10 May, 2023
View a full summary and 10 minute recap video of the 2023 Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting in the video below!
Day 1 (May 1st 2023)
Motion to take DPW related Articles first - Passed
Consent Agenda - Passed Majority Vote (Find Here!)
-Consent Agenda includes Articles 2,3,8,9,10,11,24,30,37 and 39
Article 20: Roadway Paving: Pratt Way and Cemeteries - Passed
-$480,000 for the reconstruction and paving of Pratt Way and the roadways within Evergreen and Mount Auburn Cemeteries.
Article 21: Water Department Vehicle Replacement - Passed
-$285,000 from the Water Enterprise Fund for replacement of one Superduty Dump Truck.
Article 41: Drainage Easement, 77 South Street - Passed Majority
Article 42: Drainage Easement, 20 Downey Place - Passed Majority
Article 43: Home Rule Petition for Special State Legislation to Authorize Taking of Easements in Milford for Lake Maspenock Dam Rapairs - Passed Majority
Article 44: Easements for Lake Maspenock Dam Repairs - Passed Standing Vote, 336-77
Article 45: Temporary Easement for Lake Maspenock Dam Repairs - Passed Majority
-2,883 Square Feet on a piece of land by eminent domain. "Lake Mapenock Dam Left Downstream Wall Repair".
-Taken by Eminent Domain
Out of order DPW articles have concluded
Article 1 - Acceptance of Town Reports - Passed Unanimously
Article 4 - Set the Salary of Elected Officials - Passed Unanimously
-$81,791.44 for Town Clerk
Article 5 - Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget - Passed Unanimously
-$108,589,950 to General Fund
-$233,430 for Community Preservation Fund
-$2,091,498 for sewer enterprise fund
-$2,361,354 for Water Enterprise Fund
-Total of $113,277,232
Schools
-14.6 students per 1 Teacher
-Approx. $15,870 per pupil cost
-School Budget in affect July 1st
Article 6: FY 2024 Revolving Funds Spending Limits - Passed
-Building Department - $500,000
-Part-Time Wire Inspector - $100,000
-Part-Time Plumbing Inspector - $100,000
-Hazardous Materials - $20,000
-Conservation Commission - $200,000
-Planning Board - $100,000
-Library - $10,000
-Public Safety - $5,000
-Open Space Preservation Commission - $10,000
-Youth and Family Services - $4,000
-Zoning Board of Appeals - $50,000
-Dept. of Public Works (Highway Division) - $8,000
-DPW (Recycling Center) - $15,000
-DPW (Trash Bags) - $8,000
-Cemetery Commission - $3,500
-Cemetery Lot Fund - $10,000
-School Dept (Laptop Initiative) - $475,000
Article 7: PEG Access and Cable Related Fund Revolving Account Funding - Passed Unanimously
- $221,000 for Peg Access and Cable Related Fund
Article 12: Establish Capital Stabilization Account for South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District - Passed Unanimously
-Keefe Tech Funds
Article 13: PILOT Agreement, Wilson Street Solar Farm - Passed Unanimously
Article 14: Pay As You Go Capital Expenses - Passed Majority
-Certified Free Cash
Article 15: Chestnut Street Sidewalk - Standing Vote: Passes 375-6
-$514,250 on Chestnut St. from Wild Road to Smith Road
Article 16: Sidewalk from EMC Park to Blueberry Lane - Sidewalk from EMC Park to Blueberry Lane - Passes 2/3rd Majority
-$187,000 for construction of a new sidewalk between EMC park and Fifth Avenue, connecting to Blueberry Lane
Article 17: Fire Station 2 Architectural and Engineering Design - Standing Vote (Passes, 355-16)
-$70,000 for Firestation 2 in Woodville
Article 18: Hopkinton Public School HVAC Renewal Work - (Standing Vote - Passed 323-10)
-$1,506,259 for Hopkinton Public School HVAC Renewal Work
Article 19: Hopkins School Addition - Standing Vote - Passed 275-65
-$3,000,000 for Hopkins School Addition Project
-$800 for design and feasibility study
-23,000 square foot addition
Article 22: School Curriculum, Equipment and Services Contracts - Passed Unanimously
Article 23: Community Preservation Funds - Passed Majority
-$1,076,476 From Fiscal Year 2024 estimated revenues for Budgeted Reserve + $212,131 each for Recreation Reserve, Historic Resources, Reserve, Community Housing Reserve and Open Space Reserve
Article 24: Community Preservation Recommendations - Passed Unanimously
Motion #1 - Passed Unanimously
-$1,000,000 for Cricket Pitch and Little League Baseball Field at Pyne Field
-$40,000 for Historical Preservation
-$30,000 for Open Space Reserve
-$350,000 for Community Housing Reserve
Motion #2 - Land Purchase Articles: - Passed Unanimously
Motion #3 - No Action (CPC)
Article 25: Inclusionary Development Bylaw - Standing Vote: Passes 287-9
-Changes Inclusionary housing provisions to increase of 5 or more dwelling units rather than 10 or more dwelling units.
End of Night 1 of 2023 Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting!
Day 2 (May 2nd 2023)
Article 26: Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces - Passed 2/3rd Majority
Article 27: Site Plan Review Rooftop Solar Exemption - Passed Unanimously
*Article 28: Zoning District Change - 2 West Elm Street and 0 West Elm Street - Article Fails 2/3rd Majority
-Change plot of land from Residential 8 District to Business District (Accessors Map R23, Block 46)
-Rezoning would not disallow a church since churches are allowed in all districts.
Article 29: Zoning District Change - South Street and Hayward Street - (Vote for no action: Fails)
Motion: To vote on Article as set forth - Unanimously Fails
-Petitioner and Planning Board recommend No Action
-Change from Residential Lake Front District to Rural Business District
Article 30: Housekeeping - Delete Definition - Passed Unanimously
Article 31: Amend Meeting Minutes Bylaw - Passed Unanimously
-Changes 40 calendar days to 30 calendar days to set meeting minutes.
*Article 32: Amend Leash Law - (Standing Vote: Article Fails 185 Yes-208 No)
Amendment to Article - Include Dog Park as Excluded from limitations.
Vote on Amendment: (Vote: Simple Majority Passes)
-Any dog not on the premises of its owner or keeper shall be leashed and curbed, provided that the said leashing or curbing shall not apply to hunting, guide, therapy dogs and dogs under direct command of it's owner or keeper or to dogs used in law enforcement.
-Violators shall be subject to find in amount of $50 or the minimum amount permitted by Section 173A of Chapter 140 of the General Laws.
-Changes Redemption fee from $15 to $25.
*Article 33: Short Term Rental Bylaw - Fails Majority Vote
-Establish a licensing process for the administration and enforcement of the short-term rental of residential property in the town of Hopkinton.
Motion to reconsider Article 28 - Fails Majority
*Article 34: Gun Club Indoor Shooting - Fails Majority
"Protect we the people, babies, animals and birds." from Noise Pollution of Gun Clubs, should practice firing gun shots indoor and stop noise pollution and make the Town of Hopkinton, enjoyable to every citizen, babies, animals and birds. (Citizens Petition)
Article 35: Street Acceptance - Foxhollow Road - Passed Unanimously
-Foxhollow Road, from Pond Street to end.
Amendment: To remove paragraph stating town harmless against claims arising from pesticide contamination.. - Fails Majority
Article 36: Street Acceptance - Box Mill Road - Passed Unanimously
Article 38: Solar Canopy Leases, Middle School and High School - Passed Unanimously
Motion to reconsider Article 37 - Fails 2/3rd approval
Article 40: Drainage Easement, 14 Hazel Road - Passed Unanimously
-Easement for installing drainage at EMC Park.
Article 46: Net Zero Resolution - Passed Simple Majority
-Town Counsel advises that Article is non-binding
*Article 47: Abolish Upper Charles Trail Committee and Establish Subcommittee - Standing Vote: Passed 158-61
-Vote to abolish Upper Charles Trail Committee and establish a subcommittee termed the Upper Charles Trail Subcommittee under the direction of the Coordination and Management Committee.
-Town Council: "Article would not be binding but would be more of an advisement".
Article 48: Upper Charles Trail Committee Spending, Segment 7 - Passed
The 2023 Annual Town Meeting concluded at approximately 11:45pm!!
