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Hudson council considers rule limiting liaison participation in appeals amid dais-seating debate
Summary
Council reviewed a proposed ordinance tightening rules for council liaisons: the draft would bar a liaison from participating in an administrative appeal if they had participated in the related hearing; members disagreed about whether liaisons should sit at the dais for board meetings or instead use a side table or sit in the audience.
Council reviewed proposed amendments to council rules that would define the council-liaison role and expressly bar any council liaison from participating in an administrative appeal where the liaison had participated in the hearing or discussion at the hearing level.
Staff read proposed solicitor language intended to prevent conflicts of interest, explaining the change would bar a liaison from participating in appeals "irrespective of where someone's sitting, whether at the dais or in the audience," and that the amendment was recommended after solicitor review.
Some councilmembers (Mister Sutton) objected to the idea of placing a council member at the dais for quasi-judicial hearings, arguing that mere presence could influence decisions even if the liaison did not speak. Other members suggested compromise options such as providing a separate side table with a microphone so liaisons can respond to questions without sitting on the dais. Council agreed to retain the prohibition on participation in appeals but directed staff to refine logistics about where liaisons sit during quasi-judicial meetings and to bring back amended language.
Next steps: staff will adjust the ordinance language to clarify logistics for dais seating and return the item for first reading next week.
