Select Board Actions Taken 06/21/22
Agenda Items & Actions Taken:
6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, §21(a) (purpose 3) to consider strategy with respect to negotiations relative to non-union employees, Town Manager, Fire Chief, Police Chief and collective bargaining relative to DPW, Police, Fire and Library Unions because an
open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Board.
b. To approve executive session Minutes (May 17, 2022, June 7, 2022).
6:30 PM CALL TO ORDER – OPEN SESSION
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6:31 PM PUBLIC FORUM
3. Residents are invited to share ideas, opinions or ask questions regarding Town Government.
6:40 PM CONSENT AGENDA
4. The Select Board will consider the following consent agenda:
a. MINUTES – The Select Board will consider approving the Minutes of the May 17, 2022 and June 7, 2022 meetings.
b. MARATHON FUND REQUEST – The Select Board will consider approving a fund request of $3,900 from the Friends of Hopkinton to help supply portable toilets at a cost of $1,400, and ten inflatables and a dunk tank at a cost of $2,500, for Family Fun Day to be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022.
c. BUILDING/ELECTRICAL/PLUMBING FEE SCHEDULE – The Select Board will consider approving changes to the Building, Plumbing & Electrical fee schedule.
d. METROWEST VETERANS SERVICES DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP: The Select Board will consider voting to continue membership in the Metrowest Veterans Services District and to appoint Norman Khumalo as the Town’s representative to the District Board of Directors.
e. RESIGNATION – The Select Board will consider accepting the resignation of Meena Kaushik from the Sustainable Green Committee and the Hopkinton Cultural Council.
f. FISCAL YEAR 2022 END OF YEAR TRANSFERS – The Select Board will consider authorizing 3 budget line item transfers and an increase in a Fruit Street fields revolving account spending authorization. The line item transfers are from Employee Benefits & Insurance to Town Counsel and to the Regional Technical Vocational School. The increase in revolving account spending authorization would allow for the expenditure of fees by the Parks & Recreation Commission already collected in FY 22.
● The Select Board approved Consent Agenda items a, b, c, d and f. (5-0)
● The Select Board accepted the resignation of Meena Kaushik from the Sustainable Green Committee and the Cultural Council. (5-0)
6:45 PM PLANNING BOARD APPOINTMENT – JOINT MEETING WITH PLANNING BOARD
5. The Select Board and the remaining members of the Planning Board will interview candidate Matthew Wronka, and consider voting to fill one Planning Board vacancy with a term to expire at the May 2023 Annual Town Election.
The Select Board and the Planning Board appointed Paul Ostrander to the Planning Board, to a term
expiring at the 2023 Annual Town Election. (13-0)
6:55 PM PUBLIC HEARING ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE APPLICATION – MNLA SUMMER
6. CONFERENCE HOSTED BY WESTON NURSERIES, 93 EAST MAIN STREET; AND SPECIAL TEMPORARY ALCOHOL LICENSE
The Select Board will hold a Public Hearing for a single event Entertainment License and a Special Temporary Alcohol License application from Melissa Frank, on behalf of Weston Nurseries, for hosting a summer conference with classes and seminars for the local landscaping industry. The event is to be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Weston Nurseries located at 93 E Main St. The alcohol will be served by TIPS certified servers and will be supplied by Start Line Brewery. In addition, the Board will consider a fee waiver for the license application.
The Select Board approved an Entertainment License and a Special Temporary Alcohol License for the
MNLA Summer Conference at Weston Nurseries on July 14, 2022; and approved a fee waiver for the
non profit organization. (5-0)
7:05 PM PUBLIC HEARING ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE – FUNDRAISER FOR JIMMY FUND HOSTED
7. BY WESTON NURSERIES 93 EAST MAIN STREET; AND SPECIAL TEMPORARY ALCOHOL LICENSE
The Select Board will hold a Public Hearing for a single event Entertainment License, including Live Music/amplification system for an application from Melissa Frank, on behalf of Weston Nurseries, for a fundraiser for Jimmy Fund. The event is to be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., outside in the coliseum area located behind Weston Nurseries, 93 East Main St. The Board will also consider a Special Temporary Alcohol License application for the said event, at which alcohol will be served by TIPS certified servers from four/five local microbreweries. In addition, the Board will consider a fee waiver for the license application.
The Select Board approved an Entertainment License and a Special Temporary Alcohol License for the
Jimmy Fund fundraiser at Weston Nurseries on September 10, 2022; and approved a fee waiver for the
non profit organization. (5-0)
7:10 PM EAGLE SCOUT RECOGNITION
8. The Select Board will honor Eagle Scouts Harrison Bograd, Aidan Chen, Colin Davan, Alexander Kimball, Daniel Cambourelis-Haskins and Jack Dolski.
7:15 PM APPOINTMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS UPDATE
9. The Select Board will receive an update on police officer hiring.
7:20 PM ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS – BOARDS/COMMITTEES & OFFICIALS
10. The Select Board will consider making the following appointments: Town Counsel, Labor Counsel, Traffic Constables, MetroWest Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board member; and consider affirming the following Town Manager appointments: Principal Assessor, Treasurer/Collector, Inspector of Animals, Animal Control Officer, Fence Viewer, Plumbing & Gas Inspector, Assistant Plumbing & Gas Inspectors, Wiring Inspector, Person to cut wire in case of fire, Assistant Wiring Inspector, Sealer of Weights and Measures, and Public Weighers.
The Select Board will consider appointing members of boards and committees, as follows: Board of Appeals, Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board, Community Preservation Committee, Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, Cultural Council, Lake Maspenock Weed Management & Control Advisory Group, Marathon Committee, Marathon Fund Committee, Open Space Preservation Commission, Permanent Building Committee, Trail Coordination and Management Committee, Upper Charles Trail Committee, Veterans Celebration Committee, Woodville Historic District Commission.
The Select Board appointed the following members of Boards and Committees: (5-0)
● Conservation Commission: Ed Harrow and Melissa Recos, terms expiring 6/30/2025;
● Cultural Council: John Cardillo and Michelle Leibowitz, terms expiring 6/30/2025;
● Marathon Committee Department Liaisons: Police Dept. – Joseph Bennett, John Porter; Fire Dept. – William Miller, Gary Daugherty; School Dept. – Tim Persson; DPW – Mike Mansir; terms expiring 6/30/2023;
● Permanent Building Committee: Michael DiMascio and Robert Scott, terms expiring 6/30/2025;
● Veterans Celebration Committee: Linda Muri and James Mirabile, terms expiring 6/30/2025;
● Woodville Historic District Commission: John Cardillo, Sean Davan and Tina Berlad, terms expiring 6/30/2025.
● Council on Aging: John Palitsch and Donald Wolf (full members), and Stacey Schmidt (associate member), terms expiring 6/30/2025.
The Select Board appointed Jack Nealon and Khwaja Ehsan to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board, to terms expiring 6/30/2025. (5-0)
The Select Board appointed the following members of the Board of Appeals: (5-0)
● Michael Riley, full member, term expires 6/30/2027
● Walter Garland, full member, term expires 6/30/2023 (moved from associate to full member)
● Arnold E. Cohen, associate member, term expires 6/30/2027
● John Mosher, associate member, term expires 6/30/2025
● Sudeer Beedanagari, associate member, term expires 6/30/2023 (filling Walter Garland associate member position)
The Select Board appointed Ken Weismantel to an at-large position on the Community Preservation
Committee, to a term expiring 6/30/2025. (4-1)
The Select Board appointed Carole Nathan and Colleen Charleston to the Marathon Fund Committee,
to terms expiring 6/30/2025. (5-0)
The Select Board appointed Jane Moran and Scott Knous to the Upper Charles Trail Committee (full
members), to terms expiring 6/30/2025. (4-0-1)
The Select Board appointed Miyares & Harrington LLP as Town Counsel and Mirick O’Connell as Labor
Counsel, terms expiring 6/30/2023. (5-0)
The Select Board appointed Mary Jo LaFreniere as the Select Board Chair’s designee to the Metrowest
Regional Transit Authority Board, term expiring 6/30/2023. (5-0)
The Select Board appointed the following Traffic Constables, to terms running from 7/1/2022 to
6/30/2025: (5-0)
Jon Kraus
Dan Smith
Evan Brooks
Meaghan DeRaad
Jane Goodman
Deri McGill
Darlene Haines
Stephen Iadarola
John Litchfield
James Collins
Douglas Lewis
Stephen Slaman
Thomas Poirier
William Proctor
Robert Santucci
Richard Flannery
Thomas Griffin
Charles Wallace
Jarrod Taranto
The Select Board confirmed the Town Manager’s 1 year appointments of the following Town officials: (5-0)
● Inspector of Animals – Elizabeth Jefferis
● Animal Control Officer – William Proctor
● Fence Viewer – Ed Harrow
● Plumbing & Gas Inspector – Charles Dabritz
● Assistant Plumbing & Gas Inspectors – Peter Zereski, Dan Hunt
● Wiring Inspector – Kevin Bouret
● Person to cut wire in case of fire – Kevin Bouret
● Assistant Wiring Inspector – Jonathan Shepard
● Sealer of Weights and Measures – Louis Sakin
● Public Weighers – John Palmer, Jaynne Adams, Jaime Wright, Chelsea Adams, Thomas J. McIntyre
7:30 PM PERFORMANCE REVIEW & RATING ASSIGNMENT – TOWN MANAGER, POLICE CHIEF
11. AND FIRE CHIEF
The Select Board will conduct performance reviews of the Town Manager, Police Chief and Fire Chief and assign ratings accordingly. The Select Board will finalize FY23 goals for each.
7:45 PM SETTING WATER AND SEWER RATES FOR FY 23
12. The Select Board will consider setting water and sewer rates for Fiscal Year 23. Staff recommends a 9.5% rate increase or $27.25 for Water user fees due to projected capital costs and a 5.0% rate reduction for Sewer user fees due to a projected substantial surplus in the Sewer Enterprise.
The Select Board set water rates for fiscal year 2023 with an increase of 9.5%, effective July 1, 2022 as
follows: (5-0)
0-1000 cubic feet $31.72 minimum
1001-8000 cubic feet at $3.87 per 100 cubic feet
over 8000 cubic feet at $8.03 per 100 cubic feet
The Select Board set sewer rates for fiscal year 2023 with a decrease of 5%, effective July 1, 2022 as
follows: (5-0)
0-1000 cubic feet at $11.18 per 100 cubic feet
1001-8000 cubic feet at $13.26 per 100 cubic feet
Over 8000 cubic feet at $16.40 per 100 cubic feet
The Select Board voted to implement a discount of up to $200 per year on Sewer Enterprise bills for
residential sewer system users who receive property tax exemptions from the Hopkinton Board of
Assessors under clauses 17, 22, 37, and 41 of section 5 in chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General
Laws, for FY 2023, effective July 1, 2022; and for residents who receive the Hopkinton Means-Tested
Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption tied to the Massachusetts Circuit Breaker Tax Credit. (5-0)
The Select Board voted to implement a discount of up to $200 per year on Water Enterprise bills for
residential water system users who receive property tax exemptions from the Hopkinton Board of
Assessors under clauses 17, 22, 37, and 41 of section 5 in chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General
Laws, for FY 2023 effective July 1, 2022; and for residents who receive the Hopkinton Means-Tested
Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption tied to the Massachusetts Circuit Breaker Tax Credit. (5-0)
8:05 PM TOWN MANAGER REPORT
13. Town Manager will report on the following:
a. Main Street Corridor Project Update
b. PFAS Update
c. MWRA Connection Update
d. Pay Classification Plan Update, Non-union employees
e. 1 Baker Lane Settlement Agreement – The Select Board will consider authorizing the Town Manager to sign a settlement agreement relating to the foreclosure of 1 Baker Lane, a property that is restricted by a Local Initiative Program deed rider as an. affordable unit. The Land Court has ruled that the property could be foreclosed and sold. The Department of Housing and Community Development, Town of Hopkinton, and Specialized Loan Servicing LLC have agreed to protect the unit as affordable unless a qualified buyer cannot be found. In that case, the Town and DHCD will split the difference between the affordable and market price. Town Counsel recommends approval of the agreement.
The Select Board authorized the Town Manager to sign the settlement agreement between the Town
of Hopkinton, the Mass. Dept.of Housing and Community Development, and Specialized Loan
Servicing LLC regarding 1 Baker Lane. (5-0)
8:10 PM LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS & REPORTS/BOARD INVITES
14. The Select Board will consider finalizing and approving FY 23 liaison assignments and the appointment of Select Board members to certain committees.
Supporting Exhibit: FY 23 Liaison Assignments
The Select Board appointed its members to the following boards and committees: (5-0)
● Shahidul Mannan as the Board’s representative on the Elementary School Building Committee;
● Irfan Nasrullah to the Irvine-Todaro Properties Advisory Group;
● Mary Jo LaFreniere to the Pratt Farm Master Plan Team;
● Irfan Nasrullah to the Upper Charles Trail Committee, to a term expiring 6/30/2025;
● Irfan Nasrullah to the Open Space Preservation Commission, to a term expiring 6/30/2025;
● Irfan Nasrullah to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board, to a term expiring 6/30/2024.
8:20 PM FUTURE BOARD AGENDA ITEMS
15. Board members will consider identifying future agenda items.
Supporting Exhibit: Board Member Future Agenda Items
8:25 PM ADJOURN
Correspondence to Select Board
1. Question about Bike & Pedestrian Safety – 6-10-22 Email
2. Board of Appeals Notices of Decision – 85 Downey St., 17 Cross St.
3. Resignation of Meena Kaushik from the Library Board of Trustees.
Upcoming Select Board Meetings
1. July 12, 2022
2. August 2, 2022
3. September 6, 2022
4. September 20, 2022