Hudson City Council Regular Meeting – June 3, 2025

The Hudson City Council met on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Town Hall (27 East Main Street). An executive session to interview applicants for boards and commissions began at 6:30 PM, followed by the regular public meeting at 7:33 PM. The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 PM. Council passed a permanent ban on marijuana facilities, approved four consent agenda items, and heard extensive public testimony and council comments regarding a recent Ohio Elections Commission ruling on the Clock Tower Collaborative.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 25-86: Authorized the City Manager to enter into an amendment to the Regional Stormwater Management Program Service Agreement with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD).
• Resolution 25-87: Authorized a professional services contract with GPD Group for a storm sewer study on Edgeview Drive (2123 Edgeview Dr) to address flooding.
• Resolution 25-88: Designated Margaret Tussey as the alternate delegate to the Regional Council of Governments that administers the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA).
• Resolution 25-89: Authorized advertising for bids and contracting for construction of the first year of the Velocity Broadband fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network project.
• All four resolutions were approved unanimously (6-0) after suspension of the rules.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sarah Norman (2212 Edgeview Dr.) – Expressed strong support for Councilmembers Skylar Sutton, Chris Foster, and Scott Ruffer, praising their transparency and courage in exposing the Clock Tower Collaborative’s violations. She thanked Ruffer for filing the Ohio Elections Commission (OEC) complaint and thanked Foster and Sutton for sharing the OEC decision on social media.
• Brigitte Gerard (7627 Sugarbush Trail) – Detailed the formation of the Clock Tower Collaborative by former City Manager Jane Howington and former councilmembers, and stated that Councilmembers Michael Bird and Patricia Goetz were privy to its efforts. She supported Sutton’s work to bring the infractions to light.
• Mike Grace (1510 Hines Hill Road) – Thanked Skylar Sutton for his recap of the OEC hearing, which found the Clock Tower Collaborative guilty of operating an illegal PAC. He emphasized the need for integrity in government.
• John Kavulic (386 Atterbury Blvd.) – Expressed appreciation for Sutton’s Facebook post about the OEC decision and argued that Bird and Goetz should step down to restore council integrity.
• Scott Ruffer (1975 W. Highgate Ct.) – Confirmed he filed the OEC complaint against the Clock Tower Collaborative. He noted the fine was minimal but the evidence showed bundling and illegal coordination, and he applauded Sutton for sharing the donor list.
• Dan Carnahan – Questioned the feasibility and resident demand for the Fiber to the Home project. He asked if a survey of the proposed Phase 1 area had been conducted, whether residents already have multiple internet service providers, and what the cost and competition outlook is for Velocity Broadband.
• Anthony Ravida (1746 Edgar Dr.) – Repeated complaints about his fence dispute with the city, alleging dishonesty by City Manager Sheridan and City Solicitor Pitchford, and claimed that Foster’s driveway permit process was improperly handled.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation – Hudson Festival Days (June 13–14, 2025): Mayor Anzevino read the proclamation recognizing the Home and Garden Tour, Art Show, Ice Cream Social, and Screen on the Green. Representatives from the Hudson League for Service accepted and highlighted volunteer efforts.
• Appointments: Council President Foster moved to reappoint Emily Berry and Richard Warfield to full terms on the Board of Tax Review and Keenan Jones to a partial term (through Dec. 2026) on the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals. The motion passed 5-0-1 (Councilmember Kowalski abstained, as she did not participate in interviews).
• Ordinance 25-57 – Permanent Prohibition on Marijuana Facilities (Third Reading): Extensive debate occurred. Council President Foster read a statement from absent Councilmember Sutton objecting to the ban, arguing that the 5,009 affirmative votes in the 2023 state legalization measure should take precedence over 300 survey comments. Foster, Banweg, and Heater expressed support for the ban but acknowledged the need for future clarity and possible referendum. Bird and Goetz cited concerns about increased youth access and psychiatric risks. The ordinance (as amended with the Planning Commission’s April 14, 2025 recommendation) passed 5-1 (Kowalski voted no).
• Ordinance 25-90 – Landscaping Company Licensing and Regulation (First Reading): Introduced to regulate on-street parking of landscape trucks. No vote taken.
• Ordinance 25-91 – Concealed Weapons Ordinance Update (First Reading): To conform with Ohio law. No vote taken.
• Ordinance 25-92 – Boarding Kennels and Veterinary Facilities Regulations (First Reading): Motion to refer to the Planning Commission passed unanimously (6-0). The ordinance would revise permitted districts and require a 500-foot setback from residential uses.
• Council Comments:
  • Banweg thanked participants in the Memorial Day parade and plugged the Home and Garden Tour.
  • Goetz stated that she and Bird were cleared by the OEC in January 2024, with charges dismissed.
  • Bird noted he was sued by his opponent in Dec. 2023 and the case was dismissed in 27 minutes with no finding of fraud. He argued that donations to the Clock Tower Collaborative were not illegal and questioned the intent of social media posts.
  • Kowalski read a letter from Joe Creehan (Morning Song Lane) disputing claims about Hudson Forward Together and the Clock Tower Collaborative, stating the $50 fine was for a paperwork error.
  • Foster responded in detail, citing evidence of bundling and coordination presented at the OEC hearing, and noted a $155,000 payment from the city (under former manager Howington) to AKEA Communications, a firm owned by a Collaborative organizer.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved (6-0).
• Appointments approved (5-0-1).
• Ordinance 25-57 (permanent marijuana facility ban) passed (5-1).
• Ordinance 25-92 referred to Planning Commission (6-0).
• Ordinances 25-90 and 25-91 received first readings; no action taken.
• City Manager Sheridan reported that an inclusive playground design RFP will be on the next workshop agenda, and the Fire/EMS Renovations RFP will go out at week's end, due at the end of June.