Weekly News Update – 03/26/2023
SAVE THE DATE: KNOW YOUR VOTE 2023 • Town Election 2023 – List of Candidates • Marathoner Cybulski fundraises for facts • Parks & Rec roundup: Safety concerns raised about Pyne Field redesign • Elmwood School principal candidates meet with officials, public at forums • Pedestrian connectivity meeting stresses safety concerns, accessibility • Police participate in scenario-based training • Planning Board continues discussions about Turkey Ridge, The Trails, other projects • Main Street Corridor Project update: Paving for Boston Marathon expected to start week of April 3 • School Committee reaffirms support of original budget plan
SAVE THE DATE: KNOW YOUR VOTE 2023
eHop will hold its 11th Annual Know Your Vote forum on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7-9 pm. This will be an in-person forum at Hopkinton High School (90 Hayden Rowe St) HCAM Studios (77 Main St). It will be broadcast live on HCAM-TV and YouTube. This is a unique opportunity to get the answers you need from town officials before Town Meeting.
Town Election 2023 – List of Candidates
Running List, last updated 03/24/23. 2 Contested races.
- Planning Board (2 year unexpired term, vote for 1
- Paul Ostrander, Unenrolled, Incumbent
- Navdeep S. Arora, Unenrolled
- School Committee (3 years, vote for 2
Jamie Wronka, Democrat– Candidate has told eHop she is withdrawing- Susan Stephenson, Democrat
- Adam Munroe, Democrat
- Ashley Fogg, Unenrolled
Marathoner Cybulski fundraises for facts
Ninety percent of Hopkinton’s registered voters do not attend Town Meetings. But eHop — and now, Cybulski — aims to change that. “eHop empowers people to feel they have the knowledge to make decisions, and that’s really important,” she said. So, she’ll be running her first-ever Boston Marathon to help empower eHop.
“I’m really excited for the challenge,” she said, adding that her fundraising goal furthered her motivation.
Parks & Rec roundup: Safety concerns raised about Pyne Field redesign
Amy and Josh Brassard, the owners of J.B. Sawmill and Land clearing Inc., spoke about their fears that children running to the field could potentially be hit by the 18-wheelers heading into their company property, which abuts the field on Fruit Street.
Terry explained that most of the existing parking lot would be fenced. Parking is going to be created across the street by the field on the lower level, with stairs proposed to get up to the field. The slope may be graded. There would be an entryway for cars to drop off players and then go back onto Fruit Street to seek parking.
Josh Brassard said that the sight lines would need to be improved at the entrance.
Elmwood School principal candidates meet with officials, public at forums
Two finalists for the principal’s job at Elmwood School met with faculty, community members and the School Committee on Thursday to answer questions during several forums. Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh said the replacement for retiring principal Anne Carver will be named early next week.
Pedestrian connectivity meeting stresses safety concerns, accessibility
Pedestrian safety was a recurring theme Tuesday night in a virtual meeting on how to integrate the needs of walkers into Hopkinton’s infrastructure. Planning Board chair Gary Trendel, who facilitated the meeting, said it emerged after the board heard repeated inquiries since the end of 2020 for more sidewalks and trails. But there was a disconnect when it came to voting for funding for them at Town Meeting. Annual requests for sidewalk funding and developing a multiyear plan may become priorities as a result for the desire for connectivity.
Police participate in scenario-based training
The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is proud to partner with Chiefs [Joseph] Bennett and [Cara] Rossi to make this vital training available,” said Sheriff Peter Koutoujian. “By facilitating this interactive, scenario-based training, we are helping officers reinforce skills and techniques that are critical to effective policing — particularly around communication and de-escalation.”
Planning Board continues discussions about Turkey Ridge, The Trails, other projects
Turkey Ridge Estates development issues cause problem for town open space acquisition
Gelcich noted that the acquisition of the open space is on the warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting on May 1.
Grasshopper project hits snag with proposed planter boxes
Electrical engineer Chris Balogh appeared before the board to present additional proposed modifications to landscaping and fencing plans for Grasshopper Energy’s 2.4-megawatt commercial solar farm between Wilson Street and Cedar Street.
Proposed bylaw amendments set to go before Town Meeting
The Planning Board also endorsed two of the three zoning bylaw amendments proposed by the Zoning Advisory Committee that it previously reviewed. Their topics included electrical vehicle parking and a rooftop solar exemption from site plan requirements.
Elm Street warehouse building plan generates debate
The most contentious of the night’s hearings was a January proposal for a “flex storage warehouse” at 86 Elm Street. Three waiver requests were presented by Michael Dryden, who spoke on behalf of the proponent, Elm Street Capital. After a protracted debate, it was continued until the next meeting in a unanimous vote.
Citizens’ petitions addressed
Two citizens’ petitions were on the agenda for discussion. Trendel stressed that the Planning Board’s role, as with the proposed zoning amendments previously discussed, is to decide whether the board will recommend them for approval at Town Meeting — not to approve or deny them. Regardless of the vote to recommend or not, the discussion will be raised at Town Meeting.
Main Street Corridor Project update: Paving for Boston Marathon expected to start week of April 3
The town announced Friday that paving in preparation for the Boston Marathon is anticipated to start the week of April 3.
School Committee reaffirms support of original budget plan
The Hopkinton School Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to “reaffirm” support of the $60.1 million fiscal year 2024 budget it originally passed on Jan. 19.
On Monday, administrators, principals and directors met again to come up with a budget with the $350,000 reduction (further reduction to reflect 7.7% budget increase from FY23). In it is a reduction of two technology integration specialists to save $120,000.
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