Hudson council renews library levy, records covenants and names "Hudson Innovation Park"; approves emergency contracts

Hudson City Council on Tuesday evening approved a substituted resolution to renew and increase the Hudson Library levy and took several other actions on third reading and via the consent agenda.

The council passed Resolution 25-147 by a 7–0 roll-call vote to renew an existing 2.9-mill levy and increase it by 0.6 mills for a total of 3.5 mills in excess of the 10-mill limitation, and declared the matter an emergency. The measure requests the Summit County fiscal officer to certify the city—urrent tax valuation and the dollar amount of revenue the levy would generate.

Why it matters: The levy renewal and increase would change the library—unding rate on the property-tax duplicate; the council pproved substitute language dated Oct. 7, 2025 was read into the record before the vote.

Council also unanimously passed Resolution 25-144 (7–0), authorizing the city manager to record protective covenants for the city-owned parcel at 996 Hines Hill Road. On the same agenda the council approved Resolution 25-145 (7–0) to adopt "Hudson Innovation Park" as the site name and to develop branding for that parcel.

Consent agenda: Council suspended the rules and approved the consent agenda by roll call (7–0). Items included: acknowledgement of the September 2025 monthly financial report; authorization for the city manager to proceed with transfer of vacant land through the Summit County Land Bank; an emergency agreement with MagnaTech Industrial Services Inc. for repair of a 12.47 kV transformer at the South Main Street substation; and three emergency contracts with employee-benefit vendors (Mutual Health Services/MHS, TrueRx, and Nationwide Life Insurance) for certain health benefit plan services.

Appointments and referrals: Council President Foster ppointed Fred Enamorado to a full term on the planning commission; the nomination passed 6–1 (Kowalski opposed). The reappointment of Sarah Norman to a full term on the planning commission passed 4–2–1 (Councilor Getz abstained; Councilors Kowalski and Burd voted no). Council unanimously referred two land-development code amendments (items 25-167 and 25-168) to the planning commission (7–0).

Other business: Council conducted first readings of numerous ordinances and resolutions, including a proposed rule to allow postponement of legislative items (25-157), a proposed speed-limit reduction on Hines Hill Road (25-163), the 2026—ive-year plan in concept (25-164), the 2026 appropriations ordinance (25-165), a proposed settlement with Beaver Excavating regarding use of a temporary construction yard (25-166), a proposed retroactive amendment to the city manager employment contract (25-169), and a resolution to install a commemorative plaque marking Abraham Lincoln s a train stop at the former Hudson depot (25-170). Several items were specifically identified as first readings and therefore not actionable at this meeting.

Executive sessions: Council held an early executive session to interview a planning-commission applicant and a later executive session to discuss public-employee compensation, potential real-estate purchase, and other matters that must be kept confidential; both sessions were approved by roll call votes.

A quote from the proclamation: Mayor Jeffrey L. Anzavino read the proclamation declaring Oct. 24, 2025, "Take a Second, Make a Difference Day" in Hudson.

What—omes next: Items with first readings will return for additional readings, public notice, or referral actions as required by ordinance; the council indicated it will bring future items back per the standard reading schedule.