WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 02/24/26
WATER & SEWER ADVISORY BOARD
At its Wednesday meeting, the Water & Sewer Advisory Board heard from Select Board member Matthew Kizner about a proposed plan to increase funding into the water/sewer enterprise fund in response to prior instances of not having enough money to fund capital projects approved at Town Meeting. Under this proposal, the water/sewer enterprise fund would include 20% of the capital expenditures budget amount and 10% of the operating expenditures budget amount, which will enable the town to adequately respond to emergency situations or large expenditures such as the MWRA connection.
The board also heard from DPW director Kerry Reed about elevated manganese levels in Wells 7 and 8, located on Alprilla Farm Road, above the advisory level of 0.3 parts per liter. Information is available on the town’s website, and it was noted that home filtration systems can help. It was further addressed that Hopkinton remains in a state of drought and water conservation was stressed, even in the colder weather months.
WSAB hears draft plan for maintaining water/sewer enterprise fund (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 02/19/26)
See the Town Website for MassDEP Manganese Notification and related information.
TRAILS COMMITTEE
At its Wednesday meeting, the Trails Committee discussed a proposed warrant article for Annual Town Meeting to impose a 10 mph speed limit for e-bikes and electric vehicles traveling on shared-use paths, including trails, multi-use bike paths, and sidewalks outside of the downtown area. The issue of enforcement was raised, with an initial fine of $100 discussed. The Select Board will review the draft article before it is submitted to the warrant. A placeholder article is currently reserved.
The committee also heard an update on the progress on the shared-use path connecting Chamberlain Street and Loop Road, with bid documents almost complete, and discussed community outreach and engagement. In the works is a logo to identify Hopkinton trails, as well as a website update. A trails networking event at the Hopkinton Public Library is scheduled for March 31st from 5:45-7:45 p.m., and a “Trails 101” event for residents will take place in April.
Trails Committee reviews draft ATM article for e-bike speed limit on shared-use paths (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 02/20/26)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
At the Elementary School Building Committee’s Tuesday meeting, Vertex project manager for the Charleswood School, Chris Kenney, reported that an alternate irrigation well site will be sought following an unsuccessful drilling attempt that yielded no water. New areas to relocate the well are being reviewed and a recommendation by the design team is forthcoming. Kenney also gave an update on obtaining a resident engineer to oversee roadwork on Hayden Rowe over the summer. A bid has been received from Howard Stein Hudson, and Vertex is seeking another bidder. In additional business, the board discussed a change order of $233,650 for further boulder removal costs, and approved a $2,922,023 invoice package for Vertex, Perkins Eastman, Brait Builders, Lucas Environmental, and Tighe and Bond.
Alternate well site needed for Charleswood School due to lack of water (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 02/18/26)
SCHOOL NEWS
In recent school news, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, Susan Rothermich, is retiring at the end of the school year. A search for her successor has begun. The posting will close in early March, with interviews to commence shortly thereafter.
‘End of an era’: Rothermich retiring from HPS; search for new school CFO begins (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 02/20/26)
2026 ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
For anyone interested in running for local office or keeping up with the current list of candidates for the 2026 Annual Town Election, check out eHop’s Town Election Update page! Residents interested in running for office must submit nomination papers by March 30, 2026 at 5PM.
BOSTON MARATHON 2026
Help support eHop’s 2026 Boston Marathon runner, Gregory Sobol!
