During the July 23 Hudson Board of Selectmen meeting one of the agenda items was in regard to the citizen’s petition warrant article regarding the Comprehensive Infrastructure Study.
“At the July 9, 2024, Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectman Jakoby requested that an item be placed on the Board’s agenda to discuss petition warrant article #29 for a comprehensive infrastructure study that was approved by the voters at the March 2024 annual meeting,” Town Administrator, Steve Malizia, wrote in a memo to the Board of Selectmen.
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.
Jakoby explained that she wanted to bring it forward to see “what action if any,” they should take on the study.
It was noted during the discussion that there was no appropriation made as part of the warrant article, meaning there isn’t any funding for it.
Selectman, David Morin, said they need to determine what they are looking to accomplish as part of the study before they do anything.
“I understand the intent of it, but I think we need a scope before we do anything because I think this is going to be big money,” Morin said.
Jakoby said she wanted to see what the next steps are whether it’s to develop a scope or something else. She said if there is a cost for the scope, then she suggested that it could potentially be what they ask for during the next election.
Jakoby wanted to make iy clear to the residents that the board is taking action on the infrastructure study.
Jakoby said, “I think if we explain the delay in the process and what we’ve decided, that’s all the residents can ask for.” She added, “We brought it to the table, we’re taking action and continuous updates at each of our meetings, that would be great.”
Board of Selectmen Chair, Bob Guessferd, said he suggested they talk to Town Administrator, Steve Malizia, first to see what his idea is for getting a scope of work done for the project.
The next Hudson Board of Selectmen meeting is slated to take place on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.