Weekly News Update – 03/10/24

Updated Candidates List for the 2024 Town Election • Select Board suspends town investigation of HPD Chief Bennett until DA probe is completed • Select Board discusses additional proposed Town Meeting articles, Clinton Street streetlight request • Historical Commission weighs in on Hopkinton Drug property, which is targeted for mixed-use development • School Committee review of weapons policy leads to questions

UPDATED CANDIDATES LIST ON THE MAY 20, 2024 BALLOT

• Select Board (3 years, vote for 2) CONTESTED RACE
  • Peter Mimmo
  • Kyla McSweeney
  • Anna Dorcey
• Board of Assessors (3 years, vote for 1)
  • Lesley A Ficarri, Incumbent
• Board of Health (3 years, vote for 1)
  • Mary Jo Ondrechen
• Board of Library Trustees (3 years, vote for 1)
  • Anne Beauchamp, Incumbent
• Board of Library Trustees (1 year, vote for 1)
  • Stanley Pulnik
• Cemetery Commissioners (3 years, vote for 1)
  • Linda Kimball, Incumbent
• Cemetery Commissioners (2 years, vote for 1)
  • Arlene Casassa
• Commissioners of Trust Funds (3 years, vote for 1)
  • Amanda Murphy
• Constable (3 years, vote for 1)
  • Michael King
• Housing Authority (5 year unexpired term, vote for 1)
  • Ilana Casady, Incumbent
• Housing Authority (1 year unexpired term, vote for 1)
  • Beth Malloy, Incumbent
• Parks & Recreation Commissioners (3 years, vote for 2)
  • Amy O’Donnell, Incumbent
  • Daniel Terry, Incumbent
• Parks & Recreation Commissioners (1 year, vote for 1)
  • Kyle Smith
• Planning Board (5 years, vote for 1)
  • Parker Happ, Incumbent
• Planning Board (3 year unexpired term, vote for 1)
  • Lucia Lopez
• Planning Board (1 year unexpired term, vote for 1) CONTESTED RACE
  • Karen Wills
  • Gary Trendel, Incumbent
• School Committee (3 years, vote for 2)
  • Jamie Wronka
  • Christopher Masters

Read “Town Election 2024 Running List of Candidates” on eHop

Read “State Rep. Arena-DeRosa explains why party caucus process remains in effect for town’s upcoming election” 02/24/24

Select Board suspends town investigation of HPD Chief Bennett until DA probe is completed

In a statement released Friday, the Select Board confirmed that it met in execulive session to discuss Bennnett, who was present with his attorney. “The Select Board chose this course of action due to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office announcement that it is undertaking a review of the events at issue and that it is targeting the release of a report with findings in early May.

View Article – the Hopkinton Independent

Select Board discusses additional proposed Town Meeting articles, Clinton Street streetlight request

The Select Board at its meeting Wednesday night reviewed language proposed for new articles for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting on May 6 and the request for a new streetlight on Clinton Street near wildlife sanctuary parking.

Select Board member Mary Jo LaFreniere proposed an article that would reduce the tax burden on some older residents. The article would petition the Legislature to pass legislation to authorize a means-tested property tax exemption regarding taxes incurred from school construction projects.

Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch said it would be helpful to see the impact this senior tax exemption would have on the average taxpayer.

Ritterbusch also clarified that that this only applies to school building construction and not the school portion of the town’s budget, which is quite large. Member Irfan Nasrullah asked if it also would apply to school additions or expansions.

Chair Muriel Kramer asked if this exemption would apply to future years of borrowing for school construction projects already approved. LaFreniere confirmed that was true.

“I think this is very timely,” said vice chair Shahidul Mannan, “especially when we have so many prospective school projects coming in. It’s a huge burden for some of our resident groups.”

View Article – the Hopkinton Independent

Historical Commission weighs in on Hopkinton Drug property, which is targeted for mixed-use development

The Historical Commission at its meeting Tuesday night weighed in on properties belonging the owner of the Hopkinton Drug building, which is targeted to be replaced by a mixed-use development that would include retail and residential units.

The commission voted 4-1 that 6 Cedar Street  — a house located next to Hopkinton Drug and also owned by Dennis Katz— was “preferably preserved.” But because of the house’s poor physical condition and the strength of the developer’s proposal, it decided to issue a demolition delay of up to 18 months pending review of the project by the Planning Board.

View Article – the Hopkinton Independent

School Committee review of weapons policy leads to questions

During a first review of the school district’s weapons policy at Thursday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh spoke about the necessity to include a section on “religious artifacts that resemble weapons.” She said that students baptized Sikhs wear a kirpan — a 3-inch long, curved, dull blade — under their clothing.

Members asked that district counsel share Massachusetts law on the topic at the next meeting, pointing out that courthouses and airplanes, for example, do not allow individuals to possess knives.

View Article – the Hopkinton Independent