Aliya Schneider is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Hudson Common Council July 20, unanimously approved a local law to create a department of senior services. Mayor Kamal Johnson will hold a public hearing on the measure at 3 p.m., Tue., Aug. 3. This week the council also approved an $8,000 transfer to pay for a part-time cleaning service at the city Senior Center. Commissioner of Aging Robyn Waters said. “Historically, the senior center has been part of the youth department in terms of how our invoices are entered, how people are paid and all of the procedural matters are [directed] through the youth department." The new law would amend the city charter to establish an independent senior department, thereby allowing the hiring of staff and maintaining operations, Waters said. According to the resolution approved by the council, creating a department for senior services in the city charter will embody the council’s belief that senior services should be a priority of city government. The goal of becoming a department is to fulfill the Senior Center’s mission and also to expand programing, Waters said. Note: Johnson is a WGXC on-air volunteer. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.