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City seeks moratorium on homeless shelters
By Jamie Larson
HUDSON — At a special meeting of the Hudson City Common Council Tuesday night, the council voted unanimously to enact a new local law establishing a one year moratorium on the “expansion of existing, and the creation of new, transitional housing and homeless shelters, in excess of four units, within the city.”
The move comes in response to a proposed plan by county officials to convert the historic St. Charles Hotel, on Park Place in Hudson, into a transitional housing facility and Department of Social Services satellite station. The county plan is unanimously opposed by all city elected officials and the entire 16 member Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, less three abstentions, believing the placement at the top of the Hudson business district would have a negative impact on the economy of the city and county.
Before it becomes law the moratorium must go through a number of official steps. It must sit on the aldermen's’ desks for consideration for 10 days, be subjected to one public hearing, and be taken to the Hudson Planning Commission who can choose to comment. Also it must, by law, be referred to the Columbia County Planning Board for a binding, or non-bonding, recommendation of approval, disapproval or modification. That recommendation can be overridden by the common council with a super majority vote, as dictated by New York State home rule law. There is also a default clause in procedural law that if the CCPB does not make a recommendation in 30 days the city is free to proceed with passage.
Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera and other city elected officials, announced a plan Monday to enter into discussions with Board of Supervisors about selling the Charles Williams school, on the corner of Robinson and Second streets, to the county for use as transitional housing. Scalera voiced concern at the meeting that this moratorium would stand in the way of that deal as the relationship between the city and the county has been tenuous. Members of the council responded that they would lift the moratorium if an expectable deal for Charles Williams is agreed upon.
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, R-Hillsdale, reached by phone after the meeting said he had no knowledge of the moratorium. He said he did not like the idea of the city limiting any options, like St. Charles, from the discussion of how to solve the county homeless problem but decided to focus on the positive that Charles Williams is now available. As he had not read any of the language of the proposed law he said he would reserve comment on it’s legality and defer such questions to the county attorney.
Baer went on to say that he feels progress is being made as the Charles Williams option for transitional housing was not on the table a week ago when County Commissioner of Social Services Paul Mossmann announced the St. Charles proposal. I’m going to choose to look at the positive,” Baer said, “(Charles Williams) is a breakthrough, no question about it. We are not interested in any solution, that in any way, would detract from the viability of the city of Hudson.” adding later, “I just hope it’s not Charles Williams or the high way.”
Tuesday’s special meeting at city hall was packed with residents voicing concerns and looking to their officials for answers about the St. Charles and Charles Williams plans, and how to best go forward addressing the homeless issue facing the county and city. All who spoke, officials and citizens, agreed that something must be done to house displaced women and children. There were numerous statements about how the county needs to involve Hudson more in discussions that impact the city. There were also questions about how the city will be able to make sure that if the Charles Williams Plan goes trough, they can hold the county to their agreement that the housing would not allow single men. The council said they believe they can stipulate their terms in a deed agreement.
The focus of the meeting continued to return concerns about the county making decisions that effect Hudson without consulting them. “We don’t intend to be snowballed,” Supervisor William Hughes, D- Hudson 4th, said, “we want to control the discussion.”
Alderman Wanda Pertilla, of the 2nd Ward, where Charles Williams is located said Hudson can not be the only county municipality working on the homeless issue. “Every municipality needs to get on board with this,” Pertilla said, adding she has seen four mothers with families in her ward evicted in a week, “Hudson has stepped up to the plate, all we are saying is other towns need to step up to the plate too.”
The move comes in response to a proposed plan by county officials to convert the historic St. Charles Hotel, on Park Place in Hudson, into a transitional housing facility and Department of Social Services satellite station. The county plan is unanimously opposed by all city elected officials and the entire 16 member Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, less three abstentions, believing the placement at the top of the Hudson business district would have a negative impact on the economy of the city and county.
Before it becomes law the moratorium must go through a number of official steps. It must sit on the aldermen's’ desks for consideration for 10 days, be subjected to one public hearing, and be taken to the Hudson Planning Commission who can choose to comment. Also it must, by law, be referred to the Columbia County Planning Board for a binding, or non-bonding, recommendation of approval, disapproval or modification. That recommendation can be overridden by the common council with a super majority vote, as dictated by New York State home rule law. There is also a default clause in procedural law that if the CCPB does not make a recommendation in 30 days the city is free to proceed with passage.
Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera and other city elected officials, announced a plan Monday to enter into discussions with Board of Supervisors about selling the Charles Williams school, on the corner of Robinson and Second streets, to the county for use as transitional housing. Scalera voiced concern at the meeting that this moratorium would stand in the way of that deal as the relationship between the city and the county has been tenuous. Members of the council responded that they would lift the moratorium if an expectable deal for Charles Williams is agreed upon.
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, R-Hillsdale, reached by phone after the meeting said he had no knowledge of the moratorium. He said he did not like the idea of the city limiting any options, like St. Charles, from the discussion of how to solve the county homeless problem but decided to focus on the positive that Charles Williams is now available. As he had not read any of the language of the proposed law he said he would reserve comment on it’s legality and defer such questions to the county attorney.
Baer went on to say that he feels progress is being made as the Charles Williams option for transitional housing was not on the table a week ago when County Commissioner of Social Services Paul Mossmann announced the St. Charles proposal. I’m going to choose to look at the positive,” Baer said, “(Charles Williams) is a breakthrough, no question about it. We are not interested in any solution, that in any way, would detract from the viability of the city of Hudson.” adding later, “I just hope it’s not Charles Williams or the high way.”
Tuesday’s special meeting at city hall was packed with residents voicing concerns and looking to their officials for answers about the St. Charles and Charles Williams plans, and how to best go forward addressing the homeless issue facing the county and city. All who spoke, officials and citizens, agreed that something must be done to house displaced women and children. There were numerous statements about how the county needs to involve Hudson more in discussions that impact the city. There were also questions about how the city will be able to make sure that if the Charles Williams Plan goes trough, they can hold the county to their agreement that the housing would not allow single men. The council said they believe they can stipulate their terms in a deed agreement.
The focus of the meeting continued to return concerns about the county making decisions that effect Hudson without consulting them. “We don’t intend to be snowballed,” Supervisor William Hughes, D- Hudson 4th, said, “we want to control the discussion.”
Alderman Wanda Pertilla, of the 2nd Ward, where Charles Williams is located said Hudson can not be the only county municipality working on the homeless issue. “Every municipality needs to get on board with this,” Pertilla said, adding she has seen four mothers with families in her ward evicted in a week, “Hudson has stepped up to the plate, all we are saying is other towns need to step up to the plate too.”
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