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Western Reserve Community Band asks Hudson to extend City Hall lease and retain climate‑controlled storage
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Summary
Representatives of the Western Reserve Community Band urged Hudson City Council to extend the band's City Hall lease and provide continued climate‑controlled storage for its archival sheet‑music library and equipment, citing a roughly $100,000 collection and projected annual shortfalls without low‑cost storage.
Arnold Kramer, president of the Western Reserve Community Band, told Hudson City Council on Sept. 9 that the volunteer nonprofit needs continued access to a climate‑controlled storage room at City Hall to preserve an archival music library and support more than 90 volunteer musicians.
"We require space, currently like at City Hall about 300 square feet," Kramer said, adding that the band's accumulated sheet‑music collection is “probably upwards now of about a $100,000.” Kramer and Vice President Victoria Putnam said off‑site commercial storage options were both expensive and inconvenient, estimating roughly $250 per month for a remote facility.
The band asked council to consider extending or renegotiating the terms of its current lease at City Hall so the organization—largely volunteer‑run and performing free concerts for the community—could remain based in Hudson. Kramer described annual operating figures that, under current projections, could create a structural shortfall: projected purchases and insurance near $8,000 for 2026 versus typical performance income around $4,500.
Council members questioned whether the Hudson City School District or library could offer alternate storage. Kramer said he had pursued school‑based options but that those discussions a year earlier had not yielded a viable space. "That is not an option," he said of the schools' ability to host the band's library during a recent follow‑up.
Several councilors urged staff to revisit conversations with the schools and the library and recommended placing the matter on the Home Committee agenda for October so the band and staff could pursue alternatives before the council made a final decision. Council President Foster said he would put the item on the Home Committee for October.
If a lease extension is not feasible, Kramer asked council to consider at least a short, temporary extension while the band exhausts other local options; multiple council members pledged to help facilitate renewed outreach to school and library officials.
The Home Committee will consider the band's request in October; council did not take a binding vote at the workshop.
