Jammel Cutler is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a proposal to change how the repair and maintenance of city sidewalks are paid for was rejected by the Hudson Common Council at its meeting on December 20. The resolution was presented at the council meeting and it proposed that all residents, businesses, organizations and individual property owners beyond those that own the properties that abut a city sidewalk, would be assessed an annual fee to fund the repair, replacement and construction of sidewalks throughout the city. The measure did not carry enough votes to pass. “If we bond for this, which would be beyond $5 million, everyone will have to pay,” Common Council President Tom DePietro said. First Ward Alderperson Margaret Morris said that if the city issued a bond, only property owners subject to property tax would be paying it off, but with the proposed resolution, tax-exempt properties owned by nonprofits would also be subject to the annual sidewalk fees. Some council members rejected the idea that everyone should be paying for sidewalks, including the people who don’t have sidewalks, such as renters. “The government needs to address our streets,” Hudson resident Martina Colon said. “The sidewalks in Hudson are in need of repair. ,,.” Mark Anderson of Hudson agreed with Colon. “It seems like every year our streets are getting worse and worse. What are they waiting on?.” The Common Council will pursue the sidewalk law issue at a special meeting Wed., Dec. 28. Note: DePietro is a WGXC volunteer on-air host. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.