The Public Hearing That Wasn't

Gossips has witnessed many virtual meetings in the past ten weeks, but last night was the first time such a meeting was "Zoombombed." It happened during the HCSD Board of Education public hearing on the 2020-2021 budget. As HCSD business administrator Jesse Boehme was explaining equalization rates, a red line drew a crude swastika over his charts, then a pink line spelled out a four-letter word, then behind the scrawl pornographic pictures appeared. At first, district clerk Leslie Coons said she had removed the "bomber" from the meeting, but when the drawing resumed, HCSD superintendent Maria Suttmeier ordered the meeting shut down. When it resumed, the public part of the meeting was over, and the board went into executive session.

Before the Zoombombing occurred, some important information was shared. The absentee ballots for the school district election were mailed from Albany yesterday and will come directly to the Hudson post office. Ballots are expected to appear in the mail today, Wednesday, June 3, or tomorrow, Thursday, June 4. If you do not receive a ballot, you should contact the district clerk at coonslx@hudsoncsd.org or 518 828-4360, ext. 2100. 

If you decide to return your ballot by mail, you should take it to the post office and hand it directly to the post master to ensure its timely delivery. You can also hand deliver your ballot on Monday, June 8, or Tuesday, June 9, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., to any of five secure ballot boxes that will be set up at the following locations and monitored by school representatives:

• John L. Edwards School, 360 State Street
• Hudson Jr./Sr. High School, Event Entrance, 215 Harry Howard Avenue
• Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street
• A. B. Shaw Firehouse, 67 Route 23, Claverack
• Greenport Community Center, 500 Town Hall Drive, Greenport

Ballots must be received before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. Be certain to sign the ballot envelope. If the envelope is not signed, it will not be opened, and your ballot will not be counted.

For more information and a video on how to complete your absentee ballot, click here. 
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