8 May, 2024
Hopkinton Special & Annual Town Meeting: May 8th 2024
The meeting takes place at Hopkinton Middle School and starts at 7pm. The meeting will also air live on HCAM-TV and our Youtube page!
View updates from Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting below!
View annual Town Meeting warrant HERE!
View Annual Town Meeting Day 1 Summary HERE!
View Annual Town Meeting Day 2 Summary HERE!
Day 3 of Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting
Article 35: Home Rule Petition - Senior Tax Exemptions, School Building Projects - Passed Unanimously
-Act Authorizing the town of Hopkinton to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption for school building construction projects.
-Amendment to Article by citizen - Failed
Article 36: Adopt the Specialized Energy Code - Passed 170-94
-Sponsored by the Sustainable Green Committee
-Article Regulates design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
-If all Electric appliances - No Code Changes, If fossil fuels used for appliances - Pre-wiring must be included for future electric appliances.
-Apply's to all new buildings permitted starting January 1st 2025.
-Some Solar Panels onsite.
-Simple Majority Required.
Article 37: Community Preservation Funds - Passed Unanimously
-$217,434 for each recreation reserve, Historic Resources Reserve, Community Housing Reserve, Open Space Reserve and $1,103,387 for budgeted reserve.
Article 38: Community Preservation Recommendations - Passed 226-7
-Motion #1 - Non-Land Purchase Articles: Community Preservation Committee - Passed
-Motion #2 - Land Purchase Articles - Passed
-Money is already approved, this article allows the Community Preservation Committee to utilize the funds. This will not cost taxpayers any extra.
-2/3rd Majority required on Motion 2
Article 39: MBTA Communities Zoning Bylaw - Failed 118-126
-Allows multi-family housing as of right in accordance with Section 3A of the Zoning Act (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A).
-Multi-Family overlay district (MCMOD) is an overlay district having a land area of approximately 58.4 acres in size that is superimposed over the underlying zoning districts and is shown on the Zoning Map.
-Could result in loss of State funds/grants if not passed
-Simple Majority required
Article 40: Zoning Map Change, 1 Colonial Avenue, 81 Hayden Rowe, 83 Hayden Rowe - Passed 144-63
-Planning Board recommends no action
-Citizens Petition to change zoning for 1 Colonial Avenue, 81 Hayden Rowe and 83 Hayden Rowe from residential to business.
-Two-Thirds Majority Required
Article 41: Amend Noncriminal Disposition Bylaw - Passed
-Wetlands Protection: $300 penalty per violation, each day being a separate offense.
-Simple Majority Required
Article 42: General Bylaw Amendment - Passed 92-78 Requirements for Certain Committees - Under Discussion
-Deletes registered voter requirement and changes it to "residents" to serve on Town Committees.
-Simple Majority required
Article 43: General Bylaw Amendment - Admission to Town Meeting Hall - Fails Majority
-Allows non-voting residents to attend Town Meeting
-Non-Voting residents
-Article Amended to include Business Owners - Amendment Withdrawn
-Simple Majority Required
Article 44: General Bylaw Amendment - Leash Law - Parts A&B - Passed, Part C - Fails
Article Sponsored by: Trail Coordination and Management Committee
(Summary): -No Owner shall allow the dog to run free on public land between the hours of 7am until 8pm.
-A dog is permitted to be off-leash within the confines of the fence at the Hopkinton Dog Park.
-Select Board may allow exceptions for temporarily testing alternative dog control approaches within the town.
-Amendment to Vote parts A & B from C - Vote Passes 79-66
-Vote on A&B - Passes Majority
-Vote on C - Fails 53-100
Article 47: Accept Gift of Land - Elmwood III Subdivision - Passed Majority
-4.793 acre Parcel A as shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Land in Hopkinton Massachusetts" prepared by GLM Engineering Consultants, INC. and dated December 11, 2023..
Article 48: Easement, Lake Maspenock Dam Operations & Maintenance - Passed Majority
-Easement located at Pine Island Road (as shown as Map 10 Lot 44, Pine Island Road, N/F Town of Milford, Plan BK 66681 PG 234"
Article 49: Property Disposition - 0 Dufield Road and 0 Beach Street - Fails 2/3rd majority 92-52
-Allows town to sell or dispose of two parcels of land: 1) 0 Duffield Road (consists of 3,920 Sq Ft) and 2) 0 Beach Street (consists of 2,178 Sq Ft).
Article 51: Amend Town Charter - Housekeeping - Passed 106-41
-Corrects text error in Town Charter (changes text "M.G.L. c.41 97" and inserts "M.G.L. c.41 97A".)
Article 52: Establish Government Study Committee - Fails 62-82
-Citizens Petition to form committee to study Town Government
Duties of Committee;
1-Establishes committee to study and report on Town of Hopkinton's current forms of Government and Governance.
2-Examine models of Government in comparable communities across Massachusetts.
3-Report on strengths of Town's current government and governance
4-Report on Weaknesses of current government
5-Recommend any amendments to Town Charter
6-Recommend Town Bylaws to improve Town Government.
Appointed Members include; (1) by Town Moderator, (1) by Town Clerk, (1) by Select Board and (4) chosen by the Board of Registrars of Voters
End of 2024 Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting
View Video Recap below!
