Board Chairman Art Baer (R-Hillsdale) predicted the outcome in a conversation with ccSCOOP in the week leading up to the vote; he said approval was a fairly straightforward matter at that point. "I'm confident the resolution will pass by a large majority," he said. In the end, thirteen supervisors voted for the resolution, six against, with one abstention. Under the weighted vote system the resolution carried 2,476 to 620.

Baer, Board of Supervisors Minority Leader Doug McGivney (D-Kinderhook), and Public Works Commissioner David Robinson were the architects of the proposal, which critics argue is fiscally flawed, creates significant hardship for people in need, and will unnecessarily dismantle the county seat.

The fact that public opposition has remained consistent since the plan was unveiled in April was a point made to the full board by Supervisor William Hughes (D-Hudson4) prior to the vote Wednesday.

"No one outside the Board of Supervisors supports this [plan]," Hughes said. Hughes specifically addressed the DSS satellite office proposal, calling it a "political Band-Aid."

Supervisor Ed Cross (D-Hudson2) raised the implications of a "yes" vote for his fellow lawmakers. He said in light of other recent board decisions—the purchase of the Ockawamick property, followed by a countywide hiring freeze and the proposed removal of the Pine Haven skilled nursing facility from Philmont—a green light on the DSS move could mean "three strikes and you're out." He implored the supervisors not to "turn a deaf ear to the people" who elected them.

Supervisor Joe Finn (D-Hudson3) rose and said he was voting "no" because the move would be a "drastic change" for everyone involved. He also said transportation costs necessitated by the relocation plan will substantially increase in the years to come, and for that reason the plan was "not right economically."

Majority Leader Elizabeth Young (R-Taghkanic) declared her intention to abstain from the vote because she did not have enough information to be sure the DSS satellite office as proposed was "the best [option] for Hudson."

Supervisor Ray Staats (D-Clermont) echoed Young's sentiments and subsequently voted "no."

At the close of the discussion, Baer denied the public the opportunity to speak, most notably Scalera. "This isn't a public hearing," he said.

However, following the conclusion of business and during the comments portion of the agenda near the close of the meeting, Hughes rose and yielded the floor to the mayor, who briefly addressed the supervisors.

During his remarks, Scalera took the board to task for its failure to consider the people impacted by the decision and to substantively evaluate alternative plans.

"I'm here representing the City of Hudson," he said. "I'm here representing a community that feels disenfranchised and powerless. Over the past several months, I've heard words like 'synergy' and 'due diligence,' but I haven't heard 'compassion.'"

The board's vote dashed the hopes of approximately 70-75 protesters who gathered outside 401 State prior to the meeting. The purpose of the rally was to encourage the supervisors to postpone their decision until after a full comparative cost analysis of the Ockawamick plan and Plan B was done. (Plan B calls for the construction of new buildings on the north side of Hudson on land provided by the City.) In comments to Beth Wurtmann of WNYT-TV after the vote, Linda Mussmann, a rally organizer, said of the board's action, "To turn a deaf ear to the citizens of our community who need these services is [a blow]…. These are extreme times, and the reality is we need all the help we can get."

Community members and elected officials who participated in the rally filed in to the supervisors’ meeting room under the watchful eyes of county Sheriff's Deputies. Law enforcement was present—as it was for the February 11 meeting—at Baer's direction. It was the only direct acknowledgment of his constituents' presence the chairman made all night.