After voters voted in support of a citizen petition warrant article regarding a comprehensive infrastructure study, the Board of Selectmen received an update regarding the status of it, during its Sept. 3 meeting.
The citizen petition warrant article stated the following:
“Should the Town of Hudson complete a comprehensive infrastructure study independently run by a qualified third-party contractor unrelated to the Town of Hudson or the Nashua Regional Planning Commission? This study will include the following:
- Comprehensive traffic study and impact for the entire town to include all developments being built and approved to be built.
- Emergency services review of staffing, equipment, and training needed based on the facilities and anticipated demand from all the development. This includes, Police, Fire, and DPW.
- Impact on our schools based on the high-density housing and the housing development under construction.
- Sewer and water needs for the town.
- Review the current impact fees assigned to developers based on this study.
- The study results are expected to be used to upgrade and improve the Master Plan,
- Zoning ordinance, Land Use regulations, and to determine the impact to budgets/taxpayers and equipment/facilities/staffing needed to function.”
Voters in Town voted 1,789 to 1,325 in support of the citizens petition warrant article.
During the meeting Selectman Heidi Jakoby said they were going to look at determining the scope of the infrastructure study, and wanted to see what the status of that was.
Board of Selectmen Chair, Bob Guessferd, said the question is “what is the next step in determining that scope.”
Selectman, Kara Roy, said she thought they were going to work with MRI to establish that scope, however, Selectman, David Morin, said they had agreed to have MRI do it, but he isn’t sure if they have anything to give to MRI, saying they should have a public hearing so they can ask the public what they want to look at as part of the infrastructure study.
“Because right now we have nothing to give to MRI,” Morin said.
Jakoby said she agreed with the proposal to have a public hearing.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” she said.
Morin said the people who submitted the warrant article, and those who supported it along with others can come in and tell them what they are looking for.
Board of Selectmen Vice Chair, Dillon Dumont, said that because of how expensive the study would likely be, he asked they use the town’s social media to get the word out for the public hearing.
It was ultimately decided to have the public hearing on Oct. 1 at Hills Memorial Library.