City Hall on Warren Street in Hudson. The Common Council approved a $19.7 million 2025 budget during a special meeting last night, reflecting a 1.5% tax levy increase.
City Hall on Warren Street in Hudson. The Common Council approved a $19.7 million 2025 budget during a special meeting last night, reflecting a 1.5% tax levy increase.
HUDSON — Two city officials are seeking the common council president's seat in November.
First Ward Councilmember Margaret Morris, 69, and incumbent Common Council President Thomas DePietro, 68, will both be running in the race for the council president's seat.
Morris has been a member of the council for three years, and is also majority leader of the council. She serves as the chairperson of the council’s ad hoc Truck Route Committee, legal committee, and is a member of the Finance Committee.
During her time on the truck committee, Morris assisted with the passage of a resolution to close one of the city’s truck routes.
The resolution was approved during the council’s Feb. 18 meeting, and allowed for the closure of 3rd Street and Columbia Street, up to Park Place, as a city-designated truck route in order to prevent the city from being used for thoroughfare for large trucks.
“Truck traffic has been a crucial problem for all those residents who live on those streets,” she said in a statement. “The vote passed 8-1, the only 'no' vote was from our current Council President Tom DePietro. I believe it is time for new leadership on the common council and I believe I can provide it.”
Morris said her primary focus, if elected to the council's president's seat, will be to focus on the city budget.
“My concern is that this city of under 6,000 is spending itself into an untenable position, with no serious efforts to address revenue growth,” she said. “Under the current leadership, the council has not grappled with the long-term financial health of the city.”
Morris added she plans to work with the city treasurer and other council members to find “solid” revenue sources, as well as review city expenses monthly.
“I intend to remain accountable to the people of Hudson,” she said.
Morris also believes in collaborative and inclusive leadership, she said in a statement.
"All committee members should be heard," she said. "Members of the public should be listened to. Decisions from the committees I chair are based on an informed consensus. Under my leadership, informed consensus will be the basis for all council decisions."
DePietro, the incumbent council president, has been served in that position for eight years. Prior to being on the council, he served as chairperson of the Hudson Planning Board.
DePietro said in a statement he initially ran for the council president's seat with Mayor Kamal Johnson to improve the city with new housing, increased support for city youth, and open government.
“We have made great strides in housing, with projects bringing affordable and market-rate housing throughout the city,” he said in a statement. “We would like to see these developments to completion in our next term.”
DePietro added the city’s youth department is “thriving,” due to programming being offered year-round, and city government transparency has increased.
“I’m proud to say we have created the most open and transparent government in the history of our city,” he said. “It can seem messy, but it is, above all, Democratic.”
According to DePietro, During his time as council president, the city has accomplished its goals and kept taxes to a “bare minimum," he said.
“With no increases at all for a number of years,” he said. “Our budget has increased, not through profligate spending, but through winning more grant money than any previous administration.”
According to Hudson's 2025 budget, the tax levy increased 1.5%, and the budget totaled $19.7 million, a 3.4% budget increase over the 2024 budget.
The municipal budget rose $5,305,337 between 2019 and the 2025 proposed budget, or a 37% increase over a six-year period, according to the city's budget documents.
The city’s 2020-21 budget of $14.9 million reflected a $444,527, or 3% increase, above the city’s 2019 budget of $14.4 million.
The city’s 2021-22 budget decreased $55,652, to $14.8 million, but increased again in the 2022-23 budget $681,669, or 4.5%, to $15.5 million.
In the 2023-24 budget, there was an increase of $1.2 million from 2022, or 7.7%, to $16.7 million. Another increase occurred in the 2023-24 budget of $2.3 million, or 14%, to $19.1 million.
DePietro is the president of the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhoods Board of Directors, and has volunteered for the Hudson City School District’s Hudson Reads Literacy at Lunch Program, WGXC radio, and the former SBK Food Pantry in Hudson.
He has actively supported private developments in Hudson, he said, including the Crescent Garage project, Kaz Warehouse redevelopment and redevelopment of the Pocketbook Factory, as well as other projects in the city.
“Our soon-to-be modernized parking system and our sidewalk improvement projects are underway,” DePietro said in a statement. “And infrastructure enhancements will be completed this spring, from the Ferry Street Bridge to the DRI district streetscape. We know there is work to be done, and we are the best qualified to do it.”
DePiettro said Morris is not familiar with Hudson north of Warren Street.
“All that needs to be said about my challenger is that she has opposed all housing projects, voted against Good Cause eviction, and doesn't seem very familiar with the city north of Warren Street,” he said in a statement.
