Hudson Council approves multiple consent items, substitutes and approves city manager contract amendment; one consent item moves to three readings

The Hudson City Council voted on minutes, consent items and several procedural motions during the public meeting.

Minutes and consent agenda: The council approved the Jan. 21 and Jan. 28 minutes by roll call vote, 6-0. Council then moved to suspend rules to consider most consent agenda items; the suspension and the consent package (excluding items 25-13 and 25-19) passed by roll call vote, 6-0. The approved consent items included a resolution to advertise competitive bids and enter into contract for a 10-foot trail along East Barlow Road (item 25-14); amendments and agreements with Norfolk Southern for the East Barlow Road trail and quiet-zone work (items 25-15 and 25-16); an agreement with the Ohio Rail Development Commission for the Hines Hill Road grade separation project (item 25-17); an application authorization for a U.S. Department of Transportation resilient-transportation grant (item 25-18); and approval of a then-and-now certificate (item 25-20).

City manager contract amendment (consent item 25-13): Council pulled item 25-13 for separate consideration. After a motion to substitute updated language dated 02/04/2025, the substitution passed by roll call vote, 6-0, and council then passed the substituted item 25-13 by roll call vote, 6-0. The agenda described 25-13 as “a resolution authorizing the city council president to enter into a retroactive amendment to the city manager employment contract with Thomas J. Sheridan and declaring an emergency.” The council substituted an updated exhibit A (short unemployment contract amendment 02/04/2025) before passage. The meeting minutes record a 6-0 vote in favor.

Consent item 25-19 (Destination Hudson lease/asset purchase): Council pulled item 25-19 (a lease termination and asset purchase agreement with Destination Hudson Inc. for visitor center assets) and attempted to suspend the rules to consider it on the same agenda. The motion to suspend the rules for 25-19 failed on a 4-2 vote, with two councilors recorded as opposed; therefore the item will move forward under regular legislation procedures and appear for additional readings per council rules.

Legislation and referrals: On first or second readings, council considered several ordinances: a second reading of an amendment to the backflow prevention program ordinance (item 25-12); a first reading of an ordinance codifying order and rules for public hearings (item 25-21), which Councilor Sutton moved to refer to the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals (BZBA) and the Planning Commission for comment; that referral passed by roll call vote, 6-0. Council also introduced a first reading of an ordinance codifying the right of public comment at boards and commissions (item 25-22) and a first reading of an ordinance to streamline parliamentary procedures for adopting legislation (item 25-23).

Other votes: The council voted 6-0 to enter executive session to discuss real estate and pending litigation (inviting council members, the mayor, the city solicitor and the city manager), and then recessed for that executive session. No further public business was taken after the executive sessions.

Ending: Items that failed rule suspension will return for standard readings on the next council agenda; staff will schedule follow-up readings and provide required materials to council per established timelines.