8 May, 2012
Beginning with Article 24: High School track Renovation, Hopkinton’s annual Town Meeting entered its second night of voting. The cost associated with the renovation totalled $278,500 and both the Appropriation and Capital Improvement Committees recommended this article. After some debate and questions about cost and the life of the renovations, the article passed with the required two-thirds majority. Requires approval at ballot on May 21.
Article 25, for drainage improvements on Lake Shore Drive was voted next and passed with a clear two-thirds majority. Requires approval at ballot on May 21.
Article 26: ADAOC Phase VI for $150,000 to make the necessary improvements to Town and School property and grounds in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 passed with little discussion and a clear two-thirds majority.
Article 27: Tender Truck Supplemental Appropriation – $17,000 - Passed with clear two-thirds majority. Requires approval at ballot on May 21.
Article 28: Wood Street Pump Station Improvements; for a total of $1,750,000 to design and replace the sewer pumping station at Wood Street. According to John Westerling, DPW Director, this item has been on the DPW list of needed work for almost 10 years.
“The pump station is overwhelmed,” said Westerling. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done here, but we are comfortable with the $1.75 million cost estimate.”
Planning Board Chairman Ken Weismantel was concerned about who would be responsible for the oversight of the project, and Town Manager Norman Khumalo said that it would fall under the purview of the Permanent Building Committee. Article 28 passed with a clear two-thirds majority.
Article 29: Water Meter Upgrade to Radio Read - $77,000 - Passed with simple majority
Article 30: Water Supply Study - This article for $90,000 which, according to DPW Westerling, will focus on the town’s treatment needs sparked some discussion and raised questions once again about the recharge of the aquifer at Fruit Street. Also raised by Jack Speranza was the issue of several outstanding applications for abatement that have been filed; his concern was the effect these abatements might have on the balance in the Sewer Enterprise Fund. A standing vote was required, but the article passed 103-75.
Article 31: Water Vehicle – Passed with simple majority.
Article 32: Sewer Vehicle – Passed with simple majority.
Article 33: Sandy Beach Improvements - $332,000 for the design and construction of the Sandy Beach bath house and other property improvements. While the funds are to be borrowed, the intent is to have the cost of these improvements paid for by the Parks and Recreation Enterprise Fund. Ken Driscoll, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission presented an overview of the proposed improvements which would include a new bath house, utility system upgrades, a new pathway system, a refurbished beach front, and a new picnic grove. Passed unanimously.
Article 34: Library Repairs - $50,000 to replace outdated wiring – Passed with clear majority. Requires approval at ballot on May 21.
Article 35: Loop Road Repair - $96,025 – This article did generate a few questions. Frank D’Urso asked why Chapter 90 funds could not be used to repair the road and DPW Director Westerling explained that the Loop Road is not a road accepted by the town and is therefore not eligible for Chapter 90 funds. Several residents spoke in favor of having the road made a public way and Elaine Lazarus, Director of Land Use and Permitting explained that that would be possible, but would need to be surveyed and approved by the Planning Board and Town Meeting. The vote went to a standing count and passed 143 to 56. Requires approval at ballot as well on May 21.
Article 36: School and West Main Street Traffic Signal - $540,000 to install a traffic signal at this intersection. A School Street resident spoke passionately about the need for this light and urged residents to support this project. After a presentation by DPW Westerling and a few more comments, the question was moved. Article passed with clear two-thirds majority. Requires approval at ballot on May 21.
Article 37: Pave Lumber Street – Appropriation Committee recommended that no action be taken on this article, but several residents spoke in favor of paving this road. The motion for no action was overturned. The article was then amended to pave the road and the article passed unanimously. Requires approval at ballot on May 21.
Article 38: Buildings and Grounds Equipment – Tractor Mower - $64,000 - for maintaining athletic fields – sponsored by the School Committee.
“It’s a huge labor saver,” said Al Rogers.
School Committee candidate Frank D’Urso argued in favor of repairing the vehicle rather than replacing it, but the article passed with a clear majority.
Article 39: Undergrounding Utilities on Main Street – This article contained two motions; one to request the necessary state approval to borrow any funds for this project, and one to appropriate $580,000 for design plans only. And for the first time tonight, the lines at the microphones grew longer. Questions were asked about the total cost of the project and why the undergrounding was necessary and if there was a possibility this project would be funded through the rate payers. The financing required for this article is complicated and was explained by Selectman Ben Palleiko, who also voiced his support for the project.
Chamber of Commerce President Jack Speranza voiced his support for the first motion, saying that approving it would give the town options and provide the framework for future improvements in the downtown area.
Several residents were concerned about approving the first motion without knowing the total cost of the project. One resident at the mic said he was watching the meeting from home, but felt compelled to come to the meeting in person and have his voice heard. He called the undergrounding of utilities “frivolous” and suggested the money could be better spent in repairing roads and funding the schools. And a final comment suggested that discussion of the second motion was being allowed before a vote was taken on the first. The vote on the first motion of Article 39, which would petition the General Court, failed 85 to 103, making any discussion on the second motion moot.
Article 40: Community Preservation Recommendations including transferring a total of $819,100 to reserves as well as seven individual projects. Per request, all items were considered individually and items a through f all passed without much discussion.
- a - $20,000 to restore the Assessor’s tax records,
- b - $10,000 to make repairs to historic headstones,
- c - $8,500 to restore general Town records,
- d - $7,000 for construction and installation of signage on HALT properties,
- e - $175,000 for acquisition of 6.1 acres adjacent to Whisper Way for access to trails
- f - $400,00 for a parcel of land on Hayden Rowe that would advance efforts to connect to the Milford Bike Path
All of the above items passed with a simple majority.
Item g, the acquisition of 80 acres of land owned by the Abbott Realty Trust, known as Elmwood Farm involved more discussion. Claire Wright, representing the Historic District Commission spoke in favor of this purchase. Others questioned the cost and asked for appraisal and assessment information. According to CPC Chairman John Coolidge, the property is assessed by the Town of Hopkinton at $935,800, and two appraisals were obtained; one for $1,800,000 and another for $3.5 million. Town Meeting voted with the required two-thirds majority to approve the purchase of Elmwood Farm for $1,800,000 with the funds to be borrowed against future CPA earnings.
The meeting adjourned at 11PM with several articles still left to be voted. Town Meeting will reconvene tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 9, at 7PM in the Hopkinton Middle School. Articles 41 through 58 will be addressed and include zoning by-law changes, street acceptances, a package store license for Hopkinton Square, a TIF agreement for Perkin Elmer and the purchase of the home located at 2 West Main Street.
Come and see your local town government in action -- Wednesday night at the Middle School.
.
