Town Meeting Results 2022
DAY 1 – Monday, May 2
REPORTS
ARTICLE: 1 Acceptance of Town Reports; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
FINANCIAL – FISCAL YEAR 2022
ARTICLE: 2 FY 2022 Supplemental Appropriations and Transfers; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
Motion to (1) transfer the sum of $560,000 from Certified Free Cash to the FY2022 Snow and Ice Control Budgets; (2) $30,323 from Certified Free Cash to the FY 2022 Fire Department Operating Budget.
ARTICLE: 3 Unpaid Bills from Prior Fiscal Years; Sponsor: Town Manager – 4/5ths Majority Required – PASSED
Motion to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $3,253.19 for the following bills incurred in a previous year, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 64 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as follows:
| Department | Vendor | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities | Amazon | $109.00 |
| Finance | Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers | $175.00 |
| Police | MHQ | $1,802.80 |
| Parks and Rec | Verizon | $545.67 |
| Police | R.A.D | $175.00 |
| Police | Hillerās Cleaners | $445.75 |
| TOTAL | $3,253.22 |
FINANCIAL – FISCAL YEAR 2023
ARTICLE: 4 Set the Salary of Elected Officials; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
Motion to fix the salary of the elected Town Clerk for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2022, at $75,732.81.
ARTICLE: 5 Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
Motion that the Town vote to appropriate:
| $100,099,363 | to the General Fund; and |
| $242,724 | to the Community Preservation Fund; and |
| $2,092,300 | to the Sewer Enterprise Fund; and |
| $2,062,265 | to the Water Enterprise Fund |
for a total of $104,496,652 for the purposes itemized and described in the FY 2023 Operating Budget of the Town, in the amounts set forth in the APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE REPORT for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, in the column titled āAppropriation Committee Recommendations,ā said sums to be spent under the direction of the respective Town officers, Boards, and Committees, and that amounts appropriated be raised as follows:
| GENERAL FUND | |
| Transfers from available funds: | |
| Ambulance Receipts Reserved | $550,000 |
| Title V | $64,458 |
| Bond Premiums | $41,015 |
| Transfers from available funds | $655,473 |
| Local Receipts, Intergovernmental | |
| Revenue and Tax Levy | $99,443,890 |
| GENERAL FUND | $100,099,363 |
| COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUND | |
| Transfers from available funds, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee: | |
| CPC Undesignated Fund Balance | $208,755 |
| Recreation Reserve | $33,969 |
| COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUND | $242,724 |
| SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND | |
| FY2023 Sewer Enterprise Fund Revenue | |
| SEWER ENTERPRISE SOURCES OF FUNDS | $2,092,300 |
| Indirect Costs to be raised from the FY2023 Sewer Enterprise Fund revenues, appropriated in the General Fund | $324,382 |
| SEWER ENTERPRISE BUDGET | $2,416,682 |
| WATER ENTERPRISE FUND | |
| FY2023 Water Enterprise Revenue | |
| WATER ENTERPRISE SOURCES OF FUNDS | $2,062,265 |
| Indirect costs to be raised from the FY2023 Water Enterprise Fund revenues, appropriated in the General Fund | $432,973 |
| WATER ENTERPRISE BUDGET | $2,495,238 |
ARTICLE: 6 Establish Shared Housing Services Office Revolving Fund; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
ARTICLE: 7 FY 2023 Revolving Funds Spending Limits; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
| Revolving Fund | Spending Limit for FY22 |
|---|---|
| Building Department | $300,000 |
| Part-Time Wire Inspector | $100,000 |
| Part-Time Plumbing Inspector | $100,000 |
| Hazardous Materials | $20,000 |
| Conservation Commission | $200,000 |
| Library | $10,000 |
| Public Safety | $5,000 |
| Planning Board | $70,000 |
| Open Space Preservation Commission | $10,000 |
| Youth and Family Services Department | $4,000 |
| Zoning Board of Appeals | $50,000 |
| Department of Public Works (Expenses of operation of the Highway Division.) | $8,000 |
| Department of Public Works (Expenses of operation of Recycling Center) | $15,000 |
| Department of Public Works (To purchase Overflow Trash bags and to meet expenses of Waste Collection and Disposal) | $8,000 |
| Cemetery Commission | $3,500 |
| Cemetery Lot Fund | $10,000 |
| School Department 1:1 Laptop Initiative | $475,000 |
| Fingerprinting Fund | $500 |
| Senior Center Programs Fund | $75,000 |
| Police Department | $10,000 |
| Parks and Recreation | $130,000 |
| Shared Housing Services Office | $125,000 |
ARTICLE: 8 Establish MGL Ch. 44, Ā§ 53FĀ¾ PEG Access and Cable Related Fund Account; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
ARTICLE: 9 PEG Access and Cable Related Fund Revolving Account Funding; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
Motion that the Town vote to transfer $346,947 from Certified Free Cash to the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund Revolving Account, and, further, to appropriate $346,947 from said Fund to support public, educational, or governmental access cable television services.
ARTICLE: 10 Revoke HCAM Enterprise Fund; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
ARTICLE: 11 Authorized/Unissued Debt Rescindment; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
Motion that the Town vote to rescind authorized and unissued debt for projects that are no longer necessary, or do not require additional funding.
ARTICLE: 12 Chapter 90 Highway Funds; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
Motion that the Town vote to appropriate $646,229 from the proceeds due to the Town pursuant to Chapter 90 of the
Massachusetts General Laws for the purposes of repair, construction, maintenance and preservation of the Townās roads and bridges, the acquisition of easements and other interests in real property related to the laying out of ways, and other related costs, which qualify under the State Aid Highway Guidelines adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
ARTICLE: 13 Authorize Petition for Special Legislation for Limited Means Tested Sewer and Water User Discounts; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
ARTICLE: 14 Transfer to Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
Motion that the Town vote to $420,250 from Certified Free Cash to be credited to the Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund.
ARTICLE: 15 Transfer to the General Stabilization Fund; Sponsor: Town Manager – Motion for No Action – PASSED
Motion that the Town take no action.
ARTICLE: 16 Transfer to the Capital Expense Stabilization Fund; Sponsor: Town Manager – Motion for No Action – PASSED
Motion that the Town take no action.
ARTICLE: 17 Create School Special Education Reserve Fund; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
ARTICLE: 18 Transfer to the School Special Education Reserve Fund; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
Motion that the Town vote to
(1) raise and appropriate the sum of $179,175. And
(2) transfer $914,849 from Certified Free Cash together a sum of $1,094,024 for the purpose of funding the School Special Education Reserve Fund.
CAPITAL EXPENSES AND PROJECTS
ARTICLE: 19 Pay-As-You-Go Capital Expenses; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
| Item | Purchase or Product | Department | Amount | To be spent under the direction of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High School Auditorium Stage and Lighting | School Department | $325,000 | School Superintendent |
| 2 | Districtwide Computer Network Switches | School Department | $75,000 | School Superintendent |
| 3 | School Wetlands Order of Conditions ā Restoration of Wetlands (Add to ATM 2018, Art. 14) | School Department | $60,000 | School Superintendent |
| 4 | End User Computer Hardware Renewal | Technology Department | $66,750 | Town Manager |
| 5 | Datacenter Upgrades and Redundancy | Technology Department | $58,000 | Town Manager |
| 6 | Videoconferencing Updates | Technology Department | $22,390 | Town Manager |
| 7 | Electronic Document Management System | Technology Department | $70,000 | Town Manager |
| 8 | Public Safety Radio System Feasibility Study | Communications Department | $100,000 | Town Manager |
| 9 | Police Patrol Cruiser Replacement (3) | Police Department | $180,000 | Town Manager |
| 10 | Fire Station Roof HVAC Replacement, Add to ATM 2017 Art. 20 | Facilities Department | $252,000 | Town Manager |
| 11 | Police Station Roof Replacement Cost Growth | Facilities Department | $187,000 | Town Manager |
| 12 | Police Station Mechanical System Upgrades | Facilities Department | $96,000 | Town Manager |
| 13 | Senior Center Dining Facility Expansion – Design | Facilities Department | $35,000 | Town Manager |
| 14 | Center School Reuse Design | Facilities Department | $100,000 | Town Manager |
| 15 | Street Sweeper (S-23) Replacement | Public Works Department | $270,000 | Town Manager |
| 16 | Sidewalk Replacement, Walcott Street | Public Works Department | $45,000 | Town Manager |
| 17 | Super Duty Pickup/Dump Truck Replacement | Public Works Department | $86,000 | Town Manager |
| 18 | Tree Truck, Add to ATM 2019, Art. 20 | Public Works Department | $100,000 | Town Manager |
ARTICLE: 20 Water Tank Cleaning; Sponsor: Director of Public Works and Town Manager $50,000 – PASSED
ARTICLE: 21 Vehicle Replacement; Sponsor: Director of Public Works and Town Manager $60,000 – PASSED
DAY 2 – Tuesday, May 3
ARTICLE: 22 MWRA Connection Design Work; Sponsor: Director of Public Works and Town Manager $1,300,000 – PASSED
ARTICLE: 23 PFAS Filtration System – Well #6; Sponsor: Director of Public Works and Town Manager $600,000 – PASSED
ARTICLE: 24 Fruit Street Well Facility Roof Replacement; Sponsor: Director of Public Works and Town Manager $40,000 – PASSED
ARTICLE: 25 Fire Engine 2 Replacement; Sponsor: Fire Chief and Town Manager – 2/3rds Majority Required $736,318
ARTICLE: 26 Woodville Fire Station Repair Work; Sponsor: Fire Chief and Town Manager – 2/3rds Majority Required $400,000 – PASSED
ARTICLE: 27 Air Handling Unit Replacement; Sponsor: School Committee – 2/3rds Majority Required $475,000 – PASSED
ARTICLE: 28 Fruit Street Turf Field Replacement; Sponsor: Park and Recreation Commission – 2/3rds Majority Required – PASSED
(1) $400,000 from the Parks and Recreation Fruit Street 53 E1/2 Account. And
(2) $1,271,543 to be borrowed
Together a total sum of $1,671,543
ARTICLE: 29 Marathon School Addition Cost Increase; Sponsor: School Committee – 2/3rds Majority Required $695,900 – PASSED
ARTICLE: 30 Lake Maspenock Dam Area Repair Work; Sponsor: Town Manager – 2/3rds Majority Required $400,000 – PASSED
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUNDS
ARTICLE: 31 Community Preservation Funds; Sponsor: Community Preservation Committee – PASSED
Motion that the Town vote to reserve from the Community Preservation annual revenues in the amounts recommended by the Community Preservation Committee for Committee sponsored projects and expenses in fiscal year 2023, with each item to be considered a separate reservation:
| From FY 2023 estimate revenues for Recreation Reserve | $175,315 |
| From FY 2023 estimated revenues for Historic Resources Reserve | $175,315 |
| From FY 2023 estimated revenues for Community Housing Reserve | $175,315 |
| From FY 2023 estimated revenues for Open Space Reserve | $175,315 |
| From FY 2023 estimated revenues for Budgeted Reserve | $1,051,890 |
ARTICLE: 32 Community Preservation Recommendations; Sponsor: Community Preservation Committee
| A | $23,000 | from funds reserved for Community Housing for a Shared Housing Services Office for Affordable Housing. | Simple Majority | PASSED |
| B | $20,000 | from funds reserved for Historical Preservation for restoration and digital archive of town records as the Historical Commission voted that the records are a Historic Resources. | Simple Majority | PASSED |
| C | $18,000 | from funds reserved for Recreation Funds for drainage improvements and stone dust trail surface for the Middle School Cross Country Course. | Simple Majority | PASSED |
| D | $15,000 | from funds reserved for Undesignated Funds for construction of parking on Pond Street for the Town Forest and Cameron Woods Open Space property. | Simple Majority | PASSED |
| E | Not Recommended by CPC per the request of the UCTC | A sum or sums of money from Undesignated funds for engineering and construction documents for the Campus Connector Trail Segments 5 and 6. Funded from the Undesignated Reserve with the following conditions: 1. That the grant expires on July 1, 2024 unless extended by the Community Preservation Committee. 2. The Upper Charles Trail Committee is encouraged to apply for a MA Trails Grant to assist in funding this project. 3. The Upper Charles Trail Committee will submit preliminary design of Segment 6 to the Select Board for their approval prior to expending final design/bidding funds on Segment 5 and 6. 4 The funds to be spent under the direction of the Upper Charles Trail Committee and the Community Preservation Committee. | PASSED | |
| F | $50,000 | from funds reserved for Recreation Reserve for additional features for the Skatepark at EMC Park. | Simple Majority | PASSED |
| G | $775,000 | from funds reserved for Undesignated Reserve for pickleball and tennis courts with parking lot at Fruit Street recreation area. | Simple Majority | PASSED |
| H | $50,000 | from funds reserved for engineering studies and cost estimates for construction of bathrooms and if needed construct a portion of the sewer line under the Skate Park at EMC Park. | Simple Majority | PASSED |
| I | TBD | for the purchase of the āConroyā property, conservation restriction and legal expenses of Open Space and Recreation on Saddle Hill Road in Hopkinton, MA, containing 88.29 acres, more or less, identified as Assessorās Parcels R7 5 0 and R7 7 0 | 2/3rds Majority | Motion for No Action PASSED |
| J | $10,000 | from funds reserved for Undesignated Funds for survey and boundary marking of Cameron Woods | Simple Majority | PASSED |
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE: 33 One Single-Family Dwelling per Lot; Sponsor: Planning Board – 2/3rds Majority Required – PASSED
ARTICLE: 34 Maximum Gross Floor Area, Industrial A District; Sponsor: Planning Board – 2/3rds Majority Required – PASSED
ARTICLE: 35 Off-Street Parking; Sponsor: Planning Board – 2/3rds Majority Required – PASSED
ARTICLE: 36 Housekeeping/Gender Neutral References; Sponsor: Planning Board – 2/3rds Majority Required – PASSED
ARTICLE: 37 Housekeeping, Plural Uses; Sponsor: Planning Board – 2/3rds Majority Required – PASSED
ARTICLE: 38 Dimensional Table, Appendix; Sponsor: Planning Board – 2/3rds Majority Required – PASSED
GENERAL BYLAW AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE: 39 Housekeeping/Gender Neutral References; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
ARTICLE: 40 Amend General Bylaws Section 62-2 – Dog Licensing; Sponsor: Town Clerk – PASSED
LAND ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION
ARTICLE: 41 Accept Easement – 2 Oakhurst Road; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
ARTICLE: 42 Accept Gift of Land – Fitch Ave.; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
ARTICLE: 43 Accept Gift of Land – Chamberlain-Whalen Subdivision; Sponsor: Planning Board – PASSED
ARTICLE: 44 Land Acquisition – Conroy Property, Saddle Hill Road; Sponsor: Open Space Preservation Commission – 2/3rds Majority Required – Motion for No Action PASSED
ARTICLE: 45 Land Acquisition – 0 & 71 Frankland Road, Rear; Sponsor: Citizens Petition – 2/3rds Majority Required
$500,000 or whatever price is determined to the just cost by an appraisal commission by the Town for said acquisition. – FAILED (Yes 26 No 87)
DAY 3 – Wednesday, May 4
ADMINISTRATIVE
ARTICLE: 46 Accept M.G.L. c. 40U Ā§ 3; Sponsor: Fire Chief – PASSED
ARTICLE: 47 Accept M.G.L. c. 41 Ā§ 110A; Sponsor: Town Clerk – PASSED
ARTICLE: 48 Commission on Disability; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED as amended
ARTICLE: 49 Amend Vote of Town Meeting – Registrar Stipend; Sponsor: Town Clerk – PASSED
ARTICLE: 50 Prudent Investment Legislation; Sponsor: Town Manager – PASSED
ARTICLE: 51 Tax Increment Financing Agreement – Lykan Bioscience; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
ARTICLE: 52 PILOT Agreement, Wilson Street Solar Farm; Sponsor: Select Board – PASSED
ARTICLE: 53 Trustees of the School Fund in the Town of Hopkinton; Sponsor: Select Board – Motion for No Action PASSED