The Hudson Board of Selectmen once again postponed making a decision about the future of the town’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, opting to table the discussion during its most recent meeting. Selectman Heidi Jakoby, who serves as the committee’s liaison, was absent, and board members agreed it would be best to wait until she could participate.
The issue has been under debate for several weeks. At the April 14 meeting, the Board was scheduled to vote on the committee’s proposed charter, but the discussion shifted toward whether the group should continue operating as a municipal advisory committee or transition into a nonprofit organization.
Board Chair Dillon Dumont has repeatedly argued that the committee would be “better served” functioning as an independent nonprofit rather than as a town entity.
“I think that they would be better served doing it that way,” Dumont said previously. “They could get out from underneath some of our policies. They could run and function the way they want to. Quite frankly, I think their budget would increase significantly with the donations they would be able to bring in that way and possibly get set up for charitable gaming.”
Dumont emphasized that a nonprofit could still advise the town while operating with more flexibility.
“They would be separate from the town, but they would still be able to make advice and recommendations to the departments and to the Board of Selectmen,” he said. “I just see what they’re going for, the bigger picture of it. I think a lot more could be achieved if looked in that direction.”
However, at the April 28 meeting, Sustainability Committee Chair Karl Huber made it clear that the committee members strongly oppose the idea of becoming a nonprofit.
“This committee has no interest whatsoever in pursuing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,” Huber said, noting that members are volunteers and the process of forming a nonprofit is time consuming and outside the scope of why they joined.
“We didn’t come on board as volunteers to do this,” he said. “We came on board as volunteers to take the charter we presented to this Board and move forward and be held accountable.”
Huber outlined the committee’s ongoing work, including community events such as the annual pumpkin smash, the holiday light recycling program, and various public education efforts. He said the committee regularly engages with residents and provides recommendations to the town when appropriate.
Dumont, however, questioned whether the committee is fulfilling its original purpose. He noted that the group was created to develop sustainability ideas for town-owned buildings and properties, and he expressed concern that the committee is not presenting updates or recommendations to the Board as frequently as expected.
He also criticized the timing of the committee’s presentation, saying it was submitted only hours before the meeting, and suggested that requested information is not always provided promptly.
Selectman Bob Guessferd, the Board’s vice chair, acknowledged the value of the committee’s work and said the central question is determining the best structure to support it.
“What they are doing is vitally important for the town,” Guessferd said. “The question is how to get it done.”
Guessferd added that the committee has contributed useful ideas over the years and said he would welcome continued collaboration if the group remains in place.
With no consensus reached and a key member absent, the Board voted to table the matter until a future meeting.
