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New youth department assistant director wants to vote on Galvan issues

Jun 09, 2021 2:06 pm

Aliya Schneider reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Third Ward Alderperson Calvin Lewis Jr. has accepted the youth department assistant director position, but it is unclear if he will retain his spot on Hudson's Common Council. Common Council President Thomas DePietro said holding the two positions is likely to cause too many conflicts, but Lewis would like to stay on the Common Council. The civil service this week, and the Common Council next week, will weigh in on the decision. Lewis is a housing counselor and development associate of the Galvan Foundation, and has previously recused himself from certain votes. But if Lewis stays on the council, he wants to vote on Galvan resolutions as a former employee. “I am inclined to believe I will be able to vote, you know for example I used to actually work at the youth center in years past and I use that example because I’ve voted on proposals pertaining to the youth center even though I was an employee in the past,” he said. Hudson city attorneys Jeffrey Baker and Cheryl Roberts, disagree on what should happen. Roberts says Lewis has to give up his alderperson position to become assistant youth department director, and Baker said he does not, according to Lewis. Also, the Common Council will vote June 15 to end the Rec Attendant 5 position and replace it with the Assistant Youth Director position, with the budget line for the rec attendant position shifted to the new position. NOTE: DePietro is a volunteer WGXC programmer. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.