HUDSON — Drivers in downtown Hudson will now be able to park their cars for three hours.
Planning and Community Development Director Kristina Johnson gave a brief update on where the town is with the downtown parking study and the implementation of some recommendations from the study at the Select Board meeting on Nov. 4.
Although there were no votes about the study’s findings or recommendations, she noted that the time-stay regulations for downtown Hudson on-street parking and lots has changed from two hours to three hours.
“That change was made, I think, in late spring. And thanks to Mr. [Eric] Ryder, the DPW director, and his staff – they were able to retrofit all the signs,” said Johnson.
Johnson noted this was the number one recommendation that came from the study, and it was supported by the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). She believed it would help businesses and the shoppers coming to enjoy them.
She said they would be working with the Department of Public Works and Police Department about doing a joint social media effort to get the message out about the change to three hours.
There were recommendations, she said, that would need review from the Internal Traffic Committee. She made a recommendation to re-sign Town Hall parking spots as after town hours there is public parking.
Johnson said, “That could be something that we work on at very low cost, and I think would help open up some secret parking spaces.”
Contract approved for Senior Center deck and roof
The Select Board also approved a contract with LaRochelle Construction for the amount of $105,900 for the repairs to the senior center decking and roof. The funds were earmarked by State Rep. Kate Hogan (D-Stow), said Senior Center Director Janice Long. Long requested the funds in 2022 for improvements to the center.
Select Board Chair Scott Duplisea said, “That kind of pushed this through.”
Long thanked Ryder and Matt Reed, who both helped “to put this whole project together.”
She said, “They’ve done a great job, and I’m really excited.”
In local business news, Duplisea recognized Robinson’s Hardware, a local, family-owned business that closed recently. He said that while it is sad to see it go, it is not always possible to keep a family-run business going in changing times.
He said it opened as a general store in 1874 and was in business 150 years. Robinson’s closed on Oct. 31 and had been run by the Underwood family since 1963.
He said, “What a great family – all of them.”
He remembered how they would put up a big tent and invited the people of Hudson to come and celebrate. They would ask for people to donate to a charity as well, Duplisea said.
He said, “It was a big party. It was almost like a class reunion for everybody.”
He believed the owners of the property are “actively pursuing something there” in terms of filling the building.
In other business the Select Board issued two licenses for Christmas tree and wreath sales to the Hudson Lodge of Elks, located at 91 Park St., and Humphrey’s Family Christmas Trees, located at 31 Washington St. The Hudson Lodge of Elks will sell from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24 between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Wednesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, while Humphrey’s Family Christmas Trees will sell from the same time period between the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Select Board member Steven Sharek noted that Fire Chief Jamie Desautels has issued an outdoor fire ban that will remain until rainfall totals improve.
Desautels said in a statement to Executive Assistant Tom Gregory that fire departments across Massachusetts are fighting major brush fires caused by a drought. Due to a lack of rain, warmer than average temperatures and low humidity levels, major fires have occurred.
Desautels said in a statement: “Effective immediately, I have banned any type of outdoor burning, including all forms of open flames, campfires, ceremonial bonfires, chimneys, outdoor cooking fires or any other sources of ignition that could ignite material.”
