Special Town Meeting Unofficial Results 2026-10-26
Key Documents
- Special Town Meeting Warrant
- Special Town Meeting Motions Document (updated 10/23/26)
- Special Town Meeting Google Folder
- Special Town Meeting YouTube Live
Video
Monday, October 26, 2026
7:07 PM Meeting called to order after quorum was reached.
Article 1 – Periodic Charter Review: Report and
Recommendations
Charter Review Committee Feedback Survey 10/20/26
Charter Review Committee: We move that the Town receive the Report of the Charter Review Committee. PASSED Unanimously
Article 2 – Unpaid Bills from Prior Fiscal Years
Appropriation Committee: We move that the Town vote to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $7,854.25 (SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR DOLLARS AND TWENTY-FIVE CENTS), from Certified Free Cash the sum of $8,232.90 (EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY TWO DOLLARS AND NINETY CENTS) which is intended to be repaid by the Sewer Enterprise Fund to the General Fund within a period of two fiscal years, and from Water Enterprise Retained Earnings the sum of $720.00 (SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS) for the following bills incurred in a previous year, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 64 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as follows:
| Department | Vendor | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| School | Harrington Heep LLP | $5,360.20 |
| Finance | FedEx | $81.30 |
| Finance | Harpers Payroll Services | $1,145.50 |
| Finance | Pryor Learning | $94.00 |
| Facilities | Metrowest Drains Inc | $350.00 |
| Police | Hiller’s Cleaners | $823.25 |
| Sewer | Whitewater | $8,232.90 |
| Water | Police Detail | $720.00 |
PASSED Unanimously
Article 3 – FY2026 Supplemental Appropriation and Transfers
Appropriation Committee: We move that the Town vote to transfer the sum of $29,208 (TWENTY-NINE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHT DOLLARS) from Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to supplement the FY2026 Water Enterprise Fund Operating Budget and transfer a separate sum of $347,952 (THREE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO DOLLARS) from Sewer Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to supplement the FY2026 Sewer Enterprise Fund Operating Budget.
PASSED Unanimously
Article 4 – FY2027 Supplemental Appropriation and Transfers – Capital Improvements
Motions by the Appropriation Committee:
MOTION 1 – We move that the Town vote to transfer from Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings $102,500 (ONE HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS) to cover costs associated with the emergency water main replacement at Claflin Place; said sum to be spent under the direction of the Town Manager. PASSED Unanimously
MOTION 2 – We move that the Town vote to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $100,000 (ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) which is intended to be repaid by the Sewer Enterprise Fund to the General Fund within a period of two fiscal years and re-appropriate the previously approved but unexpended $350,000 (THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) for the Sewer Main Replacement Design voted in Article 23 of the May 5, 2025, Annual Town Meeting, for replacement of filter screens and flow meters, and associated costs, at the Fruit Street Wastewater Treatment Facility; said sum to be spent under the direction of the Town Manager. PASSED Unanimously
MOTION 3 – We move that the Town vote to transfer from Certified Free Cash the sum of $100,000 (ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) which is intended to be repaid by the Sewer Enterprise Fund to the General Fund within a period of two fiscal years for the replacement or repair of a backup generator at the Wood Street Wastewater Pump Station; said sum to be spent under the direction of the Town Manager. PASSED Unanimously
MOTION 4 – We move that the Town vote to transfer from Certified Free Cash $35,000 (THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS) to provide supplemental funding for the Department of Public Works’ Vehicle Undercarriage Pressure Washer, which was voted on and authorized by Article 13 of the May 2, 2026, Annual Town Meeting; said sum to be spent under the direction of the Town Manager. PASSED Unanimously
Article 5 – Amend FY 2027 Operating Budget
Appropriation Committee: We move that the Town vote to amend the Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget, as approved in Article 6 of the May 2, 2026 Annual Town Meeting, by reducing the General Fund appropriation from $132,387,571 to $130,215,438, by amending the amounts set forth in the Appropriation Committee Report with Recommendations Approved April 14, 2026, specifically in the column titled “Appropriation Committee Recommendation” for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2026, by amending the Total Debt Service from $12,881,864 to $11,899,566 and Total Employee Benefit & Insurance from $22,036,835 to $20,847,000.
PASSED Unanimously
Article 6 – Amend Bylaw to Add Sealer of Weights and
Measures Fees
Select Board: Motion for No Action – PASSED Unanimously
Article 7 – Accept Gift of Land: Parcel U17-41-0
Select Board: We move that the Town vote to authorize the Select Board to acquire, by purchase or gift, a fee interest in a certain parcel of land consisting of an approximately 0.0083 acre parcel of land located on Ash Street, Hopkinton Assessors Map U17 Block 41 Lot 0.
PASSED Unanimously
Article 8 – Acceptance of Certain Private Ways as Public Ways
Motion that the Town vote, pursuant to Section 3-2(b)(16) of the Home Rule Charter, to assign to the Town Manager the duty, using existing staff and appropriated resources:
1. to identify every private way described in this Article;
2. to assess, from existing Town records, each such way’s title, easements, plans, drainage and physical condition against applicable Town standards and G.L. c.82, §§21–23, and identify the work needed before it could be laid out and presented to Town Meeting for acceptance;
3. to identify any surveys, title examinations, engineering, easements, layouts or other professional services required and estimate their cost;
4. to file with the Select Board and Town Clerk, and make publicly available, an inventory by January 15, 2027 and a final scope and cost report by April 1, 2027; and
5. where additional funds are required, to submit the estimated funding requirement through the normal operating or capital budget process for consideration.
Upon appropriation of necessary funds, the Town Manager shall cause the identified preparatory work to be completed and deliver the resulting materials to the Select Board for such action as the law permits.
Motion FAILS: Yes 43% No 57%
Article 9 – Acceptance of M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 6C – Snow and Ice Removal on Private Ways
Motion that the Town vote, pursuant to Section 3-2(b)(16) of the Home Rule Charter, to assign to the Town Manager the duty, through the Department of Public Works and no later than March 30, 2027:
1. to prepare proposed eligibility criteria and procedures for the designation of private ways open to public use for snow and ice removal under G.L. c.40, §6C;
2. to identify private ways that appear to meet those criteria;
3. to estimate the annual cost of snow and ice removal on those ways; and
4. to prepare an implementation and funding plan capable of taking effect upon voter acceptance of G.L. c.40, §6C pursuant to §6D.
Following voter acceptance, the Town Manager shall submit the proposed criteria and list of ways to the Select Board for its consideration under §6C and submit the estimated funding requirement through the next available budget or appropriation process for consideration.
Motion PASSES: Yes 95 No 58
Article 10 – Amendment of Private Way Repair Bylaw – Increase of Minor Repair Limit
Motion that the Town vote to amend Chapter 174, Article VI, § 174-22, “Minor repairs,” of the General Bylaws by striking the phrase “to a sum not to exceed $1,000 in total on any way in any one fiscal year” and replacing it with “to a sum not to exceed $100,000 in total on any way in any one fiscal year.”
Amendment: To decrease the sum not to exceed to $2,000. Amendment PASSES: Yes 90 No 65
Motion as Amended PASSES: Yes 113 No 49
Article 11 – Comprehensive Review of Town Meeting Bylaws and Procedures
Motion FAILS: Yes 41 No 103
Article 12 – Establishment of Biannual Fall and February Town Meeting Dates
Motion for NO ACTION: PASSED Unanimously
Article 13 – Weekday Requirement for Town Meetings
Motion to change Town Meeting back to a weekday evening FAILS: Yes 55 No 72
8:58 PM – Quorum Call – Only 127 Voters Present – Quorum is not met
Motion to Dissolve the Town Meeting PASSES: Yes 78 No 19
Articles Not Discussed or Voted:
Because the Town Meeting was dissolved after article 13, the following articles were not discussed or voted on: