May 8, 2019 - Hopkinton Town Meeting discusses Article 51: Municipal Parking on Day 3.
© Tom Nappi

Below, view a recap of Day 2 of the 2019 Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting.

Article 25: Purchase of Ladder Truck - Standing Vote- Passed: 256-11
$1,200,000 for a Ladder Truck to replace used Truck purchased in 2016.
2/3rds required vote

Article 26: Public Safety Software Upgrade - Passed Unanimously
$375,000

Article 27: Town Hall Basement Renovation - Standing Vote: Fails Majority 175 (for), 112 (against)
$200,000 to add office and meeting space
-Town Manager stated: funds would be used to build kitchen, offices and storage space.
2/3rds required vote

Article 28: Security Cameras - School - Passed Unanimously
$200,000

Article 29: Center School Renovation and Reuse Feasibility Study - Passes Clear Majority
$58,000

Article 30: Community Preservation Funds - Passed Unanimously

Article 31: Community Preservation Recommendations - Article Passed Majority minus Item D
Historical Preservation for:
A-Land Records in Town Hall Basement ($20,000) (Passed)
B-Historical Photographs ($3,750) (Passed)
C-Headstones at Cemeteries ($10,000) (Passed)
D-Dog Park at 66B fruit st. ($20,000 for design, approx. $400,000 to build) (Passed Separate Vote)
E-Lacrosse Wall at fruit st fields ($25,000) (Passed)
F-Irrigation System at Pyne Field ($25,000) (Passed
G-Wetland Crossing at 0 Wilson St. ($50,000) (Passed)
H-Replace Equipment at EMC Playground ($260,000) (Passed)

-Motion to Separate Item D - Standing Vote: Passes 228-72
-Motion to Separate Item H - Standing Vote: Fails 109-178

Discussion of Item D (Dog Park) - Passed 191-158

Article 32: Car Wash Use - Failed 2/3rd majority, 226(For)-117(Against)
-Determines Zoning for a potential Car Wash

Article 33: Indoor Recreation Uses - Passed Unanimously
-Uses Allowed by Special Permit in Industrial A District

Article 34: Self-Storage Facility - Fails Required 2/3rds
-Self Storage Facility in Industrial A District
-Planning Board does not recommend approval
-Amendment to change to use by Special Permit (Change from 210-34.A to 210-35.A)- Fails 145(For)-190(Against)

Article 35: Associated Retail to Manufacturing Use - Passed 2/3rd requirement 305(For)-8(Against)
-Would allow 5000 sq ft area or smaller of retail space
-Special Permit from ZBA required
-Public Hearing Required
-No change in bylaws as to what products can be manufactured

Article 36: OSMUD District - Residents of Age-Restricted Housing - Fails 2/3rds majority
-Developer cannot comply with current bylaw due to age restriction
-Removes prohibition of residents under 18
-At least one resident must be 55 in the 180 units
-If more than 3 students in school system, $9,000 a year per student above 3 must be paid to the town from the developer.
(Average cost per a student per a year is approx. $15,000.)
-Developer could pass fees for students in school system to home owners association
-Units are required to be no more than 2 bedrooms

Article 37: OSMUD District - Affordable Housing - Passed Unanimously
-Keep prohibition on Children under 18
-Allows Planning Board to Approve a payment-in-lieu of providing the units, to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
-Allows the Planning Board to Approve the creation of the required number of affordable housing units elsewhere in Hopkinton by the developer.
-May Result in affordable housing units elsewhere in Hopkinton, outside of OSMUD District.
-Planning Board Recommends 7 to 1.

Article 38: OSMUD - Restricted Land Definition - Passed Standing Vote (almost unanimously, 222-2)
-Inserting in the definition of Restricted Land in section 210-164, after the words land improved for other municipal".

End of Day 2

View town meeting on HCAM (Comcast Channel 8, Verizon Channel 30) or online here:.

Article 39: Temporary Banners - Unanimously Passed
-Expands where banners may be displayed to Route 85, Route 135 and West Main St.

Article 40: Commercial Solar Photovoltaic Installations - Amended Motion Passed Unanimously
-Strengthens the ability of the Planning Board to require screening around Solar farms, while preserving flexibility to respond to site and neighborhood conditions.

Language Amended by Mark Hyman to add "from abutting properties and public ways" - Passed Unanimously

Article 41: Subdivision, Garden Apartment & Village Housing Phasing - 3-year Moratorium - No Action Passed Unanimously
-No Motion Recommended by creators

Article 42: One Year Growth Restriction - Article Fails Required 2/3rd majority
-Citizen Petition Article by Amy Ritterbusch/Deborah Fein-Brug
-Not Reviewed by Zoning advisory committee
-Planning Board does not recommend approval
-Requires town to establish a Growth Study Committee no later than August 1st
-Town-wide total of not more than 12 building permits for new dwelling units shall not be authorized by the Town during the period that this section is in effect.
-Not More than 2 dwelling units shall be authorized via a Building Permit for any one applicant during the period that this section is in effect.
-Certain exemptions apply including OSMUD
-Chamber of Commerce Opposes Article

Article 43: Change "Board of Selectmen to "Select Board" in Zoning Bylaw - Standing Vote Passes 258(For)-53(Against)
-Citizens Petition by Amy Groves
-Planning Board Supports Article

Article 44: Change "Board of Selectmen" to "Select Board" in General Bylaws - Passes
-Citizens Petition by Amy Groves
-Related to Article 43

Article 45: Kennel Licensing Bylaw - Passed Unanimously
-"Clearly delineates what it takes to pass an inspection" - Selectmen Chair, Clair Wright
-Defines and enforces proper record keeping

Article 46: 76 Main Street Historic District - Standing Vote: Passes 287 (For) 70 (Against)
-Sponsored by Historical District Commission
-Establishes Single Historic District at 76 Main St.
-4th Oldest Structure in Hopkinton
-Developer of land wishes to tear down structure to construct a new building

Article 47: Historic Preservation Bylaw Amendment - Passes Clear Majority
-Sponsored by Historic District Commission
-Changes demolition delay from 6 months to 18 months
Amendment by Mark Hyman: Give the developer another right of Appeal - Passes Unanimously
Amendment Proposed to make demolition delay 12 months instead of 18 months - Fails 145 (for), 160 (against)

Article 48: Street Acceptances - Passes Unanimously
-Hunters Ridge Way from South Mill St. to South Mill St.
-Penny Meadow Lane from South Mill St. to Dead End.

Article 49: Fruit Street Lease - Passes Majority
-Lease on Fruit St. property for non-profit youth organization
-Extends lease period from 25 years to 99 years

Article 50: Chamberlain St. Curve - Passed Unanimously
-"Simple Land Swap"
-5.7 acres instead of 1,400 sq feet of land from the Conservation Restriction

Article 51: Municipal Parking - Items 1 & 2 Pass, 3 Fails
-Requires Ballot Vote

1) -Acquire by gift, purchase, lease, eminent domain or otherwise, a parcel of land at 6 Walcott Street ($520,000)
-Owner of land supports sale of 6 Walcott St. - Standing Vote: Passed 260 (for) 32 (against)

2) -Acquire by gift, purchase, lease, eminent domain or otherwise, a parcel of land at (25 Main St., 35 Main St.), 22,000 +/- Sq ft. ($540,000)
Chuck Joseph stated he is donating the land between 25 and 35 Main St. - Standing Vote: Passed 197 (for) 19 (against)

3) -Acquire by gift, purchase, lease, eminent domain or otherwise, a parcel of land at (10 Walcott St, 14 Main St. and 0 Main St.) 34,518 +/- Sq ft.($1,560,000) - Standing Vote in progress: Failed 79 (for) 127 (against)

Motion to separate all 3 items by Chuck Joseph - Passes Unanimously
Item 1 passes by standing vote 260-32
Item 2 passes by standing vote 197-19
Item 3 Failed Standing vote 79-127

Article 52: Easements - Main St. Corridor Re-authorization - No Action Recommended by Selectmen - Discussion Underway - No Action Passes

Article 54: South Middlesex Regional Vocational School District - Passed Unanimously
-Amend agreement among the towns of Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick and City of Framingham

Article 55: Trustees of the School Fund in Town of Hopkinton - Passed Unanimously
-Motion for Julia Franks, Carly Grant and Kim Niemi to become members of School Fund Committee

-That's a wrap for the 2019 Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting!

Below, view a quick recap of Day 1 of the Annual Hopkinton Town Meeting.

Motion to move Article 53 after Article 22 - Passed Unanimously

Article 1: Acceptance of Town Reports - Passed Unanimously

Article 2: FY 2019 Supplemental Appropriations and transfers - Passed Unanimously
($525,000 for snow and Ice, $70,000 for Sewer Enterprise Fund)

Article 3: Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years - Passed Unanimously

Article 4: Property Tax Exemption Increase - Passed Unanimously

Article 5: The Brave Act - Increase in abatement by amount not to exceed the cost of the Living - Passed Unanimously

Article 6: The Brave Act - Real estate tax exemption for veterans and other qualified persons where home is owned by a trust, conservator or other fiduciary for the person's benefit - Passed Unanimously

Article 7: Brave Act - Real Estate Tax Exemption for surviving parents of guardians of certain soldiers, sailors, members of the national guard and Veterans - Passed Unanimously

Article 8: Brave Act - Reduction of Property Tax Obligation of Veteran in exchange for volunteer services - Passed Unanimously

Article 9: Set the Salary of Elected Officials - Passed Unanimously

Article 10: Fiscal 2020 Operating Budget - Passed with motion
(Total Budget: $92,698,222.88)
General Fund: $87,148,752.27
Community Preservation Fund: $289,605.75
Sewer Enterprise Sources of Funds: $2,569,775.55
Sewer Enterprise fund Budget: $2,850,953.07
Water Enterprise Sources of Funds: $2,057,513.31
Water Enterprise Fund Budget: $2,427,060.67
Parks & Recreation Enterprise Sources of Funds: $632,576
Parks & Recreation Enterprise Fund Budget - $671,439.76

-Heavy Discussion of Town Under-ride

-Motion to vote on Under-ride Separately - Motion Cancelled
-Motion to Delete language relating to a non-binding under-ride language by Mary Ondrechen - Motion Passes Majority

Article 11: FY 2020 Revolving Funds Spending Limits - Passed Unanimously

Article 12: PEG Access Enterprise Fund - Passed Unanimously
-Sets up enterprise fund for Hcam with $50,000

Article 13: Chapter 90 Highway Funds - Passed Unanimously
$643,095 for town from State

Article 14: Transfer to General Stabilization Fund - Passed Unanimously
-Moves $200,000 from Free Cash to G.S.F.

Article 15: Establishments of School Department Stabilization Fund - Passed Unanimously
-$500,000 from town's receipts reserved for Appropriation Account to establish a School Department Stabilization Fund.
-Town Counsel: "All money from Legacy Farms to address over population will go into the stabilization funds."

Article 16: Transfer to Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Funds - Passed Unanimously

Article 17: Pay As You Go Capital Expenses - Passed Unanimously

Article 18: Purchase of Valve Maintenance Trailer System - Passed Unanimously
$65,000

Article 19: Purchase of Water Department Truck - Passed Unanimously
$50,000

Article 20: Purchase of Bucket Truck - Passed Unanimously
$100,000

Article 21: Purchase of Multi-Purpose Municipal Tractor - Passed Majority
$177,000

Article 22: Sewer Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Update - Passed Unanimously
$170,000

Article 53: Colella Farm Road Sewer - No Action Recommended - Passed Unanimously

Article 23: Sidewalk Master Plan Phase II - Fails required 2/3rd majority 124 For, 103 Against
$1,060,000 used for design, repair, maintenance, renovation, improvement, rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction of sidewalks along West Main Street and Wood Street.

Amendment to eliminate West Main Street expenses, bringing total to $100,000 - Failed Standing Vote 127-104

Article 24: School Bus Parking Lot - Passes Standing Vote 146-60
$300,000, location will be at Town Owned 90 Hayden Rowe.
-Reduces current school bus contract $50,000

End of Day 1!