February 20, 2024

Weekly News Update – 02/20/24

Candidates Needed for the 2024 Town Election • How to Vote in the 3/5/24 Presidential Primary & Party Committee Election • Select Board Updates • School Committee / Elmwood Updates • Planning Board Updates • Land Use Survey • Health Department Survey

Candidates Needed for the 2024 Town Election

Considering running for local office, but don’t know where to begin? To become a candidate a person must either obtain and submit nomination papers by securing the signatures of 50 Hopkinton registered voters by April 1, 2024 at 5PM or a person may qualify by being the top vote-getter in one of the town political party caucuses. Nomination signature papers are available from the Town Clerk’s office (18 Main St). Please email or call the Town Clerk’s office with questions at townclerk@hopkintonma.gov 508-497-9710. Click on the name of any elected office listed below to read more about it.

OFFICE ON THE MAY 20, 2024 BALLOT:

Select Board (3 years, vote for 2)
- Peter Mimmo
- Kyla McSweeney
Board of Assessors (3 years, vote for 1)
- Candidate Needed
Board of Health (3 years, vote for 1)
- Candidate Needed
Board of Library Trustees (3 years, vote for 1)
- Anne Beauchamp, Incumbent
Cemetery Commissioners (3 years, vote for 1)
- Linda Kimball, Incumbent
Cemetery Commissioners (2 years, vote for 1)
- Candidate Needed
Commissioners of Trust Funds (3 years, vote for 1)
- Amanda Murphy
Constable (3 years, vote for 1)
- Candidate Needed
Housing Authority (5 year unexpired term, vote for 1)
- Ilana Casady, Incumbent
Housing Authority (1 year unexpired term, vote for 1)
- Beth Malloy, Incumbent
Parks & Recreation Commissioners (3 years, vote for 2)
- Amy O’Donnell, Incumbent
- Daniel Terry, Incumbent
Parks & Recreation Commissioners (1 year, vote for 1)
- Kyle Smith
Planning Board (5 years, vote for 1)
- Parker Happ, Incumbent
Planning Board (1 year unexpired term, vote for 1)
- Candidate Needed
School Committee (3 years, vote for 2)
- Jamie Wronka
- Christopher Masters

Read “Town Election 2024 Running List of Candidates” on eHop

Read “State Rep. Arena-DeRosa explains why party caucus process remains in effect for town’s upcoming election” 02/24/24

Presidential Primary and Party Committee Elections

The Massachusetts Presidential Primary will be held on Tuesday, March 5, also known as “Super Tuesday.” All Hopkinton precincts vote at the Hopkinton Middle School Brown Gym, 88 Hayden Rowe St, Hopkinton MA 01748. Polls are open 7:00am-8:00pm.

No excuse early voting ballots known as “Vote by Mail” ballots and can be requested at the Town Clerk’s office or you can apply online by using a Vote by Mail Application.

Early In-Person Voting will be held at Hopkinton Town Hall, 18 Main St, Hopkinton MA 01748, on the following dates:

Saturday, February 24 • 10am-4pm
Monday, February 26 • 8am-4:30pm
Tuesday, February 27 • 8am-7pm
Wednesday, February 28 • 8am-4:30pm
Thursday, February 29 • 8am-4:30pm
Friday, March 1 • 8am-2pm

Read “Presidential Primary & Party Committee Elections 3/5/24” on eHop

Select Board Updates

Read “Select Board unanimously selects Daugherty as town’s fire chief” 01/02/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Select Board Roundup: Greenhouse gas report presented; proposed change to town voting policy questioned” 01/09/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Fate of Sgt. Brennan, implicated in Porter case, to be determined at rescheduled meeting Friday” by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Emotions high, Brennan hearing continued so sides can negotiate agreement” by Jerry Spar in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Boisterous Brennan hearing crowd demands accountability from Select Board, police” by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Document released by town compromises anonymity of alleged sexual assault survivor; Kramer offers apology” by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “HPD recalls document from misconduct investigation of Sgt. Brennan” by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Residents rally in support of Sgt. Brennan, rebuke town officials at Select Board meeting” 01/30/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Select Board gets balanced budget for FY 25, reviews Town Meeting articles” 01/30/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Brennan supporters demand reinstatement, accuse police chief, Select Board members of misconduct” 02/06/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Select Board approves police promotions, reviews budget requests” 02/06/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Town responds to questions over new Finance Department hire who was fired from previous job” by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Select Board votes to dismiss Brennan from HPD” 02/08/24 by Jerry Spar in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Northwestern DA’s Office to review circumstances regarding HPD’s release of unredacted transcript of Brennan interview” by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Select Board hears request for graduating senior car parade, town department budget proposals” 02/13/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

School Committee / Elmwood Updates

Read “Selection Committee for Hopkins project construction manager outlines strategy” 01/03/24 by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Draft of education plan for reconfigured Hopkins School unveiled” 01/04/24 by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “At joint meeting, boards examine school budget” 01/11/24 by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Impact of plumbing code changes, MEPA designation among ESBC topics” by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Possible Grade 6 ‘leveling’ prompts School Committee discussion” 01/18/24 by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Process underway to name new elementary school; community input sought” in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “School Committee revisits SEPAC relationship, Hopkins addition plans” 02/01/24 by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Drilling of test well at new school site hits snag” by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Public hearing on Hopkins project raises questions, concerns” by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “School Committee awards Hopkins contract to Commodore Builders” 02/15/24 by Susan Goncalves in the Hopkinton Independent

Planning Board Updates

Read “Planning Board discusses draft plan for MBTA Communities Act compliance” 01/08/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Planning Board reviews Whisper Way plan amendments” 01/22/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Planning Board continues discussing MBTA Communities Act compliance proposal” 01/22/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Read “Planning Board revisits Elmwood Farms III subdivision in light of proposed new construction on remaining lots” 02/05/24 by Mary Ellen Gambon in the Hopkinton Independent

Land Use Survey

The Hopkinton Department of Land Use, Planning, and Permitting (DLUPP) is asking community members to provide feedback by filling out the following survey via Google Forms, linked below:

This survey is part of an ongoing effort to evaluate and improve DLUPP services for the Hopkinton community. The survey has four sections pertaining to different aspects of the Department: Building Permit Services, Planning and Zoning, Conservation/Wetlands, and Department-wide Services. Comprehensive responses will help us better understand your perspective for each of these topics, so please provide as much detail as possible. This survey will close at noon on Friday, February 16, 2024.

Take the Land Use Survey

https://forms.gle/vGYH6rw19kuABDqb7