HUDSON – Town Meeting voters have rejected an article that asks for funding for environmental consulting services to redevelop the Hudson Portuguese Club into municipal and school office space.
This article ultimately failed with a standing vote of 155 “yay” and 191 “nay.”
The article before Town Meeting – Article 10 – asked to raise and appropriate $23,500 to fund a contract with Woodard & Curran, an environmental consultant, to provide environmental consulting services to the Select Board regarding the site.
This spring, the Select Board began analyzing the possibility of acquiring the club.
The Portuguese Club proposed the town purchase the roughly 10-acre site, which is located at 13 Port Street, to the Select Board last year. After discussions with other town boards and committees, the Select Board decided it would best serve as a school administration building because the current building on Apsley Street is “in need of desperate repair,” according to Select Board Chair Scott Duplisea.
He said an appraisal of the site has been obtained and the results of a feasibility study will soon be reviewed by the Select Board.
“There is nothing else in town that size that could possibly be obtained by the town and used for, not only municipal and school uses, but recreational uses also. I find it to be attractive, even though it is going to cost money,” Duplisea said.
Residents voice concerns
Resident Antonio Cabral urged residents to vote against Article 10.
“The Portuguese Club was a place where people gathered. The Club should never be sold, it’s the only heritage we have in this town. Please vote against it,” he said.
President of the Portuguese Club Kevin Santos said the Portuguese Club is “not actively for a private sale as of this moment.” However, he said he has conversed with the Select Board about the town acquiring the property.
He added, “Hudson Portuguese Club does not have any intent to cease its operation in the community. We do have an underutilized real estate asset. And given what we heard about issues the town is dealing with, is why we entered into a conversation with them.”
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