Weekly News Update – 12/03/23

Town Committee Openings 2024 • Annual Town Meeting and FY25 Budget Timeline • Traffic study to be conducted on Main Street side streets Dec. 7 • Traffic study to be conducted on Main Street side streets Dec. 7 • ‘All hands’ meeting stresses transparency, collaboration, town’s strategic plan • Police Department shares tips to prevent package theft during holiday season • Commission on Disability extends community survey period, plans January forum • Main Street Project Update • ESBC talks timeline for new school, potential permitting issue • Parks & Rec deals with delays on skate park, pickleball courts, cricket pitch • New Elmwood School building funding approved at election • COVID-19 vaccine costs prompts Health Department to look at vendor

boards and committee Openings-2023-24

Updated 11/26/23: The following Town boards & committees will have one or more anticipated vacancies.

2024 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING & FY25 BUDGET TIMELINE

Budget season for 2023-24 is already underway – we’ll keep our timeline updated as the year progresses so you can follow along.

Traffic study to be conducted on Main Street side streets Dec. 7

A traffic study will be conducted on Thursday, Dec. 7, on side streets along the Main Street Corridor Project in response to public requests, according to a town press release.

VHB, the town’s engineering consultant, will be installing four video counters on Wednesday, Dec. 6, between 9 a.m.-noon to capture data that will be converted into counts at 15-minute intervals. They will collect traffic counts at Wood Street, Pleasant Street, Cedar Street and Hayden Rowe, which intersect Main Street, after residents expressed concerns about the timing of signals and the amount of traffic using side streets. The counts will be used to evaluate operations and signal timings, and to review traffic patterns and volume.

‘All hands’ meeting stresses transparency, collaboration, town’s strategic plan

Town department heads convened in a two-hour virtual “all hands” meeting Wednesday to discuss their respective visions and how they will be integrated into the town’s strategic plan.

Select Board chair Muriel Kramer kicked off the discussion. She praised the forum for bringing a cross section of the community to discuss important issues as the Select Board prioritizes creating a strategic plan for Hopkinton.

Police Department shares tips to prevent package theft during holiday season

As the holiday season approaches and gifts begin to be shipped and delivered, Chief Joseph Bennett and the Hopkinton Police Department have provided tips to help community members prevent package theft.

According to the National Neighborhood Watch, nearly 19% of Americans have had at least one package stolen in the past 12 months.

Commission on Disability extends community survey period, plans January forum

The Commission on Disability at its meeting Monday night voted 5-0 to extend the deadline for completion of the community survey on accessibility until Dec. 15 due to a low response rate.

Chair Holly Morand noted that there were 23 responses to the survey, which was distributed at the Nov. 13 Special Town Meeting and at public buildings in town. Twenty responses were from Hopkinton residents, while three were from people who work in town.

Take the survey here. Any issues can be addressed to Morand at CODChair@hopkintonma.gov

ESBC talks timeline for new school, potential permitting issue

The new Elmwood School is expected to receive reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) of $61.5 million and rebates from MassSave and the Inflation Reduction Act estimated at $1.7 million and $4 million, respectively.

At its meeting Wednesday, the ESBC reflected on the votes, with Graziano adding that residents supported the school after seeing the committee “did the work of vetting solutions” over the past few years.

RELATED NEWS:
New Elmwood School building funding approved at election

Parks & Rec deals with delays on skate park, pickleball courts, cricket pitch

The Parks & Recreation Commission at its Thursday meeting lauded the success of the first Skateboard & BMX Jam on Nov. 12, saying it will generate enthusiasm for the renovations to the skate park at EMC Park.

But unforeseen delays will postpone its opening potentially until next fall, according to the department director.

COVID-19 vaccine costs prompts Health Department to look at vendor

The Board of Health at its meeting Monday evening discussed the financial implications of the state’s decision not to supply free COVID-19 vaccines to communities.

Health Department Director Shaun McAuliffe explained that the department spent more than $8,000 on vaccines and test kits. Each shot costs an average of $150.