Town Government
Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. None of these department heads appears on a ballot. Section 4-3(c) of the charter has the Town Manager appoint every one of them, and then adds the step that makes Hudson worth watching: each appointment is “contingent upon the approval by the majority of the select board.” So the name of a new police chief or a new library director goes on a public agenda and gets a recorded vote from people you elected.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most, with the head the town names on its own staff directory. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit the town’s Departments page or its staff directory. Town Hall is at 78 Main Street.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, the town census, and elections. Town Clerk Joan Wordell, who is also the town’s Public Records Access Officer. 978-568-9615. |
|---|---|
| Public Works | Streets, water, sewer, snow plowing and the transfer station. Director Daniel Nason. 978-562-9333. |
| Health | Inspections, clinics, and public health complaints. Director of Public and Community Health Lauren Antonelli. 978-562-2020. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response, at 911 Municipal Drive. Chief Richard P. DiPersio. 978-562-7122. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response, at 296 Cox Street. Fire Chief Jamie Desautels. Non-emergency 978-562-3434. |
| Light and Power | The town’s own electric utility, at 49 Forest Avenue, serving more than 13,000 customers. General Manager Justin Connell. 978-568-8736, and 888-404-4573 to report an outage. |
| Recreation | Parks, fields and youth programs. Director Steven L. Santos. 978-568-9642. |
| Senior Center | Outreach, meals and programs for older residents. Director Janice Long. 978-568-9638. |
| Public Library | The Carnegie library at Wood Square, plus the local history collection. Library Director Aileen Sanchez-Himes. 978-568-9644. |
| Building | Building permits, inspections, and zoning enforcement. Building Commissioner Robert S. Berger. 978-568-9625. |
| Planning & Community Development | Planning, zoning, conservation and economic development, staffed together under one office. Director Kristina Johnson. 978-562-2989. |
| Finance | Budget, accounting, and the town’s financial reporting. Finance Director and Town Accountant Neil A. Vaidya. 978-568-9630. |
| Treasurer / Tax Collector | Tax bills, payments, and town cash management. 978-568-9610. |
| Assessors | Property valuation, abatements, and exemptions. 978-568-9620. |
| Veterans Services | Benefits, claims, and services for Hudson veterans and their families. Veterans Director Brian Stearns. 978-568-9635. |
Emergencies are 911. Where a row above names no head, the town’s staff directory publishes the office and its phone but not a department head, and this guide does not fill that in from anywhere else.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.