Residents press housing authority on elevator outage, truck replacement, dumpsters and staffing

Residents used the public-comment portion of the Hudson Housing Authority meeting on July 15 to press staff on building operations and services, including a multi-week elevator outage, the absence of a truck used for large-item removal, concerns about illegal dumping at temporary dumpsters, and limited maintenance and security coverage.

Executive Director Jeffrey Dodson told the board the elevators have been out for several weeks because required parts are obsolete and repairs are taking time. "We have a small price down, and maybe there's a problem with the door motor... it's taking us some time to be fixed because the parts are obsolete," Dodson said. He told residents the authority is evaluating repair options and prioritizing elevator service alongside other needs.

Residents asked when the authority will replace a truck that was damaged in a November fire and raised concerns about how to handle large-item disposal without encouraging illegal dumping. Dodson said the authority is working through budgetary decisions and procurement and that staff are looking at appropriate vehicle options; he also said he wants a controlled approach to dumpsters to avoid creating illegal-dumping hotspots.

On staffing, Dodson said a security guard had been loaned to maintenance because of short staffing and that the authority has been recruiting maintenance workers but has had limited applicant pools. "We are hiring. It's on our website," he said, adding that some positions require reliable, dependable candidates and that response staff cover emergency calls outside of daytime hours.

Residents and commissioners also asked about partnership opportunities — including youth workforce programs — and Dodson welcomed external partnerships for training and apprenticeship programs. The board closed public comment and moved to commissioner remarks and adjournment.