We Need A City Manager, And Badly!

Union Street, $500

Late last year, at about the same time, contractors working at 716-718 Union and 205-207 Warren excavated the sidewalks and streets in front of those buildings to get at pipes below.  I FOILed for the DPW Street Permits for each of those projects.  In response, there was only one permit to see -- for the contractor at 716-718 Union.  What of the permit for 205-207 Warren? "As per DPW, no documents responsive," the email read.

DPW granted Meyers Contracting a Street Permit to excavate on Union Street, at the cost of $500.  The contractor on Warren (I believe it was J&R Contracting) did just as much street and sidewalk excavation - nearly across the entire street - but paid nothing and did the work without a permit.  They even closed down Warren Street for a day or two because of the big hole in the street they were working in.  It's not like they did the work in the dark of the night and nobody, including Robert Perry, could see what was going on. 

The abysmal spelling in the permit says it all

205-207 Warren Street, $0

I can confidently say that it is not unusual for contractors in Hudson to dig without obtaining a DPW Street Permit.  I have come across it several times.  Robert Perry is simply not able, or not willing, to pay attention to this matter.  Not even for over $114,000 a year.

All contractors working in the city, digging up our streets and sidewalks, should know their responsibilities before doing so - especially the local ones working here regularly.  If they don't know that they need a permit from DPW before they dig, whose fault do you suppose that is?  If there are no consequences for contractors who dig up a street or sidewalk without paying for a permit, why wouldn't some of them choose to continue doing so?  If they know DPW is barely paying attention and doesn't seem to care, why would they bother trying to a get a permit?  If the contractors know that they might be able to save $200, or even $500, why wouldn't they?

205-207 Warren, $0