Select Board Actions Taken 04/05/22
Agenda Items & Actions Taken:
6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, §21(a) (purpose 3) to consider strategy with respect to negotiations relative to non-union employees, Town Manager, Fire Chief, Police Chief and collective bargaining relative to DPW, Police, Fire and Library Unions because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Board.
b. To approve executive session Minutes (3/15/2022).
6:30 PM CALL TO ORDER – OPEN SESSION
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6:31 PM PUBLIC FORUM
3. Residents are invited to share ideas, opinions or ask questions regarding Town Government.
6:40 PM SCOTT KNOUS – HOPKINTON FOR A SAFE UPPER CHARLES TRAIL
4. Scott Knous, 175 Hayden Rowe, will introduce citizens group “Hopkinton For A Safe Upper Charles Trail” and its objectives.
6:45 PM CONSENT AGENDA
5. The Select Board will consider the following consent agenda:
a. MINUTES – The Select Board will consider approving the Minutes of the March 12, 2022 and March 15, 2022 meetings.
b. RESIGNATION – The Select Board will consider accepting the resignation of Cynthia Esthimer from the Lake Maspenock Weed Management & Control Advisory Group.
c. ACCEPT GIFT DONATION TO THE LIBRARY – The Select Board will consider accepting a donation of $1,000 from the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation to the Hopkinton Public Library to be put to use for the Library of Things.
d. ACCEPT GIFT DONATION TO THE HOPKINTON TRAILS COMMITTEE – The Select Board will consider accepting a donation of $3,100 from the Estate of Henry Welzel to the Trail Coordination and Management Committee in memory of Jane Welzel.
e. PARADE PERMIT APPLICATION – SEASON OPENER TRIATHLON AT HOPKINTON STATE PARK, MAY 15, 2022 & TITLE 9 TRIATHLON ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 – The Select Board will consider approving two Parade Permits for Max Performance. One for the season opening triathlon to be held on Sunday, May 15, 2022 and the other for Title 9 Triathlon on Sunday, September 11, 2022, both starting at 8:00 AM. The starting and ending points of both Triathlons will be within the Hopkinton State Park and no road closures have been requested.
The Select Board approved the Consent Agenda. (5-0)
6:50 PM PUBLIC HEARING- VERIZON AND EVERSOURCE PETITION ON A NEW UTILITY POLE ON
6. SPRING STREET – Request for Postponement of Public Hearing
The Select Board will hold a public hearing on the petition of Verizon New England Inc. and NSTAR Electric, d/b/a Eversource Energy requesting permission to locate a new utility pole on the easterly side of Spring Street, approximately 114 feet southerly from the center line of Lyford Road. Existing pole 73 (located on the west side of Spring St.) is an out of line pole due to a curve in the roadway, which is being pulled in a westerly
direction. In order to keep said pole from pulling over, new pole 73S, located on the east side, will be placed (with a ground anchor) and an aerial guy wire will be then attached to pole 73. Pole 73S will provide support to pole 73. The Applicant has requested to postpone the public hearing indefinitely.
6:50 PM POLICE DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENTS
7. The Select Board will interview and consider appointing Police Officers Basit Dennis and Sean McKeon and affirming the Town Manager’s appointment of Susan Schuler as Administrative Manager in the Police Department.
● The Select Board appointed Basit Dennis and Sean McKeon as Police Officers for the Town of Hopkinton. (5-0)
● The Select Board affirmed the Town Manager’s appointment of Susan Schuler as Administrative Manager in the Police Department. (5-0)
7:05 PM ONE DAY SPECIAL TEMPORARY ALCOHOL LICENSES
8. The Select Board will consider approving two Special Temporary Alcohol License applications:
a. HOPKINTON LITTLE LEAGUE – The Select Board will consider approving a Special Temporary Alcohol License for Gabe Recos, on behalf of the Hopkinton Little League, for its annual fundraiser. The event is to be held on Sunday, May 15, 2022 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the St. John’s Parish Hall located at 20 Church St. The alcohol will be served by TIPS certified servers and will be supplied from Marty’s & Startline Brewery. In addition, the Board will consider a fee waiver for the license application.
b. A NITE AT THE RACES – The Select Board will consider approving a Special Temporary Alcohol License for Andrew Vail, on behalf of the Bishop Rice Council, for its Fundraiser social night. The event is to be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the St. John’s Parish Hall located at 20 Church St. The alcohol will be served by a TIPS certified server and will be supplied from Martys. In addition, the Board will consider a fee waiver for the license application.
● The Select Board approved a Special Temporary Alcohol License for the Little League fundraiser on
May 13, 2022, and approved the fee waiver. (5–0)
● The Select Board approved a Special Temporary Alcohol License for the Knights of Columbus,
Bishop Rice Council, fundraiser on May 7, 2022, and approved the fee waiver. (5-0)
7:15 PM BOARD/COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
9. The Select Board will consider making the following board and committee appointments:
● Cultural Council (one vacancy): Katie Duval
● Veterans Celebration Committee (2 vacancies): Jennifer Donahue
● Youth Commission, Middle School Representative: Joshua Jones
The Select Board appointed Katie Duval to the Cultural Council to a term expiring 4/5/2025, Jennifer
Donahue to the Veterans Celebration Committee to a term expiring 6/30/2023, and Joshua Jones as
the Middle School representative to the Youth Commission. (5-0)
7:20 PM MBTA COMMUNITIES – MULTI-FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS
10. The Select Board will be briefed by John Gelcich, Principal Planner, on the multi-family zoning district requirement for MBTA Communities, which is required pursuant to the “Draft Compliance Guidelines for Multi-family Districts Under Section 3A of the Zoning Act” in advance of a Community Information Form due to the State by 5/2/22. This new provision of Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A requires the adoption of a zoning district
of reasonable size which allows multi-family development as of right, in order to qualify for certain State funding. Hopkinton is considered an MBTA Community.
7:30 PM LAND CLEARING OFF FRANKLAND ROAD
11. Select Board Member Amy Ritterbusch will raise a constituent issue regarding the planned clearing of land by Seaboard Solar off Frankland Road, for Board discussion.
7:35 PM 2022 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT, MOTIONS AND BALLOT QUESTIONS
12. The Select Board will consider reviewing the draft Annual Town Meeting Warrant, begin taking positions on Warrant articles, and review draft Motions. The Board will review and finalize ballot questions (ballot question deadline is April 11).
● ATM warrant articles on which the Board may take positions are: Acceptance of Town Reports, Establish Shared Housing Services Office Revolving Fund, Establish MGL c. 44 s. 53F ¾ PEG Access & Cable Related Fund, HCAM Revolving Account Funding, Revoke HCAM Enterprise Fund, General Bylaw Amendment – Gender Neutral References, Accept Easement 2 Oakhurst Rd., Accept Gift of Land – Fitch Ave., Accept Gift of Land – Chamberlain-Whalen Subdivision.
● Ballot question language will be reviewed for the following Articles: Engine 2 Replacement, Fire Station 2 (Woodville) Upgrades, Lake Maspenock Dam, School Air Handling Unit Replacement, Marathon School Cost Increase, Replace Surface at Fruit Street Athletic Field.
● The Select Board approved the 6 ballot questions as amended. (5-0)
● The Select Board voted to recommend the following annual town meeting articles: Acceptance of Town Reports, Establish Shared Housing Services Office Revolving Fund, Establish MGL c. 44 s. 53F ¾ PEG Access & Cable Related Fund, HCAM Revolving Account Funding, Revoke HCAM Enterprise Fund, General Bylaw Amendment – Gender Neutral References, Accept Easement 2 Oakhurst Rd., Accept Gift of Land – Fitch Ave., Accept Gift of Land – Chamberlain-Whalen Subdivision. (5-0)
7:45 PM SELECT BOARD POLICY REVIEW
13. The Select Board will review the older policies adopted by the Board and consider modifications and/or rescission. The policies are:
a. Alcoholic Beverage License Policies
b. Central Purchasing Policy
c. Common Driveway Naming Policy
d. Entertainment & Amusement License Policy
e. Financial Management Policy
f. Fuel Efficient Vehicle Policy
g. Marathon Policy
h. Pledge of Allegiance Policy
i. Executive Session Minutes Policy
j. Legal Services 53G Policy
k. Minutes & Agendas Policy
l. Public Forum Policy
m. Public Asset Naming Policy
n. Remote Participation Policy
o. Town Hall Evening Closing Hours Policy
p. Town Meeting & Warrant Preparation Policy
q. Use of Legal Assistance Policy
The Select Board accepted staff recommendations for revisions to the following policies:
Alcoholic Beverage License Policies
Central Purchasing Policy
Common Driveway Naming Policy
Entertainment & Amusement License Policy
Financial Management Policy
Fuel Efficient Vehicle Policy
Marathon Policy
Pledge of Allegiance Policy
Public Asset Naming Policy
Remote Participation Policy
Town Hall Evening Closing Hours Policy
Town Meeting & Warrant Preparation Policy
Use of Legal Assistance Policy
and to retire the following policies: (5-0)
Executive Session Minutes Policy
Legal Services 53G Policy
Minutes & Agendas Policy
Public Forum Policy
7:55 PM TOWN MANAGER REPORT
14. Town Manager will report on the following:
a. MetroWest Veterans Services District Agreement Among and By the Towns of Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton & Medway, FY2023 Amendment
b. Residents Concerns regarding accidents at Cumberland Farms, West Main Street
c. Main Street Corridor Update
d. FY 23 Budget Update
The Select Board authorized the Town’s continued membership in the MetroWest Veterans Services
District and designated the Town Manager as the Town’s representative to the District Board of
Directors. (5-0)
8:00 PM LIAISON REPORTS/BOARD INVITES
15. Supporting Exhibit: FY 22 Liaison Assignments
8:05 PM FUTURE BOARD AGENDA ITEMS
16. Board members will identify future agenda items.
8:10 PM ADJOURN
Correspondence to Select Board
1. Board of Appeals Notices of Decision – 47 East Main Street
2. Email from Darlene Hayes 3-29-22, Accident at Cumberland Farms, West Main St.
Upcoming Select Board Meetings
1. April 12, 2022
2. April 19, 2022
3. May 2, 2022 (Annual Town Meeting)
4. May 17, 2022
5. June 7, 2022