Residents defeat anti-blight proposal
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

Hudson - After two hours of discussion at a Special Town Meeting Nov. 19, residents voted down article 9, a proposal to add an anti-blight and nuisance bylaw.

Local resident Jocelyn Messier apposed the law.

"This is the United States," she said. "Big Brother is going to be wandering around our yards," she said.

Messier and several other residents outlined several items in the article that they said would classify most residences in Hudson as in the state of blight.

Community members said they feared penalties for firewood piles, fallen trees and brush in wooded areas within their property because the proposed law said dead trees would constitute a nuisance.

Messier said that the article said that a dirt pile stored longer than three months on a property constitutes a nuisance.

"How can a pile of dirt be a nuisance? Does it come out at night and dump your trash bins?" she asked. "If your neighbor has a Mercedes and does not like your Chevrolet, is it blight?"

Selectman Santino Parente objected to Messier's characterization.

"I am hurt to hear Big Brother," he said. "My first impression of this was that it was for the betterment of the town and safety issues."

Linda Shea said she did not doubt the intentions of the selectman, but was concerned about how the article was written. She cited Section 4 that classifies "Personal property that is exposed to the elements without the protection against deterioration, rust or dilapidation," as blight.

" "Anything rusty in your yard is in violation," Shea said. "This is New England. Everything is rusty."

Jim Grillo, who said he has lived next to a blighted property for 39 years, spoke in support of the proposed bylaw.

"Let's take pride in our community," he said. "It's a home owner's duty to clean up their yard, have a little respect."

Grillo's statement drew applause from the audience. Although several community members spoke in support of cleaning up the "blight properties," in the end they voted against the proposed bylaw. Coniray Wharff summed up the decision by saying the residents were concerned that the article was too broad and would lead to "unintended consequence."

The meeting, which was attended by nearly 300 residents, approved the other eight articles recommended by the Finance Committee.

Mary Hellen thanked town members for the vote to approve Article 4, which will bring the renovation and expansion of the senior center to a town vote at the Feb. 5, 2008, town election. The article drew several questions from the crowd about the cost and the need for the building.

Robin Frank spoke in favor of the renovations.

"The seniors have already paid in taxes for the new school, they have paid their dues," Frank said.

Executive Assistant Paul Blazer outlined the several-layered processes, which has already included feasibility plan to determine the physical and demographic needs of the center, public sessions, hearings, media publication and the availability of the plans online.

The town ollowed the same guidelines on this project as they did with the new construction of the high school, Blazer said.

"Remember in a few years you will be a senior," Hellen said, "and you will be glad you have this building."