Hudson City Council Meeting – February 4, 2025

The Hudson City Council convened at 6:30 p.m. with an executive session to interview a Planning Commission applicant and discuss a public employee's employment and compensation. The regular public meeting began at 7:30 p.m., was recessed at 8:07 p.m. for a second executive session on real estate and pending litigation, and adjourned at 9:50 p.m. All six present council members (one absent) voted unanimously on most items, except where noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (6-0): Resolutions 25-14 (E. Barlow Road trail project bidding), 25-15 (Norfolk Southern agreement amendment for trail engineering), 25-16 (quiet zone administrative agreement with Norfolk Southern), 25-17 (Ohio Rail Development Commission grant agreement for Hines Hill Road grade separation – $2,886,174 grant), 25-18 (authorizing PROTECT grant application for S. Main Street storm sewer project), and 25-20 (then-and-now certificate for $7,200 LEADS annual dues).
• Resolution 25-13 (City Manager employment contract amendment): Removed from consent; passed 6-0 after suspending rules and substituting Exhibit A dated February 4, 2025.
• Resolution 25-19 (Destination Hudson lease termination and asset purchase): Removed from consent; motion to suspend rules failed (4 aye, 2 nay), so it will proceed as a second reading at the next council meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anthony Ravida (1746 Edgar Dr.) spoke about a fence he installed under a permit that passed final inspection on October 3, 2023, but was later told the fence was in the public right-of-way and made of metal (not permitted). He alleged the city manager unilaterally changed permit policy, erased the final inspection record, and engaged in “government overreach.” He read an email from Council President Foster urging staff to investigate the case. He requested council intervention.
• Council responses (during Correspondence & Council Comments):
  • Council Member Banweg asked for a forensic review of the case.
  • Council President Foster stated the fence was incorrectly placed in the public right-of-way and made of metal, which was not approved; the inspector mistakenly pressed a button; and a land-lease agreement was offered but refused.
  • Council Member Goetz shared her own experience signing a lease agreement for a fence encroaching on a drainage easement and encouraged Mr. Ravida to reconsider the land-lease option.
  • Mayor Anzevino also encouraged acceptance of the lease agreement.

Discussion Items

• City Manager’s Report: Mr. Sheridan will provide all information on the Ravida case to council and is working toward a resolution. He noted: city offices closed Feb. 17 (Presidents’ Day); State of the City on Feb. 13; flood studies for three of four August 8 flood areas are complete (fourth expected within two weeks); Tinkers Creek watershed study contract went out; road heaving/subsidence from deep freeze will require crack sealing and patching; and the Fire/EMS study will be discussed Feb. 18 – council members should submit comments within seven days.
• Appointments: Council President Foster appointed Council Member Banweg as council liaison to the Charter Review Commission.
• Legislation (first and second readings):
  • Ordinance 25-12 (Backflow Prevention Program update): Second reading; no vote taken – remains pending.
  • Ordinance 25-21 (Public hearing rules): First reading; referred to Board of Zoning and Building Appeals and Planning Commission (motion passed 6-0).
  • Ordinance 25-22 (Right of public comment at boards/commissions): First reading; no vote taken.
  • Ordinance 25-23 (Streamline parliamentary procedures): First reading; no vote taken.
• Second Executive Session (8:07 p.m. – 9:50 p.m.): Two separate motions were made: first (all council, mayor, solicitor, city manager) to discuss real estate and pending litigation; second (excluding Council Member Sutton from one topic and two members abstaining) to discuss pending litigation. Both motions passed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda items B, C, D, E, F, H approved without objection.
• Resolution 25-13 passed 6-0 as amended (City Manager contract amendment, retroactive).
• Resolution 25-19 failed to obtain suspension of rules (4-2) and will return for second reading.
• Ordinance 25-21 referred to BZBA and Planning Commission for comment.
• Staff directed to provide full records of the Ravida fence case to council.
• Council Member Banweg to serve as Charter Review Commission liaison.