On March 10, three days after the charter change petition, reviewed and certified, was delivered to the Common Council by the city clerk, Council president Tom DePietro declared, in response to an inquiry by Councilmember Margaret Morris (First Ward), "I have no intention of putting it on the agenda for a number of reasons that I have discussed with Crystal"--Crystal being legal counsel to the Council, Crystal Peck.
Despite DePietro's declaration five weeks ago, the proposed charter amendment will be on the agenda for a special meeting to take place on Tuesday, April 22. The purpose of the special meeting was originally to approve grant applications, but last night the purpose was expanded to include a vote on putting the proposed charter amendment on the ballot as a referendum in November.
Much of the criticism of the charter amendment being proposed has to do with the process by which the amendment was written, calling it undemocratic because it did not grow out of a series of community forums or a citizens' assembly. A referendum on the proposed charter amendment is a chance for the voters of Hudson to decide for themselves if they want this change in government or not. For the Council to vote against bringing the issue to the public in a referendum seems like an effort to suppress democracy and deny voters the right to choose.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CAROLE OSTERINK
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