WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 04/15/25

SEND US YOUR TOWN MEETING QUESTIONS! 

Do you have questions about the articles we’ll be voting on for Town Meeting? Our town officials can provide answers at eHop’s annual Know Your Vote forum on Wednesday, April 30th, 7:00-8:00 at HCAM-TV Studios. Ask your questions live or send them to us via email (knowyourvote@ehop.org) or social media.

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2025 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT 

Annual Town Meeting will be held on May 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hopkinton Middle School Auditorium. The voter registration deadline to vote at ATM is April 25, 2025. 

You can review the 2025 Annual Town Meeting Warrant HERE.

TOWN ELECTION NEWS 

Meet the Candidates Night. The Hopkinton Women’s Club will be sponsoring its 37th annual Meet the Candidates NIght on Wednesday, April 16th at 7:00 p.m. at HCAM studios. Residents are encouraged to attend in person or watch live to hear from the candidates and ask questions. Questions may be submitted ahead of time or during the event at live@hcam.tv. 

For more info: HCAM website.

Annual Town Election will be held on May 19, 2025.

SELECT BOARD 

Performance reviews for Hopkinton Fire Chief and Hopkinton Police Chief.  At its Tuesday meeting, the Select Board held annual performance reviews for the town’s fire and police chiefs, unanimously voting that both either met or exceeded expectations. In Fire Chief Daugherty’s first year in his promoted role, he undertook the ongoing task of evaluating and updating the department’s standard operating procedures in many different areas, and developed comprehensive manuals for apparatus operation in the department. The board praised his positive impact on the town. Police Chief Bennett received high praise for his public outreach efforts, as well as his recruitment and training efforts. Future goals for both chiefs were also discussed. 

Library issues addressed. Hopkinton Public Library Director Nanci Hill addressed the recent executive order eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the agency responsible for providing federal funding for public libraries. These federal funds are used for staff training and community services. She was unsure if the lack of this funding would result in budget cuts. 

Additionally, the Board of Library Trustees presented its proposed article for Town Meeting to amend the town charter to change the appointing authority from the Town Manager to the Board of Library Trustees. 

Select Board gives fire, police chiefs high marks on annual performance reviews (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/09/25)

PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 

Pyne Field project update. At its Tuesday meeting, the Park & Recreation Commission voted unanimously on a design for the Pyne Field parking lot, after reviewing two proposed locations and considering abutter and public feedback on both. The commission ultimately chose an amended version of the original Lot 1 design which will run east to west, to the north of the sand pit at the property, holding 101 parking spots. The project can now move on to Phase 2 to include engineering, design, and communications with the Planning Board. 

Also at the meeting, the commission chair and department director objected to recent criticism of the department’s lack of progress by the CPC. They identified the magnitude of the Pyne Field project as a primary factor in its pace, and noted that five of the seven CPC funded projects were near completion. 

Parks & Rec settles on parking for Pyne Field, moves project to next phase (Article by Nick Schofield, 04/09/25)

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

At its Tuesday meeting, the Conservation Commission learned of the discovery of an intermittent ditch north of the Charleswood School site, protectable under the town’s bylaw regulations, impacting the proposed secondary exit for the school. Samiotes Consultants has submitted an updated plan demarking the buffer zones and the selected contractor will need to confirm that the area will be protected during construction. Commission members were asked if adjustments to planting plans for abutter mitigations could be handled administratively. This issue will be readdressed at the April 29th meeting. 

In additional business, a hearing on a review for an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation for property off Wood Street up to I495 was continued in light of new information regarding wetlands on the property; the Trails Club was granted an exemption to allow for vegetation clearing on the Colella property; and a potential tree clearing violation at Hopkinton State Park was discussed. 

Conservation Commission learns of ‘boo-boo’ affecting Charleswood School site (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/09/25)

OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION COMMISSION

At its Thursday meeting, the OSPC discussed the ongoing issue of an open space land donation at Franklin Road from Agilitas Energy. A prior meeting on this issue noted the presence of a small dam on the property previously used for auto crash testing. A consultant was retained to inspect the dam and reported his recommendations at this meeting to make the dam safe and operable. Agilitas requested that the OSPC accept the land donation contingent upon Agilitas bearing responsibility for the necessary repair work and any existing maintenance. The OSPC voted unanimously in favor of accepting the land donation, which will be voted on at Annual Town Meeting on May 5th. 

OSPC moves one step closer toward acquiring Frankland Road open space parcel from Agilitas (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/12/25)

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

At a special Wednesday meeting, the School Committee addressed the hiring of a new director of student services to replace Abigail Hanscom, who is retiring at the end of her contract on June 30th. Of the 14 applications received, Superintendent Cavanaugh identified 7 “credentialed and viable” candidates. The superintendent will work jointly in the hiring process with incoming superintendent Evan Bishop, along with the two assistant superintendents, and the director of technology, digital learning and innovation. A large panel will interview the candidates on April 17th and a Meet the Candidates event is planned for April 29th. The School Committee will receive a recommendation on May 1st. 

Process underway to hire new director of student services (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 04/1025)

BOARD OF HEALTH 

At its Monday meeting, the Board of Health heard presentations from advocates in favor of and against a proposal to enact a rule in line with the Nicotine-Free Generation initiative prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to individuals born after January 1, 2005. Following these presentations, the board voted to move forward with a public hearing on the proposal. A date has not yet been announced. 

Board of Health hears from advocates, opponents of proposed nicotine regulations (Article by Nick Schofield, 04/15/25)

HELP SUPPORT eHOP’S MARATHON RUNNER 

The 2025 Boston Marathon is less than a week away and eHop will be cheering on our runner Nick Miller! 

Any showing of support through a donation is greatly appreciated!