm just trying to remember, was there anything else? >> No, that's pretty much uh we had two mailings that we piggybacked onto the water and sewer. Yeah, >> we used social media and yes, we used the hub and we posted on and we kept directing people to our web page which had I think a pretty complete picture of what was involved with this initiative. >> Yeah, >> George, what do you think? I >> I thought we did a pretty good job. I mean it to get to getting your tax your water and sewer bill. It's like look if you're not seeing it then then I don't know and plus you can go into the Hudson home web page and find it there. I'm surprised that people don't go there
17. 18:17first if they do have questions. You know, I could I could understand like if someone has, you know, there's a bunch of properties in Hudson where people don't get their water and sewer. They have somebody who does that for them. >> So maybe they didn't, you know, see and it is a new law, you know, maybe maybe social media really because everybody is on social media. Maybe we could really pound more there. Does the board have a social media presence? >> We do not. >> Okay. >> I have very strong feelings about using social media for official communications. I think that it's a while it's a great way of getting information out there. Um the message is often deluded um by other conversations that have nothing to do with the subject that they posted. Sure. >> Um, and people become used to that being an official means of communication. So,
18. 19:21I think that Hudson Club is the, you know, Hudson Hub, the city website are great go-tos. I like the fact that we have mailers. Um, you know, we could have we could do a push ahead of time, a few weeks ahead of time to press and have them pick it up. Um, I I don't know how anyone else feels about having this posted on social media. I just am not >> Yeah, I'm not a social media person, but I just know a lot of people are. And I know that last year Justin as the ADA coordinator was that's the way he did it. So, >> well, I'm not even sure if he did it. Um, I know I didn't. >> Oh, okay. Um, as a chairperson, I use my personal Facebook account to post this information, identifying myself as the public works commission, and it's supplemental. It's it's, you know, it's not complete. And so, yeah, you know, I'm not real thrilled with that, but um, so maybe we choke it up to the first
19. 20:26year and just keep plugging away. When you said do a push, what did you mean by that? >> So, just do not even a press release, but just a brief announcement that goes out to media that they can then play on WAMC, you know, so there are >> it's repeated on the radio, it's repeated in print, it's repeated online newspaper. >> Yeah. Would be would be a good way of getting it out there. >> Okay. or if we were to do something on social media, I would recommend it being a um not your page, but a public works board page that is not where any questions are directed to the board rather than sent through, you know, our website. >> Yeah. >> Otherwise, otherwise you're spending all day online managing a social media presence, right? And it you know and and frankly it's you know very often just circling the drain. It's not anything productive. >> Yeah. I agree. >> Okay.
20. 21:30So press release and you know and and just being the first year is new to everyone. Tell me about >> you know so it's >> Yeah. I can understand the frustration >> and and and to that end um I've requested that the council's attorney review the law and come join us to to explain it all because even through last year there was some debates as to issues such as property owners liability. Um, so, uh, I don't have a date for that, but, um, and and if nothing else, sooner than later, I will sit down and I'll review, we'll go through the law together just so that we have a good understanding of it and it does need to be tweaked and this is the year to do that. >> Uh, okay, just to back up a little bit, um, so we should be thinking about this course now, >> right? Because our deadline is June 1st.
21. 22:32>> Yeah. Um, you know, miday is when we really want to >> we're not going to meet before then. >> Yeah. >> So maybe just some correspondence through email or something and throw something together. >> Did we ever take Sorry to interrupt you. Did we ever take advantage of or did we ever let me rephrase did we ever get out in front of the city at large or the people of city of Hudson and talk about here's we fulfilled our mission to alleviate the federal the DOJ uh injunction. Is that correct? >> Right. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's a fair we know what we're talking about. Yeah. Yeah. >> I mean, I guess in terms of that might be a a way to get out the word to everybody like once again, we just wanted to tout that we're addressing these, you know, not that that we were worried about DOJ coming back on top of
22. 23:36us. It sounds like that's very unlikely, but that that was kind of the initiation of why we when it came into existence, >> right? Our goals >> and our go and let people understand like, oh yeah, right. And that's why they're doing these things and >> just to publicize it again, you know, it would not hurt. I know that I leaned on that early on um because that was justification. Um, you know, everyone this SID had this, you know, black mark around it and, you know, when I started talking about it, it was getting the city into ADA compliance. No one's going to have a problem with ADA. >> That should be a happy thought. You know, make it safe for your grandma. with me. Um, you know, maybe in our next flyer, we put some of the issues that DOJ came up with against the city and then what we did to relieve it. Almost like a Q&A type thing.
23. 24:42>> Um, sure. Um, and I think there I know that there's some communications that I going back that in fact, okay, this is what we've accomplished because we've accomplished a lot. You know, we set up the exemption process, you know, and and you know, we worked through the credit application and and >> I would call it awarding, but you know, granting credits. Um there were a lot of accomplishments and I tried to promote that but um you know doing it again and again doesn't hurt particularly given the fact that it's the second year going around at the second time around. >> We also have another round of town hall meetings that will be kicking off and uh the mayor can potentially um announce those meetings as well. And I and I think Tiffany brought up your point that uh you know true confessions here. I was at my town hall meeting and
24. 25:46someone had an SIV question and I just kind of said gee I don't I don't want to give the wrong information but I think we should as members of this panel at least I'm going to make sure that for the next version if there is a question I'll stand right up and say okay you know this is what we're about just to >> yeah I mean >> to speak to >> listen I have the same I had the same feelings at the town hall. I But you know what? That was the mayor's, you know. He wasn't he wasn't going down, you know, a dead end, you know, and so I did not want to step on toes >> and um and I actually did not want to deal with them public because they were really all over the place. >> But I think we should be ready for that. and you know I look at myself in the mirror and say get yourself prepped and ready to say whatever you know answer the questions >> can I go back a few steps and ask about
25. 26:49the exemptions for uh veterans so if a veteran right now we we've we've encountered a veteran who owns a vacant property next door and has purchased that and applied for the credit what if a veteran owns a different property that is a rental property are they eligible for the >> well that's the next issue that I think is open. Um so let's discuss that. Um so I mean I'm open. Here's my initial uh knee-jerk reaction. So and I like to go to extremes. So if a veteran has a home and they also have a property for rent, um no, I don't think they deserve it. I deserve is a wrong word. I won't even go there. I think the the spirit of the law was that we want to acknowledge the service of the veteran and and and so therefore we are um are basically
26. 27:55>> exempting their property >> exempting their property >> that they're living on. >> Yeah. Right. um a a second property whether there's a home on it or it's empty is certainly I don't I don't I don't see the rationale that says yes >> thoughts >> if it's a contiguous vacant right if it's if if it's an adjacent vacant property that I see as if they're just adding on to their property if they build on that and it becomes a rental >> um property or an income property, then I could see where they wouldn't get the credit. And certainly, I think if it's an income property that is not connected in any way to their property that it would not be exempt, >> but you're suggesting that if it's if it's uh if it's adjacent and it's and they've added to it, um the exemption should apply. >> I just kind of look at that as an extension of their existing property. I
27. 28:58don't know how everyone else feels about that. >> You know, I agree with that and I think that that's what the homeowner was looking for. You know, that it seems to me like when we looked up that piece of property, take that one for example, that lot came available and she bought it, right? It it technically should be one lot now, >> right? But it is but it isn't yet. >> They can go through the process of merging. >> They can go through the process of merging it, >> but until they do that, it is its own parcel, its own tax IP. And that's why it gets a that's why there's a fee associated with every parcel has a fee. The exemptions and credits will ride the fee to some amount whether it's full partial. Um >> right. >> So and we also have to take into consideration if it is a rental property it's a higher rate begin correct me right. >> Well it depends on the property class. So the way the loan is written it's based on property class. Right. >> So, if it was a single family residence that is I don't know the exact property codes off the top of my head, but just a single family home that's rented to
28. 30:00person not so much short-term but just regular rental. It probably wouldn't show up at a different I don't think the county classifree three family rental >> correct then there's a it's three family or more I believe then yes there's a there's a different rate that's applied. Yes. So I am leaning towards agreeing you know the the veterans or firefighter we we do say those names should get exemption for their home that they're living. >> Yes. >> Right. And anything else or or adjacent property. Right. And then anything else that's commercialized not being exempt. Right. I over the question I have that just a toss up. Let's take the devil's advocate here. You know, one I it sounds a little ownorous to a veteran like you know here next mocks on you know Jason additional
29. 31:03properties. Uh and then you have to ask yourself how many of those condition how many of those are there? five. >> I mean, it's probably like insignificant to the point where >> the the political mud on the shoes that we're going to cause by saying yes >> to that it's like is it really worth you know do we want to like I mean I you know just throwing that out there for your >> So you're making the argument we should we should just exempt it. >> Yes. >> There's so few of them. I've seen a few of them and it's it doesn't have the optics don't look real nice to be like, you know, I mean, maybe I'm impressed by the what's going on overseas, but you know, it's like the amount of bad objects coupled with how much are we really talking about here? >> Not much probably.
30. 32:06And then I think of it on the flip side in terms of equity, right? When we're when we're looking at treating people um in an equitable manner, um firefighters and veterans are already getting the exemption for their primary residence and they're then taking the extra step to have an income property. Um I I feel very conflicted about being that being exempted because the our you know our taxes are what they are. >> So the key was income producing >> income income. >> I think what I'm right in agreement no to income additional income producing properties. The question is, and I'm not convinced personally, but since it's the group, uh, and I'm a veteran, I thought I pro, you know, first of all, it might be a technical problem. I have to go back and take a look. I I don't know if a property owner can go in twice in the county system.
31. 33:11>> Don't believe so based on my conversation. So, I asked Mark Taylor like, "What is the process?" And he said that would have to be done at the city level because I don't think they can do m don't quote me if it was multiple or a nondeveloped lot. So a vacant lot I don't think can carry a veteran exemption because it's undeveloped. Uh that code doesn't allow for it. So that might be the the hiccup you were talking about. >> Well, let's deal with the issue. put aside the technical vote that may come back and we'll have to, you know, accept it. But, um, do we want to take a vote as to non-income producing adjacent lots to the primary property? Who's in favor of allowing exemption for that? Okay. What income based? We're not voting on that or >> Well, let's vote on it. If it's income
32. 34:14producing, do we do we want to allow an exemption on that as well? All those in favor say I. >> Is this an adjacent property? >> This one in particular is from what I heard. >> But they're not an income. >> But it's not an income. It's just undeveloped. Yeah, they have a home and there's a lot next to them that is undeveloped. It may have been developed years ago, but it's hard to tell. There's a >> I thought we just voted on that one saying we said no, we don't want We said he will allow the exemption correct from property, non-income producing. Right >> now, we're voting on whether it's if it's a income producing property. >> Correct. regardless of location, regardless of whether it's or I can kind of feel your tax payment about taxes or taxes and maybe the, you know, adjacent not producing income. Okay, we can let that
33. 35:19one go. But if they're getting an income, you know, pay taxes, >> right? Vote. All in favor of extending exemption to a income producing property. All in favor say yay. Okay. So that is no. Um I think that's fair. >> Um I don't know if we'll even see that. >> I'm sorry. I don't even know if that'll come back to cover the extreme, right? >> So, I guess for the question of the property that has a vacant parcel next to their residence, what's the process that we should that Tyler should advise them? Like, we know that property, but is there a a process we should advise so that if there's another individual that is in the same situation, Tyler has an understanding of what to direct them to
34. 36:20do. Is it just submit something to the city? I'm not exactly sure what that mean. >> I would say that they have to submit a credit application for the because it's a park >> an extension, >> right? Yeah. And it doesn't show on real property as the veteran status because you can only have one parcel. So, if that comes back to us like it did this year, um I'm just going to I mean, if everybody's in agreement, I think I I will, you know, tell them that they need to fill out a credit application for the additional partial exemption applic, you know, we we need to be careful with their words. We need to be, you know, >> would that be something? So, with that, would that be something we need to resubmit yearly? just given the thought at some point they could sell the property, it could change hands. So the way like the credit that goes for 10 years or that 10-year window, it doesn't matter who owns the property. I think we kind of went through this.
35. 37:22>> That's correct. >> So for this veteran piece, would they need to submit an application every year to continue to show that they still own the property? I guess that was the the piece the wrinkle that could come up in the future. >> So there's two wrinkles. And you're right, when we discussed this, we knew that the firefighters, they need to submit it annually to their company to get approval. >> Yeah. >> Uh veterans, I've always felt veteran is a veteran, but now we're talking and it's I mean, if they if they sell place, well act they sell place, then let's think about this. So the law indicates that exemptions, not exemptions, credits are applied to the property, not to the homeowner. So in other words, if uh you have 10 years credit
36. 38:26um and you sell the house after five, the new property owner can continue for another five years get claiming that uh uh uh credit, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um with the veterans, we always felt that well, they're a veteran, it's not going to change. But so here they have a property and then they sell it. That exemption should not continue. >> Correct. But now I'm wondering how how does the system pick that up? >> So the and the challenge here is using this exact example. The residence that they currently own has an exemption. Yeah. >> The vacant property doesn't. If they were at some point to if we were to if the board was to consider giving them credit for the vacant lot and they sold the vacant lot in the future but not the residence that they currently have, we are going to have to manually override the formula to say that no, they're not
37. 39:30listed as a county veteran on the vacant property, but the city is granted credit just like or exemption just like the credit applications. We have to manually provide the value of credit that they're given. So we have to manually do it. So the question is how often would they have to to verify that they own the property? I guess >> well put I'm put aside the the additional property. >> Sure. >> Because the court issue still >> well if they were to sell their they were to sell the residence every year we get a new tax rule from Columbia County Properties. Right. >> So as soon as that property is sold if it's no longer owned by a veteran it would lose the veteran status through the county tax rules. So does that mean when the rules finalize that we're going to go through on July 1st and make sure that there have been no adjustments >> to July 1st between when we close out applications in June and when the role is finalized in July. So that's one of the things that we did last year at the last you know days of time was we asked the
38. 40:33county generally what we did to when we created the file was we we had an initial file from the county of all the parcels in the city finger and then when we got to like the June period and they had like the tenative role kind of started they sent us a new file we cross reference that with anything that changed we added any parcel that had been added and then at the final role point we verified any parcels that have changed at the last someone did a subdivision or changed the lot ownership. So, we try to catch it at the very end. As long as there aren't major changes, the file itself can pick all that up. The credit applications and any manual overdids you have to do would just be something we have to keep track of internally. Um so so by by taking the county's feed for exemptions takes care of any any changes from one year to the next. >> It to my knowledge it should >> except the exemption we just g the credit we
39. 41:36just gave we just voted on. It's not going to show that they they're going to have to submit to us every year. So, I'm ever going to catch her if they have a second unac cuz it's going to show on his spreadsheet that it's a bill. It's a taxable parcel. Yeah. So, which kind of says we should take veterans and firefighters exemptions from the county and that's it. And so they don't acknowledge that adjacent property as being uh uh that has exemption status unless we start want to start getting manual about it. >> Well, it's going to get confusing especially to anybody who sits in these seats after us. You know, I might remember that for now,
40. 42:40but who's to say that I'm going to be here for? Well, we would have to that would be something that we should write into law into the law, right? Um, okay. >> Roy had a question. He had his hand up. >> So, I remember one of the supervisors talking about the veterinarians and I think you need to like learn what he's learned. There's some change. And I got the impression, don't hold me to this cuz I'm not even sure about this. So the veterans were, I believe, having to resubmit their exemption every year. That may have changed to two years, but I seem to remember hearing something like that. Why not would know more about it cuz you know, so that's not my understanding at all. Mhm. >> Well, they're not going to be near I there's been a change recently from 1 year to 2 years or two. >> I don't know.
41. 43:42>> I'm just saying is I think you probably need to get more specifics and details and right now I think we don't have you don't really have a complete picture. >> Well, there's a couple of questions and I'll agree with you on that. Although I don't know, you know, I don't want to start chasing rumors. uh to be honest find out. >> Um yeah, one we want to check into the technical aspect of whether or not we can do that on the county system. Um I'm going to take that on and and see what are the technical issues around the veteran exemption. >> I'll forward you the the correspondence I have with Mark Taylor then. Yeah, he kind of explained the process. You need to be a city process. So maybe the line between that will be helpful to understand. It's appreciated. Yeah. Good. Okay. Um
42. 44:46now with all that said, we need to get back on track in terms of the work we want to accomplish this year. Um, so right off the bat, I think we need to clean up anything that we missed last year. I know there's a couple crosswalks. Um, there was there was some issues that came in from what was the the latest issue we just had with um, Houston, >> which I guess >> something about uh, Triper Hazard or something that Voss did. I think Rob Terry looked at that. I don't know exactly. >> Either way, I think we just need to clean up a little bit of the stuff that was hanging out there. >> Um because I know our funds are limited. >> Sure. >> This year, right? >> Um so, you know, it may be a year that we don't get a large amount, you know, this large RFP out. Mhm.
43. 45:50>> Um, you know, and I'm just thinking realistically because we don't want to empty the bank, right? It's our first year with income coming in. We have to, this is our first year of having to pay back the loan. Um, there's some still some a few things hanging out there that we didn't finish. I know the 300 block of Warren Street is that that big crosswalk that connects in front of the uh opera house. That's got to go. >> I'm pretty sure we got to pay for that. We got to put the new one in. I'm pretty sure Rob was gonna discuss doing that through the then from my memory from last year Rob his comment was that they used their paint for this year and then next year they were going to look at you know >> cover one up and create it's just you know I'm just thinking realistic we need to tighten up what we had left on before we >> so how do you suggest we do that and how do we define the scope of that cleanup >> um I I think we just need to go through. >> Well, I know what we did originally,
44. 46:51Gary. I think when we first started, you know, we had a couple of meetings, you know, outside of this, but with a few members just to kind of talk about some suggestions and maybe that's helpful as well as, you know, I know Tyler and I, we've walked a number of the areas, but um the the there are definitely some areas public buildings we could look at is more focused on any public building that still needs an accessible pathway or something like that. That might be a good starting point. Um, >> what's the status of all our of our sidewalk contracts? Have they been closed out? >> Yep. >> So, they've been closed out, punchless, and >> complete. Y >> I think there's just a few things hanging out that were going to be added to the next round, right? So, >> well, there there were some questions about, you know, a few curb ramps that weren't done and reasons why. Um and and I think some of those had to do with uh contractual challenges and cost. We you know the the goal of the original project was to complete as many as possible with the budget the city had
45. 47:54and if there was certain pro or certain curb ramps that potentially needed additional time to de develop plans for or could be extremely expensive, you know, to note those and try to come up with a, you know, way to complete those at a later date. By no means did we complete every curb ramp in the city. Um it was trying to create a accessible route between public buildings. I know there's a big project that the DPW is planning for the sewer separation on Colombia. So that's why we didn't get work on Columbia Street specifically. Um there were still a few other curb grants that you know based on what we had estimated project costs you know or the bid that we had received came in you know we there wasn't much more that would have been able to fit in that budget and left a balance. So I don't know what the exact balance is. I know that changes as the the assessment fees are paid. So it might be uh how much money is available and how much does the board feel is a safe amount of money to spend without being too low for again the next year and and moving forward. So um there are definitely some areas we
46. 48:58could look at as a group or individually and you know continue some of those. >> So on a budget it's not like we have to wait for the uh assessment to come in >> right >> we can draw from the general fund and pay that. So, we have, you know, a good chunk about 300,000 >> um 250 from the assessment of this year. >> Mhm. >> We're paying 50 back to the loan. Um and um and we still had about a 100,000 uh left over from the initial 500. So, a rough total three. >> Perfect. So, why don't we have Ryan come up with um a plan of what we had left out there from the initial um DOJ. So, one of the pieces I think Gary and I talked about this earlier is uh not today but in previous conversations, one of the lines of the you know the DOJ is focused on municipal
47. 50:00buildings um but also it says crosswalks and sidewalks in general. So, if there's an area in the city that desperately needs sidewalk repair, you know, that could be something that the board also prioritizes. I know that the area on uh Columbia, the six in Columbia was stopped. That was by the property. That was a, you know, an area that >> that was 40 grand. >> Well, I believe 40 grand. >> Yep. So again, I think there if there's areas that the city or the board is aware of that are on a high list of priorities and maybe something else especially in that route to public buildings might be something else to look at as well. Um but you know out of the three I think we need to as a committee say you know what is the percentage that we want to spend this year before we give him the go ahead on labeling you know really what we attack next. We obviously don't want to empty the bank when we want to apply for grants or what if we want to what if we have an emergency
48. 51:02or you know you know I'm not saying that we can't spend 75% of it but what's what is that percentage >> okay you know um you know and then roughly we'll have obviously another 300 next year so we we could always take what we have left from this year and next year and do a bigger project. Um, you know, it's just a thought. >> No, no, I'm I'm playing devil's advocate a little bit, but you know, I think actually I think let's start with putting a list together of And you're right. I think the the best guidelines for us to follow would be the guidance we received from the DOJ initially, >> right? And so, you know, you you you named it, you know, you know, avenues to the uh to the municipal buildings and crosswalks. If we can go beyond that, I would say
49. 52:06also I think then the priority would be where is the heaviest traffic and I I there's still work to be done coming going between Amtrak and Warren Street. Um and and I you know I can see that being something we should be focusing on as well. You know, another thought could be is is we did a lot of curb ramps is looking at sections of sidewalks between curb ramps that were repaired, replaced, repaired, and seeing if there's sections of sidewalks that fit between where where the board's already authorized previously to again continue that accessible route path. You then you could say we've knocked off Fifth Street as an example or some some area between X and Y on Fifth Street. And >> I like that. >> Okay. So, who can Ryan, can we tap you to put together that list and work with Tyler on that? Can you >> Mhm. >> Okay.
50. 53:08So, let's do that and we'll look at it and go from there. >> Sure. >> And you're right. If in fact, you know, there's there's a real violation that's, you know, halfway down a block and simple one off, let's see if we can, you know, piggy back that into the project into the uh that project. >> Sure. >> Uh the grant thing, are we going to have someone look into that? >> Well, um if you remember last year, we assigned Dave >> Dave, that's right. uh with the idea of looking into the grants. Um and so, you know, as long as he's still open and to to doing that, I think we continue with that. >> And we just need to be a little bit careful, you know, I know um there were some issues with the last one. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, >> making sure that it's a straight match and >> Yeah. We need going to know what the, you know, specifications and
51. 54:10requirements are. >> Yeah. I I just, you know, I think we get a little bit more back for our buck there. That's all. I agree. >> Yeah. >> Okay. What else? I'll talk to Rob about that crosswalk. See if he can fit that in. Um, just to finalize that on the 300 buck. I'll get an answer for that. Good. Good. Good. Any questions from the public, >> sir? So, we got the mayor's uh newsletter. So, it's always good to take credit for, you know, work done. I think George is, you know, spot on with that >> to accomplish, you know, the ADA compliance or wherever progress there is. We probably want to put that in the newsletter, you know. Um, >> the other list for that,
52. 55:12>> right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we can get a list to her for that. >> Yeah. So, all these Yeah. bullet points. Yeah. These have been addressed, addressed, addressed. That's a good idea. Um, you know, your point about making money, you know, kind of an interesting thing. And this might be tangent. >> No, no one said anything about making money. No, the the leveraging property in for rental for cash flow is making money people that do that. So this has nothing to do and I won't take up too much of your time for my own personal you know perspective on this but I see the star preservation which is not here but they do appropriateness and now my mom was into historic preservation. They put the house back exactly as it was when it was originally built. We do I think and this is we do something like full to start the pro preservation cuz we do something oh we think it would be appropriate the certificates of
53. 56:16appropriateness. So it's just an adjunct to your issue about, you know, the veterans having a cash flow property in addition to their is like one property here. The guy wants to take the property down cuz it's, you know, but it could probably be preserved. It was a lot of money, a lot of investment, but he has one cash flow property and he decided to go do another cash flow property in a startup district. So, I'm just it's kind of my own personal thing and probably has nothing to do with anything here, but it gets to the issue of the wrong >> committee. It gets to the issue of, you know, when you're making money back or something, is that your primary purpose for the or are we having single family homes? Now, there was an initiative federally to stop corporations who buying 10, 20, and 100 homes, right? And have a single, you know, homes are for
54. 57:20single families. And now there's this whole rental thing. And won't they, you know, which a lot of people get on the bandwagon and they, you know, they do cash flow and it's a nice little little thing, but so what is what is Hudson? Hudson, you know. There you go. I'm done. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for putting up with me. >> Appreciate it. >> Looks like Justin has a question. >> Justin, just in time. >> You muted the cow. Can't hear you. >> It's odd. Not muted. >> Speak up, Justin. The other thing is I agreed about Facebook. You know, I'm not on Facebook and I think if you got only a few gripes, you did pretty good. >> Let me just make sure that the chat is on. Let's try unmuting. Justin, does that work?
55. 58:24>> There. >> Mic is disabled. >> Hello. >> Hello. >> Hi. Can we hear me? >> Yes. Hi. Okay, so first of all, welcome Tiffany. >> Thank you, Justin. >> You're welcome. Are you having fun yet? >> Always. >> I wanted to just bring up uh those wonderful big uh jumbo ward maps that Ryan and Crawford um gave to all of us last year. Um I didn't know if you guys have yet used those. um five ward maps. Um those were to be used to identify um high priority areas. Um you know, everybody in theory would have, you know, walked each of their respective wards following that map and highlighting um which sidewalks are, you know, deemed uh high priority. um those
56. 59:30um maps were left in the mayor's um the in your office, Tiffany. So, I don't know. I don't think they would have been thrown out. Um I do think um you know, now that roles have been shifted, you know, those maps should be shifted. So, whichever ward I was going to have, you should have. And um I think it's important to just at the very least everybody to you know continue with that and come up with some priorities and then you can match those um to like what Ryan was saying you look at areas that have already um had some work done and then and you know that might be deemed a high priority just to continue on with that work that was already done. Um but it's good to you know have you know have that walking map you know process begun. That's that was my comment thing. >> Thank you Justin. Yeah, I think the approach that we're taking here right now is let's look at what you know, let's look at keeping with the approach
57. 1:00:33to municipal buildings and the high traffic and and crosswalks uh curbs and and then if we can add to it if we have a whole lot left over then I think that's time for us to go back and start looking at these inspecting the streets and going through that process. agree. >> Yeah, Timmy, I still have mine. I can >> I still have one in the store. >> Yeah, you >> and I've done mine. >> Yeah. You know, and I think that was that's a great point by Justin. Um, you know, when when we had that million dollar grant in our eyes, we were like, >> "Yeah, let's do this. Let's jump in front of that." Yeah. Now we're Yeah. Do we need to have a strategy uh to explain to people if we're if we're kind of stepping back a little bit, which I agree it's probably better to conserve some of our funds, but do we need to have a strategy to tell the public why we're kind of stepping back a
58. 1:01:36little bit? You know, >> I don't think so. And I don't know if it's really stepping back. I just don't want to >> Well, yeah. I said >> I I'm just saying it like you don't want to >> play off too much. >> You don't want to promise, >> right? And you know, with with the cost of everything going up now, you know, we may say, you know, let's put out this RFP and do all this work and get so many square feet of sidewalk and come and the bids come back and we're right back in the situation we were with Grant, you know. Um, so telling the public that maybe not, but you know, just knowing that as a board, let's let's clean up what we left out first and then move forward. >> You're on the horn. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Any other questions from the public? >> Yeah. Can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Hi, Bill Houston here. 558 State Street. Um,
59. 1:02:40as an avid walker myself, um, I get really tired of, um, well, you know, before I get into a specific intersection or specific sidewalk, I was wondering if somebody could tell me if if you guys have any idea, like a general idea when this uh, SID work is going to start, when the first sidewalk is going to be replaced, like do you do you foresee it happening this year, next year? Any ideas? Yeah, Bill, the SID work began last year and >> that was curb ramp work, right? >> That was what curb ramp. >> Yeah. So, what about sidewalks though? >> Any idea when that's going to start? Yeah, we discussed it and we are hoping that we can begin getting to them this year, but still the priority that we discussed here tonight was uh ensuring that we're clear to all municipal
60. 1:03:43buildings and our curb curb work. Beyond that, then we do want to start looking at the hightra areas. as I mentioned as an example am track to Warren Street. >> Okay. So, um since uh South Fifth Street, uh the horrible sidewalk, the horribly dangerous sidewalk where somebody injured themselves a couple years ago, actually, couple summers ago, falling. Uh that's that's um Galvin's property, the vacant lot of Fifth and Warren. Um, every time I walk by there or actually walk down there and try not to fall on my face, I wonder to myself when when is this going to be fixed? And my fear is that the longer this takes that the SID project to to get started to get completed is that a sidewalk like that remains and and gets worse for years and years and years because it's not a priority and it's not it's not leading to a uh a
61. 1:04:47service building. And I guess that's that's my fear now. Is it possible to call code enforcement and tell them about how bad that sidewalk is and hope that they'll actually do what the code allows them to do, which is to get the property owner to fix that sidewalk? Or should I just or should I just wait for you guys to get to it? Well, um, yeah, at this point in time, the property owner is responsible for keeping the sidewalk clear of ice and snow. The city is responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks. >> Okay. So, what the code says about property owners fixing their sidewalks is no longer valid. Correct. Um, I'm not an attorney, but I believe the SID law uh basically uh overwrites that code. >> Overrites, supersedes it. That's that. Okay. And that again, that's that's
62. 1:05:49that's my concern that that uh especially that um sidewalk, long stretch of sidewalk right from Warren to the alley uh will remain and just get worse and worse and worse over the years. I mean, I assume you guys will get your work started at some point. Um, I hope that's on the priority list at some point because it really needs to be. As well as the the intersection of sixth and and and rope alley on the southwest side. Uh, something Ryan and others are very well aware of. That's a serious problem. It's a 6-in drop. Talk about an ADA nightmare. Uh, and nobody in a wheelchair can get over that sidewalk either in either direction. And um, I live with it every day. I walk by there practically every day. Um, and if I were disabled, I'd probably uh, you know, I probably would have moved out of Hudson by now because it's just, again, I hope that's on the priority list. I hope it doesn't take another five years or 10 years to get that thing done because at least as Ryan knows, it's a big headache. You got a
63. 1:06:53big problem there. Um, it's a unique situation. But that's that's what I hope and I I'd like to touch on one last thing if I could. Um, what I've noticed in Hudson the past few years is that we have a curbstone problem. The there's some beautiful old curb stones stones in this town uh along our streets. Uh, some of them remaining still attractive and doing their job, many of them falling apart. And what I've seen recently, last year, last year or two, is that when sidewalks are replaced, curbstones are not put in. the the curbstones are replaced with a concrete extension of the sidewalk um that certainly don't last as long as um you know beautiful blue stone curbstones or whatever they're made of. Um so there's a there's this lack of attractiveness and concrete just doesn't hold up as well. I guess is that an issue that um the public words board takes up or you guys are
64. 1:07:55approaching like when a sidewalk walk needs to be replaced are you pulling out curbstones and replacing them with concrete? >> That's all. >> Thank you, Bill. We haven't gotten to that last issue, but to your point, we discussed um as we come up with a priority to address sidewalks, we do want to get the input from the public and uh we certainly would appreciate your insight in that uh process as well. So, yeah, we think it's important that um we review what we believe are the priorities with the public and take that into account. >> Okay. So, replacing sidewalks is probably not going to involve curbstones because it's very expensive. But, um, it's just sad to see them all go. Um, actually, last question if I could. Um, when this work starts, Sid work starts, do we know who the contractor is going to be? You're going to put that out to bid and it could be anybody. The low bid, >> we put it out to bid. And so, yes. Um,
65. 1:09:00I don't know if you can say that. will always give it to the lowest bidder. Um there's lots of factors involved, but uh last year we put out three or four projects to bid. Um three and um various factors came into came into play. Um and often times it was uh the price because a a contractor who doesn't want to do the work for whatever reason, they're too busy, etc. it's just going to come in with a very high bid, you know. So, and and some of the bids we got last year, the difference was kind of ridiculous. >> Um, yeah. So, I hope that answer your question. >> Yeah. Well, uh, you know, whoever it is, I hope it's not Vosber because I've seen some terrible work of theirs as I I've tried to point out to you guys. Um, their their work is not holding up well. And I hope that if it if if you find where these areas are on on Sixth Street, on Seventh Street at the corner
66. 1:10:03with State that they didn't do good work, I hope they come back and fix it, especially if this stuff starts to crack and fall apart because uh um that's just the way it should be. These guys were hired. I don't think they were professional uh papers, but they're they're we're living with their work and it's already starting to fall apart. Thank you. >> We'll look into that. Thank you, sir. Anybody else? I don't know what these blue stones are. I don't see them. >> I don't see them. >> Okay. If uh can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to second. >> Second. >> Thank you all. >> What a nice night. >> You too. >> So, it's 6:30. Why knowing this?

Timestamps link to the corresponding moment on YouTube. Auto-transcribed, contains speech-recognition errors. Not an official record.