WHAT LIES BEFORE US
The year ahead, indeed, the two-year horizon presents intense work for the Common Council and its
Committees. We can anticipate some questions and issues we will face in carrying out our
responsibilities. Others we will not know in advance but will call on us to focus all our attention. That
is in the nature of our work.
Our roles are in some instances clearly defined; in others we pick up work that needs to be done for
the simple reason that there are precious few hands in City government to tackle the complex
problems of our diverse municipality. We create or amend local laws, and exercise our
responsibilities to oversee revenue and expense changes and land use decisions over the year. We
can also play a role, as we have in assisting the Mayor and the staff of City Departments, their
Commissioners and staffs, in exercising their responsibilities to execute the functions assigned to them.
We are the ear and the voice of the people of Hudson. We are invested in various positive o utcomes
for the City and have knowledge, and time, to assist. We are also largely volunteers.
I have thought since the beginning of my first term that there is little that is as important for us as to
work cooperatively, to be clear with each other where we think issues need to be addressed, where
we agree or differ with each other, and to work at creating the open paths to common goals that will
make these next two years a success for Hudson.
We have been through another of Hudson’s biennial, hotly contested elections. Every two years we
are reminded that we are a democracy, and we practice what our forefathers preached. And at the
end of which we must take a deep breath and refocus our strongest efforts for the common good. It is
a critical part of doing our jobs right to put those contests behind us and build meaningful consensus
on moving forward – as we did over the last two years.
We have that opportunity here in these chambers, working with our new Mayor, who has expressed
his earnest interest in working with us. Let’s build on that momentum
Issues Before Us
There are many issues before us that address improving the prosperity of Hudson and the quality of life for
all our fellow Hudsonians, whether you were born here or decided in only the last few years that this is
where we will put a stake in the ground. We need access to jobs and we need an increase in our tax base,
the kind that comes with expanding businesses. We need to maintain City services during very difficult
economic circumstances. Our Committees will have a good deal of work ready for them on their desks.
Here is a list I shared with Mayor Hallenbeck. It is long, and it is by no means exclusive of other questions.
At present, the two single issues that may provide real opportunity and stability to Hudson are the mixed-
use development of our waterfront, a complex project that will take a decade to complete and will require
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the participation of both the public and the private sector; and the completion of our City-wide property tax
revaluation.
Other issues that we must address and complete include: taxi regulations that allow for transparecy and
consitency in pricing, guarantees that taxis operating in the City of Hudson are properly licensed and
regulated; a new law permanently restrictng truck traffic to and from the port from city and prohibiting
them from our streets; looking further into removing the State Truck Route from Hudson entirely; assembling
our political forces to convince the Congress and CSX to replace the Ferry Street Bridge; monitoring the
progress of the new Hudson Police Department employees contract; establishing contract templates for
Hudson department heads who now function without employment documents; creating more effective
communication strategies for the City to better inform tourists and communicate service issues like snow
emergency instructions to city residents; with the concurrence of the Mayor, the Council can work with the
Commissioners as partners in addressing the needs of their departments.
We can be more proactive in identifying issues and having our committees work to get a better handle on
recommendations for improvements in how our City government can be more effective. A good example is
working toward completing the restructuring of programs and facilities for the City’s Youth and Senior
Citzens.
We can be key informants in working with our grant writers to pursue grants and financing for major
projects such as a new City Court and Police Building, and possibly multi-story parking near the center of the
City; and working with the Mayor on longer term grants strategies through the housing and economic
development agencies of the City: the Hudson Community Planning and Development Agency, The Hudson
Development Corporation, and the Hudson Industrial Development Agency.
Council Organization
In the organization of the Common Council for 2012 and the assignment of Aldermen to Committees and
chairs, I have followed the principles I established two years ago. Each Standing Committee has five
members, each Alderman has no more than one chair, and each Alderman will serve on three committees,
with a few exceptions, to enable each of us to concentrate our talents and attention in specific subject areas.
As will continue to be the case, Aldermen are welcome to attend any committee meeting, and participate
whether in open or executive session.
Thank you for your willingness to serve.
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