Hudson City Council Regular Meeting and Workshop - November 12, 2024

The Hudson City Council held a regular meeting and workshop on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, beginning at 6:15 PM with an executive session to interview applicants for the Charter Review Commission. The public meeting commenced at 7:30 PM and was followed by a workshop that ended at 10:52 PM. Key actions included approving the consent agenda, adopting a resolution to purchase approximately 10.77 acres from Norfolk Southern Railway for a rails-to-trail project, and extensive public testimony on fire/EMS response times. The council also discussed the expiration of a moratorium on marijuana-related activities and agreed to move the item to the November 26 workshop for revision.

Consent Calendar

• Approved by a 7-0 vote, including:
  • Motion 24-0111: Terminate the Job Creation Grant Agreement with Diebold Nixdorf, Inc. due to the entity vacating the project site at 50 Executive Parkway.
  • Resolution 24-128: Authorize a dispatch service agreement with the Village of Peninsula.
  • Resolution 24-129: Authorize a dispatch service agreement with the Valley Fire District.
  • Resolution 24-130: Authorize an intergovernmental agreement with Summit County to move two console positions to the AT&T Vesta Master Service Agreement.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tracey Corpus (7310 Valley View Rd.) questioned why Hudson relies on mutual aid for fire services and suggested a test run to measure actual response times. She also noted house fires on Hudson Aurora Road and Hudson Dr., the latter resulting in a fatality (Ronald Reaney, age 76).
• Katie Mang (2262 Weir Dr.) described her total loss house fire in March 2023. Response times were 11 and 14 minutes for Hudson fire trucks, with first mutual aid arriving at 20 minutes. She reported being labeled as "irate" in official documents and being yelled at by fire personnel upon arrival. She urged acceptance of citizen feedback from the fire/EMS study.
• Samantha D'Eramo (143 Atterbury) stated that Hudson needs a full-time fire department and should implement a hybrid model in the short term, citing an outdated paid-on-call model.
• Matthew D'Eramo (143 Atterbury) shared that his house fire on January 7, 2024, resulted in total loss after a 12-minute response. He argued that the city has known about deficiencies since 2002 and called for a hybrid model, saying "every second counts."
• John Kavulic (386 Atterbury) noted that residents pay high property taxes and expect top-notch public services.
• Katie Madio (135 Atterbury) stated the city has a responsibility to meet minimum standards of a hybrid model.
• Trish Webster (131 Old Orchard Dr.) commented on the censure of Councilmember Kowalski, criticizing Council President Foster's actions and the costs of related lawsuits (over $300,000 settlement to former city manager Jane Howington and an additional $80,000). She urged council to focus on city business.

Discussion Items

• Moratorium on Marijuana-Related Activities (Item 24-0110): The one-year moratorium (Resolution 23-166) expires December 12, 2024. Staff noted that a land development code regulation already directs such uses to District 9 with 500-foot setbacks. Council discussed extending the moratorium to gather public input. Councilmember Banweg noted that 51.8% of Hudson voters approved Issue 2 in the 2023 election, with 14 of 18 precincts in favor, but that a thin majority does not clearly indicate support for local dispensaries. After debate, council agreed to move the item to the November 26 workshop for revision, as the draft resolution contained an error stating Hudson has no planning and zoning framework for marijuana activities, which is factually incorrect.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved (6-1): Minutes of October 5, 12, 15, and 22, 2024, were approved with Councilmember Kowalski voting nay.
• Proclamation: Recognized America Recycles Day (November 15, 2024). Dr. Joseph Ortiz, Chair of the Environmental Awareness Committee, accepted.
• Resolution 24-121 Adopted (7-0): Authorized the City Manager to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for approximately 10.77 acres at a total cost of $540,000 ($510,000 for property, $30,000 for railroad abandonment) for a future rails-to-trail project.
• Other Legislation (Readings):
  • Second readings: Resolutions 24-124 (East Hudson Hills signs), 24-126 (Five-Year Plan 2025-2029), and Ordinance 24-125 (vacation of Harding Boulevard), 24-127 (2025 budget appropriations).
  • First readings: Resolution 24-131 (not implementing Growth Management Allocation System in 2025), Resolution 24-132 (Walk and Bike Hudson Plan 2026-2030), Ordinance 24-133 (releasing reservation strip in Pine Trails Subdivision).
• Executive Sessions: Two executive sessions were held: one for pending litigation (5-0-2, with Kowalski and Sutton abstaining) and one for real property transfer (7-0).
• Workshop Actions:
  • Forwarded 10 items to the November 19 consent agenda, including the October 2024 financial report, appointments to the Volunteer Fire Fighters' Dependents Fund Board, and resolutions for tax advances, Blue Creek Wind power purchase (3MW to replace retired landfill green energy), Kiwanis grant ($18,686.11 for shade sail at Veterans Way Park splash pad), leaf disposal contract with Kurtz Brothers, 2025 capital maintenance programs, Hines Hill Road and Valley View Road sidewalk project (5-foot wide sidewalk), pavement road ratings (151 centerline miles), and a then-and-now certificate for $4,501.82 for newsletter labels.
  • Proposed legislation for November 19 includes second/third readings for several items, and a public hearing for Resolution 24-131.
  • The marijuana moratorium resolution will be revised and discussed at the November 26 workshop.