This week includes Presidents Day, Fat Tuesday, and Ash Wednesday. Weather.com is predicting a week of ice and rain and snow, and that should make us all grateful that city meetings can be accessed on Zoom from the warmth and comfort of our homes.
- Despite it being a national holiday, the Tourism Board is meeting on Monday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is a special meeting with Peter Spear to review the evaluation of the Hudson Shared Streets program and answer questions from the public. The results of the online survey conducted last fall have been organized into a presentation that in intended to inspire a productive community conversation about what the city might do in the spring to support businesses and residents. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
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| Photo: Hudson Hall |
- On Tuesday, February 16, the ad hoc committee formed to pursue the topic of sidewalk legislation meets at 5:30 p.m. The two drafts of legislation generated in 2019 can be found here and here. The aldermen who make up this ad hoc committee are John Rosenthal (Fourth Ward), Dominic Merante (Fifth Ward), Eileen Halloran (Fifth Ward), Dewan Sarowar (Second Ward), Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward), and Calvin Lewis (Third Ward). The link to the Zoom meeting should be posted on the City of Hudson website prior to the meeting.
- Also on Tuesday, February 16, the regular monthly meeting of the Common Council takes place at 7:00 p.m. The link to the Zoom meeting should be posted on the City of Hudson website prior to the meeting.
- On Wednesday, February 17, the Affordable Housing and Development Committee of the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meets at 6:00 p.m. to continue its discussion and planning for new public housing in Hudson. The link to the Zoom meeting has not yet been made available.
- Also at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, the Zoning Board of Appeals has its regular monthly meeting. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
- On Thursday, February 18, the ad hoc committee tasked with taking up the topic of parking, specifically, it would seem, alternate side of the street overnight parking, meets at 6:00 p.m. The aldermen who make up the committee are Jane Trombley (First Ward), Malachi Walker (Fourth Ward), and Dewan Sarowar (Second Ward). The link to the Zoom meeting will be published on the City of Hudson website prior to the meeting.
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Any lawyers out there care to comment on the legality of the proposed sidewalk legislation? It looks to me that this is a tax being imposed on property owners to pay for repairs of another persons private property.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the motivation, why is the city unwilling to enforce the law and require property owners to repair their own sidewalks? Why should a property owner pay to repair another persons sidewalk? This is a great deal if you have a really lousy sidewalk and want someone else to fix it for $70 or $140, but if you maintained or purchased a house with good sidewalks this is a welfare tax to benefit irresponsible homeowners at the expense of those who performed their civic duty.
Very well put, P.Winslow.
DeleteI totally agree.
Sidewalks are not private property but under the existing law the installation and maintenance of sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner on whose frontage they exist. The cost of this onus is not a tax as the City is not empowered to either levy or collect such a tax directly. If the Council wants to change the law, that's its prerogative under the relevant State statutes and the City Charter. If, in doing so, it imposes the cost on the City itself, either directly or via a repayment mechanism such as a special assessment district I believe that is also legal though there may be a home-rule message element required somewhere in there (NYS being what it is).
DeleteThanks for that. Wondering if changing the law also changes liability if someone falls on a bad or icy sidewalk or if that remains the same?
DeleteDepends who has the onus of maintenance.
DeleteI disagree regarding the sidewalks. The property owner does not own the sidewalk. It is outside the perimeter of the property. It is public property. I am all favor of being responsible for keeping it clean and clear of snow, but i do not see why individuals should be expected to pay for repairs/replacement of public walkways. It also leads to the patchwork different styles that we see around town.
ReplyDeleteI checked a survey map an it appears in Hudson you are correct, the lot seems to end before the sidewalk. Still there is the question of what it equitable. If someone owns a place with a good sidewalk that may not need maintenance for 50 - 80 years, why should they pay an annual fee for all those years to fix up the sidewalk in front of another persons house? And we all know how government goes and how many messed up sidewalks there are in Hudson. Once they get going on repairs and realize the cost, the tax is going to go up and up.
DeleteIn the 10 plus years that I have been here, I have paid to have sections of the sidewalk in front of and beside my property repaired, because it was dangerous. I would still be willing to pay an annual fee to have the City take this over. Many of the sections on Union and much of Columbia are not safe. I think the costs should be spread across the community. I do not favor the legislation as it is currently written. I think we should all pay the same. Or maybe some of the tourism money could be put towards it
Delete§ C22-18
ReplyDeleteRepair of sidewalks: notice; collection of costs.
A.
The Commissioner of Public Works shall have power to require the owner or occupant of any lot or lots to make, lay, relay, repair, grade and regrade the sidewalk in front of, in the rear of or on the side of said lot or lots, and to curb and gutter adjoining the sidewalk, or to construct a culvert under the same, or to reset the curbstone, and relay the gutter and reconstruct the culvert, all with such material as he may prescribe therefor, under the direction of and on a grade to be established by said Commissioner, within a time to be fixed by him, which time shall not be less than 30 days from the time of the service of the copy of the notice upon such owner, agent, occupant or person in possession. The Commissioner of Public Works shall cause to be served, at least 30 days before the expiration of the time so specified for such work to be done, upon the owners of the lands adjoining such sidewalks, curbstones, gutter or culvert, so to be made as aforesaid, a copy of such notice, with a notice that if the same is not done within the specified time by the owner of the adjoining land, it will be done by the Department of Public Works at the expense of such owner. It shall be the duty of the owner or owners of such property or properties to obtain a permit from the Department of Public Works prior to doing any work required by this section. Work started without such permit may be stopped by the Department of Public Works until such permit is obtained. Any person violating such a stop order and/or failing to obtain a permit shall be guilty of a violation punishable as follows: by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days or by a fine not exceeding $250, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation of a violation shall constitute, for each day the offense is continued, a separate and distinct offense hereunder. The City Court shall have jurisdiction to try all such offenses. Cont. part B,C,D,E
https://ecode360.com/13595215?highlight=properties,property,sidewalk,sidewalks&searchId=37720562630294280
don't bother citing the code, it is mostly useless and antiquated. Ask Craig Haigh. Bill Huston
DeleteIt would be effective if it was enforced. The new law seems kind of like doing your kids chores for them because it's easier than making them do it.
Delete