At a glance
The Common Council held an informal meeting June 15, covering contracts for the D Warehouse sale, updates on senior center programming and youth camp, and a long list of budget amendments and resolutions headed for next week's vote. Members also discussed the Mill Street property sale and developer obligations, parking revenue consolidation, and the need for more regular property tax reassessments. No votes were taken.
D Warehouse Sale Contract Revisions
The president reported on a June 5 meeting with Hudson Brewery to revise the contract for the D Warehouse sale. Two issues were raised: defining stabilization clearly and ensuring the use as a brewery is written into the contract. Revisions are in progress; the contract may come to vote next month.
Key points
- The original contract had a penalty clause for stabilization without a clear definition of what stabilization means.
- The president asked that the contract specify the building will be used as a brewery, since that use was the basis for selecting this buyer through the RFP process.
- The buyer was fine with both changes; the city attorney and buyer's attorney are now working on a revised contract.
- Right of first refusal was discussed; the buyer is open to it, though it may be easier to include in the deed than the contract.
- The contract was not ready for signature last month; the hope is to bring a final version to vote in July.
The contract timeline was compressed by Memorial Day and the president's travel; the June 5 meeting was the earliest they could meet.
DPW and Infrastructure Report
The DPW committee reported the city did not receive the Hudson Valley Greenway grant, but is pursuing other grants for the hospital intersection pedestrian safety. The sewer project on Columbia Street will require larger excavations than expected; planning is underway to keep truck detours on the eastern route rather than through residential streets.
Key points
- The city's application to Hudson Valley Greenway was not funded; the agency said it prioritized broader city-wide projects over specific site projects this year.
- The city applied for the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant and will continue pursuing funding for the hospital intersection and park pedestrian safety.
- The sewer project on Columbia Street will have larger excavations than originally thought, 8 feet wider, and catch basins are 12 feet instead of 4 feet.
- DPW is planning traffic flows to avoid sending trucks down State and Third Streets; the goal is to keep detours on the eastern truck route.
- Sewer revenue for the month was $54,000.
The county provided an intersection study to the police captain within the last week; the data is available for review.
Safety Committee Report
The safety committee reported on code enforcement joining meetings, fire department updates, parking kiosk installation, and speeding enforcement. Code enforcement is working on a vacancy list and needs clarification on demolition policy. The fire boat is in service, a new truck arrives next week, and parking kiosks begin installation this week.
Key points
- Code enforcement has 50 properties on the vacancy list, but needs clarification on how to handle properties that require demolition before proceeding.
- The fire boat is operational; the new fire truck was delayed for repairs and lettering and should arrive next week.
- The sheriff's speed radar trailer is deployed on upper Warren Street; average speed recorded is 25.1 mph.
- Parking kiosks begin installation this week, making it easier for visitors to pay without using phones or hunting for change machines.
- Basilica responded apologetically about the cannabis event two months ago that had problems, and said they will do better in the future.
- The two permanent speed radar units and the portable one will all be upgraded to collect data through web-based training with HPD.
A member suggested bollards to protect the kiosk at the Moto location, which costs $10,000 to replace if hit. The suggestion will be added to the project list.
Services Committee Report
The services committee reported the senior center still has no commissioner and limited programming. A tenant survey is planned for July 13 at Bliss Towers to ask about transportation barriers to the senior center. Youth camp has 145 kids signed up, staff hired, and a waiting list; the swim dock is damaged and half must be repaired.
Key points
- The senior center has no commissioner; consistent programming is limited to the county program from 9 AM to 1 PM (board games and food) and the youth department's 3 to 5 PM use.
- Outdoor aerobics and Zumba are running; the committee wants to see more programming.
- A survey will be conducted July 13 at Bliss Towers tenant appreciation day, 1 to 4 PM, asking about transportation to the senior center.
- Youth camp has seven part-time staff transferring from the regular program, eight new part-time hires, and a part-time camp director for the six-week program.
- 145 kids are signed up for camp; there is a waiting list.
- The swim dock is damaged, likely from being left in the water over winter for the first time in 10 years; the dive team will retrieve it for repair with no firm timeline.
- Swimming is open Thursday to Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM; during camp hours (starting soon), open swim will be 3 to 7 PM.
- Swimming lessons for babies and kids will be offered 9 AM to 12 PM during camp hours.
This was the first year in 10 years the dock was not removed for winter. A resident said the damage was almost certainly caused by ice forming around and under it.
State Department of Health regulations require the camp to be a closed site during camp hours. Only campers and staff can be on site for safety, though swimming lessons are offered 9 to 12 AM.
Fingerprinting and Background Checks for Youth Staff
All youth department staff over 18 are fingerprinted electronically through a continuous criminal background check system. If a staff member is arrested after being fingerprinted, the department is alerted immediately. The youth department has a budget line to cover the cost, around $95 per person.
Key points
- Fingerprinting is now electronic and instant, not ink and roll.
- Everyone over 18 currently employed at the youth department has been fingerprinted.
- The system is a continuous criminal background check (CBC): if a staff member is arrested after fingerprinting, the youth director receives an alert.
- The requirement was enacted after incidents at the youth department years ago.
- The youth department budget covers fingerprinting costs, approximately $95 per person.
Plastic Business Signs on Utility Poles
A resident raised the issue of plastic business signs appearing on National Grid utility poles around town. Code enforcement was notified in May but has not followed up. The code allows fines up to several hundred dollars per sign; DPW may need to remove them directly.
Key points
- Plastic business signs on wooden utility poles owned by National Grid have appeared around town, starting late last year and increasing in recent months.
- The issue was brought to code enforcement in May; the code enforcement officer did not attend the June committee meeting, so there was no follow-up.
- The code allows fines of several hundred dollars per sign.
- Code enforcement reached out to businesses but has not circled back; the office is currently overwhelmed.
- A member will follow up with code enforcement tomorrow to check on progress.
Resolutions for Next Week's Vote
The council reviewed a long list of resolutions to be voted on at the June 23 regular meeting. These included commissioner of deeds, a contract for property tax reassessment, budget amendments, an IDA appointment (with two candidates), utility cost recovery, LGBTQ Pride Month designation, CSEA contract fund transfers, and insurance renewals.
Key points
- A resolution authorizes the mayor to sign a contract with Columbia County Real Property Tax Service for a citywide reassessment; the last one was in 2018-2019.
- The timing is delayed because the county tax service agency has other municipalities booked ahead of Hudson.
- State funding is available for cities that commit to a four-year reassessment cycle: $5 per parcel in reassessment years, $2 per parcel in between years.
- Members urged the city to move up in the queue and to consider codifying regular reassessments to avoid political delays; the cost of legal fees from welcome stranger lawsuits far exceeds the cost of regular reassessments.
- Two community members, Michael and Vicki Dash-Moody, have put their names forward for appointment to the IDA; both will present at the June 23 meeting, and the council will vote.
- A budget amendment covers the 2024 senior center utility expense shortfall.
- A resolution designates June 2026 as LGBTQ Pride Month in Hudson.
- A resolution transfers funds from contingency into personal services lines to cover the final CSEA union contract (the contract had not been finalized when the budget was adopted, so estimates were placed in contingency).
- A budget amendment provides funding for a $879.45 longevity payment to the housing director (a one-time payment every five years of service).
- A resolution consolidates two meter parking revenue lines into one for bookkeeping simplicity, now that the city has moved to the new kiosk system.
- Resolutions increase petty cash for DPW by $100 and for Treasury by $400.
- A resolution establishes standard workdays for titles in the New York State Retirement System (a bookkeeping requirement).
- A resolution authorizes the mayor to accept a renewal proposal from Marsh Sterling for multiple insurance policies.
The original parking committee proposal had each block as its own zone, allowing data collection on where people parked. The system now has only two zones, so the city cannot track movement from block to block or identify pressure points.
The HCD grant may not have enough money to fund another year of the housing director position; the mayor and Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency will need to discuss where the position will be funded going forward.
Local Law Process and Email Delivery
The council discussed the process for providing local laws to members. New York State law allows three methods: laying on desks seven days before a meeting, mailing 10 days before, or emailing if every member has an email address posted publicly and the legislative body unanimously adopts email delivery. The council will vote next month to adopt email delivery.
Key points
- For the last four or five years, the council has not been receiving physical copies of local laws.
- State statute governs how local laws are delivered: laying on desks seven days before (not counting Sundays), mailing 10 days before (not counting Sundays), or emailing if every member has a public email address and the body unanimously adopts email delivery.
- A resolution next month will ask for unanimous consent to switch to email delivery, eliminating the need for paper copies.
- The public hearing on video conferencing is scheduled for next week; the council is moving to authorize video conferencing by resolution rather than local law for greater flexibility.
Waterfront Rezoning Petition and Planning Board Referral
The council will take up a rezoning petition for a small parcel at the waterfront next month. The petition consolidates zoning for multiple properties; one small parcel would be rezoned to match the rest. A proposed local law on short-term rentals requiring local contact has been referred to the planning board and will be discussed in July.
Key points
- The rezoning petition for the waterfront is very small, consolidating one parcel to match the rest of the area.
- The petition will be introduced next month to start the process; it will take a couple of months to move through public hearings and planning board review.
- A proposed local law amending the short-term rental code (requiring all operators to have a local contact) has been sent to the city and county planning boards for review.
- The city planning board asked for a meeting to hear the legislative intent of the law; the meeting is being scheduled for half an hour before their next regular meeting.
- The planning board will take up the short-term rental amendment in July; the council will not vote until both planning boards have had 30 days to respond (or longer if needed for scheduling).
Mill Street Property Sale and Developer Obligations
A Mill Street resident asked the council to review the contract for the sale of city property to a developer. The closing date was May 3, 2026, and the developer has not closed, putting them in default. The contract and the 2023 legislative resolution tied the sale of Mill Street, State Street, and Rossman Avenue properties together, but the developer has made no progress on State Street or Rossman since receiving funding for Mill Street in March 2025.
Key points
- The contract for the sale of Mill Street property to Community Development had a closing date of May 3, 2026; the developer has not closed and is now in default.
- The January 2023 legislative resolution that authorized the sale conditioned it on developing all three properties: Mill Street, State Street (21 units, daycare, business incubator), and Rossman Avenue (townhomes).
- The developer received an award from HCR in March 2025 for Mill Street but has made no effort to pursue the State Street project (no funding applications, no progress) or the Rossman project since then.
- The resident asked the council to review the contract and consider its options, noting these issues are legislative and not part of the pending Article 78 litigation.
- The president said the council will put the topic on the July agenda for discussion and will request a briefing from the city attorney.
- One member expressed regret over the original resolution and suggested the council discuss whether the situation has changed since 2023.
A resident pointed out that Mill Street is in a flood zone, and the state funding for housing could be moved to other pre-approved sites in Hudson that are not in flood zones and do not have deed and environmental concerns.
The resident clarified that the Article 78 case is limited to the planning board action and the status of the property as parkland; the contract terms and the developer's obligations on the other properties are not part of the lawsuit and are within the council's authority to review.
Parking Ticket Revenue and General Fund
A resident asked where parking ticket revenue goes. The treasurer confirmed it is a general fund revenue line, not kept by the police department. No city department keeps its revenue unless created as a special fund or district; all revenue is earned on behalf of the city and used to provide services citywide.
Key points
- Parking ticket revenue is a general fund revenue line item, not revenue kept by the police department.
- New York State accounting rules say no city department keeps its revenue unless it is a special fund or district.
- Revenue is earned on behalf of the city and used to provide services across all departments.
Waterfront Building Requirements and Tree of Peace
A member clarified that chapter 325-28 has all building size and zoning requirements for the waterfront and LWRP area, including lot size and viewshed obstruction rules. A resident asked about the status of the Tree of Peace, which was uprooted in late April or early May and is now behind a locked gate; the president said the council will report on the tree's location and status at the next meeting.
Key points
- Chapter 325-28 contains all building size, lot size, and viewshed obstruction requirements for the waterfront and LWRP area.
- Any project in that area must follow those rules or seek a variance.
- The Tree of Peace was uprooted in late April or early May and was untended for two weeks until a resident took action.
- The tree is now behind a locked gate and not accessible to the public.
- The president will look into the tree's status and make an announcement at the next meeting.
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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