WGXC-90.7 FM
Hudson reform proposed as a commission study
Jan 30, 2011 10:20 pm
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="The original wards division for the City of Hudson."]
[/caption]The Gossips of Rivertown outdid itself with a completist piece on January 30 about the proposal to create a Charter Revision Commission put forth by Hudson Democratic Committee Chair Victor Mendolia (a WGXC recorder and programmer) at last Wednesday's Legal Committee meeting. The goal of the commission, former Common Council member Carole Osterink writes, would be to identify changes to the Charter that would "optimize efficiency, foster fair and equal representation, and seek the best possible model for responsible government." Mendolia's proposal cites seven specific issues to be considered: increasing the mayoral term to four years, redrawing election districts to create districts of equal population, having the City Treasurer appointed by the Common Council rather than elected, requiring mayoral appointments to be confirmed by the Common Council, reducing the number of supervisors representing Hudson in county government, eliminating the positions of commissioners, and adjusting salaries and/or benefits for elected officials. Most critical on this list, in Osterink's opinion, is redrawing the election districts after two hundred years. See The Gossips of Rivertown for more information.
[/caption]The Gossips of Rivertown outdid itself with a completist piece on January 30 about the proposal to create a Charter Revision Commission put forth by Hudson Democratic Committee Chair Victor Mendolia (a WGXC recorder and programmer) at last Wednesday's Legal Committee meeting. The goal of the commission, former Common Council member Carole Osterink writes, would be to identify changes to the Charter that would "optimize efficiency, foster fair and equal representation, and seek the best possible model for responsible government." Mendolia's proposal cites seven specific issues to be considered: increasing the mayoral term to four years, redrawing election districts to create districts of equal population, having the City Treasurer appointed by the Common Council rather than elected, requiring mayoral appointments to be confirmed by the Common Council, reducing the number of supervisors representing Hudson in county government, eliminating the positions of commissioners, and adjusting salaries and/or benefits for elected officials. Most critical on this list, in Osterink's opinion, is redrawing the election districts after two hundred years. See The Gossips of Rivertown for more information.