May 5, 2013

Town Meeting Begins Tomorrow at 7:00pm

Town Meeting Begins Tomorrow at 7:00pm

Seal of the Town of Hopkinton 1715Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting Day 1
Monday, May 6 at 7:00-11:00pm
Hopkinton Middle School Auditorium
There are 68 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 (Ben Palleiko, 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 68 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 2013
Article 2: FY 2013 Supplemental Appropriations
Article 3: FY 2013 Budget Transfers
Article 4: Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years
Article 5: Property Tax Exemption Increase

FINANCIAL – FISCAL YEAR 2014
Article 6: Amend the Salary of an Elected Official
Article 7: FY 2014 Operating Budget
Article 8: FY 2014 Revolving Funds
Article 9: Chapter 90 Highway Funds
Article 10: Opposition to Casino Siting
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: Authorization of Term of Transportation Contract

CAPITAL EXPENSES AND PROJECTS
Article 15: Pay-As-You-Go Capital Expenses
Article 16: Integrated Financial Management System 
Article 17: Elementary School Feasibility Study
Article 18: Joint Information Technology
Article 19: Emergency Generator-Hopkins School
Article 20: Middle School Auditorium Upgrades
Article 21: Loop Road Repair
Article 22: Building & Grounds Equipment- Tractor-Mower
Article 23: Police Station Drainage and Basement Improvements
Article 24: Police-Vehicles
Article 25: ADAOC Phase VII
Article 26: Lakeshore Drive Culvert
Article 27: Water/Sewer Manager’s Truck
Article 28: DPW Director’s Vehicle
Article 29: DPW Dump Truck
Article 30: DPW Trackless Municipal Tractor
Article 31: DPW Street Sweeper
Article 32: Grove Street Water Tank Inspection and Mixer
Article 33: Flanders Road Sewer Main Replacement
Article 34: North Mill Street Slope Stabilization
Article 35: Main Street Water Main Replacement
Article 36: DPW Facility Design
Article 37: DPW Garage Standby Generator
Article 38: Town Hall Upgrade/Repair Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP)
and Miscellaneous Interior Systems
Article 39: Town Hall Phase II Envelope Repairs

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUNDS
Article 40: Community Preservation Recommendations
Article 41: Amend Elmwood Farm CPA Vote

GENERAL BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Article 42: Civil Fingerprinting- Ice Cream Truck Vendors
Article 43: Registered Sex Offender Restrictions
Article 44: Historic Preservation- Demolition Delay
Article 45: Historic Preservation- Demolition Delay Time Period
Article 46: General Bylaw- Scenic Roads

ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Article 47: Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers
Article 48: Zoning- 169 West Main Street
Article 49: Zoning- Water Fresh Farm Zoning Change
Article 50: Zoning- Storage Sheds
Article 51: Zoning- Drive-Up Windows
Article 52: Zoning- IB District, School Bus Parking
Article 53: Zoning- Design Review Board
Article 54: Zoning-Temporary Banner Signage
Article 55: Zoning- Neighborhood Mixed Use District and Rezoning of
Land on Lumber St. & West Main St.
Article 56: Zoning- Agricultural District Name Change
Article 57: Zoning- Commercial Solar Facilities

LAND ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS
Article 58: Fruit Street Solar Farm
Article 59: Gift of Land-Hayden Rowe St.
Article 60: Acquisition of Property on West Main Street
Article 61: Acceptance of Drainage Easement
Article 62: Municipal Parking Lot
Article 63: Sale of Property on Knoll Road
Article 64: Sale of Property Duffield Road
Article 65: Street Acceptances

ADMINISTRATIVE
Article 66: Frankland Road
Article 67: Community Choice Aggregation
Article 68: Lumber Street- Expansion of Sewer Service Area

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Filed Under: Center School, DPW, FY14 Budget, Town Meeting 2013, Voter Information
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