WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 1/7/25

BOSTON MARATHON RUNNER 

Meet E-Hop’s marathon runner for 2025! Nick Miller is training for his first Boston Marathon this year (and 13th marathon overall), and will be raising funds to support our organization which strives to encourage civic engagement in our town of Hopkinton. We’re thrilled to have Nick representing us! 

Read about Nick here.

Please consider donating here.

PLANNING BOARD 

At its Monday night meeting, in an 8-0 vote, the Planning Board approved a modified plan for the proposed mixed-use, multifamily development at the former Hopkinton Drug location. This revised plan addressed concerns raised at the December 16th meeting about potential impacts of vehicle emissions and sound and light pollution. Revisions included some aesthetic architectural adjustments, added measures to “mechanically ventilate” the garages, glazing to minimize glare from parking activities, and centralizing trash collection on the upper parking level to alleviate concerns about trash collection’s impact on street traffic. Additionally, landscaping plans were outlined, in response to concerns raised by an abutting property owner, which would include shade tolerant plants that would be 6-8 feet tall at the time of planting to be placed between the proposed development and the adjacent property.  

Also at the meeting, the hearing regarding 1 Benson Road was continued to February 24th, in a 5-3 vote. Board members noted that the hearing had already been continued six times, and the attorney for abutters noted their frustration with the delays. A decision on the matter is planned for the March 10th meeting following the continued hearing. Planning Board approves revised plan for Hopkinton Drug redevelopment (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 01/07/25)

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

Superintendent Search. At its January 2nd meeting, the School Committee met with the executive director and consultants from the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) – the firm hired to help with the search to replace retiring Superintendent Cavanaugh. The first important step to the process will be to form the Search Committee that will screen, conduct initial interviews, and recommend finalists for the position. With input from the NESDEC, the School Committee decided that the search Committee would consist of 12-13 members comprised by the following: two School Committee members, one representative from SEPAC, the assistant to the superintendent, two administrators (one from the central office and the other a building principal/director), two members chosen by the Hopkinton Teachers Association from the school district’s bargaining units, one member representing a cultural community group, one member of the community without a student currently enrolled in the district, one parent member from a fundraising group, and one member representative from the Select Board. School Committee members Kyla McSweeney and Susan Stephenson were chosen at the meeting as representatives for the Search Committee.

The next steps will be to post a recruitment letter and ad, with applications to be reviewed beginning in early March, and the School Committee expecting to conduct interviews the week of April 9th. The target date for hiring is May 1. The School Committee will meet again on January 9th.  School Committee discusses composition of superintendent search group (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 01/03/25)

BOARD OF HEALTH

At the Monday night Board of Health meeting, Health Director Shaun McAuliffe informed the board that the town’s current budget restrictions will result in a forced reduction in health services, with a hiring freeze and cuts to the department’s nursing and operational budget. The board nonetheless commended the Health Department’s efforts despite the difficult situation and budget constraints. 

Also at the meeting, the owner of Ko Sushi and Grill appeared before the board to address ongoing food safety violations at his facility. While the restaurant has addressed some of the Health Departments’ past concerns with violations, others have gone unresolved. Failure to come into compliance following the meeting could result in license suspension and potential closure. It was agreed that the restaurant would hire a food safety consultant and that the Health Department would further evaluate lighting concerns in the food preparation area.  Board of Health discusses budget reduction, holds compliance hearing for Ko Sushi and Grill (Article by Nick Schofield, 01/07/25)