HUDSON – Operation Unite New York conducted its annual Hudson Youth Government Day on Thursday, April 26. Fifteen student participants – all freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors at Hudson High School — spent the morning shadowing government officials to see how they did their jobs. After lunch the students assembled in the Hudson City Hall to conduct a mock common council meeting. The students wore blue t-shirts labeled with their respective roles as council members, council president and city mayor.
A list of discussion topics were addressed including a proposal to bring back dog statues to Hudson, a proposal to renew the Hudson Housing Authority Board, the creation of a dog park in Hudson, funding for the youth center, composting on Warren Street, and whether there should be an increase in parking meter price. The students followed Roberts Rules of Order and presented arguments pro and con for each of the topics. Then votes were taken.
Following the meeting, students had the opportunity to ask questions of many of the attending officials, including council members Eileen Halloran, Kamal Johnson, and Rich Volo, as well as Mayor Rick Rector, Mayor’s Aide Branda Maholtz and Council President Tom DePietro and Columbia County Supervisor for Hudson’s First Ward Sara Sterling.