Jeanette Wolfberg is reporting for The Columbia Paper on the September 9 meeting of the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. The HHA is charged with oversight of the 135-unit Bliss Tower complex in downtown Hudson. At the meeting, the board welcomed its newest member, Claire Cousin. Cousin is 27 years old and a Hudson native. She is president of the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition. With her appointment, the board is now at full capacity. The board also instituted a ban, through December 31, on tenant fees in keeping with the state ban on evictions. HHA Executive Director Tim Mattice reported on plans to identify and hire construction firms to rehabilitate damaged apartments for habitation. Commissioner Rebecca Wolff asked if those construction workers would be local. Mattice said, “Our procurement policy requires contractors have certain insurance and workman’s compensation. We start looking with local first, but unfortunately, most local companies are too small to afford the workman’s compensation they need.” Mattice said there are currently 77 households on the waiting list for public housing and 93 on the waiting list for section 8 vouchers. Of the 135 units in the Bliss complex, approximately 25 are “off line” and awaiting rehabilitation. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.