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Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting Day 1 Updates May 7, 2018

By Tom Nappi, News Director
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View town meeting on HCAM (Comcast Channel 8, Verizon Channel 30) or online here:.

-Board of Selectmen Chair John Coutihno Motions Article 47 to be discussed after Article 20 - Passed.

-Board of Selectmen Chair John Coutinho Motions Article 40 to be discussed after Article 37 - Passed.

-School Committee Chair, Jean Bertschmann Motions Article 22 to be discussed as first Article on Day 2 - Motion Failed

Article 1 - Acceptance of Town Reports - Passed Uanimously

Article 2 - Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations And Transfers - Passed Unamiously

Article 3 - Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years - Passed Unamiously

Article 4 - Excess Bond Premium - Passed Unamiously

Article 5 - Property Tax Exemption Increase - Passed Unamiously

Article 6 - Senior Tax Relief - Passed

Article 7 - Set the Salary of an Elected Official - Passed Unanimously
-Sets Town Clerk Budget to $67,599.22

Article 8 - Fiscal 2019 Operating Budget - Electronic Vote: Passed 311-35
-$88,886,985 Overall
-Budget for Hopkinton Public Schools $45,056,651 (5.79% increase)

Article 9: Revolving Fund Bylaw and Fund Transfer - Passed Unamiously

Article 10: FY 2019 Revolving Funds Spending Limits - Passed Unamiously

Article 11: Chapter 90 Highway Funds - Passed Unamiously
-$649,000

Article 12: Transfer to General Stabilization Fund - Passed Unamiously

Article 13: Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund - Passed

Article 14: Pay-As-You-Go Captial Expenses - Passed Unamiously

Article 15: Comprehensive Waste Water Management Plan Update - No Action Recommended - Passed Unamiously

Article 16: Hayden Rowe Water Main Replacement - Passed
-$1.6 Million for Water Main Replacement

Article 17: Cedar Street Water Main Replacement - Passed Unamiously
-$620,000 for Water Main Replacement

Article 18: Pratt Farm Wellfield investigation and New Source Approval - Passed Unamiously
-$170,000 from Water Enterprise

Article 19: Purchase of Backhoe - Passed Unamiously
-$63,400 from Sewer Enterprise

Article 20: Main Street Corridor Project - Electronic Vote: Error, Call Vote: Passed
-$3 Million Not Covered by Other Funding Sources
-Selectmen, Claire Wright stated that Downtown Parking Increases from 98 to 104 with Project.
-Selectmen, Claire Wright: "Borrowing and Tax Impact will not go into affect for another year or two."

Article 47: Easements - Main Street Corridor - Passed

Article 21: Campus Master Plan Study - Phase 1 School Bus Parking - Passed

Article 22: Turf Field Project - Standing Vote: Passes 288-61
Install Turf on Fields 4 and 5 at Hopkinton High School
$1,720,000 from Community Preservation Fund
School Committee Chair, Jean Bertschmann states community tax impact will be about $1.3 Million
Board of Selectmen, Todd Cestari Speaks Against Article and presents slideshow
Former Hillers Athlete, Ben Fargiano speaks in favor of Turf Field Project: "My fondest memories are playing on Turf Fields that were not ours."
Annual Tax Impact if Passed - $25/year (After $500,000 of Private Fundraising) - School Committee Chair: Jean Bertschmann
JV Girls Lacrosse Coach - "We have yet to play a game on campus." "Only 5 practices on campus."
Michelle Murdock - Did Todd Cestari talk as an individual or Selectmen? States: "Abuse of Power" he was able to present slideshow.