9 May, 2012
The third night of Hopkinton’s 2012 Annual Town Meeting took a little longer to get started, as there was a short wait for a quorum. Beginning with Article 41, the meeting once again lasted until 11PM at which time the final article was voted and the meeting was adjourned until the day of the Annual Town Election on Monday, May 21, 2012.
The third night of Town Meeting dealt primarily with general bylaw and zoning bylaw amendments and administrative matters.
Article 41: Amendment to Alcoholic Beverage, Marijuana or Tetrahydrocannabinol and Tobacco Bylaw – Passed with clear majority
Article 42: Amendment to Wetlands Protection Bylaw – Passed with clear majority
Article 43: Unregistered Motor Vehicles Bylaw – Passed with clear majority
Article 44: Secondhand Dealers Bylaw – No clear majority – Failed.
Article 45: Site Plan Review Bylaw – An amendment was made and failed – 45 YES to 79 NO – Article 45 passed unanimously as written.
Article 46: Health Services Facility – Passed with clear two-thirds majority.
Article 47: Medical Office Use – Passed with two-thirds majority.
Article 48: Continuing Care Retirement Community - Passed with two-thirds majority.
Article 49: Restaurants in Industrial B District - Passed with two-thirds majority.
Article 50:Retail Uses - Passed with two-thirds majority.
Article 51: Zoning District of 91 Grove Street - Passed with two-thirds majority.
Article 52: Off-Street Parking Bylaw - Passed with two-thirds majority.
Article 53: Life Sciences – Passed with clear two-thirds majority.
Article 54: Amend Zoning Map – No action – voted on first night.
Article 55: Street Acceptances – Longwood Drive, Emma Drive, Ralph Road and Meadowland Drive were accepted – Passed with clear two-thirds majority.
Article 56: Acquisition of Property on West Main Street – The Board of Selectmen recommended that no action be taken on this article due to the comments from residents concerning the downtown project made during the two previous nights of Town Meeting. No action vote passed unanimously.
Article 57: Package Licenses – After considerable debate and comment by residents on both sides of the issue, the petition article by CJPM Development requesting the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court for passage of a special law that would grant Hopkinton an additional package store license did not pass.
Article 58: PerkinElmer TIF – Residents spoke both for and against this article and asked for specifics of the TIF agreement. Over the 13-year period of the TIF, PerkinElmer will both pay and save $900,000, while bringing new jobs to Hopkinton. Passed with clear majority.
