Question 1: DPW Facility
Question 1: Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to be exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to construct a new Department of Public Works headquarters facility?
Voters at Town Meeting voted to borrow $14.1 million to construct a new DPW headquarters facility to be located at 83 Wood Street, but for the project to go forward, the voters must also pass a debt exclusion at the ballot under proposition 2 1/2 to authorize a temporary increase in the Townâs levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this facility.
- A âyesâ vote would approve the funds and the project could proceed.
- A ânoâ vote would mean that the Town could not borrow the funds to proceed with the project without a future affirmative ballot vote within 90 days.
If the question passes, it is estimated to cost the average household $157 per year for the life of the loan. Unlike operating budget overrides, debt exclusions do not cause a permanent increase in the tax base and do not affect the base upon which succeeding yearsâ tax levy is collected.
The DPW is responsible for:
- 125 miles of roads
- 65 miles of water mains
- 35 miles of sewer
- 666 hydrants
- 18 acres of cemeteries
- 14 acres of parks and fields
- Maintenance of DPW fleet, valued at $3.9 million
- on-call for emergencies 24 hours a day
According to the Permanent Building Committee (PBC) and the DPW, the existing facility:
- is inadequate and in need of repairs
- has insufficient space to house modern DPW equipment
- has an inadequate fuel facility to serve town vehicles
- lacks storage areas that impact the Townâs ability to protect their multi-million dollar fleet, Â allowing equipment to deteriorate more quickly than if protected from the elements.
Following the approval of $250,000 at the 2013 Annual Town Meeting to prepare preliminary design and cost estimates, the PBC and DPW evaluated 8 different site layouts and building arrangements before determining the Wood Street site and the proposed design best fit their needs.
If approved, the new 41,000 square foot facility would have trade shops, wash bays and places for vehicle maintenance and storage as well as work space for DPW employees. It would also include a fuel facility that would service DPW trucks as well as police, fire and other town vehicles.
