Hudson City Council Workshop – May 26, 2026

Mayor Anzevino called the Hudson City Council workshop to order at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Town Hall, 27 East Main Street. Council President Michael Bird (Ward 4) presided. The workshop focused on the Tinkers Creek Watershed Study final draft, a smart thermostat program for Hudson Public Power customers, future land use for the Clinton site, short-term rental regulation, and the appointment of Marshal Pitchford as Acting City Solicitor. No formal legislation was adopted; the meeting adjourned at 10:41 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• The proposed June 2, 2026 regular meeting agenda includes a Proclamation for Hudson Days, the bid tabulation for the Franklin Street Waterline project (bids opened May 19, 2026), and SCAT service information.
• Council discussed consent agenda rules, including whether conflicting items may both be placed on consent and whether a later-passed consent item would supersede an earlier one. Council members noted that the city charter restricts emergency use but does not expressly restrict what can be placed on the consent agenda, which is intended for non-controversial, routine items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The agenda lists an Email Comments attachment for the Tinkers Creek Watershed Study item. No oral public testimony appears in the provided transcript.

Discussion Items

• Tinkers Creek Watershed Study (Item 26-0041): City staff Chad Kosco and project manager Boyer of ms consultants presented the model and final draft report, which was developed after the August 8, 2024 rain event, described as a 500- to 2,000-year flood that hit the Tinkers Creek watershed in the city’s northeast the hardest. Total cost estimates for all listed projects are between $30 and $35 million. The model is based on percentages, which were unaffected by the location adjustments made by City staff. Recommendations include floodplain restoration, which a representative of the Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners was eager to see, and a preference for building projects on city-owned land, such as Darrow Park, or public rights-of-way over private property. One model iteration tested permanently closing the Darrow Park outlet. Staff also noted a flooded manhole in a backyard, early-warning communication for high-intensity events affecting both Tinkers and Brandywine Creeks, an upcoming Brandywine study, and a programmed five-year capital stormwater build. The study remains a final draft awaiting council comments.
• Hudson Public Power Smart Thermostat Program: Utilities staff introduced the CES Smart Thermostat Program, which provides promotional materials, a customer enrollment website, and eligibility information for Nest and other smart thermostats. Council discussed the length of the agreement, including a two-year contract option and whether the term would align with the city’s electric utility contract.
• Clinton Site Future Land Use: Staff reviewed the property’s history, including a public-use restriction scheduled to roll off in September 2014, environmental and geotechnical studies confirming that moderately loaded two-story buildings would be supported by the soils, and illustrative concepts that are not final. The concepts do not include retail. Staff recalled 2014 council discussions noting that a large housing development on the then-residentially zoned site could overwhelm schools and be problematic for the community.
• Short-Term Rentals: Council continued a discussion of the short-term rental regulations. Staff reported that, based on previous feedback, regulatory caps should be considered by zoning district rather than by ward. Other topics included setback requirements, the appropriate buffer when a parcel crosses zoning districts, annual or biennial inspection intervals, and how other communities, such as Bath, use separate inspectors. Council members raised concerns about non-resident operators, with one member questioning whether out-of-town operators who are not Hudson community members would care about neighbors. Staff also cited an enforcement example in Bath involving a non-compliant property advertised on Airbnb.
• Fiber Build-Out Update: City staff reported on the remaining fiber construction, cost allocation across individual project sections to keep financials on target, and the goal of ensuring fiber service to every household. Staff noted that some areas were approved for aerial attachments but never built, so they are tracking those segments to avoid extra spending and verifying that the provider, Winstream (as transcribed), has actually made connections. Revenues from the completed system could be used to build out service to the rest of the city. A 12-month engineering, testing, and permitting period with up to two 12-month extensions was also mentioned.
• Acting City Solicitor (Item 26-0048): The City Manager’s appointment of Marshal Pitchford as Acting City Solicitor and Special Counsel, and DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder, LLC as Special Counsel, was discussed. Council previously approved the contract by a 4–3 split vote, which prevented emergency language and triggered a 30-day waiting period, leaving a gap until the new ordinance takes effect. Pitchford’s contract was extended through June 20, 2026. Council Member Goetz stated that a full-time solicitor would provide daily support, attend council meetings and BCBA and planning commission meetings, and would be more cost effective for Hudson than special counsel fees; she also said she did not believe every avenue had been fully explored to find a full-time solicitor. Goetz proposed keeping Pitchford as special counsel for the next two years. Council considered postponing the decision to gather more information.
• Council comments: The Mayor acknowledged an invitation from the fourth-grade class at Eastwoods Intermediate School. A scheduling discrepancy for council office hours (5:30 p.m. versus 6:00 p.m.) was corrected, with reference to the city website and public calendars.

Key Outcomes

• Tinkers Creek study remains a final draft; staff will incorporate council comments before finalizing. Council was reminded that the city already has a programmed five-year capital stormwater build and that the Brandywine Creek watershed study is forthcoming.
• Council provided direction for short-term rental regulations: evaluate caps by zoning district rather than ward, consider setback requirements, and proceed with public engagement. A motion to begin engagement had been discussed and was supported.
• Council Member Goetz, seconded by Council Member D’Eramo, moved to place the Acting City Solicitor appointment (Item 26-0048) on the June 2, 2026 regular meeting agenda. Goetz also expressed her intention to introduce an ordinance to hire a full-time City Solicitor, with Pitchford continuing as special counsel for the next two years and his contract extended through June 20, 2026.