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Record of Proceedings

Hudson City Council Regular Meeting – April 15, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, April 15, 2025
BodyHudson, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:46:03

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

We're going to go ahead and get started.

0:06

Hello and welcome everyone.

0:08

We did start early tonight with an executive session to interview applicants for boards and commissions.

0:12

As such, we will now resume our normally scheduled public meeting.

0:16

Would like to take a moment and welcome everyone who is here tonight as well as those who may be watching remotely via the HCTV video feed.

0:24

We will resume with section three for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:27

Will you please stand and join me?

0:52

Thank you, everyone.

0:55

We will move on to section four roll call.

0:58

Mrs.

0:58

Wheeler, will you please call the role?

1:00

Mr.

1:00

Banweg.

1:00

Here.

1:01

Dr.

1:01

Bird.

1:02

Here.

1:02

Mr.

1:02

Foster.

1:03

Here.

1:03

Dr.

1:03

Getz.

1:04

Here.

1:04

Mrs.

1:04

Heater.

1:05

Here.

1:05

Mrs.

1:06

Kowalski.

1:06

Here.

1:07

Mr.

1:07

Sutton.

1:07

Here.

1:08

Thank you, Mrs.

1:09

Wheeler.

1:10

We do have a quorum tonight with all seven members of Council present.

1:16

With that, um, in prior discussion with the council member, I would like to offer the floor if there is a motion to be made before we continue.

1:24

I would like to make a motion to reorder the agenda.

1:28

I would like to move section nine, the report of the manager in front of public comments.

1:33

Thank you, Council President Foster.

1:35

Do we have a second to that motion to adjust the order of business tonight?

1:40

Second.

1:41

Thank you, Councillor Byrd.

1:43

Is there any discussion or comment on that motion?

1:47

Council President Foster?

1:48

I simply think it would be helpful to have the report of the manager prior to public comments because of you know some of what happened this past week.

1:57

I think believe the report of the manager will provide the community valuable insight on what occurred.

2:03

Thank you, Council President Foster.

2:05

Any additional comment from council?

2:08

Councilor Sutton?

2:09

Yeah, um, I know the solicitor has okayed this.

2:12

Um I don't personally think we can, so I'm gonna be voting no.

2:17

Um, and I just want to clarify that it's not because I don't want to hear the city manager's comments, I just don't think uh our rules permit it.

2:26

Thank you, Councilor Sutton.

2:27

Is there any additional comments?

2:30

And to that, um, I did do some research earlier today, and uh as counselor Sutton stated that we did talk to the solicitor before this meeting, um read started back at uh after the executive session.

2:42

I'm comfortable with that.

2:44

Uh if there's no further discussion from council, we'll move to a vote.

2:48

Mrs.

2:48

Wheeler, will you please roll call a vote on the motion to rearrange tonight's agenda to put section nine in front of section seven?

2:55

Dr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████████21%
Fire And EMS████████████████████20%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Service Recognition█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Youth Programs████4%
Pending Litigation████4%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Hudson City Council Regular Meeting – April 15, 2025

The Hudson City Council met on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:45 PM for an executive session to interview board and commission applicants, followed by the regular meeting at 7:30 PM at Town Hall. All seven council members were present. The meeting included proclamations, a detailed report on a recent house fire, public comments, appointments, consent agenda approval, and legislative business. Two additional executive sessions on pending litigation were held before adjournment at 9:54 PM.

Proclamations

  • Senator Casey Weinstein was recognized for securing a $680,000 grant for the Hudson Inclusive Playground. Several council members thanked the Senator; he acknowledged bipartisan support and the work of the playground committee.
  • Lemonade Day (May 3–4, 2025) was proclaimed. Seton Catholic School students described their entrepreneurship program; council encouraged community participation.
  • Arbor Day (April 25, 2025) was proclaimed. Council Member Sutton noted a tree planting at Veterans Way Park and a commemorative brick signing at the Earth Day event.

Report of City Manager – House Fire Briefing

City Manager Sheridan and Fire Chief Varnes provided an extensive briefing on the house fire at 11 Sullivan Road on April 11, 2025. Key points:

  • The fire was fully involved within seven minutes of the 911 call, before any fire department could arrive regardless of staffing model.
  • Due to a resident’s statement about a possible “firebomb,” the State Fire Marshal and ATF are investigating. Hundreds of compressed gas cylinders and other hazards complicated the response.
  • Chief Varnes reviewed 20 structure fires from January 2024 to April 2025: 18 were “saves” (no total loss), and 2 (including the Sullivan Road fire) were total losses. He stated that even with full-time staffing, the outcome would not have changed.
  • The automatic aid system worked as planned, with Valley and Stowe fire departments arriving before Hudson’s own apparatus.
  • Council members expressed strong support for the fire department, thanked first responders, and discussed the importance of public communication, prevention education, and the ongoing fire department staffing improvements.
  • Discussion also covered water line expansion, fire hydrant placement, and the need for better community risk reduction. Council Member Kowalski suggested exploring partial water line extensions to place hydrants near underserved neighborhoods.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Katrina Whited (6041 Willow Lake Dr.) stated that her company poured concrete at Council President Foster’s home without a permit due to an oversight by her son; she apologized and said there was no nefarious intent. She urged community grace.
  • Todd Zedak (16 Hudson Common) praised the fire department and EMS, expressing full support for their efforts and opposing unfounded criticism on social media.
  • Anthony Ravida (1746 Edgar Dr.) criticized Council President Foster’s leadership, citing past censorship and the Walters Road funding decision. He also raised concerns about ongoing legal issues with the city regarding his fence permit, calling it intimidation.

Consent Calendar

All six consent agenda items were approved unanimously (7-0):

  • 25-0051: Acknowledgment of March 2025 Monthly Financial Report.
  • 25-66: Resolution increasing funding for the Dillman Drive Bridge Rehabilitation Project by $28,340.80.
  • 25-67: Resolution authorizing a land exchange of approximately 0.14405 acres with the Fischer family at 5411 Hudson Dr.
  • 25-68: Resolution affirming application for an EMS Priority One Training and Equipment Grant (no matching funds required).
  • 25-70: Ordinance making additional/amended appropriations for the 2025 budget.
  • 25-71: Resolution extending the “Melody” bird sculpture and Kindness Garden installation for an additional 18 months, along with return of 150 smaller birds in Spring/Summer 2026.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 25-21 (Second Reading): Codifying order and rules of public hearings. No action taken; next reading will occur.
  • Ordinance 25-56 (Third Reading): Amendment to Chapter 1016 regarding use of public ways by service and cable providers. Council Member Foster moved to postpone to May 20, 2025, citing requests from organizations for legal review. The motion passed 6-1, with Council Member Sutton voting no, stating the organization’s concerns were lobbying and did not warrant delay.
  • Resolution 25-65 (Second Reading): Approving renewal of agricultural district status for Joann Poulton’s alpaca farm on 14.37 acres at 5457 Stow Road. No action taken; next reading.
  • Resolution 25-69 (First Reading): Accepting Tax Incentive Review Council recommendations to continue existing Community Reinvestment Area and Job Creation Grant agreements. No action taken; next reading.

Appointments

Council appointed the following (approved 6-1, Council Member Kowalski abstained due to not interviewing all candidates):

  • Jessie Obert to a partial term on the Planning Commission through January 1, 2027.
  • William Lockwood to a full three-year term on the Military and Veterans Commission.
  • John Liesen to a full three-year term on the Military and Veterans Commission.
  • Matthew Babika to a partial term on the Military and Veterans Commission through February 28, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes of April 8, 2025 approved 7-0.
  • Consent Agenda approved 7-0.
  • Ordinance 25-56 postponed to May 20, 2025, by a vote of 6-1.
  • Appointments approved 6-1 (one abstention).
  • Executive Sessions: Two separate closed sessions on pending litigation were held (first session with all seven members; second session without Council Members Kowalski and Sutton, per their abstention). No further public business followed; meeting adjourned at 9:54 PM.

Next Steps

  • Council will consider fire department staffing, station renovations, and financial impacts from the house fire at upcoming meetings.
  • Staff will explore partial water line extensions and hydrant placements in underserved areas.
  • The postponed ordinance (25-56) and pending legislation will be taken up at the May 20, 2025 meeting.

Meeting Transcript

We're going to go ahead and get started. Hello and welcome everyone. We did start early tonight with an executive session to interview applicants for boards and commissions. As such, we will now resume our normally scheduled public meeting. Would like to take a moment and welcome everyone who is here tonight as well as those who may be watching remotely via the HCTV video feed. We will resume with section three for the Pledge of Allegiance. Will you please stand and join me? Thank you, everyone. We will move on to section four roll call. Mrs. Wheeler, will you please call the role? Mr. Banweg. Here. Dr. Bird. Here. Mr. Foster. Here. Dr. Getz. Here. Mrs. Heater. Here. Mrs. Kowalski. Here. Mr. Sutton. Here. Thank you, Mrs. Wheeler. We do have a quorum tonight with all seven members of Council present. With that, um, in prior discussion with the council member, I would like to offer the floor if there is a motion to be made before we continue. I would like to make a motion to reorder the agenda. I would like to move section nine, the report of the manager in front of public comments. Thank you, Council President Foster. Do we have a second to that motion to adjust the order of business tonight? Second. Thank you, Councillor Byrd. Is there any discussion or comment on that motion? Council President Foster? I simply think it would be helpful to have the report of the manager prior to public comments because of you know some of what happened this past week. I think believe the report of the manager will provide the community valuable insight on what occurred. Thank you, Council President Foster. Any additional comment from council? Councilor Sutton? Yeah, um, I know the solicitor has okayed this.

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