May 6, 2012

Town Meeting Begins Tomorrow at 7:00pm

Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting Day 1
Monday, May 7 at 7:00-11:00pm
Hopkinton Middle School Auditorium
There are 58 articles to vote on in the warrant this year. Town meeting will repeat the following evenings 7:00-11:00pm until all the articles are voted. We expect Town Meeting to last 2-3 evenings. A list of articles and our Town Meeting 101 is included below.

Useful Documents:

Town Meeting 101
You do not need to bring anything to Town Meeting. However, many people find that bringing a notebook and pen or pencil is helpful to make notes during the discussions. No food or drink is allowed in the Middle School Auditorium. There is a drinking fountain outside the auditorium. Many people also find that something to occupy one’s hands is helpful. If you are a knitter, for example, bring a small project. There are plenty of padded stationary folding auditorium style chairs, which are reasonably comfortable. But remember you’ll be there for a long time, so wear comfortable clothes.

Town Meeting begins at 7:00pm in the Middle School Auditorium. Enter by Grove Street and please allow time to park and walk to the building. As you enter the Middle School, head to the left to the cafeteria to sign in. To actually vote in the auditorium, you must be a Hopkinton resident registered to vote and you must sign in at the voter table. Your name will be checked off and you’ll be given a piece of paper. Hold on to this piece of paper; you will need it when it is time for the votes to be counted! You’ll see a table of handouts and fact sheets regarding all the proposed article to be voted on from both the town boards and committees. There is some terrific information here that may answer many of your questions. Listening devices for the hearing impaired will be available, please ask when you check in.

You do not have to be present for the entire town meeting to vote, though the more that participate in whole, the more balanced the democratic process. A quorum of 100 people is required to open the meeting. There is no set time to check in. The meeting will be broadcast live via HCAM TV (Comcast 8/Verizon 30/Streaming live at www.hcam.tv), but you MUST be present to vote. You just need to check in prior to the vote, whenever you arrive. You only have to check in once, and you can come and go from the auditorium as you please. You can text (with phone switched to silent mode) from within the auditorium, although there is minimal cell coverage. Step outside to make a phone call.

The Board of Selectmen (Todd Cestari, Chair) presides over the meeting, which is facilitated by the Town Moderator (Dr. Bruce Karlin) and recorded by the Town Clerk (Ann M. Click). The format of the meeting itself follows Robert’s Rules of Order. Articles are presented, motions made, discussions ensue. Sometimes it can be a little confusing if an amendment comes up, so keep your ears open. Listen carefully — and you’ll learn a lot. There are 58 articles on the warrant (agenda) for Hopkinton’s Annual Town Meeting.

The committee or board presenting each article may make a brief presentation before each article. The Town Moderator, Dr. Karlin, will facilitate a question and answer period for registered residents. If you choose to ask a question or comment on an article, step up to one of the microphones located in the auditorium aisles. Wait for the moderator, to recognize you, then state your name and address, and keep your comments brief, civil, and to the point. The comment, question and answer period will end when either #1 the moderator sees that no one else is waiting at the microphone to speak or #2 a voter comes to the microphone, is recognized by the moderator, and says “I move the question” or “I call the question.” The motion to end debate must then be seconded and then adopted by a ⅔ vote.

As for the actual voting, most votes start as a voice vote. The moderator asks all in favor and all opposed. If the voice vote sounds close, it will go to a standing count. The moderator will ask all in favor to stand up. Now is the time to get out that piece of paper! Hold out your paper and remain standing until the counters for your section have indicated that your vote has been recorded.

Although you can leave at any time, we recommend you do NOT leave until the meeting is officially adjourned. Someone may ask for a recount, and if a large group has already left, the outcome could be different, especially if the original vote was close. If you have any other questions about Town Meeting, please ask!

LIST OF ARTICLES (Many articles have a link for more info.)

REPORTS
Article 1: Acceptance of Town Reports

FINANCIAL – FISCAL YEAR 2012
Article 2: FY 2012 Supplemental Appropriations
Article 3: FY 2012 Budget Transfer
Article 4: Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years
Article 5: Amend FY 2012 Building Permit Revolving Fund

FINANCIAL – FISCAL YEAR 2013
Article 6: Amend the Salary of an Elected Official (Town Clerk)
Article 7: FY 2013 Operating Budget $30,354,762.00
Article 8: FY 2013 Operating Budget – School Department $34,085,238.00
Article 9: FY 2013 Revolving Funds
Article 10: Chapter 90 Highway Funds
Article 11: Transfer to Capital Expense Stabilization Fund
Article 12: Transfer to General Stabilization Fund
Article 13: Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund
Article 14: Close Drainage Improvement Fund & Return Funds
Article 15: Cemetery Building Removal
Article 16: Acceptance As-Built Plans for Hearthstone Road and Carriage Hill Road
Article 17: Fire Personal Protective Equipment
Article 18: Fire Generator Station 2
Article 19: Property Tax Exemptions
Article 20: Pay-As-You-Go Capital Expenses $703,520.00

CAPITAL EXPENSES AND PROJECTS
Article 21: Repair Drainage Improvements to Hayward Street $170,000.00
Article 22: Town Hall Basement Water Damage $100,000.00
Article 23: Parking Lot – Town Hall $50,000.00
Article 24: High School Track Renovation $278,500.00
Article 25: Lake Shore Drive Culvert $300,000.00
Article 26: ADAOC Phase VI $150,000.00
Article 27: Tender Truck Supplemental Appropriation $17,000.00
Article 28: Wood Street Pump Station Improvements $1,750,000
Article 29: Water Meter Upgrade to Radio Read $77,000
Article 30: Water Supply Study $90,000
Article 31: Water Vehicle $43,000
Article 32: Sewer Vehicle $43,000
Article 33: Sandy Beach Improvements $332,000
Article 34: Library – Replace Knob/Tube Electrical System/Envelope Repairs $50,000
Article 35: Loop Road Repair $96,025
Article 36: School and West Main Street Traffic Signal $540,000
Article 37: Pave Lumber Street $540,000
Article 38: School Buildings and Grounds Equipment – Tractor-Mower $64,000
Article 39: Undergrounding Utilities On Main Street $580,000

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUNDS
Article 40: Community Preservation Recommendations $819,100

GENERAL BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Article 41: Amendment to Alcoholic Beverage, Marihuana or Tetrahydrocannabinol and Tobacco Bylaw
Article 42: Amendment to Wetlands Protection Bylaw
Article 43: Unregistered Motor Vehicles Bylaw
Article 44: Secondhand Dealers Bylaw

ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Article 45: Site Plan Review Bylaw
Article 46: Health Services Facility
Article 47: Medical Office Use
Article 48: Continuing Care Retirement Community
Article 49: Restaurants in Industrial B District
Article 50: Retail Uses
Article 51: Zoning District of 91 Grove Street
Article 52: Off-Street Parking Bylaw
Article 53: Life Sciences
Article 54: Amend Zoning Map