WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 03/10/26

SELECT BOARD

Budget Review. At its Tuesday meeting, the Select Board continued its budget review process. The majority of reviewed budget requests were deemed crucial to providing essential services to town residents. The School Department’s request bore no changes from what the board reviewed in December. Member Brian Herr expressed that the planned funding for the Loop Road repaving project with leftover funds from the Hopkins School renovation project recently discussed should be voted on at Town Meeting. While final numbers for this project will be known in the fall, the matter could be voted on at the May 2027 Town Meeting. The Hopkinton Fire Department’s requests included capital requests for two new special services vehicles for the chief and deputy fire chief and three cardiac monitors. Requests by the Hopkinton Police Department included funds for a civilian records manager who will assist with, among other duties, public records and CORI and SORI requests; an upgrade to taser equipment and associated training; and three cruiser replacements. Capital requests by the facilities/engineering department included HVAC improvements for the police station, townwide building maintenance, a reuse study for Elmwood School, vehicle replacement, and a needs assessment for the Fruit Street garage that houses town department vehicles, which has fallen into disrepair. The advisability of putting money into the deteriorating garage was questioned. Finally, the board reviewed a number of significant capital requests by the DPW including a swaploader replacement for a dump truck; water tank construction, drainage repairs, and sidewalk improvements at Grove Street; water and sewer main replacement and road repaving on several roads; a vehicle undercarriage pressure washer; funding for the Grist Mill Dam rehabilitation project; water quality improvements at Lake Whitehall; and several requests for the Sewer Department. 

Budget talks dominate Select Board meeting (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 03/04/26)

Town budget feedback from residents is encouraged and appreciated. Any recommendations or comments can be submitted to the Select Board through this online form: FY27 Budget Listening Form. Paper forms are available at the Library and Senior Center. 

Save the Date: The FY27 budget will be voted at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 2nd at 9:00 am.. All registered voters are eligible to vote if present at the meeting.

Manganese detection in Wells 7 & 8. The Select Board also heard from the DPW about the detection of levels of manganese in Wells 7 and 8 over the advisory level of 0.3 parts per liter. It was stressed that this is an advisory rather than regulator limit. The town’s corrective actions included a deep cleaning of the wells, public outreach and monitoring; however, the ultimate solution will be the future Massachusetts Water Resources Authority connection. The DPW noted that the wells in question are usually turned off unless there is a high water demand. A deeper discussion will take place at a future board meeting.  

CV license renewals. The board voted 4-0 to extend the final two CV licenses up for renewal for the Aramark at Dell locations. The company is awaiting new exit sign equipment after a supplier sent the incorrect type. 

PILOT for solar facility. The board reviewed a draft payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement for the Agilitas solar facility. This agreement is included in a warrant article for Annual Town Meeting and will be discussed further at a future meeting. 

Tax refund delays. The board also heard from the Town Manager Elaine Lazarus regarding an issue addressed at a prior meeting that approximately 100 teachers and public safety workers are still awaiting 2024 federal income tax refunds. Lazarus stressed that the matter is out of the town’s control and that the IRS, who has had significant layoffs, did not indicate any town responsibility for the delays. She maintains that the town tax filings were on time and correctly done. 

Select Board discusses elevated manganese levels in Wells 7, 8 (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 03/04/26)

PLANNING BOARD 

At its Monday meeting, the Planning Board discussed at length the potential acceptance by the town of two private ways after concerns were raised as to both. The first acceptance proposal dealt with Auciello Drive which was originally conditioned to be a private way when constructed. At the board’s December 1st meeting, it voted to remove the condition that the street must be maintained by the property owners, clearing the way for a citizens’ petition on the ATM warrant to seek acceptance as a town road. However, any such acceptance is conditioned on compliance with current town standards. While a citizens’ petition has been filed, there were no supporting updated drawings or engineering reports provided. While sympathetic to the situation, board chair Rob Benson did not believe the board could recommend acceptance. An argument was made to support acceptance because the road has an infiltration system that could improve water quality in Lake Maspenock. DPW director Kerry Reed noted that the town bylaws allow for a betterment, which would be up to the Select Board. 

The board also considered the potential acceptance of Linden Road, recommended by the DPW as part of an East Main Street water main improvement project. While the attorney for a property owner at Linden Street and Curtis Road opposed the acceptance on various legal grounds, Benson agreed with town staff to recommend the acceptance noting that the legal issues raised fall under the purview of the Select Board who will make the ultimate decision on the matter. 

In other business, the board deferred discussion regarding the acceptance of Whisper Way until the next meeting, pending a consultant peer review, and continued the minor site plan application hearing on 75 South Street until April 6th to give the applicant time to address a sidewalk improvement issue with the HFD and DPW. Finally, the board voted 7-0 to recommend approval for the revised MBTA Communities zoning plan proposal combining the downtown and Walcott Valley districts by adding a connecting strip of eight parcels on Walcott Street to bring the town into full compliance with the state law. 

Discussion of private road acceptance by town dominates Planning Board meeting (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 03/10/26)

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.