John Mason is reporting in the Register Star two of the newest members of the Hudson Common Council are calling for the city to increase the diversity of its workforce. They are also asking the council to institute a diversity subcommittee to address the issue. Alderwomen Alexis Keith and Tiffany Garriga stated in a Jan. 1 letter Hudson currently has no minority commissioners, departments heads or professionals, and very few minorities on boards and commissions. The few minority city employees on the payroll are manual laborers. The proposed subcommittee would be charged with a variety of tasks, including enhancing recruitment of potential employees, facilitating civil service testing preparation and overseeing the implementation of a citywide diversity plan. The letter was addressed to council members, Council President Don Moore and Mayor William H. Hallenbeck Jr. Responding, Tues., Jan. 7, Hallenbeck said out of 85 applicants to the Department of Public Works over the last two years, only 17 percent were minority candidates. He said, “There are laws on the books to protect everyone from discrimination. We abide by that and we try to hire the best candidates for the job.” Read the full story in the Register Star.