HUDSON — The Select Board recognized the retirement of Building Commissioner Jeff Wood at its Feb. 26 meeting.
Wood will retire effective on June 3, 2024; he has served the town of Hudson for over two decades in the Building Department.
He was appointed building maintenance coordinator in September 1998, building inspector in February 2000 and the building commissioner in February 2004.
Select Board Chair Scott Duplisea said, “You’ve been at it for a while, and I’m sure this is going to be a well-deserved retirement.”
Wood said he was “looking forward to it.” He thanked his coworkers, the Select Board and Executive Assistant Tom Gregory, who he credited with the hire of Dennis Monteiro, the head electrical inspector.
“It’s been a pleasure serving the citizens of the town for the last 26 and a half years,” Wood said.
“It’s been a pleasure working with you for all the years I’ve worked with you as a police chief and then again as I sit here on the board. You’re a heck of a guy, and I appreciate what you’ve done for the town,” said Select Board member Michael Burks.
Select Board member James Quinn said he has known Wood for 62 years, and it has been great working with him on behalf of the Historic District Commission. He recalled getting a call from former Selectman Joseph Durant about whether he would recommend Wood to be the building commissioner, and he said no at the time.
“They hired him anyway, and it turned out great. I would like to say, ‘Happy retirement,’ but I’m kind of sad you’re going because you were supposed to try to hang on as long as I did,” said Quinn.
Select Board Clerk Judy Congdon said Wood will be missed.
“There’s some big shoes to fill,” she said.
In the Zoom chat, Director of Public and Community Health Lauren Antonelli wrote, “Thank you for your service, Jeff! You will be missed.”
Finance Director Neil Vaidya wrote, “Congrats on your retirement. Thanks for your service to the town. It’s been nice working with you.”
Daigneault’s liquor license transferred
Additionally, Hudson will bid farewell to a longstanding institution in town, Daigneault’s Liquors. The board approved the transfer of an All Alcohol Package Store license at 66 Broad St. from Daigneault’s Liquors to Boski & Ashil’s Inc. in the management of Ashil Patel.
Congdon asked if the transfer was for a lease or a purchase of the business and if there was a new, updated commitment letter. She wanted to verify if Patel was purchasing the property and sale agreement and leasing it back to himself.
She said, “I’m just curious about how that’s all working.”
Quinn said he spoke to a principal party in the transfer, Al Green, Al Daigneault’s son. His understanding was that Patel bought the business and the property, and that Congdon was correct in her assessment.
Matthew Porter, attorney for the applicant, said this was “the sale of real estate and business” so the ABCC, or Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, wants to see a right to occupy the premises for the new applicant. It was a case of executing a lease to the business entity.
He added they could issue a new commitment letter as the commitment is still in place.
Quinn said Daigneault played hockey for his father’s first Hudson High School team in about 1949, so “we kind of hit it off right away.”
In business for 103 years, Daigneault’s Liquors began as a little market and survived the depression era.
He added, “Every neighborhood had its own market. It’s sad to see them go, but I’d like the owners to take note that it’s been a great business all these years.”
Porter said the transfer is straightforward and the store is “in good hands” of a TIPS-certified owner.
“It’s been a very smooth transaction,” he said.
The board also learned that the town was accepted into the REACH – or Racial Equity Advancement and Collaborative Hub – program, along with municipalities like Framingham and Natick. The participation will be 10 months beginning on Feb. 14 through November 2024, and the town will be represented by Antonelli, Superintendent Brian Reagan and Police Chief Richard DiPersio, among others.
“We felt that this is an important opportunity the town could certainly benefit from. And we put in an application to the program, and we’re lucky enough to be accepted in,” said Antonelli.
They will learn skills and knowledge with the goal of thinking about racial equity, diversity and inclusion in terms of the processes, including hiring practices, being done in town, according to Antonelli.
