Chief approved for another three-year term
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

Hudson - At their Aug. 27 meeting, the selectmen voted to approve the extension of Chief of Police Richard Braga's employment for another three years running through Aug. 27, 2010. Braga has been serving the town of Hudson for 27 years and has managed the growing depart- ment for the past 10.

"It is a great town and I am proud to work here," Braga said.

He is looking forward to at least another three years, he said, and plans to continue to keep the local police force on the cutting edge of technology despite the ongoing issues with a growing community and a resource-stressed department.

Other business

Executive Assistant Paul Blazer also raised issues during the meeting about instituting a Water Advisory. He explained that throughout the summer, the town generates points - based on river and well levels and rainfall - to decide whether to impose a town water ban.

Blazer explained that the town had found out that day that the points indicated that there should be some concern about the levels, which would lead to a town-wide voluntary water ban.

What concerned Blazer even more was that the town was very close to being in a state that would lead to a mandatory town-wide water ban before the next selectmen meeting.

"Unless we have a monsoon before the next meeting, we will be pushed into a level two watch level," Blazer said.

Selectman Fred Lucy's recommendation, which the board unanimously supported, was to give Blazer the authority to issue the appropriate water ban warning as needed before the next meeting.

For now, the selectmen expect a town-wide water ban to be implemented in the near future. The watch level restriction would mean watering gardens and car washing could only take place between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Blazer also planted a seed with the selectman to implement a permanent system of water conservation regulations during the summer season. With drought conditions in the summer and the fact that Hudson is labeled a moderately stressed water area, the prediction for the future is that the state will become more stringent on regulating the amount of water that the town takes from the ground.

In other news, the selectman approved two contracts with out-of-state companies: one in the amount of $14,300 for the removal of filter media from the Chestnut Street water treatment facility and one for $57,000 for the delivery of the filter media.

Both Blazer and the selectmen were surprised that after sending contracts to several diff erent companies for bids, only one company was willing to bid on the contract.

The selectmen also approved a reimbursement request for $220,685.60 for the reconstruction of Zenith Road. Selectman Carl Leeber reminisced about the $100,000 cost to resurface one mile of road 15 years ago when he first joined the board.

"Zenith Road is less then a mile and people wonder where their taxes are going," Leeber said. "It is getting expensive and it is getting expensive fast."

The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Monday Sept. 17.