Select Board Actions Taken 11/19/19

New Treasurer • Tax Classification •  Bond Obligation •  Whisper Way •
Legacy Farms North • Eversource

The meeting video is available on the HCAM YouTube Channel and the Actions Taken are posted in blue below.

TOWN OF HOPKINTON
SELECT BOARD MEETING AGENDA
Hopkinton Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA – Room 215/216
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 6:00 PM

ACTIONS TAKEN

6:00 PM  CALL TO ORDER
EXECUTIVE SESSION

1.
i. Minutes: The Board will consider approving executive session minutes for 10/8/19. ii. To discuss strategy with respect to contract negotiations with DPW, Fire and Dispatch Communications unions. iii. To consider strategy with regard to contract negotiations with non-union staff – Town Manager

6:30 PM PUBLIC SESSION – CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

6:31 PM PUBLIC FORUM

Residents are invited to share ideas, opinions or ask questions regarding Town Government.

6:40 PM TOWN MANAGER APPOINTMENT – NEW EMPLOYEE

1. The Select Board will consider confirming the Town Manager’s appointment of Christopher Heymanns to the position of Treasurer/Collector. Supporting Exhibit: Resume

The Select Board confirmed the Town Manager’s appointment of Christopher Heymanns to the position of Treasurer/Collector. (4-0)

6:45 PM CONSENT AGENDA (ACTION)

2.
i. BOARD MINUTES
The Select Board will consider approving the 11/5/19 Select Board Meeting Minutes.
ii. LIBRARY GIFT The Select Board will consider accepting a gift of $750 from the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation to the Hopkinton Public Library to fund a “‘lucky day’ collection.”

The Select Board approved the Consent Agenda. (4-0)

6:50 PM POSTED PUBLIC HEARING – TAX CLASSIFICATION HEARING

3. The Board will hold a public hearing to determine the percentage of local tax levy to be
borne by each class of real and personal property, in accordance with Chapter 40, Section 56, as certified by the Commissioner of Revenue through the Hopkinton Board of Assessors property assessment of full and fair cash valuation. Oral and written comments from the public will be accepted at the hearing. Supporting Exhibits: Public Hearing Notice; Tax Classification Hearing Letter to Board and Citizens of Hopkinton; Board of Assessors presentation

● The Select Board did not vote in favor of a motion to grant an open space exemption. (0-4)
● The Select Board did not vote in favor of a motion to grant a residential exemption. (0-4)
● The Select Board did not vote in favor of a motion to grant a small commercial exemption. (0-4)
● The Select Board approved a single tax rate for FY20. (4-0)

7:20 PM GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND APPROVAL

4. The Select Board will consider approving general obligation bond financing to
support $9,175,000.00 in projects approved at previous Town Meetings. Supporting Exhibits: CFO Memo and Recommendation,Certificate of Award, $8,585,000 in General Obligation Bonds, Vote of the Select Board, $8,585,000 in General Obligation Bonds, Signature, No Litigation, Official Statement Certificate, $8,585,000 General Obligation Bonds

The Select Board approved and confirmed the sale of the $8,585,000 General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2019 Bonds of the Town dated 11/26/19 to FTN Financial Capital Markets at the price of $9,275,908.32 and accrued interest. (4-0)

7:25 PM STREET NAME APPROVAL – WHISPER WAY

5. The Select Board will consider approving a request from Chris Nation of
20th Century Homes to name an extension of Whisper Way, as “Whisper Way”. The Planning Board has approved a subdivision plan which alters the layout of the end of the existing road and provides for a short extension. Supporting Exhibits: Street Name Request; Plans

The Select Board approved the name “Whisper Way” for the extension of the existing street named Whisper Way. (4-0)

7:30 PM PUBLIC HEARING – STREET ACCEPTANCE – LEGACY FARMS NORTH

6. The Select Board will hold a public hearing pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 82 §21 to discuss accepting and laying out Legacy Farms North, from Frankland Road to Wilson Street, as a public way. There will be an article on the December 9, 2019 Special Town Meeting warrant requesting the acceptance of the street as a public way. The Special Town Meeting article has been submitted by citizen petition. Supporting Exhibits: Public Hearing Notice; Citizen Petition; Comments;Street Acceptance Procedure

8:00 PM SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

7. The Select Board will consider matters and articles regarding the Special Town Meeting
on Dec. 9, 2019.

8:15 PM EVERSOURCE ELECTRIC – REQUESTING PERMISSION TO PERFORM NIGHT WORK SOUTH STREET AND WEST MAIN STREET (ACTION)

The Select Board will consider approving Eversource Electric’s request to perform night work and working beyond the hours of the Noise Bylaw. The construction schedule will be Friday night through Monday morning, 24 hour work days, 12 hour shifts, 5 crews through 17 weeks. The Town of Hopkinton’s DPW issued a Notice of Hearing and Order to Show Cause Why Permits Should Not be Suspended or Revoked on August 2, 2019 to Eversource Energy and United Civil Inc., the holders of a consolidated Town Road Opening Permit and Trench Safety Permit. Following a formal hearing, the Town Manager (as Hearing Officer), concluded that Eversource and United Civil violated applicable provisions of the Town’s Street Opening Permit terms, conditions, and policy, M.G.L. c.82A, and 520 CMR 14.00, on two occasions while excavating; that, subject to compliance with certain conditions before re-commencing excavation, the suspension of work pursuant to the Permit should be lifted and the Permittees allowed to complete their excavation in connection with Eversource’s transmission line project; and that the Hearing Officer’s decision be shared with the Select Board for filing and reference with respect to future applications for permits or other legal authorizations from Eversource and United Civil. This proposal reflects agreement between the DPW Director and Eversource on the way forward. Supporting Exhibit: Eversource request; Schedule; Trench Safety Hearing Decision by Town Manager

The Select Board approved Eversource’s request for night work and working beyond the hours of the Noise Bylaw, with work performed Fridays from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM on Monday mornings, 24 hour work days, 12 hour shifts, 5 crews through 17 weeks; provided that Eversource first completes the repairs needed to the MassDOT section of the work on West Main Street by 12/6/19 to the satisfaction of MassDOT and the Town. (4-0)

8:30 PM TOWN MANAGER REPORT

9. a. Main Street Corridor Project Update
b. FY 21 Budget Update
Supporting Exhibit:Town Manager Report for November 19, 2019;

8:45 PM LIAISON REPORTS/BOARD INVITES

10. Supporting Exhibits: 2019-2020 Liaison Assignments

8:50 PM FUTURE BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

9:00 PM ADJOURN

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Correspondence to Select Board

1. Comcast Internet Essentials
2. Application for Special Permit – Shared off-site parking 17 Main, 22 Main, 6 Church Street
3. Letter from HALT – Campus Trail Connector/span>
4. Letter from the UCTC – Response to HALT
5. Eversource Gas Rate Review
6. Verizon Fios TV – LFA Notification

Upcoming Board Meetings

1. December 3, 2019
2. December 9, 2019 – Special Town Meeting
3. December 17, 2019
4. January 7, 2020
5. January 21, 2020

The listed matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair to be discussed at the meeting. Not all items may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Unless an agenda item is a posted public hearing, the matter may be considered earlier than the indicated time if there are last minute cancellations or other unforeseen events which cause the Board to move more quickly through the agenda.

Click here for the entire meeting packet, which includes permits, applications, letters and other information.