At a glance
The Code and Infrastructure Committee met on June 8, 2026, chaired by Henry Hadad in place of Councilman Foster. DPW Superintendent Rob Perry reported progress on the major combined sewer overflow separation project (95% designed, headed for state review), repairs to the splash pad in the little park (which had been vandalized and damaged), and the start of the seasonal blacktop program. The Hudson Valley Greenway grant application for intersection studies was denied, though the city will try again next round. Committee members discussed missing parking meter poles, the boat float from the 1975 bicentennial (which is structurally compromised and won't be ready for the Flag Day parade), and the recent removal of the so-called Tree of Peace (which had been cut down and found over the hill on May 5).
Roll Call and Septage Revenue Report
Meeting called to order by chair Henry Hadad, substituting for Councilman Foster. DPW Superintendent Rob Perry reported April septage revenue of $54,573, which helps the city meet its annual quota.
Key points
- Attendance: Rob Perry (DPW Superintendent), Dwan Stewart-Sawyer, Henry Hadad (chair), and Ronnie online
- April septage revenue was $54,573, on track with the city's annual goals
combined sewer overflow Separation Project Update
The major combined sewer overflow separation project on Columbia Street is about 95% designed and will be submitted to DEC and EFC for review. The city is working through local details like traffic management, winter shutdown options, and utility conflicts.
Key points
- Design plans are about 95% complete and will be reviewed by DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) and EFC (Environmental Facilities Corporation, the state funding bank)
- Review process will take a couple of months, during which DPW is addressing local issues not requiring DEC sign-off
- Traffic management plan will involve closing blocks of Columbia Street during construction, with stakeholder meetings to plan detours and access for property owners
- Some days, Columbia Street will have 'massive holes' that get filled at the end of the day, making the street temporarily impassable
- DPW is deciding whether to allow winter construction or shut down for a few months during the coldest weather, as asphalt restoration is not possible in winter and cold patch would be ripped up by plows
- Some city water mains are in conflict with the new sewer and will be moved as part of the project at no additional cost to the city
- New sewer structures will be 8 to 9 feet in diameter (versus typical 5-foot manholes) to accommodate 48-inch pipe, requiring careful planning at intersections
DPW referenced allowing Bowen to continue work during winter for National Grid gas line installation, using concrete for temporary restoration to allow plowing after blizzards.
Water System Maintenance and Planning
Water department will flush hydrants next week at night to minimize disturbance. DPW is applying for a community development block grant to study the city's aging water supply infrastructure.
Key points
- Hydrant flushing will take place next week in the middle of the night to avoid disrupting daily use and to prevent discolored water from entering washing machines or cooking water
- If residents get discolored water in the morning, they should run cold water from a fixture without a screen (like a bathtub spigot) for a couple of minutes
- Seasonal maintenance projects are underway at the Churchtown reservoir
- A community development block grant (CDBG) application is in progress for a water supply planning study
- The city's transmission main feeding the water system is 125 to 140 years old, along with much of the original reservoir infrastructure
- Grant would fund a study to gather data needed to apply for future capital grants to upgrade the water supply system
Hudson River Rail Trail Plantings and Repairs
Trees planted along the Hudson River Rail Trail last year survived the summer heat and winter freeze and now have leaves. A subcontractor returned from Louisiana to correct uneven and tipped granite sets that created trip hazards.
Key points
- Trees planted in summer 2025 on the rail trail have new leaves, showing they survived both summer heat and winter freeze
- Photos showed granite paving sets with uneven spacing (gaps ranging from 2-3 inches on one side to sets butting directly together on the other) and tipped heights creating trip hazards
- The Louisiana subcontractor returned to redo the work under warranty, ensuring even spacing, level surfaces, and proper drainage pitch
- The city is withholding $200,000 from the contractor's July 2025 payment until the repair work is complete
- The granite sets are unfinished on all sides, causing natural variation in spacing, but the goal is to keep gaps consistent and relatively even
A separate CAC tree planting project on Harry Howard Avenue had 11 trees (out of 50) that didn't survive and were replaced under warranty.
Boat Float Damage and Shack Collapse at the Waterfront
Cabin 7 at the waterfront collapsed naturally and was scheduled to be demolished but removed from the project scope due to cost. The boat float from the 1975 bicentennial was vandalized and, when moved for repairs, was found to have structural frame damage from age and metal fatigue.
Key points
- A photo circulated on Facebook showed Cabin 7 collapsing into the water
- Cabin 7 was on the original demolition plan for a $115,000 grant-funded waterfront project, but demolishing it alone would have cost $50,000, exceeding the grant amount
- The Department of State would not increase funding, so Cabin 7 was removed from the project scope and left to deteriorate naturally
- Vandals knocked dolphins off the boat float, broke the mast, and carved names into it
- When DPW moved the float from the gun warehouse to the garage for repairs, they discovered the boat was listing and the frame was structurally damaged
- The boat was built in 1975 for the bicentennial on a donated hay wagon, meaning the metal frame is at least 75 years old and subject to metal fatigue
- The boat will eventually be resurrected but not in time for the upcoming semi-quincentennial celebration
DPW is checking with Germantown to see if the city can borrow their hayride float as a backup for the basketball team to ride in the parade, since the half moon boat is broken.
Seasonal Paving and Staffing
The blacktop patching program started in May. Paving requires six or seven crew members, making it difficult now that two positions were eliminated in the 2026 budget.
Key points
- Seasonal blacktop work started in May with crews filling depressions and compacting asphalt with a roller
- Blacktop paving requires the most crew members of any DPW project, at least six or seven people for flaggers, truck driver, roller operator, and workers breaking and spreading blacktop
- Two DPW positions were eliminated in the 2026 budget, making it harder to safely conduct paving work with adequate staffing
CAC Projects and Memorial Tree
The Conservation Advisory Council coordinated two projects: planting saplings at the dog park with donated material from the Homesteads and placing a memorial tree near the pond in the cemetery.
Key points
- Small saplings were planted at the dog park, with mulch to be added around them and grass mowed around the plantings
- Material for the dog park plantings was donated from the Homesteads development and delivered by DPW
- A memorial tree was placed near the pond in the cemetery, with Jean Schetsky helping locate the spot and Billy Fish digging the hole
Crew Safety Training and Cemetery Cleanup
Half the DPW crew will attend safety training in Chatham on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the other half handling essential services like garbage collection. The cemetery was cleaned up for Memorial Day.
Key points
- Two days of safety training this week means little other work will be visible, as half the crew will be in Chatham each day
- While one half of the crew is at training, the other half will handle essential services like garbage collection, then they'll switch days
- Photos showed high grass in the cemetery before Memorial Day and the finished, cleaned-up product after
Fence Damage at Tanbrook Intersection
A fence at the Tanbrook intersection was hit by a car again, the fifth time in the last couple of years.
Key points
- Someone crashed into the fence at the Tanbrook intersection on June 7
- The same intersection has been hit about five times in the last couple of years
Traffic Sign Requests and Coordination
A list of four traffic signs requested at the previous safety meeting was installed quickly, mostly the next day. Future sign requests should be vetted through the police department.
Key points
- Four signs requested last week (one-way and no-right-turn signs) were installed the next day or shortly after
- Installation is straightforward when signs are in inventory and can be mounted on existing posts
- Future traffic sign changes should be discussed with the police department before installation, as traffic control devices requiring enforcement need police sign-off
Hudson Valley Greenway Grant Denied
The Hudson Valley Greenway grant application to study two intersections was denied. The city will reapply in the next round in a few months.
Key points
- The city applied for a Hudson Valley Greenway grant to fund a study of two intersections
- The grant was denied in this funding round
- The Greenway told the city to try again in the next round, which will open in a few months
- The city remains on the list and will reapply
Parking Meter Poles and Police Department Coordination
Two more parking meter poles were found and are ready to be removed, pending a final decision from the police department.
Key points
- Two additional parking meter poles were located and can be removed
- DPW is waiting for the Hudson Police Department to make a final decision on whether the meters should stay or go
- There is ongoing communication between Officer Miller and DPW's Frankie on the matter
- Removing the poles is straightforward once the decision is made
Tree of Peace Discussion
Committee members discussed the timeline of the Tree of Peace disappearance. DPW found the tree over the hill on May 5 after being asked if the department had removed it. The tree is now flourishing with new growth.
Key points
- A committee member asked DPW when it first became aware the Tree of Peace was missing
- Someone from the Conservation Advisory Council contacted DPW on or before May 5 to ask if DPW had removed the tree
- DPW went to the site on May 5 and found the tree over the hill, confirming the department had not removed it
- The Conservation Advisory Council meeting was May 6, the day after DPW found the tree
- One member said the tree is now flourishing with new growth
- Superintendent Perry said he is not involved in high-level discussions about the tree and joked about it being a 'state secret'
- One member called the tree's displacement 'almost an insult' and said it would not happen in many other communities
The transcript does not clarify who removed the tree, where it is now, or what plans exist for it. DPW Superintendent Perry indicated he has not been told details.
Adjournment
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Key points
- Chair asked if anyone online had DPW questions, no one responded
- Motion to adjourn, seconded, approved unanimously
About this page
FUTURE HUDSON is an experiment in civic engagement: every public meeting of the City of Hudson since January 2026, transcribed and made readable, so any resident can follow what the city is deciding without attending every meeting. This page covers one meeting; see the full archive.
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