Weekly News Update – 03/15/2020
Coronavirus Update and Resources from Hopkinton Board of Health • School Committee voted to increase school bus fees • School Committee and Select Board Joint Meeting – Budget Discussion and Voting on March 12th, 2020 • Organizers will postpone the Boston Marathon, according to WCVB • Select Board Actions Taken – 03/10/2020 • Planning Board Actions Taken – 03/09/2020
Coronavirus Update and Resources from Hopkinton Board of Health
Resource page:
Hopkinton Covid 19 Resource Page Hopkinton Board of Health, Public Safety, School Department, and Emergency Management departments continue to closely monitor and prepare for Covid 19
What to do if you have been notified that you may have been exposed to COVID-19:
If you have been notified that you may have had an exposure to a close contact or a presumptive positive COVID-19, the Hopkinton Health Department offers the following guidelines for clarification.
Update on Programs, Meetings and Closures:
Based on the Social Distancing Guidelines from the Hopkinton Health Department, in collaboration with the Hopkinton Emergency Management Group, and continued assessment of the local impact of COVID-19, the Hopkinton Public Schools, Hopkinton Public Library, and Hopkinton Senior Center will be closed through next week (Monday, March 16th, to Friday, March 20th). All Parks & Recreation programs are also cancelled during this time.
The Senior Center, Library, and Parks & Rec Staff will be available if you have any questions, needs or concerns during this time. You can reach the Hopkinton Senior Center at 508-497-9730, the Hopkinton Public Library at 508-497-9777, and the Parks & Rec Department at 508-497-9750
NOTE: Many of the non-essential meetings have also been cancelled for the week of March 16th-20th. Please check the Town Calendar for updates
Social Distancing Guidelines:
Hopkinton Board of Health provides some recommendations on social distancing. The guidance is constantly changing and the Board will update this document as new information becomes available.
Press Release – March 12th:
Hopkinton Health Department Assembles Team to Assess Potential Exposure to COVID-19
Press Release – March 10th:
In response to Governor Charlie Baker’s state of emergency declaration
School Committee voted to increase school bus fees
Due to the tight budget this year, the School Committee reluctantly voted to increase school bus fees (grades 7-12) next year from $155 to $200.
View Video of Bus Transportation Fee Discussion ~6 minutes
School Committee and Select Board Joint Meeting – Budget Discussion and Voting on March 12th, 2020
Dr. Cavanaugh made a brief statement of prior discussions leading upto the March 12th joint meeting with Select Board:
After several weeks of discussions relating to finding funding sources in order to close the $1.4M school budget gap, the School Committee and the Select Board was able to identify Chapter 70 funding resource (a State Government Funding Aid determined by defining a minimum level of spending based on demographics, grade levels and programs of its pupils). This helped bring the gap down to $900K.
The Select Board recommended the School Committee to further bring down the budget gap to $335K, which was the amount agreed upon to bring to the School Committee Meeting on March 12th for voting.
View Video of briefing by Dr. Cavanaugh ~3 minutes
Joint Meeting Discussions:
Further budget cuts were discussed which brought the budget gap down to $323K. The School Committee voted 3-2. (The final vote to move this budget will happen at the Annual Town Meeting where the the town will need to vote)
View Video of Joint Meeting Discussion on March 12th ~1.5 hours
Organizers will postpone the Boston Marathon, according to WCVB
Organizers of the 2020 Boston Marathon will postpone this year’s race amid concerns about COVID-19, sources told 5 Investigates.
The 124th running of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon was set for April 20, Patriots’ Day. Organizers are now looking to reschedule the event for September, although an exact date has not been determined, sources tell 5 Investigates. Sources say Sept. 5 – the Saturday before Labor Day – is being considered.
Select Board Actions Taken – 03/10/2020
7:15 PM CONSENT AGENDA
7.
i. MINUTES
The Select Board will consider approving the Minutes of the February 25, 2020 Select Board Meeting.
The Select Board approved the Minutes of the 2/25/20 meeting. (4-0)
ii. BOSTON MARATHON JIMMY FUND WALK – PARADE PERMIT
iii. 17th ANNUAL TIMLIN 5K ROAD RACE EVENT – A RACE TO CURE ALS – PARADE PERMIT
The Select Board approved Parade Permits for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on 10/4/20 and the 17th Annual Sharon Timlin Memorial Road Race on 6/20/20. (4-0)
iv. GIFTS – Board of Trustees of the New England Laborers’ Training Trust Fund and Ambulance Fund Gifts
The Select Board accepted a $10,000 gift to the Tax Relief Fund from the New England Laborers’ Training Trust Fund, a $5,000 gift for senior transportation from the New England Laborers’ Training Trust Fund, and gifts to the Ambulance Fund in memory of Francis J. Pyne totaling $495.00. (3-0)
7:30 PM HCA/26.2 FOUNDATION – SPECIAL TEMPORARY ALCOHOL LICENSE
- The Select Board approved a Special Temporary Alcohol License for the Bobbi Gibb presentation on 4/13/20 at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. (4-0)
- The Select Board approved a fee waiver for the application. (4-0)
7:40 PM ST. JOHN’S THE EVANGELIST CHURCH ANNUAL H.S. YOUTH FUNDRAISER
9. SPECIAL TEMPORARY ALCOHOL LICENSE
- The Select Board approved a Special Temporary Alcohol License for St. John’s the Evangelist Church for a Youth Group fundraiser on 4/4/20 at St. John’s Parish Hall. (4-0)
- The Select Board approved a fee waiver for the application. (4-0)
7:50 PM BOARD & COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT
The Select Board appointed Christine M. Enos to the Cultural Council, to a term expiring 3/10/2023. (4-0)
9:00 PM TOWN MANAGER REPORT
13.
a. Main Street Corridor Project Update
b. Elmwood and Hopkins Schools Modular Classroom
- Modular Classrooms at Hopkins School, borrowing amount $3,000,000, maximum useful life 20 years;
- Modular Classrooms at Elmwood School, borrowing amount $2,000,000, maximum useful life 20 years. (4-0)
c. Seeking waiver – The Select Board will consider consenting to allow Mirick O’Connell to represent the 26.2 Foundation before the Town with respect to the International Marathon Center.
The Select Board voted to consent to allow Mirick O’Connell to represent the 26.2 Foundation before the Town in relation to the lease and development of an International Marathon Center at 0 East Main St.; and to allow the Town Manager to sign the consent letter. (4-0)
e. 6 Walcott Street Purchase (2019 ATM Art. 51) – The Select Board will consider voting to accept the deed and Trustee’s Certificate, and vote to execute the Order of Taking.
With respect to the acquisition of the property at 6 Walcott Street, the Select Board voted to 1)accept the deed and Trustee’s certificate from the Seller, Joseph D. Marquedant, Trustee of Walcott Street Realty Trust, 2) execute an Order of taking for the property, and 3) to authorize Town counsel to negotiate and sign any and all documents necessary to effectuate the purchase of the property. (4-0)
MATERIALS FOR THIS MEETING:
Planning Board Actions Taken – 03/09/2020
- Administrative Items
- Form K Lot Release – Lot A-2-3 and Restricted Land Covenant – Legacy Farms North – Discussed and Continued until 3-23-20 Meeting. Requested an update before the next meeting from the Town and Legacy Farms regarding the payments due to the town.
- Minutes of January 13, 2020; January 27, 2020; February 10, 2020 – All approved
- New Public Hearing – Zoning Articles for Town Meeting. Proposed amendments to the Hopkinton Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map, including:
-
- Amend Article XIX, Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures, Section 210-128, to allow for a waiver issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer for certain uses that do not alter the footprint or overall height of a pre-existing nonconforming structure. – Recommended approval at Town Meeting
- Modify Article XVI, Wireless Telecommunications Facilities, in order to bring the regulations current with Federal wireless telecommunications regulations. – Recommended approval at Town Meeting
- Modify Article XVIII, Supplementary Regulations, Section 210-126, to remove the requirement that occupants of Accessory Dwelling Units be family “related by blood, marriage or adoption”, to remove the requirement for an interior connection, and to remove the age-restricted provision. – Recommended approval at Town Meeting
- Amend Article XXVII, Signs, Section 210-179, to allow for additional temporary signage for businesses determined to be affected by construction within a public right-of-way. – Discussed and continued to 3-23-20, will consider some wording changes
- Modify Article VIA, Downtown Business (BD) District, Section 210-20.3, to remove “car washes” as a use allowed by Special Permit. – Recommended approval at Town Meeting
- Amend Article VIIIA, Industrial B (IB) District, Section 210-37.9, to correct the numbering so as to be consistent with the rest of the Zoning Bylaw. – Recommended approval at Town Meeting
- Establish the Commercial Solar Photovoltaic Overlay District and amend the Zoning Map to place all or a portion of the following parcels within the Commercial Solar Photovoltaic Overlay District, without affecting the underlying zoning of said parcels, as applicable. – Continued discussion until 4-13-20 Meeting – added some parcels to the map and new abutters will be notified prior to the meeting.
- Continued Public Hearing – Solar Special Permit and Stormwater Management Permit – APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED CONTINUATION TO APRIL 13, 2020 – No Discussion – Continued to 4-13-20
- New Public Hearing – Major Site Plan Review – 25-35 Main Street (Hopkinton Village Center) – LFJ Development Corp. – Discussed and continued to 3-23-20. A site walk was scheduled for 3-14-20 at 9:00 AM.
Business to be considered by the Board at any time during the meeting:
- Legacy Farms Road/East Main Street Traffic Light Status – New Timeline in Packet – Expected completion date July/August 2020
- Legacy Farms Fiscal Analysis – Discussed above under Agenda Item 1a.
MATERIALS FOR THIS MEETING:
- Agenda, Memo and Administrative Items
- YouTube Video – 3 hours 21 minutes
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