At a glance
Monday's Code and Infrastructure Committee meeting was mostly the DPW superintendent's monthly report — dominated by a major, roughly two-year sewer-and-stormwater separation project that will tear up streets through the numbered blocks, replace sewer and storm pipes, and run new connections to every house. The committee also welcomed the city's new code enforcement officer in his first committee visit, and heard a long list of resident complaints about vacant and abandoned buildings. Other topics: a rebuilt stretch of Harry Howard Avenue, the cost of adding 'no right on red' signs, and a pending safety grant.
012:41
DPW report: a major sewer-and-stormwater project ahead
The Department of Public Works superintendent's monthly report opened with a large sewer-and-stormwater separation project that will reshape several streets for about two years.
Key points
- The first phase of the project runs roughly from Second Street up to Seventh Street and Park Place, with some work in alleys reaching down toward Front Street. The new sewer pipe is large — 42 to 48 inches in the lower blocks.
- The new sewer will be installed in place of the existing one, so streets will be open at night but closed during the day, with daytime detours for at least the 200-, 300- and 400-block stretches.
- New sewer and storm laterals will be run all the way to each house, and on many blocks the roads and sidewalks will be fully rebuilt rather than patched. The superintendent said affected blocks will 'look like a bomb went off' during construction.
- The whole project is expected to take about two years. The bid letting is now expected in August or September 2026, with contract awards in the fall and substantial work beginning after winter.
- 'Smoke testing' — a non-toxic fog forced through the sewer — will be used to map connections running under buildings. It should not enter homes; if it does, that can indicate an internal plumbing problem. Door hangers will warn residents in advance.
A note on the transcript
This page is built from YouTube's automatic captions. The transcript has no speaker labels and garbles many names and figures, so this summary describes speakers by role and rounds or generalizes numbers where the transcript was unclear. Check anything important against the city's official minutes.
0216:01
Harry Howard Avenue rebuilt, and a round of vandalism
The DPW report covered the completed Harry Howard Avenue repair, routine seasonal work, and several acts of vandalism around the city.
Key points
- Harry Howard Avenue, closed around St. Patrick's Day because the road was failing, has been rebuilt — new subbase, milling, a new top coat, a wing gutter, guard rails, and reseeded shoulders.
- The Harry Howard work cost a bit over $150,000 (roughly $140,000 for the contractor plus guard-rail installation and materials), to be paid from the city's CHIPS account and submitted to the state DOT for reimbursement.
- Other DPW work included repairing the street sweeper after something destroyed its fan impeller, and cleaning a water main.
- The committee heard reports of vandalism: a young tree on Promenade Hill, a broken window at the Waterfront Park bathroom, and a break-in at the Dunn Warehouse where parts of a Henry Hudson boat replica were smashed.
0322:57
The Pocketbook factory parking lot at the firehouse
The superintendent reported that DPW and the fire department have signed off on a revised parking layout for the lot the Pocketbook factory tenant will lease near the firehouse.
Key points
- The original layout placed parking across the full frontage, leaving no room for DPW's snow dump or fire-department access for events and training. The revised footprint is narrower and deeper, restoring that access.
- The tenant is now preparing construction documents to take to the Planning Board for site plan review and approval.
- The lease covers only the parking-lot parcel; the rest of the area remains city property. The superintendent said the tenant can park there now while the review proceeds.
Connections
The Pocketbook factory parking lease and the related noise complaints also came before the Legal Committee on May 14 and the Council's May 18 informal meeting, where a lease amendment was distributed for a vote.
0429:19
'No right on red' signs, truck routes, and road funding
The committee discussed the cost of adding 'no right on red' signs and the superintendent clarified how Hudson's streets are designated and funded.
Key points
- Right turn on red is allowed by default in New York outside New York City, so the city cannot ban it citywide — it must post signs at specific intersections.
- The superintendent estimated roughly 43 signs with hardware would be needed, at about $300 each — on the order of $13,000 — and noted no money is currently budgeted for it. A list of candidate intersections was prepared and sent to the mayor to prioritize.
- He clarified that Hudson has no true state roads: some streets carry a dual state-route designation but are maintained by the city. Those 'centerline miles' help determine how much CHIPS road funding the city receives.
- Several streets are federally designated truck routes (a 'designated access highway'), which is why large trucks are allowed on them — a point relevant to enforcement on Columbia Street.
0552:14
The new code enforcement officer's first committee visit
The committee welcomed the city's new code enforcement officer, who attended a council committee for the first time, and discussed noise, rental inspections, and signs.
Key points
- Members and the officer discussed where his recurring updates best fit — this committee or the safety committee — given that code enforcement touches both.
- On noise, the officer said he has been taking decibel readings around town. Members noted Hudson's code (limits of 45 decibels at night and 55 during the day in residential areas, and limits relative to ambient noise) does not clearly address steady 'droning' sounds such as HVAC equipment — an issue tied to complaints about the Pocketbook factory.
- Members discussed possibly creating a rental or 'residential occupancy' inspection program. The officer noted that buildings with three or more units, and all commercial buildings, already receive regular fire-safety inspections, while single- and two-family homes do not.
- The officer and members discussed illuminated and flashing signs around the city, several of which appear to violate code, and the lack of a clear brightness standard.
0673:39
Vacant and abandoned buildings
Residents and members raised the problem of vacant and abandoned buildings at length, naming specific properties.
Key points
- Speakers described break-ins, uncut grass, dumped debris, abandoned vehicles, and a years-vacant former church where a fire had occurred, calling several properties a disgrace to their neighborhoods.
- Members noted the city code already provides for a penalty on vacant properties and a vacant-building registry, but questioned whether notices are actually being sent to owners.
- The code enforcement officer said vacancies are something he is watching and intends to pursue diligently. Members offered to update the code where needed to make it clearer and more enforceable.
0778:21
A safety grant, and closing items
The committee closed with an update on a pending Greenway grant and other business.
Key points
- The city expects to hear by about June 1 on a Hudson Valley River Greenway grant to study converting some one-way streets near the public square (around Seventh Street and Park Place) and to design improvements at a hazardous intersection near the hospital.
- A consultant working with the city created a short community survey on priorities, to be posted on Hudson Hub.
- The next committee meeting is June 8; the chair will be absent for a family graduation, and another member agreed to lead it.
- Members noted that small advertising signs attached to street poles around the city are against code and the advertisers can be fined.
Read the full transcript
1:15and your mic is on. >> Great. Thank you, Logan. Um, I'm calling the meeting of the infrastructure committee of Hudson, New York border on May 11th at 5:30 p.m. In attendance is uh Henry and Dan Jason Fosters and online is Rooney. Um, I think that's everybody. So all here and we're going to just jump right into the superintendent of DPW's report. >> Thank you. Uh you go this way. >> All right. So um acceptance for February was 43,000. That's about our monthly uh mark that we want to have. Actually that's just we're in March, not February. Um you know that's where we usually are uh average per month absent the winter months. So the chains and flights that's a typo there. Last year I
2:18or last month I showed you how they had broken and twisted around on themselves. So this is the they were all removed. You can see in picture one that is that black suck is the kind of sludge like skim coated it. That was all cleaned out. The new flights were installed and everything is back in worker proper working order. Um you know the next couple of items are about this the massive uh uh storm water project that'll start um you know within this year sometime. Um part of it is we're having there there are segments of the names that need to be replaced that go under buildings and we're having difficulty locating where and how they connect. So there's we've done dye tests, but you know you the dye test is you put dye in a toilet, you flush it and you go open a couple manholes and you hope to see green. And if you see green, then you're like, "Oh, this is where it comes." And if you don't, then you're like, "Well, where did it go?" So
3:21there will be some smoke testing conducted. Now, it's called smoke testing. It's not It's It's like a white fog. It's non-toxic, non-staining, non-hazardous, odorless. It's it's what they do. What they do is they pressurize the manhole, force this gas down into it. It shouldn't come into a house. If it comes into your house, then that means that you may have an internal plumbing issue because that means a sewer gas could be coming into your house. You don't want any gas. If you have a trap that's working in your house that shouldn't come into it. So, if you've got a but if you've got open floor drains that don't have a trap or aren't connected to one and you're getting this fog in your house, you may want to think about doing something to your plumbing because uh you know that's a potential risk and you don't want sewer gas coming in your house. >> Um so, but anyway, so it shouldn't come to anybody's house. Uh there will be actually door hangers that will be placed on uh in advance of where the testing will happen. Um, so this is the public notice. It'll go out on the
4:23city's website when we actually have dates in place. Uh, this is kind of just everybody's heads up about it. Um, the next picture for this just gives you the idea of where it's it won't take place in all of these areas, but you know, certain spots within that area. Like I said, you'll receive a a door hanger if it's going to be in uh in and around you. But, you know, you're basically going from the whole scope of this project from second all the way up to park and, you know, uh, in the alleys, uh, even part of Warren Street. Uh, even as far as Union, cuz there, like I said, there are mains that come from Union. We know that in the 400 block cuz we had to put a whole new sewer main in cuz it was going under somebody's basement and during heavy storm was perking it up. So, uh, you know, this is just kind of like a just a basic introduction to let people let you guys know and the community know that this will take place with more information and more specifics to follow. >> When last time we had a smoke test?
5:27>> I don't believe never done it when I've been here. >> The first time. >> Yeah. Usually diet test is good enough. above. So, uh, one of the other things we have is, um, you know, just to kind of give you an idea of the scope of this first phase of this project. You know, I talked about it goes from Second Street up to, uh, 7th Street and Parkplace, but there will be some minor work that'll take place in the alleys that actually go down to Front Street. So, um, you know, there's a 12 in and 15in, um, you know, some are existing, some of work that we've already done before, but once you get to, uh, Second Street, you could see how thick are the the red line gets. That's a, uh, 42 to 48 in, uh, sewer pipe. Now, the reason I'm mentioning that is because early in design, we were hopeful that we could kick this thing over to the side and move traffic around it. uh 4 foot diameter pipe is going to have an 8 foot wide hole. Uh the the pipe is the sewer
6:31new sewer is actually going to go in the place of the existing sewer. We will be demolishing the existing sewer, putting this one in place and it will go in live. So as they move up the street, all laterals will come out of the old stone sore will be tied into this this new sore. At the end of every night, they're going to have to build a slleway that allows for the flows to go from the existing stone to the new sewer. Um, the roads, you know, will be open at night, but not during the day. So, uh, there will be, you know, detours going on all day long for at least the two, three, and 400 block. I'm going to guess probably the 500 block. Um, it's only 12 in by the time it gets up there, but you know, the road dares at Fifth Street. Most people don't realize it. If you come up and if you're at the red light, the curb is actually over like two or three feet further. So, the road does
7:33narrow and you can see all the marks from the plows that hit it um and tires. So, uh this the red one is for the sewer. The blue one is the storm line. These are both going in the same street. And like I said, when you're down in the the lower blocks, that's a 3-ft diameter pipe that's going to be going in from Second Street up. Each of these pipes is going to have new laterals that go all the way to the house. So, they'll be connected and plumbed into the house for the new storm or for the sanitary. And that will be live for the new storms. They will be all the way up to the foundation of the house. And there'll be a stub piece there with a a cleanout. And at some point in the future, the homeowner will be expected to separate whatever if they have roof drains or whatever footing drains and tie those into the storm. >> So you're going from the pipe to the >> the foundation of the house. >> On the show? >> Yeah. >> Oh wow. >> We're going all the way to Huh. >> On the property >> and for sanitary in the house. You're going
8:36>> into the basement. >> Yes. All new >> and the water or to the to shut off like the curb shut off and the water. We're not touching water. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Just a drink. Okay. The only I'm not saying that we're not What will happen is if we come across a lead lateral service >> during construction, the EPA basically says you should replace at that time. It's it the EFC funds not necessarily there for lead water service. This is a storm water project, but we will run the water department will run a shadow team behind. So that way if a lead service does come up and the water it's already the road's already going to be closed. It's already going to be an open construction site that you know they do this all the time. They'll end up doing a tap and running a new copper service over to the house at the same time that you know the contractor is doing their work. So, um, yeah, whatever we come across, but you're talking new, new, and new and, you know, with a new service, sanitary going to each house and a new,
9:43uh, storm going to each house, uh, and the size of these excavations. You know, there's going to be a a couple of these blocks, and I think Tiffany mentioned it before, a lot of these blocks are going to have total sidewalk replacement as well, >> because there won't be any sidewalk left >> by the time you replace two, three panels, building, building, building, building, building, building, building. It's just going to be rather than matching existing, it'll actually be less expensive to just form it, pour it, and do it wholesale. So, so the good news is for the people of the 200 block of Columbia, >> they may be getting brand new sidewalks, >> the 300 block probably. >> Roads and sidewalks, right? >> Huh? >> New roads also, right? >> Oh, the road will be brand new. Everything has to be brand new. There won't be any road left. >> It has to go new. >> I mean, I mean, it's going to look like a bomb went off. >> Yeah. >> For a year and a half. >> For for a year. for >> this isn't Oh, this is
10:46>> this is a two-year project. This whole thing >> Yeah. Right. Right. >> This whole thing, obviously, they won't wait to do final restoration down here until we go all the way up. Once we are out and all the work is done for a whole block or two blocks, then they'll probably, you know, they may come in and do the final road rebuilding and do the final road restoration and just move on sidewalks and move on. Are we still are you still planning to go block at a time or trying to tackle the whole scope at once? Because >> Well, that's what I just said. I think I think that, you know, they'll there'll be a point when there is a here's the thing. You know, we we want to encourage the the we want to there's certain amount of flexibility we like to have the contractor have because the more flexibility, the more competitive the price comes in. every restriction that we add >> adds dollars. But, you know, to that that said, is it reasonable to expect that once they're totally out of a block that's 1500 ft long that they can do
11:50final restoration and move on? I I think that's probably reasonable. So, you know, that was that's something that we may put in as a as a condition just because and they may want it because once they do final restoration, >> they're out of it. As long as it's, you know, backfilled and they own it, they've got to babysit it. And so, and they probably once they get done with the block, they're going to want to get it all buttoned up and move on. U do you have any uh there aren't too many properties but a few on Colombia do have small yards where maybe 15 feet or so to the with a little green area and if you're are you anticipating any excess I don't know cost on maybe plantings or unforeseen tearing up someone's front yard block of Columbia there are a lot of all those are set back probably 20 ft. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, we'll probably
12:52stay well within the footprint of where the building is. I don't imagine doing it. Maybe if somebody's if somebody's lateral comes out of the side of the house, then yeah, the contractor is going to have to do restoration, you know, to match that. But it's very rare that the lateral comes out of the side of the house. It's usually the either the front or the back. >> Well, yeah. >> Are they able to do any of this underground or do they have to dig it up? Well, I think by the time they get because they've got to, you know, the sewer itself is going to be so deep. >> Yeah. >> Um it's probably just easier for them to just excavate. You know, they're they'll probably have a smaller, >> you know, they probably won't be doing his laterals with a, you know, with a 30 ton machine, you know, they're just going to bring something in with a one foot bucket or something like that because your laterals are usually four or six inches. Um they do match existing. So uh if someone has a 6-in lateral coming out of their house and it'll be a 6 in connection to the new main >> brand new why
13:55>> what is this projected to start probably said that right >> well like I said there's still originally we plan on having this thing out the bid now >> uh but there's still so many unknowns that we're working through uh it probably looks like it'll be an August to September letting uh >> of this year of this year. We My guess is we do contract awards this fall, but we really won't expect somebody to start work in December to to do what to do because we're going to have all these terms and conditions for winter >> because when they, you know, it's winter time and they they're back filling. They're going to have to, you know, it's not going to be stone. They're going have to put some cold patch. They're going to have to do a lot more. >> And that will happen in year two because they they will be going through the winter. Yeah. >> Um, but you know, I don't expect Billy. I imagine they'll spend the winter just doing submitts. >> You've got you've got a hundred structures easily, >> you know.
14:56>> So, Rob, I have a question like why we're not doing from second street to I mean any reason did it. >> That's the thing we do but we don't go through the property for connection that time. I believe >> whatever's there is is uh that was a previous project urban part of it was done in urban renewal. So, whatever they did, but that's those are all new buildings, too, >> you know. You've got Skyler Court, you've got the Lowrise, you've got um Providence Hall, uh and then you've got the the >> Those are all post urban renewal. So, >> okay. >> I mean, everything should be, you know, >> pretty pretty modern there. But yeah, we're not um >> you know, well, this is from front to first and first the to second. >> Yeah. >> You know, well, there's that's already we did that in 2016 or so, 18 >> the big big five. I never >> correct. So, >> and there done that. Um SNAP test
16:01sanitarium map the street sweeper, you know, that went down a couple of weeks ago. You look at picture seven, you can see the actual uh fan impeller for the sweeper uh installed. And in the mechanic's left hand is what was left of the previous one. I don't know what the sweeper sucked up, but something got in there and it literally obliterated all the the fans. Uh which sweeper doesn't work without creating a vacuum and you're not going to create a vacuum without having a fan. So, um, they did put it back together. Picture eight shows them assembling it, using the loader to put it in place. And so, it should be, uh, out tomorrow. So, you know, fun and excitement for everybody. The, uh, water department, we did our actual uh, the church pipe cleaning. So, this is just a short event. The picture nine is the clover pit. Uh, you can see the poly plank floating. So, we pressurize it using the water from the
17:03tank. water tank and we send it to the pit and then when it gets there it floats, pops up. We let it run for about half an hour or so. Then we close some valves, let it drain down, send it from the other direction from church down uh 10 just gives you an idea of you can see what water came out of the main in picture nine and you can see what water is coming out of the main in picture 10. Obviously, there's a big difference between what was cleaned before and you know what happened the um what else we Oh, and just kind of a side note, we have you know some ongoing PLC issues. PLC is basically the computers that operate the water plant. Uh it seems that when the we have a power loss and we switch the generator, there's this wonkiness happens with some of the controls and um so it's just going to be part of a a larger solution to trying to figure out what's going on in the programming somewhere. Uh area Howard, so you know it it was closed around St.
18:07Patrick's Day because the road was falling away. Uh I don't know if picture 11 that just shows the subbase brought up just below the catch basin. Picture 12 is they went and milled the rest of the road. So that way after they did the subbase and everything was even then there would be all one new top coat uh to make it seamless. And uh on the left hand side of picture 12 you see that was an excavation for a sewer repair. So we loaded that up with material before the top coat was put on. Uh 14 shows the drains coming out the side. So in if there should be an instance where we have water going into this area again, it's going to come out of these drains, we'll be able to daylight, we'll be able to observe it and realize that we've got some kind of a drainage problem upstream. Um 13 just shows the, you know, the milling again. Um 15. This is um the top coat on the southbound lane has a we installed a
19:11wing gutter. That's just to keep the water running along the side. And basically it's a makeshift curb and it runs into the uh the basin so we get the water away. We don't want any water going over top of the stones to wash anything out. Um 16 just shows the top coat on the left side which is the uh southbound lane tack coat going on the northbound lane. That's the patch for where we did the sewer and the new asphalt went over top of it. 17 is after the road was reconstructed. We had um our guys uh just put that's a temporary stripe. you know, the county brings their contractor in over the summer and they'll put an actual, you know, regulation two liner in there, but you know, this is the guy we use for, you know, doing parking spaces. It's not really designed for this application, but we did need a, you know, did need a center line that's on. Then afterwards, top soil along the um the side of the guard rail again to protect, you know,
20:14runoff from washing out the side and potentially undermining the side of the road. And then bear 19 on top of that one seed and grass. And then 20 just shows we took all the barricades and snow fence from the uh northbound lane that was there to keep people on the sidewalk and out of the zone. We moved it across the street to protect the uh grass so that way the grass can row get nice and firm. And uh obviously the you know the sidewalk is there because there's a perfectly good sidewalk on the other side of the street for uh everybody to use at their pleasure. All right. So that's the Harry Howard. I did get the uh invoice for that. So and included here about it's uh 140,000 was the contractor. We have another 5,000 for guard rails installation. uh you know we have top soil and and materials that our guys bought. So you know you figure you're just over north
21:16of 150. We'll be paying that out of the chips account and submitting it to DOT for reimbursement. >> That doesn't sound like all of Chips. >> All of Chips. >> Yeah. You had said earlier that we may not have >> Yeah, we usually get like 250 a year. you you would bank that for next year or >> Yeah, we will because we do chips um projects on the alternate year on the on the uh odd year just because there's so much work for us to do. It's you know >> all the infrastructure buildup we have to do. Um this is just you know seasonal work. This is uh by the firehouse parking lot after the eggs after the winter. You know, you get some ruts are over there just doing some maintenance. Put some fabric now. And picture 21 shows the fabric. We did a similar project uh a year or two ago. And then lo and behold, some of the fabric was was cut and uh so when the rains came, the repairs that we
22:21had done were washed away. >> Like someone sliced the >> Yeah. So, as long as there's not a nitwit who goes over there and intentionally destroys. >> Do you know who it was? >> Yeah, we all knew who it was. >> Who was it? >> Who know? >> Was it silly boy? >> Really? >> Staging. >> It was uh What do you What did you call him? >> Bubble boy. >> Oh, no. I couldn't really cut it. >> No, it was clown. >> No, >> it was some clown. So, pick a clown. All right. So anyway, uh t the season for painting and striping. >> Um Rob, something brought this the parking lot at the fire stationed with >> um I think was an issue with getting pockets of the factory up and going or that parking lot. Are you all set with it? >> Yeah, we've we've already met with them. It's But if we're going to have that discussion, let's have the grown-up professional discussion. When the resolution was adopted in December of
23:23last year, the very last page of the resolution says not for construction purposes, >> right? They had agreed upon a certain number of spaces, but the actual layout was never there. So when >> so when they presented their draft layout, that was the concern of the fire department. That was, you know, that was the concern of the DPW because they were taking all the frontage. There was no access for us to do our snow dump and there was no access. All they did is formulate what they always needed to do was the actual footprint. And so the footprint has just changed instead of going from wide and up front to slender and narrow and deeper. And you know there's a there's a uh and all that landscaping that was just like you know the engineer just put that in as pretty stuff but >> they don't need that you know nobody's requiring it put put parking spaces that's all anybody wants is parking spaces. So that's that's what they are doing right now. They're they are
24:27putting together some actual design and they're going before the planning board um to show that design >> orientation of the spaces >> right the actual the actual four construction >> documents that for their review and approval >> and DPW will have some along the right >> yeah we walked it out and based on you know what he did we're okay with it it gives us the access we need the the fire department has signed off on it Not a drawing originally. It was just written up. >> Well, it was a drawing, but the the way the engineer did it is they put everything up in the front. >> And it just took off all the usable space. Yeah. >> And so all we did is just say, look, we want it this way. And it also, you know, >> it gave them like exclusive right to the entire parcel, >> you know, and now we're saying you're only getting part of this section. >> You're only getting the part the parking lot as the parcel. The rest of it is still city property to be used for >> which is the right decision, >> right? >> And they're leasing it.
25:28>> And they're leasing. Yeah. So, it's all it's fine. It was just >> just making sure everything, >> you know, it was just one of these things that just kind of, you know, slipped through and um but it's all been buttoned up and like I said, it's before the planning board now. So, once they do their stuff, it's not I mean, >> and they're allowed to park there. >> Yeah, they can park there now. Nobody cares, you Well, and I think you were on the email. They're going to put some taking that fencing down. They're going to put some temporary fence up. >> They're supposed to put some signage up, whatever. But that's that's not DPW. That's them and whomever else. >> So, um >> that's all just >> Yeah, it's in there. >> You don't meet with the council anymore. >> I don't know. This is my meeting with the council once a month whether I need it or not. Right. >> Yeah. So, um, anyway, so you know, and, uh, so the curb painting is is, uh, underway and, you know, last year, you know, we were the the destroyers of beauty, all things beautiful with the
26:30curb cup permit. And this year, it's surprising, we've had more than a few elected officials ask us for uh, painting in certain areas. So, apparently, yeah, we're the we're the bell of the wall now. Now, paint is good. >> They do such a good job painting. Well, you know, >> want it everywhere. >> What do you want? Yellow. It's the new green. So, uh, that's uh, runs curve painting. Oh, the other seasonal painting, of course, is ours. >> Got to do the carrots. Uh, waterfront stage. Some of the boards were, you know, starting to wear through, so they replace those. Maintenance for the season. Hometown heroes are are going up on the new street lights uh Front Street. Um so uh obviously the CSC reported about the vandalism of the little baby tree there up on the Prominade Hill. Uh it's not the only vandalism. Uh someone also busted one of the windows at the
27:32bathroom at the Waterfront Park. And someone also broke into the Don Warehouse and smashed up parts of the Henry Hudson uh boat. So they knocked the dolphin off. Oh my god. >> And they broke one all I think it was two dolphins. So, one got knocked off, the other one got kind of smashed a little bit. And they broke part of the mask off and they broke some other stuff. So, um, you know, what are you going to do? We got clowns. Clowns and clowns. >> Do we not I I know that the camera at the water um it's pretty good. But did we get any luck or has it been looked? >> I haven't spoken to the police directly, but you know, through a third person, I was told that the people that broke the window at the bathrooms were identified. >> Oh, >> because of the camera. >> Gotcha. >> But the ones who broke into Dun, they broke in on the back. >> Yeah. Towards the tracks. >> Why do you know so much about that?
28:36We sit here ladder to the ground, right? >> Yeah. >> Uh yeah, cuz we ours look at the city camera and we can see between the club and the bathroom really well, but there is an Amtrak camera facing facing the back of the dun. >> Yeah, >> that's actually good question. I'm done with Amtrak. Wow. >> After after we put that bridge over it, man, we got the I think we've gotten their all the reimbursement checks for what we overpaid for escrow >> for what we didn't expend in their escrow. Uh let's see, vandalism. Vandalism, Hometown Heroes. Um just because I know you guys have a a no red uh right on red story. Uh DBW has zero opinion on this matter. I'm just stating that for the record. However, you have to put the signs up by the
29:37lights. So, we don't have this kind of hardware in stock and we don't have all these signs in stock. So, if the determination is made to do new right on red, I've tallied it up. It looks like about 43 signs with hardware. We when we bought these in 2020 I want to say it was they were like two 300 bucks each uh you know um you know so if you're talking about they'd have to like on Warren Street you know you only have you can't you know there's no right on red for the oneways >> but you got two traffic lights so you have to put a no red on red by both of the traffic lights you know so you get you end up doing four of them anyway even though There's one in one way. So, uh, and the other intersections on Columbia. So, anyway, you guys can figure it out. Do the math for yourself. Obviously, Seventh Street is doesn't apply because there's already signage there for the tracks and Carol Street doesn't apply because there already no
30:40right on red every direction there already. Um, that's it. So, >> do you think it's is it doable to put it on the post stop lights like at fourth? Well, usually it's alongside of the >> next to the light >> the light, you know, it's not beneath it and because it's supposed to like >> Yeah. >> I I you know, I mean, I haven't researched this. >> It wasn't great, but >> you know, so yeah, you're going to need all sorts of hardware to kind of bring this out so the sign is next to the light. >> It's conspicuous. >> Yeah. >> Even in a way you got two, don't you? On some of them like Yeah. on fourth, fifth and sixth or fourth and fifth. >> Yeah. >> And like I said, well, seventh is already done the fact, so >> fourth and fifth have four, so you need two for each side. Anyway, uh that's just giving you the heads up. I'm not an attorney or a law enforcement person, but I have spoken to law enforcement. They said the red on red is default
31:44permitted in the state of New York if you're a municipality less than a million or more which is basically in New York City I guess. >> I I confirmed and I looked up but I mean I haven't talked to him at >> so all you have to do is sign it. So you don't mean a local law or resolution. I mean we put the no right on reds on fourth and Carol and and fourth and and Colombia. There was no nothing about that. there was just a something from the mayor saying we want signs there and you know we went and bought the hardware and installed. Uh so if that's the plan, you know, there's no money in any account, you know, for this, you know, for all this hardware. Uh so that is just going to be up to decide whether or not now is a good time not to spend 13 $15,000 on signs and hardware or whatever. But you guys got to do your due diligence and find out if it's even necessary, right? And while you're at it, you may want to see if it's going to be important. >> All right, I'm going to steal a moment. So, I included this page. Um, that's I went through a list. It's not all that
32:49Rob did. I just went more like these are kind of the ones that I felt like were worth talking about and then maybe prioritizing. I know there was another accident at six in Colombia, so I feel like that was like it might be ice related. >> Yeah, somebody ran the red light. >> Yeah. It's not right unregulated either. >> People keep having >> Yeah. It's fourth in Colombia, sixth in Colombia. >> Yeah. >> Fourth in Warren. >> The sighteline the ones with the crappy sight lines. >> Yeah. >> Or the ones where people just aren't paying attention. >> I have this list confirms the law that that Rob said we can't do it citywide. Gotcha. >> So if anyone wants to opine on this list and prioritize them, I sent it to the mayor to do that. I'm just passing it on public. >> I'd assume that 250 assigned five, six years later is probably going to be 300 and change. >> Yeah, I'm going to guess. Yeah, I mean I was >> to be fair. >> Yeah, I think we actually ordered them before the lockdown. So,
33:51>> y >> because we installed them in July. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you for doing that. >> Okay. Um, this question comes up more and more and I just I know I've addressed it before. So, there are no state roads in the city of Hudson. There are roads in the city of Hudson that have dual designation as a local highway, a local street, and also as a state route. So, I have two examples here. So, here's our local highway inventory. This is available online from DOT and it lists Columbia Street and you can see the state route. It says New York 9G and US9 over there just next to the DOT ID. So, those roads have dual designation. But the reason they are in our local highway inventory is because these roads get added to our centerline miles, which is
34:54what is used to determine how much chips money we get. Chips is this formula. They take x miles times the level. If you've got it paved, you get a higher reimbursement. If it's dirt, you get a lower reimbursement. So that's what they do. So they they score all these and that's what all these little data points are here. And then when the governor decides and the legislator decide how much money they're going to put in the chips program, they they take all of these for the whole state and and come out and it spits out how much everybody's going to get. >> So, you know, whereas I for the village of Filmont and Main Street is State Route 217, but you'll see there's no Main Street. I penciled it in. I wrote where it should be alphabetically between Lake Drive and Maple Lab. doesn't exist. That's because DOT owns that road. So people say, "Well, I can't I don't understand." And I said, "Well, when's the last time you saw a DOT paving a road in the city? When's the last time you saw DOT patching a road in the city? When's the last time you saw DOT working on a
35:55traffic light in the city?" Never. Never. Never. Never. Because they're city streets. They do have a DOT designation. And that's uh and that's where uh the the twins meet unless they're on the same pl. >> All right. If you're doing some clarification, I'm gonna add a clarification. Okay. Because this comes up a lot, too. >> Yeah. >> Is that designated access highway is US9, >> Worth Avenue, Upper Warren, Parkplace, Green Street is a designated access highway, which means 53 ft trucks are allowed on it. Wherever infant item, people don't believe it. told them if they want to change it, call Josh Riley because this is a Gota. >> This is a federal issue. It is it you could say it's state but it starts at the federal. >> Can you repeat those streets again? >> It was green. >> Well, it's upper truck. >> It's upper truck. >> Upper lower truck. No, no, that >> it's worth park green. Columbia green.
36:59We believe that the access highway on the on the west side of town ends at the warehouse that the warehouse be the warehouse >> that would make sense. They have >> start third in Colombia. We don't believe our existence. So, I'm just since you were doing clarifications on our roads, I thought I'd throw that out. >> And that's why we're saying we can do the police and state trooper um notification and information pullovers on the South Bay before we start this infrastructure project. >> Well, so we're trying to do right now because I wouldn't do that without any signage out by stewardship. >> Yeah. Right. You can't. That would just >> Well, you've got signage on the roads in the city. I mean, DOT puts those signs up. City doesn't. So, you see those those trucking signs that are black and white. >> Yes. >> New York State DOT has put has installed those, not us. >> Oh, that's So, >> yeah. The ones that are on the sub. >> So, if you're going to start enforcing Colonia Street, you may want to get
38:01those signs down that say truck route on 23B. Well, that's what we're we're working and we're struggling a little bit with DOT right now, but we had communications today about this. >> Yeah. >> And we would need big signage out by Stewart shop >> and we storm >> and then we would install >> local traffic only or something like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So that's it's just a lot of work. Yes. So, it's not ready for publication. >> Um, okay. That's broken. That's there. Um, 32 is our bushwhacking over the the hill there. Uh, once a year, whether it needs it or not. And that's Oh, the this is just turning on the water spigot for all the uh the courtesy hydrants that are up at the uh new cemetery, the seed park cemetery. Um, likewise, dog parks on The drinking fountain that prominate Hill is on. The
39:06bathrooms are on down at the waterfront. The um only it's not on is the splash pad. I I don't even recall if that works anymore. >> Rob, how do you guys um fill the brush on the hill with a weed whacker? >> Oh man. Sorry. There's a there's a literally a chainsaw blade that goes on a weed whacker. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> And so instead of holding like a little one of those little toy chainsaws >> Mhm. >> they can stand upright and they just cut them right down and cut them right lay them right down. >> You said you do that twice a year. >> Once a year. >> I think same thing they're doing on par with right that hill. >> No, they do that with a regular weed whack or with string. That's cuz that's mostly grass. >> It's all billy built work though. They don't need the safety harness for that one. >> Okay. Cuz there's no track. >> There's no train tracks in the bottom. >> One more before we go. Snake is here. We made the news today that there
40:11street and um they've got repaired. It's now a concrete uh sidewalk and the um >> doesn't doesn't look amazing, but it's done. >> But it's done. Um and as far as the there's no code against them putting a parking lot in their front yard. Um they did cut down in two trees, but >> well, the lot next to my house is a buildable lot and I park my cars in front of it. And if I wanted to build a garage mahal, I could still legally park the cars in front of it. So, >> yep. Um, so just I don't know if there's any more to comment on it, but it made the news. So, just saying that it's all fixed. The TV is made. >> Um, >> you got our hand up and then Bill has his hand up. Okay. >> Couple of questions. >> So, then we're going to let you go. Uh, how are you doing on completing the painting for the summer?
41:17Are you done? >> Yeah, we're just started. >> Yeah, I figured you had a bit to go still. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, and do sign deployment generally happen after when you have labor free up? Specifically, wondering if you had gotten to finish the Hot Topic pocketbook curb paint. They were done last week. Awesome. Great. Man, look at you. Oh, because I drove there to find out. >> I sent him over there. It was on the top of the list. >> I I thought it was and I just wanted to make sure there weren't any additional >> They have to They have to do their parking spot for the handicap spots. >> Yeah, >> they know that. and the signs that we're hoping to put there as well for the no parking or no parking anytime or towway zone at the end of partition and north sixth >> I don't know anything about that >> on the corner of north six and partition um >> does partition go up that far >> no am I saying wrong what's yeah >> it's just north six
42:21>> partition stops at fifth >> partition is on the south side. >> I'm sorry. I Prospect Prospect Street. My apologies. Okay. Um at the corner of Prospect at North 6th. Um, we discussed at the two months ago at the police committee meeting having a no parking anytime or a tollway zone there because it was extremely dangerous with the repetitive parking of it was delivery at first, but now it's patrons and employees parking right up to the curb and there's the zero sight line. >> Yeah. Come out of prospect. >> Yes. Yeah. Um and that Mich and uh Captain Miller were said yes, we'll get a sign there. Specifically that corner had signal to me. >> I think the fan is yellow now. >> It's yellow. >> It's yellow. >> I know. We went over I hadn't blasted the whole area with yellow paint. >> And before it was yellow. There was a car parked.
43:22>> There's a um fire hydrant across from my office that still needs yellow. I know they're still making >> Does anybody park in front of your office >> on the other side? There's a fire agent over there >> from the coffee factory. >> I thought the whole side was no parking, but >> I don't think so. >> Well, only a few spots. >> Can I call on Margaret or >> that was uh And there are a couple of street uh meters still out on the street polls. Um along the park on North 7th Street there are a couple and there are >> I don't know what you're talking about. >> Parking meter poles >> or parking meter pipes. >> Oh okay. >> Three foot pipes. >> Yeah. >> Um it was just asked if put it back on the list of >> Yeah. When I sure >> when we get to it >> I'm sure there's somewhere on this. Yeah. On a rainy day. >> Gotcha. Cool. So listen to me,
44:26>> right? Margaret, would you like to ask a question of Rob or any other? >> Yeah. No, I do I have a I have a comment. Uh while Rob is still there and Nick is there, um I want to go back to the pocketbook factory lease. um Rob before Nick came on board when we met at the firehouse and um that you know the lease situation there was a lease ready to be signed but DPW had not been included and the firehouse had not been included and so forth and so we had to go back to amending the lease. Um this is a process question. Um I spoke with Sean Roland a couple of weeks ago on you know what are the next steps here. um they have identified as you had talked about earlier a certain area that they are I think it's 36 parking spaces they now have to go before the planning board. My question probably mainly to you Rob is um do I need to now bring the lease agreement before the council so
45:30that we can approve the lease because they are not going to want to do any work and spend any monies until the lease is agreed to or do I need to wait until the planning board approves the site plan before we approve the lease? What what is the flow there? You I'm sure you I'm sure you recall that conversation at the far house. >> Yeah, I just I I was a little confused at the conversation then and I I am right now. I mean, they have a you guys have a lease. All that happened was we hadn't the city hadn't deposited their check while the stuff was still kind of in in limbo. But I mean, I believe you have a lease that's in force. Like I said in the very beginning, the the layout that was included was not for design. They they they still had a review process they have to do with the planning board. So I don't know that anything I don't believe anything with the lease itself has changed. I think you >> Well, no actually actually it was because the original lease gave them more spaces and was for a higher dollar amount per year and so now that they
46:35have been reduced to 36 spaces. Uh the dollar amount is going to change and I do not believe that uh the city the council signed off on that lease. So maybe the most efficient thing is for you, me and and Nick to just have a meeting and figure out, okay, what what are what do we need to do here? Uh we still have not cash that check because the amount is actually going to change because they reduce the number of spaces. >> Well, I mean I I I don't like to have legal discussions on a public forum necessarily. >> No, it's not a legal conversation. I It's a process question. I would say the the price is the price. Whether you get 50 spots or whether you get 40 spots, you're getting spots and you're getting a solution. I mean, I don't think anywhere in the lease agreement it said you got a per spot lease. You got they had an annual lease for a a a lot for a location close to their uh their facility. I I if you guys want to lower the price, >> then that's
47:37I no I I am just I'm just saying that when I was >> I don't know if he's asked for that. I know he's asking for that, but that's, you know, okay. >> So, I think Rob, I think the best thing would be since Nick was not on board at code at the time would be if the three of us get together to just make sure that we know what the ver what the appropriate steps are because back in December when we met, one of the things that Craig pointed out was that this should have gone to code and then code would have asked for a site plan and the site plan would have to be approved. So, I just want to make sure that we move forward on this and that whatever the council needs to do to approve the lease, we do in a timely fashion. So, I think I think the most efficient thing is for you, me, and Nick to meet and just make sure we're we've got it in order. As far as the money is concerned and the pricing, we don't that's not my concern. My concern is the process. >> We The three of us can just have a we we'll just do a conference call. I believe Nick's already started that
48:39other process, but that's we can meet. I'm back next week. >> Okay, sounds good. All right, let's let's just reconnect next week. Thank you very much. That's all I have. >> You're welcome. >> Yep. >> Um, you have another hand? >> Yeah. >> Um, is it Bill? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, one question. Bill, two minutes. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Actually, two questions if I could. Won't take more than two minutes. Um, Rob, I'm curious if you're aware of the badly cracked sidewalks on both sides of the Ferry Street Bridge that appeared, well, to me, they appeared a couple months after the bridge was opened. And I've noticed them worsening, especially on the north side, the the sidewalk on the north side of the bridge. I'm wondering if you're aware of it. >> Uh, no. >> But you did an inspection, didn't you? Uh the engineers did the inspections. >> You took some pictures. So now that you're aware of it, will you go take a look at it and make sure that uh it's
49:42it's not going to fall apart prematurely on us and that we'll have to pay to repair it. >> Sure. >> Sure. Thank you. >> Maybe next year, next month, you'll get back to us. >> And I'm also wondering about the steps. I'm also wondering about the steps to Prominade Park which are full of stains again that you said a year ago last February you had uh averted a crisis uh when you figured out what the problem was but the problem has recurred Rob. So uh no crisis was averted. Is there a reason that the stains keep coming back? >> I believe it's just the mortar coming from it. But we just we cleaned it last year. We just clean it again this year. So, so, so you're satisfied with the job that Kolaruso did, even though the the the grout or whatever you're calling it is failing. >> I don't know that that's failing. It's just >> Did you expect the stains to show up on the stairs, Rob? >> Well, I expect to have to maintain the stairs. >> Did you expect a back and forth? >> Did you expect the stains, Rob?
50:46>> Of course. aware of this and um if later on uh after we cover some more issues, you want to ask another question on a different topic, uh we'll return. Uh Rooney, you have any questions? You all good? >> No, I I actually just wanted to say I did actually uh once Bill sent that um concern about the cracked sidewalks. It's like hairline, you know, cracks. It's not like, you know, cracked with gaps. uh Bill or Rob if that makes a a difference but I will say there are some you can see it especially when it's like rained uh it's drying you can see the cracks >> all right thank you >> uh we have one in the room here >> yeah with the uh sweeper coming back online what do you think uh you're going to be doing Colombia the street sweeping >> well Columbia we do the one side uh almost every night >> but the other one with the >> yeah The other one is problematic. We have to actually put out no parking signs a couple days in advance. But yeah, we usually do that in the spring
51:50because it's got all the schmutz there from the winter. >> That could be soon. >> That could be soon. Yeah. You're not parked there again, are you? >> Not planning. >> Okay. >> Move. You got the time to move to move to the parking lot because it's getting to the point where we're going to be moving those vans. So, all right. I mean, meeting trucking. Um, Nick, >> you got it. >> Thank you for coming. >> Yeah. >> Um, nice to have you and glad helpful. >> It did be efficient. We're just going to jump right to you and uh you have places to be. We can talk about the rest after, but what do you you have things you want to talk about? >> I didn't know I was supposed to. No, >> no, it's fine. We're first time here. We've got some ideas and some >> Yeah, I'll uh let's take any concerns, questions, anything that I can >> anything. I wasn't prepared to unload on you guys. >> That's perfect because >> we don't necessarily know what is going
52:53to fit you best and what is going to work for your schedule. So Rob brought this up just before the meeting started that you are since you are one of our chief safety officers fire police and you um and in my in my past experience code has never come to a committee or was ever asked to come to a committee other than historical preservation. Um, so maybe it's not, we don't really know where the best fit is yet or maybe it is a fluctuating fit between safety and DPW depending on your availability and what issues we have at hand. Um, but since he brought this up at the beginning, I thought, well, actually, maybe that might be better to have uh Chief Hoffman, um, Michanda, and yourself in the room at one time to tackle those potential safety issues or to talk to each other in a faster pace since we'll be in the same room. Um, well, that was that was where I was going to ask what
53:56maybe maybe it's a little too early. Um, >> I have I have two thoughts because you have two jobs. You're the building inspector and the code enforcement officer, right? I mean, I don't say they're two jobs. It just it's coded for it's >> but but they're different, right? >> So, I like to think that we're also your conduit to making things better. If you see things that are challenging you, >> things that about the building inspection process or whatever that you need the common council to address or would like to talk about, >> I would think this would be a forum for you to do that. Um, I think the push for today was a lot to do with Buckwood Factory and that's why it was discussed to go to the safety meeting and as Henry said to have everyone in the same room >> um to address them and I think mostly we're talking about noise. >> Yeah. Um, I guess I don't know if parts parking wouldn't necessarily fit, but the noise concern uh and I don't know if it's
54:59something we should go into or but >> it's floating out there. >> I I have been taking some readings around town to see how they compare. Um, I'm still working on getting that stuff, but when it's finalized, I can give you guys a report as to my findings on it. >> Yeah. >> Okay, great. Um, parking again, it's not my >> No, I didn't think so. >> Yeah, it's not my department. Um, but I do notice a difference in parking, especially at night. It's hard to find a parking spot in that area. >> Yeah. >> Um, I think I communicated once and one had an issue that's been popping around in my head. It's about fire safety. and we've had a number of fire incidents over the past few years here in Unen and um I'm interested in whatever we can do between yourself and the fire department about getting more and more smoke detectors tested and make sure they're on every floor and outside every bedroom and work out basically. >> Yeah. Well, we do that now for um
56:02commercial buildings and multif family buildings and stuff like that. Um, >> when you say you do them, do you do it more often than just on building permits or when do you do them? >> Every year. >> Um, there's different stipulations for different type of occupancy and stuff like that. Um, some are annually, some are every few years and so on. >> Okay. >> Um, but we do have a building safety um officer in the department that his sole job is to go around and do fire safety inspections. >> Okay. >> Um, >> on that note, Jason, can I add something? Oh yeah, please go ahead. >> Um, so, uh, I guess maybe larger cities, but like c certain cities, uh, they have what's like a residential occupancy permit for especially for really for rental units. Um, and that's usually a checks and balances kind of situation. It's like a check-in. you um like for example, Albany has it for every two years you have to renew it and it's only like 30 bucks and that's that's like a checkpoint for apartments to get
57:06inspected by code enforcement and they have to have a occupancy permit in order to rent it out rent it out legally. Does people do it without it? It's just another way for the city to check it. Especially um for example um uh what's it called? um when you want to get rid of a tenant, the first thing the judge will ask is do you have a permit? So that's another way of like enforcing for example, you know, do you have enough smoke detectors? Um at the same time, there's other safety risks that code could be checking that would be in addition to a building permit would be something that's whether it's every two years or every 5 years. Is that something Nick might be or Nick and his office might be able to take on or is that something that we could be looking into? Um just question and proposal I guess. >> Uh well we do have uh building registrations that happen um every so often. I'm not sure exactly what the timeline is on it right now. Um, I suppose it could be something to be
58:11considered in the future. Um, that we do a a walkthrough of the buildings that aren't on our fire safety inspections uh to just like you said, make sure that they have >> working smoke detectors and right >> and it's and it's an ad hoc meaning like the property owner is essentially requesting it by requesting the residential. So it's not on you guys to like show up randomly who has whoever has these. They would renew it. They would pay for whatever the fee may be and they would have a residential occupation, right? And because of that you would inspect it for whatever the code is for the you know housing unit. >> Um and do you think that should be a mandatory inspection in your opinion? >> To be don't nod your head. say a lot. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> I think it should be mandatory for people that are renting out properties. I think it's a good way for the city to ensure that
59:14landlords are being good to their tenants. >> Don't we already kind of have? >> Yes. >> Everything but a single family is a mandatory single family and double family. Yeah. Anything with three units or more uh gets an inspection like that. and all commercial. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> I guess the one specific incident on my mind is the Wonderbar. >> What happened there with with alarms? I mean, I know it's anything. It I have no idea exactly what happened, but could it have been prevented with better alarming? >> I think that worked. >> Did it save >> the building there too? Gone out safely. >> Um that was before my tenure. So >> anyway, if it comes to your mind, just know we're interested ideas. >> Um you talk to fire and >> you know because sometimes it takes a code change us to do work on a code change or budgets or things we can help with that. Okay.
1:00:15>> Um two two things about signs. By coincidence on my way here it looks like a truck hit the sign at Green Street Delhi today. And the reason I bring it up is it looks like it's tilting and it could be dangerous. The bright one. >> Yeah. >> The green street though. >> Flashy over bright visited recently. >> Oh, it's >> okay. >> Um and then other >> maybe pissed off neighbor. >> It looked like I got hit high. >> Yeah. >> So it had been a box truck or something. >> Yeah. Um, new sign on Third Street. Is it on the youth department or next door? Like it's like a cable is there was a whole wall of blue about the lighted sign in the historic district across the street, but there's a >> there's a there's a new sign that's like Hudson Cable that >> Well, has it changed about it? because
1:01:19it's flashing effectively brighter. They have changed it. >> They might that is not allowable. >> Yeah. I didn't know anything about this. >> Perfect. Well, >> and before you got >> because the neighbor across the street went through >> Yeah. >> All kinds of those in town that were not approved. >> There's that one. There's the one at Ka on the 100 block of Warren Street. That is in your name. >> Yes. >> And uh that one snuck through HPC. They were denied and they put it up anyhow. But that was right before Craig left. So, >> but then HPC agreed to it. They did. Check it out. >> I will because it is against >> now. There's um I don't know that there's a code developed as to how bright these things can be. Um there is >> what the lumens are are there? >> Well, not lumens, but there's lot there's about six codes. I've looked into it. Brightness of because it's
1:02:23distracted driving. >> It's not a it's not a lumens. It's a judgment call, >> but um Green Street Deli has been keeping theirs dimmer, but the flashing is a concern that specifically in the code. Mhm. >> Um the closeness to corners. >> Um >> but you said there's nothing on brightness itself. >> It just says bright enough to be a distraction, >> which at times they are. >> Yeah. >> When they keep it dim, it's not. >> But it might be something that we have to actually have a level for. >> Yes, that would be a good point. The set of set of brightness, >> right? Uh because we kind of went through this at HBC the other day. when somebody um applied for a illuminated sign and it was just a dimly lited sign but no nobody what does that mean? >> Yeah, >> you know. >> Yeah, >> that's to I guess my discretion to decide if it's dimly lit or not. There should be an actual >> Yeah, it's similar to we have a decel
1:03:25level and our decel meter anything that isn't because they have movements are measured in candle power so it's pretty easy to measure that. >> Yep. There's meters. >> Um but I I'm concerned about the Green Street Valley one being unsafe right now. >> Okay. There's the other one that's unsafe. That reminds me I went to the liquor store across the street from the Green Street Deli the other day because they have that sign that's >> over in the parking lot there. But I got to find I got to find out who the owner is to get a hold of him to get that out of there. to pull it out myself. >> Yeah. Um, so that's those are some thoughts on my on my mind for you. >> They went to jail. >> Okay. Well, >> we'll just have them pick it up. >> I'm sure that wouldn't be missed. >> The one on the the card. >> Yeah. >> By the Yeah. >> Yeah. That's Wait. >> Anything online? >> Yeah. You got Margaret. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, uh, if I if I could speak for It's not Jenn.
1:04:28>> Hi Jenny. We're gonna Margaret. Jenny's been waiting patiently. We missed her behind Dwan's head. >> Hi Margaret. Um I don't know if there is um I I read the code for the the decibel amount that that becomes illegal and they know that code enforcement and uh the police are the only people that can enforce >> uh that particular uh code. Um, is there any does it say anything about the length of time a certain sound goes on? >> Yeah, I'll read it to you. >> Okay. I can't I couldn't remember because it may be a sound that continues for a long time and drives them crazy. >> Right. I think dogs barking over 15 minutes. >> Is that what you mean? 10. You know, I I'm thinking specifically about the book factory again because um I know that the sounds that they're dealing with go on
1:05:33for hours and hours and hours and hours. >> And as someone who used to live above a club, >> I understand how bad that can make you feel like it can make you >> Yeah. >> crazy. Um, and again, don't know if you had heard me before, I have been going around and taking decimal meetings, and that also includes while they're having parties at the um, pocket of the factory. >> Okay, great. >> Good. I can't wait to see what you came up with. >> I did some research into other cities and what they're doing about sound and there is such a thing as droning sounds. >> Okay. >> And usually it refers to HBAC, >> right? And um so I've gathered a couple of other areas in New York City as the most stringent one and so it's we could consider changing the code but currently we I don't think our code match addresses that. >> Yeah. Okay. I was just curious.
1:06:35>> Would you agree it doesn't address it all? >> Yeah. >> But we could. >> Yeah. >> As a that's important to do. I mean considering how many people are being affected by It does not have the time but it is it does do a general u for example it's a reproduction devices which I'm going to say is >> yes yes >> yeah that's a person shall no person operate or cause to be operated or use any sound reproduction device in such a manner as to create an unreasonable noise of course our >> very but to our benefit as it is the interpretation of >> right >> the code enforcement office assumably that could make that determination. Um it is basically repeating that a few times. No person should operate reproductive device in any bus operated by city. So we uh no person in a reproductive device or
1:07:37commercial business for advertising purposes or attaining attention through any performance >> um show or sale of display of merchandise and connection. So it deals generally with trying to attract a customer let's say right but it's relatively big and it it once you read it it's going to make a lot of sense. It's >> I I have read it. just couldn't remember and >> there's no time um for that droning. Um but it does they are in aial district so their level is allowed to be 65. >> They are in a neighborhood >> they are but it is unfortunately zoned >> a commercial >> I don't think it's zon >> it's zon commercial in the center of everything zoned residential non-mixing. Yeah, they kind of have a little bump out that goes around them. >> And this is going back to >> However, I I have been taking readings from the commercial district that they're in and how it's affecting your
1:08:39residential district as well. >> Okay? >> Because it because it also says that the readings, the measurements have to be taken from the area of complaint. Okay? And >> so I can't just be >> right >> sitting right in my office which is on the other side of it but >> where the actual complaints are coming. So like Neil's backyard for example is at a standing level of I think it's two dB above and right at 55 which is the allowable in a residential backyard which is depends on the noise uh whatever that >> at day or night at at night it's 45 dB and during the day it's 55 dB. So for him, he has 55 during the day sustained >> and at night it doesn't drop, >> right? >> And >> so that's and it also can be five dB above the ambient noise levels, which is why I've been going around and taking
1:09:43those ambient noise readings so we have something to compare it to. Because if, for example, I'm saying a a random number, if I'm getting 40 decimals around the rest of that neighborhood >> and we're at 45 in your particular neighborhood, then they would be violating that ordinance. >> Okay, great. >> Great. >> It's being if there if that's going on. It does have some the language in it is pretty clear on what happens to someone when they get in trouble for it. >> Uhhuh. >> It immediately goes to a fine and up to 15 days in jail. There's no wiggle room after like the first offense. It's the repetitive. We I mean I don't think we've ever really enforced this. The city's probably never done that. >> The police probably have. I'd imagine. hopefully um I but it's it's just you know protecting the quality of life and
1:10:46hopefully having that language enforced doesn't need to be pushed any farther. >> Okay. Um Margaret, are you still looking to ask a question? Sorry. Thank you for waiting. >> Yeah. So, first of all, Nick, uh I want to thank you so much for coming this evening and um we'll figure out whether the appropriate forum is this meeting or whether it's the safety meeting, but I really really appreciate you taking the time to meet with us. Um my main concern about having you uh attend is so that you know as council members we obviously have no enforcement authority but we get questions and issues from constituents on a regular basis and part of what we do is help constituents navigate the system, navigate city hall. And you know about 10 days ago, I sent out an email to everybody. I included you on it where I had to go back and research what was the actual certificate of occupation uh
1:11:52for the for and I'm not I don't want to talk specifically about pocketbook factory but I had to go back and get the facts get that information out to the council members in the fourth and fifth wards which is where they that's the constituents who are uh within the within the wards of the pocketbook and so it's incredibly helpful to us to have you there to um give us the actual facts. Um you know so that when when an issue comes up we can say hey we're getting this complaint from we have an issue with this resident that resident whatever um so that we can get the you know the the the real data on what is appropriate what's not appropriate. Uh there is one thing that has been not addressed quite some time I think in Hudson which is uh vacancy and we can take that up at another time. We have a number of properties that are vacant and I'm not sure that uh notices have been
1:12:58sent out to owners of vacant properties. We do have it in our code that um there are you you're you have to pay a certain penalty for every year that a house is vacant and so forth. And so we can take that up at another time, but I think having you able to come and brief us on what's going on and give us um the perspective from code on what you know what is appropriate, what is not appropriate so that we can surface to you, hear the things we're hearing from residents and then you can address them is incredibly helpful. Excuse me. Very, very, very helpful. And again, I just want to really thank you for coming tonight. I really appreciate it. >> Well, you're welcome, but you don't have to thank me. Um, coming here has been helpful to get some insight on how other things are working in the city with uh DPW and and whatnot. Um, in terms of the vacancies, um, that is something that I do have my eye on and I plan to be
1:14:01diligent with. Um, so that is definitely something that we can work on. >> Yeah. And I and if there's stuff that the c what the council can do where needed is um modify code, update things, um you know, as we respond to resident concerns and so forth, we can work with you to make the code um clearer and um unambiguous and enforceable. And so again, I just want to thank you for coming tonight. I really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. >> Um, Bill, thank you for your uh concise questions last time. Would you like to ask another of Nick or anyone else here? >> Yeah. Um, I I was hoping to talk about vacant buildings actually. So, I'll cut it short um since Margaret's brought it up. And I do hope that uh this issue is uh more and more a part of these meetings. uh seems to have fallen by the
1:15:06wayside completely. I just uh I just want to let you know what I'm surrounded by here at 558 State Street. 614 State is a Galvan property. There's a house in the alley, there's a house in the front. Um uh Galvin bought it whatever 8 n 10 12 years ago and nobody's lived in it since then. They put a fence around it recently because somebody had been breaking in to the house and sleeping in it, a homeless person. Then they were sleeping on the porch. Now there's a fence around it. We don't need this in our neighborhood. This is not something anybody wants to live across from, near, walk by, anything. It's a disgrace. And it seems to me that nothing, absolutely nothing is being done about that building. On the other side of 558 to the west is 538 State Street. It's one of the larger properties in this uh neighborhood on certainly on this block. Big yard, big house, big garage in the back. Last week, uh uh finally after 7 months, a mattress was finally removed
1:16:10from behind the garage along the alley. It's a vacant property. It is, in my estimation, more than a vacant property. It's abandoned. They never sweep the snow off the shovel of snow off the sidewalk. I am constantly calling code enforcement to remind them that the grass has not been cut. Uh the house is a disgrace. We don't need it in the neighborhood. We this this the owner of this property needs to be paying a a an annual or a monthly fee or something so that they eventually decide to sell the house and somebody buys it and somebody lives in it. I mean this is the idea behind the vacant building registry. I want to give you just one more vacant vacant building if I could. The former church, the former church at 6th and Rope Alley uh hasn't had a service center for five four or five years after there was a fire in the uh in the attic that I I basically uh foretold about a week before it happened. I warned court enforcement that there were people
1:17:12living in the attic and st sure enough there was a fire and it h and it's been closed down and vacant since. They haven't had a service there. There's four abandoned vehicles in the back. There's an active dumpster behind a vacant building that is emptied every week by a garbage company and it's overflowing. This is a huge problem that is being >> Bill stop. >> Um, thank you for bringing these to my attention. I just wanted to make sure here I've got a 614 state, 538 state, and six and rope alley church. Correct. >> Yes. Um, all right. Bill 64. None of us none of us want these vacant buildings just sitting around and rotting. So, thanks for bringing it to my attention and I will look into it and take action if I can. >> Okay. Um, and uh even the council president was is into this issue. So, thank you. Anyone else online? Okay. Um, Nick, thank you. Uh, just got a couple things to discuss with the people here.
1:18:15You're welcome to stay, but >> I'll hang out a little bit. Yeah, just thank you though. >> Um, >> giving me the option. >> Yeah. Well, everyone, uh, I just want to point out to people online that Dewan had a meeting at 7 he had to get to. So, um, just update that, uh, the Hudson Valley River Greenway grant that we applied for, we should hear by June 1st. We may even hear the last week of this month. Um that is to uh do some studying of one-way streets at Seventh and Parkplace around the public square and to also do some engineering design at uh the intersection that is the triangle of death near the hospital. I'm just calling it that. That's what I've heard others call it. Um along the lines, Labella who's who we're working with has created a brief survey to get the priorities of the um community. I have a link here that is going to be posted on
1:19:23Hudson Hub tomorrow. I will send that link at least to Carol I think is online. I'll send that later tonight um and try to get it out. Otherwise, I did not I I'll put this document also in the uh the agenda in the um folder online uh tomorrow. I didn't get it out uh before the meeting. We talked about no turn on red earlier. It's just clear that we need signage if we're going to do it. We can't do it citywide. Um I'll include the list of intersections to dis for the discussion. Um, and then the next meeting I have to miss. It's uh end of school year. My son is graduating high school. There's a conflict and Henry has agreed. Um, I think it's June 8th. >> Yes. >> Congratulations. >> Lead that meeting. Thank you. And graduate of high school. >> Um, any other general comments? Anyone
1:20:27online that wants general comment for this committee? Congratulations on your son graduating high school. >> Thank you. We're very happy. Uh Henry, would you like to make a motion? >> I actually have one more addition. >> Okay. >> Because signs have been in front of me in this book. And I think everybody might have noticed how many, and not to make your day any busier, coming up, how many signs we have posted um on street lamps and street polls uh that are coming like the two guys, two movers, two brothers moving and cars for cash. >> Okay. >> Um those are in fact illegal and um against code and we can find them. uh appropriately. So they don't call >> the number see if we get them to come through. >> So much easier. Yes. >> Um and I did find the one in here that says uh flashing or interfering signs prohibited. No illuminated sign shall be of the flasher type.
1:21:29>> So any illuminated sign that changes a marquee not allowed. >> Yeah. They're more the code actually reads more like a you know um have a light shining on the sign rather than an internally illuminated sign. Yes, you know, thank you for being very much. >> It is flash. >> And that being said, I do make a motion. Ronnie, if you second that second. All right, we're going to adjourn. Good night, everyone. >> Have a good night. >> Good night.
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