WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 04/21/26

EHOP’S 14TH ANNUAL KNOW YOUR VOTE FORUM 

Town Meeting is right around the corner, and eHop will be holding its 14th Annual Know Your Vote forum so that you can get the answers you need from town officials before Town Meeting. 

• When: Tuesday, April 28th from 7:00-8:30, at HCAM TV Studios (77 Main St., Lower Level). 
• Attend in person or watch the live broadcast on HCAM-TV and YouTube. The forum will also be recorded and can be viewed after the event. 
• Residents are encouraged to submit questions during the forum via email (knowyourvote@ehop.org) and via Facebook (@ehop01748). Residents may also submit their questions via email prior to the event. 

Check out eHop’s Town Meeting 2026 information page to review the warrant articles and for more details about Town Meeting on Saturday May 2nd at 9:00 a.m. in the Middle School auditorium. 

SELECT BOARD 

At its Tuesday meeting, the Select Board approved a revised FY27 budget in a 3-1 vote. Town CFO Kyla LaPierre informed the board that she recently learned of a 24% health insurance cost increase for town school employees – significantly higher than the town’s original estimate of a 9% increase over FY26. To offset this gap, the School Department and town worked to reduce their budgets, trimming approximately $629,000 and $300,000, respectively, and LaPierre recommended using $289,000 in free cash. Member Kizner voted against approving the revised budget, noting his discomfort with this use of free cash. 

The board also approved the warrant for Annual Town Meeting on May 2nd, and voted to approve recommending a number of articles. The article proposing the approval of Auciello Drive as a town road generated discussion. The board previously voted to recommend its approval so it could be voted on at Town Meeting. However, modifications to the original article had been made, and the board voted 4-0-1 against recommending the road’s conveyance to the town, and funding for private way signs and for private way candidates seeking public road acceptance. It was also addressed with regard to a proposed article to require fingerprinting for CV license applicants, that the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce was opposed to the article as burdensome and disincentivizing to businesses. The board voted 3-1 in favor of a motion to take no action following discussion on the matter. 

Select Board discusses impact of health insurance increase on proposed budget (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/15/26)

Annual Town Meeting – May 2, 2026

Also at its last meeting, the Select Board approved, in a 2-1 vote, the adoption of a draft zero-emission vehicle first policy following a presentation by the town sustainability, economic development and equity project manager, Julia Chun, with two Sustainable Green Committee members. The adoption of a zero-emission vehicle policy will make the town eligible for state grants that could provide needed funding to support renewable energy applications and assist with HVAC system upgrades at the schools and other town buildings. While switching to EVs would result in annual savings of approximately $500,000, the upfront investment would be $12 million. It was noted that a move to hybrid vehicles would be more cost-effective at this time. Questions were raised about policy implementation; however, nothing need be implemented immediately.   

Select Board narrowly approves draft zero-emission vehicle first policy (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/15/26) 

The board also heard a Center School reuse project update from the Permanent Building Committee chair, Dan McIntyre. The cost for the project was originally estimated at $10 million, with the HCA expected to contribute $4 million and the town expected to cover the remaining $6 million. In December, the CPC approved a $2 million request for the upcoming FY, expected to cover the demolition of the two additions behind the front structure of the school. McIntyre explained that the projected cost recently grew to $16.6 million, following the submission of schematic designs for this demolition portion of the project. He expressed his commitment to bringing that projected cost down in the next, more detailed design phase of the project. Members noted the strong public support for this project. 

McIntyre also discussed several potential options for the Elmwood School once it is replaced by the new Charleswood School, including: Parks & Rec use for programming; demolishing the building but retaining the property for town use; selling the property, likely resulting in housing development; and moving Town Hall to the site. 

Updates provided on potential Center School, Elmwood School reuses (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/15/26) 

COMMISSION ON DISABILITY

At its meeting last Monday, the Commission on Disability discussed the need to partner with the ADA coordinator for the town, following a resident complaint made to the COD chair, Nancy “Punky” Drawe, regarding accessibility issues at a second floor office building at 1 Lumber Street. While the Massachusetts Office on Disability website lists Christopher McWhite as the town’s ADA coordinator, the town website does not display this role, and, per Drawe, McWhite was unaware of his role when Drawe reached out regarding the resident complaint. Members discussed clarifying the role’s responsibilities and establishing a clearly defined complaint filing mechanism for the public. McWhite has noted his intent to work with the COD going forward, helping to identify practical accessibility solutions while addressing gaps between ADA requirements and real-world challenges for people with disabilities.

In other business, the commission discussed the DPW’s steps toward implementing a $45,000 state grant to the COD to evaluate and create a transition plan to increase accessibility for town and non-school facilities. The DPW is also planning a spring community forum with the COD. The commission also voted to approve a motion to to allow it to receive funds obtained from motorist fines for parking in accessible parking spaces without a placard or special plate. These funds will go toward the sole benefit of people with disabilities. Finally, the commission announced the appointment of Pamela Loch to the commission, leaving one vacant seat, which must be filled by a person with a disability. 

Commission on Disability seeks ADA coordinator partnership after receiving resident complaint (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/16/26) 

HOPKINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett has announced his intention to retire as of June 30th following 35 years of police service, primarily spent in Hopkinton. Town officials have expressed their gratitude for his years of service to the town. 

HPD Chief Bennett to retire June 30, ending 35-year career (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 04/17/26)