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Wednesday headlines
Jun 01, 2011 12:56 am
Hudson School Board reverses itself again
On May 17 voters in the Hudson school district voted 1249 to 424 to reject the proposed school budget that included both an almost ten percent tax increase and more jobs cut than most other area districts. A few minutes after that vote was tallied, the School Board voted 4-3 to ignore the public poll and accept the budget anyway. Then, six days later, one board member, Peter Merante, changed his vote, and the board then held three meetings to come up with a new budget. Now, Tuesday, May 31, according to multiple sources, at that third meeting, Jeri Chapman changed her vote, siding now with Emil Meister, Jeff Otty, and Mary Daly to ignore 75 percent of local voters and accept the original budget. The inevitable public outrage has already begun: "Unbelievable" is the headline at The Gossips of Rivertown blog, and Lynn Sloneker's Unmuffled Twitter feed reads, "Chapman takes the easy route and goes with Otty, Meister and Daly to defy voters. HCSD taxpayers on hook for 9.8 more." 9.8 percent is the tax increase those in the district now face.
Newton Hook rail crossing gets a reprieve
Brian Nearing in the Albany Times-Union reports a Stuyvesant railroad crossing that is the only access point for five homes along Hudson River in an area called Newton Hook will remain open at least through 2012 as the state decides what to do about safety concerns. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) last year discussed closing the rail crossing that connects Newton Hook to Route 9J because the train crossing, after 150 years, was now considered too close to the highway. The DOT just completed aerial mapping of the area and will come up with alternatives to closing the intersection "probably sometime next spring," said DOT spokeswoman Carol Breen. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
A New Candidate for the First Ward
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown and the Register-Star report that Timothy Rodgers is no longer seeking the Hudson First Ward Alderman seat currently held by Geeta Cheddie, who has not announced whether she will run again. In Jamie Larson's story in the Register-Star Rodgers claims the controversy surrounding his planned move to Hudson from his current home in Athens had nothing to do with his bowing out. “I’ve decided to withdraw from the alderman race due to the fact a new candidate is in the race. I give him my full support," he told Larson. "I feel he is a better fit for the ward at this time and would do exactly what I would do.” Osterink is the first with the full name of this new candidate: David Marston, a First Ward resident and community activist.
Mortenson makes bid for super
A staff report in the Register-Star says that Eric Mortenson is seeking the position of Gallatin town supervisor in the November elections, though the story does not identify what party he is affliated with. He is co-operator of Pulver's Glass in Hudson and on the Germantown Central School Board, and has served on the Southern Columbia Little League Board. “It really bothers me to hear our leaders telling their employees or the taxpayers that we all have to make concessions for the greater good but then never giving up any of their own perks,” he is quoted in the story, saying he would reduce the supervisor’s pay by 67 percent if elected, and donate the remainder to the Pavilion Fund. To contact Mortenson, email eric.mortenson [at] hotmail.com. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Lottery awards $15,000 cash to Hudson woman
The Columbia Paper reports that Margaret Snyder of Hudson won $15,000 in the Win 4 New York Lottery drawing May 20. She purchased the winning ticket at the Xtra Mart on Route 23 in Martindale. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
On May 17 voters in the Hudson school district voted 1249 to 424 to reject the proposed school budget that included both an almost ten percent tax increase and more jobs cut than most other area districts. A few minutes after that vote was tallied, the School Board voted 4-3 to ignore the public poll and accept the budget anyway. Then, six days later, one board member, Peter Merante, changed his vote, and the board then held three meetings to come up with a new budget. Now, Tuesday, May 31, according to multiple sources, at that third meeting, Jeri Chapman changed her vote, siding now with Emil Meister, Jeff Otty, and Mary Daly to ignore 75 percent of local voters and accept the original budget. The inevitable public outrage has already begun: "Unbelievable" is the headline at The Gossips of Rivertown blog, and Lynn Sloneker's Unmuffled Twitter feed reads, "Chapman takes the easy route and goes with Otty, Meister and Daly to defy voters. HCSD taxpayers on hook for 9.8 more." 9.8 percent is the tax increase those in the district now face.
Newton Hook rail crossing gets a reprieve
Brian Nearing in the Albany Times-Union reports a Stuyvesant railroad crossing that is the only access point for five homes along Hudson River in an area called Newton Hook will remain open at least through 2012 as the state decides what to do about safety concerns. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) last year discussed closing the rail crossing that connects Newton Hook to Route 9J because the train crossing, after 150 years, was now considered too close to the highway. The DOT just completed aerial mapping of the area and will come up with alternatives to closing the intersection "probably sometime next spring," said DOT spokeswoman Carol Breen. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
A New Candidate for the First Ward
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown and the Register-Star report that Timothy Rodgers is no longer seeking the Hudson First Ward Alderman seat currently held by Geeta Cheddie, who has not announced whether she will run again. In Jamie Larson's story in the Register-Star Rodgers claims the controversy surrounding his planned move to Hudson from his current home in Athens had nothing to do with his bowing out. “I’ve decided to withdraw from the alderman race due to the fact a new candidate is in the race. I give him my full support," he told Larson. "I feel he is a better fit for the ward at this time and would do exactly what I would do.” Osterink is the first with the full name of this new candidate: David Marston, a First Ward resident and community activist.
Mortenson makes bid for super
A staff report in the Register-Star says that Eric Mortenson is seeking the position of Gallatin town supervisor in the November elections, though the story does not identify what party he is affliated with. He is co-operator of Pulver's Glass in Hudson and on the Germantown Central School Board, and has served on the Southern Columbia Little League Board. “It really bothers me to hear our leaders telling their employees or the taxpayers that we all have to make concessions for the greater good but then never giving up any of their own perks,” he is quoted in the story, saying he would reduce the supervisor’s pay by 67 percent if elected, and donate the remainder to the Pavilion Fund. To contact Mortenson, email eric.mortenson [at] hotmail.com. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Lottery awards $15,000 cash to Hudson woman
The Columbia Paper reports that Margaret Snyder of Hudson won $15,000 in the Win 4 New York Lottery drawing May 20. She purchased the winning ticket at the Xtra Mart on Route 23 in Martindale. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.