Weekly News Update – 11/26/23 – Special Town Election Edition

Special Town Election 11/28/23 • Board & Committee Openings • Commission on Disability Survey • Senior Needs Survey • Cultural District Partnership • Board & Committee Meeting Recaps • Public Safety News • Main Street Project Update

Special Town Election – Elmwood School Replacement

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 – Polls are open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Hopkinton Middle School Brown Gym, 88 Hayden Rowe St

Absentee Ballots must reach the Town Clerk’s office by the close of polls (8:00 PM on 11/28/23). They may be returned by mail, or dropped off in person either inside the Town Hall during regular hours or after hours in the secure drop-box outside of Town Hall for this purpose.

Hopkinton Special Town Election Specimen Ballot – November 28, 2023 (PDF)

Board & Committee Openings

Two elected boards, School Committee and Planning Board each have an unexpected midyear vacancy to fill. There also remain several unfilled vacancies on appointed boards.

School Committee Vacancy due to the resignation of Holly Morand. Read about the duties and responsibilities of the School Committee on eHop. Read the full School Committee Vacancy Announcement 2023-11-22.

Planning Board Vacancy due to the resignation of Navdeep Arora. Read about the duties and responsibilities of the Planning Board on eHop. Read the full Planning Board Vacancy Announcement 2023-11-15. The appointment will be made at a joint meeting of the Select Board and Planning Board on Monday, December 4, 2023 7:00 PM.

Appointed Boards:

The following Town boards & committees will have one or more anticipated vacancies. Read the full list on eHop.

• Appropriation Committee
• Board of Appeals
• Design Review Board
• HCAM Board of Directors
• Hopkinton Historic District Commission
• Personnel Committee
• Upper Charles Trail Committee
• Veterans Celebration Committee
• Youth Commission
• Zoning Advisory Committee

Please see the Town website at hopkintonma.gov for information about the duties of specific boards and committees. Interested residents must apply via the online volunteer application form. Never served on a Board or Committee before? Take a look at Hopkinton’s Board/Committee Orientation Handbook to get a better idea of what to expect.

Please note that all current board and committee members interested in reappointment MUST apply online via the link above. Appointments would be made at an upcoming meeting of the relevant appointing authority. For questions, please contact Elaine Lazarus or Vasudha Dutta at 508-497-9701 vdutta@hopkintonma.gov.

MAIN STREET CORRIDOR PROJECT UPDATE

What to Expect for Winter 2023-24

The project is currently in winter shutdown. The contractor, A.F. Amorello & Sons, is offsite until spring 2024, barring any emergencies or repairs.

Project Status

• Winterization of the project is substantially complete.
• Verizon poles have been set.
• MassDOT is pushing for a full replacement of all peeling traffic signal poles; to be done next year.
• Eversource transformers are not available, preventing completion of the undergrounding of utilities which will require a new end date to be set for the project. No final date has yet been confirmed. The goal is to position the project to be ready when transformers are available. Eversource will explore any additional work that can be completed over the winter.
• Weekly Construction Advisories will resume next year.

Anticipated Work – Spring 2024

• Completion of undergrounding of utilities when transformers are available.
• Final paving and brick work will occur next year.
• Replacement of peeling traffic signal poles.
• Tree plantings will take place next year.

See hopkintonmainstreet.com for details

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