Skip to main content

Town Meeting: Recap First Night

By Michelle Murdock, Freelance Writer
dsc03149.jpg

Hopkinton’s 2012 Annual Town Meeting commenced shortly after 7PM after a quorum (100 voters) was reached. New this year, was video equipment and a large screen that enabled residents to more clearly see each article as it was read and discussed, and which also allowed amendments to articles to be quickly typed up and displayed on screen. This capability was put into use right from the start, as Planning Board member John Coutinho made a motion to move Article 54 up to second place. Article 54, to amend the zoning of a parcel of EMC owned land, was voted to take no action as a result of EMC’s request to withdraw the article from consideration. According to EMC representative Paul Fitzgerald, EMC will consider bringing their zoning amendment request to a future meeting, possibly in the fall.

Articles 1 through 5 were routine budget articles and quickly passed. Residents applauded as it was announced that there were no unpaid bills from previous years.

Article 6, to amend the salary of an elected official, fixed the salary of the Town Clerk at $65, 706.79 for the upcoming fiscal year.

Next up was the FY 2013 Operating Budget presentation. According to Appropriation Chair Mike Manning, the FY 2013 operating budget totals $24,859,210.35. It maintains the town’s excess levy capacity and also makes contributions to the town’s stabilization funds. A few questions did come up; one, about the sewer cost and whether or not there are rate increases in the future, and another questioning the town’s legal expenses. Article 7, the FY2013 operating budget, passed unanimously.

Jean Bertschmann, Chairman of the School Committee, presented an overview of the FY 2013 School Budget which represented a $1,127,516 or a 3.4% increase over last year’s budget.

According to Bertschmann, the budget also supports the Strategic Plan, maintains reasonable class sizes, allows for improvements in curriculum, and the expansion of full day kindergarten. While all curricular and extracurricular programs are maintained, there are fee increases this year for athletics, buses to day care and for student activities. Before the final vote was taken, resident Muriel Kramer, while supportive of the overall school budget, spoke about the increasing burden of fees, especially athletic fees and asked for more accountability and for more detailed information about how the fees are used. Article 8, the FY 2013 operating budget for the School Department passed with only one or two “no” votes and totaled $34,085,238.

Article 11, Transfer to Capital Expense Stabilization Fund, caused some confusion. The original motion, as written, called for the town to raise and appropriate $20,000 and to transfer $30,000 from Free Cash into the Capital Expense Stabilization Fund. The motion, when read by Appropriation Committee Chair Manning at Town Meeting, included the transfer of $130,000 from Free Cash to the Capital Expense Stabilization Fund. An amendment by Dr. John Duffy asked that no money be raised through taxes and that only the $130,000 from Free Cash be used. Ex-Appropriation Chairman Stewart Cowart spoke in favor of keeping the $20,000 appropriation and using it to build the town’s savings accounts. The vote to adopt Dr. Duffy’s amendment required a standing vote and passed with a count of 137 to 58. Article 11 as amended passed unanimously.

Article 12, Transfer to the General Stabilization Fund, was also amended by the Appropriation Committee to transfer an additional $300,000 from Free Cash into the General Stabilization Fund in addition to the $100,000 to be raised via taxes. Again, Dr. Duffy proposed an amendment to limit the money put into this account to the $300,000 from Free Cash. Duffy’s amendment passed 123 to 62 and Article 12 as amended passed unanimously.

Article 20, Pay as You Go Capital Expenses, also sparked some debate. Included in this article are several capital expenses which are being paid for out of the operating budget via Free Cash. The $39,000 for emergency strobe lighting for the schools was not recommended by the Capital Improvement Committee. Some residents agreed with this and others argued in favor of spending the money to ensure the safety of students. School Committee candidate Frank D’Urso asked that Item G, $300,000 for Information Technology in the town and school departments, be considered separately.

Article 20, minus Item G, passed with a clear majority. When voted separately, Item G, $300,000 for Information Technology passed with a clear majority.

Article 23: Parking Lot – Town Hall drew more people to the microphones than any previous article discussed. As written, the article proposed appropriating $50,000 for the design, engineering, reconstruction and repair of the parking lot at Town Hall. Resident Anne Mattina was concerned that the Town was spending money to repair a parking lot it doesn’t own. Others wanted more specifics about the agreement with the parking lot owner, Bill’s Pizza. And one resident wanted to know if additional parking was really necessary. Town Manager Norman Khumalo explained that that the grant for the library expansion is contingent upon a specific number of available parking spaces. Chamber of Commerce President Jack Speranza applauded the efforts to improve parking in the downtown area.

“We endorse and heartily approve this project,” said Speranza.

Planning Board Chairman Ken Weismantel also endorsed Article 23, saying it was a first step in the parking improvements that are badly needed in downtown Hopkinton.

Marie Eldridge, Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees, also spoke about the fact that the library grant is contingent upon the town being able to provide an adequate number of municipal parking spaces which are not currently available.

“I think that there is a lot at stake here, and I encourage you to support this article,” said Eldridge.

Peter LaGoy, Chairman of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, urged residents to support the article and again, stressed the need for additional parking in the downtown area.

As discussion continued, Selectman Brian Herr moved the question at 11PM. His motion passed with a clear majority. Article 23 – Town Hall Parking Lot went to a standing vote 74 to 80 and it failed.

Town Meeting will reconvene tomorrow night at 7PM in the Hopkinton Middle School. HCAM will be broadcasting live on Comcast 8 and Verizon 30.