Weekly News Roundup – 05/23/2021
Covid-19 Updates and Vaccine Information • Fargiano, Tyler return to School Committee; all questions pass easily • Planning Board discusses Connelly Farm project, Growth Study report • Main Street Corridor Project Construction Advisory – 2 week update • Public Notice: Mosquito Control Project – Spraying Dates • Hopkinton Police Department Releases Records Related to Mikayla Miller Death Investigation • Hopkinton Police Department Launches News Blog • Select Board Actions Taken – 05/18/21
Covid-19 Updates and Vaccine InfoRmation
As of 05/20/21, Hopkinton’s Health Department is reporting 1,063 total confirmed COVID-19 cases; 6 of those cases are active, with 1,040 recoveries and 17 deaths. You can see historical tracking and updates on Hopkinton’s Community Impact Dashboard which is updated frequently.
This week’s new Covid Updates include:
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 weekly Public Health Report
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Report
Related News and Resources:
Hopkinton Covid-19 Vaccine Information
Town Election RESULTS 2021
Fargiano, Tyler return to School Committee; all questions pass easily
Saturday’s Town Election, like Town Meeting two weeks earlier, featured a small turnout and no surprises. In the only contested race, incumbents Amanda Fargiano and Meg Tyler easily won the race for the two available seats on the School Committee.
All four questions — which already had passed at Town Meeting but needed majority support Saturday as well — passed by substantial margins.
Main Street Corridor Project Construction Advisory – 2 week update
Click below on ‘What to Expect’ for the Week of May 24, 2021 and the week of May 31, 2021.
Public Notice: Mosquito Control Project – Spraying Dates
Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project personnel will be in your community to respond to residents’ concerns about mosquitoes in their area on the following dates in June/July: June 2, 8, 9, 15, 22, 23, 29, 30
Any of the above dates are tentative, and all dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity and/or special event spraying.
Planning Board discusses Connelly Farm project, Growth Study report
The Planning Board held two hearings at its meeting Monday, the most widely discussed being the Connelly Farm special permit for an Open Space and Landscape Preservation Development (OSLPD) at the corner of Hayden Rowe Street and College Street.
This hearing, chaired by member Fran DeYoung, was a follow-up to a Dec. 7 meeting when a special permit was issued for the property. The developer, Ron Nation, was granted a waiver for the 100-foot buffer zone at that time, as the proposed access road encroaches within 20 feet of the corner of an abutter’s property.
Read the Growth Study Committee Final Report
Hopkinton Police Department Releases Records Related to Mikayla Miller Death Investigation
Police Chief Joseph Bennett reports that the Hopkinton Police Department was notified yesterday that the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner issued its findings on the cause and manner of the death of Mikayla Miller, age 16.
Hopkinton Police Department Launches News Blog
Chief Joseph Bennett is pleased to announce that the Hopkinton Police Department has launched a blog to serve as a hub for the latest information and updates on news pertaining to the Department.
“This blog will serve as a central source for Department news, and reinforce our commitment to transparency with the residents of Hopkinton,” Chief Bennett said.
“We’re excited to be offering this new resource.”
Select Board Actions Taken – 05/18/21
MATERIALS FOR THIS MEETING:
6:25 PM CONSENT AGENDA
5. i. MINUTES – The Select Board will consider approving the Minutes of the 4/29/2021,5/4/2021 and 5/8/2021 meetings.
ii. G.L. c.268A DISCLOSURE FORM REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF 20(b) EXEMPTIONS –
1. The Select Board will review a G.L. c.268A Disclosure Form and consider approving a 20(b) exemption to allow the hiring of the Renee Cooprider, a municipal employee (School Dept.), who seeks to provide personal services to a municipal agency (Youth & Family Services Department), as a Temporary per diem Counselor. The Human Resources Department recommends the hiring of Ms. Cooprider for this position.
2. The Select Board will review G.L. c.268A Disclosure Forms and consider approving 20(b) exemptions to allow the hiring of the following municipal employees of the School Dept. who seek to provide personal services to a municipal agency (Parks & Recreation Dept.), for Seasonal Summer Sports Clinics:
● Thomas Keane- Basketball Clinic Program Director
● Jean Cann- Track & Field Clinic Program Director
● Michael Greco- Basketball Clinic Assistant Director
● Mark Sanborn- Basketball Clinic Coach
● Gregory Romanko- Basketball Clinic Coach
● Christopher Banks- Basketball Clinic Coach
● Jessica Zwillinger- Basketball Clinic Coach
● John Golden- Basketball Clinic Coach
● Chancey Gaudette- Basketball Clinic Coach
● William Collins- Basketball Clinic Coach
The Human Resources Department recommends the hiring of these individuals for the Seasonal Summer Sports Clinics.
iii. WAIVER OF BUILDING PERMIT FEES – The Select Board will consider the request of the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA), for the grant of a waiver of building permit fees for the HCA’s Terry Farmhouse renovation project, as it is a Town property.
The Select Board approved the Consent Agenda. (5-0)
6:30 PM PARADE PERMIT APPLICATION – HHS GRADUATING SENIOR CAR PARADE
6. The Select Board will consider approving a Parade Permit for the Hopkinton High School Graduating Senior Car Parade on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
The Select Board approved a Parade Permit for the HHS Graduating Senior Car Parade on June 5, 2021. (5-0)
6:35 PM TRAIL COORDINATION & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – PRATT FARM PROPERTY
7. The Select Board will consider discussing the the installation of trail signs and kiosks on the Pratt Farm Property. The property is under the jurisdiction of the Select Board.
The Select Board authorized the Trail Coordination and Management Committee to install trail signs, markers and kiosks on the Pratt Farm Property. (5-0)
6:40 PM HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS REQUEST FOR EXCEPTION TO LEASE ADDENDUM,
8. 98 HAYDEN ROWE, TO PERMIT OUTDOOR ALCOHOL SERVICE AT HCA EVENTS
The Select Board will consider a request from the Hopkinton Center for the Arts for an exception to the lease addendum which would allow alcohol service outside at HCA events. Consumption of alcohol would end one half hour prior to the end of the event.
The Select Board authorized Town Counsel and the Town Manager to draft a new lease addendum for consideration which would allow alcohol service outdoors in designated areas for this season only, and to prepare for a public hearing on this matter. (5-0)
6:45 PM APPLICATIONS TO TRANSFER SECTION 15 PACKAGE STORE ALCOHOL LICENSES
9. The Select Board will review applications for the transfer ownership, but not location, of the following Section 15 Package Store Alcohol licenses:
i. Hopkinton Friendly Services, 92 West Main St. Hopkinton – Transfer from Hopkinton Friendly Service to Global Montello Group Corp. d/b/a Mobil Mart Hopkinton.
ii. Hopkinton Wine & Spirits, 77 West main St. Hopkinton – Transfer from RKY-HPTK Corp. to Jai Shiv Om Kara Inc, d/b/a Hopkinton Wine & Spirits.
6:50 PM 2021 BOSTON MARATHON INVITATIONAL RANDOM DISTRIBUTION
10. The Select Board will hold a public random distribution of Marathon Invitational Entries to qualified applicants for the 2021 Boston Marathon.
The Select Board voted to distribute Marathon Invitational Entries as follows: (5-0)
- Hopkinton Police Department (10)
- Hopkinton Fire Department (1)
- Hopkinton Senior Center (1)
- Hopkinton Marathon Committee (5)
- Veterans Celebration Committee (1)
- Veterans Grave Officer (1)
- Tax Relief Committee (1)
- One (1) to each of the following:
- Baypath Humane Society
- eHop
- The Michael Lisnow Respite Center
- Project Just Because
- National Brain Tumor Society
- Hopkinton Garden Club
- Hopkinton Women’s Club
- Hopkinton Lions Club
- Demons Youth Hockey Association
- Mental Health Collaborative, Inc.
- Hopkinton High School Class of 2023
- Friends of Hopkinton SEPAC (formerly Friends of Hopkinton SPEAC)
- Hopkinton Education Foundation
- Hopkinton PTO
- HHS BPA + Robotics
- Dignity Matters
- Hopkinton Girls Youth Lacrosse
- Hopkinton Boys Youth Lacrosse
- Canty’s Underdog Scholarship Fund Inc.
- Hopkinton Middle School
- Hopkinton Emergency Fund
- Hopkinton Little League
- Friends of the Hopkinton Senior Center
- Friends Of Hopkinton, Inc.
- Hopkinton Public Library/Friends, Inc.
- Hopkinton Public Library Foundation, Inc.
- LIVE4EVAN INC.
- The 18th Annual Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K (Angel Fund)
- KeepSmilin4Abbie Foundation
- Hopkinton Historical Society
7:00 PM APPOINTMENTS – ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE #2
11. The Select Board will consider interviewing and appointing members of the Elementary School Building Committee #2.
7:20 PM TOWN MANAGER, POLICE CHIEF, AND FIRE CHIEF PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS
12. The Select Board will conduct the FY 21 annual reviews of the Town Manager, Police Chief and Fire Chief.
- The Select Board completed the performance evaluation of Joseph Bennett, Police Chief, forwarded the document to the Human Resources Director for completion, and authorized the Chair to sign the final document. (5-0)
- The Select Board completed the performance evaluation of Stephen Slaman, Fire Chief, forwarded the document to the Human Resources Director for completion, and authorized the Chair to sign the final document. (4-1)
- The Select Board completed the performance evaluation of Norman Khumalo, Town Manager, forwarded the document to the Human Resources Director for completion, and authorized the Chair to sign the final document. (5-0)
7:40 PM TOWN MANAGER REPORT
13. i. Main Street Corridor Project Update
ii. Hiring Freeze Exception- Finance Administrative Assistant and Deputy Assessor: The Select Board will consider the Town Manager’s recommendation to grant a hiring freeze exception to fill the Finance Administrative Assistant and Deputy Assessor positions in the Finance Department.
The Select Board approved hiring freeze exceptions to fill the Finance Administrative Assistant and Deputy Assessor positions in the Finance Department. (5-0)