The Hudson Board of Selectmen spent much of its most recent meeting preparing for two major personnel matters: upcoming contract negotiations with the Professional Firefighters of Hudson IAFF Local #3154 and the hiring process for the town’s next Zoning Administrator. Both discussions centered on assembling the right committees to guide the town through decisions that will shape operations for years to come.
Town Administrator Roy Sorenson began by outlining the timeline for negotiations with the firefighters union. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on June 30, 2027, and Sorenson said the town needs to begin work now to ensure a proposed contract is ready for Town Meeting voters next March. In a memo to the Board, he noted that assembling the negotiating team is the first step in that process.
During the meeting, Sorenson reviewed the requirements of Town Ordinance Chapter 75, which dictates the structure of all municipal negotiating teams. The ordinance calls for one Selectman to serve as liaison, the Town Administrator or a designee, one department head or supervisor, and a professional negotiator who acts as spokesperson. By standard practice, the Selectman liaison is typically the board member already assigned to the department involved. Sorenson pointed out that Board Chair Dillon Dumont currently serves as liaison to the Fire Department and would normally fill the role.
The Board unanimously approved Dumont as the Selectman , officially forming the negotiating committee and allowing the town to begin preparing for contract discussions with IAFF Local #3154.
The Board then turned its attention to the hiring process for the town’s open Zoning Administrator position. HR Generalist Michelle Brewster reported that the job posting is scheduled to close on July 15, with first round interviews expected to begin on July 21. Brewster recommended that the Board establish a second round interview committee to evaluate finalists and present the most qualified candidate to the full Board for consideration.
Her proposed committee would include two members of the Board of Selectmen, Sorenson, Development Services Director Elvis Dhima, and Brewster herself. She explained that the Zoning Administrator works closely with multiple departments and boards, making a multi-member committee essential for a thorough evaluation.
Sorenson added that the Board may want to include a representative from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, noting that the ZBA works closely with the Zoning Administrator and has participated in similar hiring processes in the past. Dumont agreed, saying it would be appropriate for either the Chair or Vice Chair of the Board of Selectmen to serve on the committee depending on availability.
After discussion, the Board unanimously approved Vice Chair Bob Guessferd and Selectman Xen Vurgaropulos as the Selectmen representatives on the interview committee, allowing the hiring process to move forward.
With both committees established, the Board set the stage for two significant efforts: negotiating a new contract for Hudson’s firefighters and selecting the next official responsible for overseeing zoning and land-use matters in town.
