Don’t Forget to Vote Tomorrow – Polls open 7:00am-8:00pm

There are contested races for School Committee and Library Trustee, as well as 10 ballot questions. See below for more info. All Hopkinton precincts vote at the Middle School. Polls are open 7:00am-8:00pm.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE, For 3 years, Vote for 2
Jean Bertschmann, Incumbent http://jeanforsc.com/
Frank D’Urso, Democrat facebook.com/CandidateDUrso
Frank Sivo, Republican http://sivoforsc.org/
Jon Graziano facebook.com/JonGrazianoForSchoolCommittee

BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS, Unexpired Term 2014, Vote for 1
Richard O. Duggan, Democrat
June A. Harris, Republican

Question 1: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the purchase of a Fire Department Tender Truck?

At the 2011 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $350,000 for the purchase of a tender truck, accessories and any other related costs. At the 2012 ATM, this amount was increased to $367,000. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 2: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design of a Department of Public Works headquarters facility, along with all related costs?

At the 2011 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $250,000 for the design of a DPW headquarters facility, along with all related costs. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. No such vote was taken, however, within the 90-day period prescribed by statute. Therefore, any borrowing for this purpose would need to be approved at a future Town Meeting. A YES vote would mean that, if the funds are approved at a future Town Meeting, the levy limit will be temporarily increased to cover the cost of the borrowing. A NO vote would mean that no temporary increase will be authorized at this time.
Read more: Hopkinton Department of Public Works Asks for Yes Vote at Ballot…
Read more: New DPW Powerpoint Presentation…

Question 3: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design, repair, maintenance, renovation and improvement of the track at Hopkinton High School?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $278,500 for the design, repair, maintenance, renovation and improvement of the track at Hopkinton High School. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

The existing track was installed approximately 16 years ago. It was resurfaced in 2003 with a material that cannot be resurfaced. The track is in very poor condition as evidenced by buckling, peeling and other signs of deterioration. The track’s uneven and hardened surface is a safety risk for shin splints, falls and injuries. Because the surface no longer has any grip, the corners are now slippery in the sprints and 400 meter hurdles. The high jump pad is falling apart. Due to the safety risks, the use of the track for the HS athletics program beyond this spring season will not be viable. With design fees, the cost for the track renovation will be $278,500, and would be paid for via a Proposition 2 1/2 Debt Exclusion.

Question 4: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design and construction of drainage improvements on Lakeshore Drive?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $300,000 for the design and construction of drainage improvements on Lakeshore Drive. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

To design and construct adequate drainage to prevent the sewer pump station from being flooded which would discharge sewage across the beach and into the lake.

Question 5: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $50,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of making Library Building envelope repairs and replacement of the knob and tube electrical system for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $50,000 for Library Building envelope repairs and replacement of the knob and tube electrical system. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

This type of wiring system is found in older houses built before the 1920’s and 30’s. This process of knob-and-tube wiring is a safety hazard because the junctions are not housed in junction boxes (especially in insulated areas), it is a two-wire system, hot and neutral which has no ground wire. Wires are at least 80-90 years old.

Included in this request also are miscellaneous building envelope repairs to eliminate active leaking areas (window wells and other basement penetrations), minor roof repairs for leaks and wild life entry and general sealing of the building envelope for energy savings.

Question 6: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $96,025 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of designing, repairing, maintaining, renovating and improving the main entrance of the High School loop road for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $96,025 for the design, repair, maintenance, renovation and improvement of the main entrance of the High School loop road. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

This Article would support repairs of an 1100 foot section of the Loop Road leading from Hayden Rowe Street towards the Hopkins School; this section, which is in poor condition, ends at the Loop Road fork between the back of the High School and the Hopkins School. According to an engineering study conducted in 2008, not including cars exiting the High School, this section of road is used by approximately 670 cars, trucks and school buses on every day that school is in session. An engineering study by Fay, Spofford and Thorndike places the project cost at $116,025, with an estimated service life of 14 years. The school district, still has $20,000 remaining from an earlier capital article for work on the Loop Road. Therefore, the cost of this Article is set at $96,025. It would be paid for via a Proposition 2 1/2  Capitol Outlay Exclusion.

Question 7: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the final design and construction of a traffic signal and intersection improvements at the intersection of School Street and West Main Street?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $540,000 for the final design and construction of a traffic signal and intersection improvements at the intersection of School Street and West Main Street. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

To install traffic signal and improvements. This intersection had the highest crash rate of non-signalized intersections in town 2009-2011.

Question 8: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $64,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of purchasing a new 12-foot wide tractor-mower for maintaining the schools’ athletic fields for the fiscal year beginning July first 2012?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $64,000 for the purpose of purchasing a new 12-foot-wide tractor-mower for maintaining athletic fields. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

The existing tractor-mower has been in use since 2005. This vehicle is used to sow, aerate and seed all twenty acres of HPS athletic fields. Athletic fields are mowed several times each week, and any down time for this vehicle impacts rhe district’s ability to maintain that schedule. The vehicle has been used for 1,767 hours to date, which is the equivalent of 150,000 miles for a motor vehicle. In the past two years, approximately $4,000 has been spent on repairs to the unit. If purchase is delayed, future models will cost approximately 20% more due to new emissions regulations. The cost to replace the vehicle is $64,000 and would be paid for via a Proposition 2 1/2 Capital Outlay Exclusion.

Question 9: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $50,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of paving of Lumber Street?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $50,000 to provide for the paving of Lumber Street, including any necessary grading, repairs and preparation for paving. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

For the paving of a section of Lumber Street. Necessary to improve safety and reduce DPW maintenance costs. (Previously voted in 1987 by town meeting to maintain as a gravel surfaced road.)

Question 10: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design of underground facilities to replace poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures in connection with the provision of public utilities upon, along or across Main Street?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters decided not to borrow $580,000 for the purpose of designing underground facilities to replace poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures used in connection with the provision of public utilities upon, along or across Main Street. Any borrowing for this purpose would need to be approved at a future Town Meeting. A YES vote would mean that, if the funds are approved at a future Town Meeting, the levy limit will be temporarily increased to cover the cost of the borrowing. A NO vote would mean that no temporary increase will be authorized at this time.

BEFORE: Main Street and Hayden Rowe now WITH Wires

AFTER: Main Street and Hayden Rowe WITHOUT Wires

BEFORE: Main Street Westbound now WITH Wires

AFTER: Main Street Westbound WITHOUT Wires