The 2025 Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting starts on Monday, May 5th at 7pm at the Hopkinton Middle School Auditorium. Town Clerk, Connor Degan will be the moderator for this years annual town meeting and suggested if possible, residents should arrive and check-in 20-30 minutes prior so the meeting can get started right at 7pm.
Follow this page for Town Meeting updates! View the Annual Town Meeting Warrant & Motions Document HERE! If you can’t make the meeting in person, it will be live on HCAM-TV (Comcast Channel 8, Verizon Channel 30) & our youtube channel.
Please view other important information below!
–Appropriation Committee Report with Recommendations Annual Town Meeting
–2025 Annual Town Meeting & FY2026 Budget Documents, Meeting Materials, & Supplemental Information
–2024 Annual Town Report
–Town Meeting Presentations and Article Information
–2025 Annual Town Meeting Consent Agenda procedure handout
-Motion to consider Article 37 after 26 by Joe Clark of Select Board – Passed Unanimously
Consent Agenda: Article 1: Acceptance of Town Reports, Article 2: FY 2025 Supplemental Appropriations and Transfers, Article 6: FY 2026 Revolving Funds Spending Limits, Article 7: PEG Access and Cable Related Funding, Article 10: Transfer to the General Stabilization Fund, Article 25: Community Preservation Funds, Article 35: Accept Gift of Land – 0 John Matthew Road, Article 36: Accept Gift of Land – 69 Frankland Road, Article 38: Temporary Easement at 32 Chestnut Street for Sidewalk Construction, Article 41: Accept “Prudent Investment Rule” – Consent Agenda Passed Unanimously
Article 3: Unpaid Bills from Prior Fiscal Years – Passed Unanimously
Article 4: Set the Salary of Elected Officials – Passed Unanimously (Sets Town Clerk Salary at at $88,887.00)
Article 5: FY 2026 Operating Budget – In Progress ($132,038,015) – Passed Unanimously
Article 11: Transfer to the Capital Expense Stabilization Fund – Passed Unanimously
Article 12: Transfer to the School Special Education Reserve Fund ($1,046,276) – Passed Unanimously
Article 13: Home Rule Petition – Economic Development Special Revenue Account – Passed Unanimously (Sets up account for local meals tax approved at 2024 Town Meeting) Article 13 is estimated to have brought in $50-$100K of revenue to the town.
Article 14: Pay-As-You-Go Capital Expenses – Passed Unanimously (Certified Free Cash $6,218,224.81) Items include; Public Safety Radio System Upgrade, 3 Police Cruisers, Dump Truck, School Textbook Licenses, Fire Station Upgrades, Sewer/Irrigation at School + more (View items on page 12-15 of Town Meeting Warrant).
Article 15: Rescind Authorized but Voided Capital Projects – Passed Unanimously
Article 16: Water Department Vehicle Replacement – Passed Unanimously ($95,000 for Pickup Truck)
Article 17: Water Department Vehicle Replacement – Passed Unanimously ($61,296.87 + $8,703.13 previously approved for utility pickup truck)
Article 18: Townwide Water Main Flushing Program – Passed Unanimously
Article 19: Grove Street Water Tank Design – Passed Unanimously ($250,000.00 from previously approved but unexpended capital funds)
Article 20: Water Department Vehicle Replacement (W9) – Passed Unanimously ($160,412.30 for one utility pickup truck & Accessories)
Article 21: Supplemental Appropriation for MWRA Connection Design Work – Passed 128-21 (Clicker vote requested)
Article 22: Fruit Street Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) – Screen System Replacement – Passed Unanimously ($465,000)
Article 23: Sewer Main Replacement Design – Passed Unanimously ($350,000 for sewer main replacement in the vicinity of Wood Street)
Article 24: Adaptive Playground at Marathon Elementary School – Remote Vote: Passed 125-41 ($943,000 from certified free cash) -Capital Improvements recommends disapproval because they choose to leave it for Town Meeting decision, Select Board & Appropriation Committee recommends approval. Adaptive Playgrounds are easier for physically disabled to navigate. -Shahidul Mannan stated; “Does not add to debt or taxes” . Clicker Vote to end discussion: 145-18.
Article 26: Community Preservation Recommendations Motion #1 & #2 – Passed Unanimously (Adaptive Playground at Marathon Elementary School ($300,000), Recreation Reserve for the installation of three water refill stations at Town Common ($24,300), Feasibility Study for Splash Pad ($10,000), Mount Auburn Cemetery Building restoration ($132,960), Historical Society Restoration ($100,000), Restoration of Ellsworth Room Floor Library ($7,612), Conservation Restriction Colella Farm ($8,000), Casucci Land Purchase ($35,500).
Article 26: Community Preservation Recommendations Motion #3 – Passed Unanimously ($600,000 for Preservation of Center School, Ken Weismantel; No Debt exclusion or taxpayer funds.) Building will include; Parks & Rec Offices, Youth & Family Services Offices & space, 3 HCA arts & crafts rooms, large public meeting room, 2 activity rooms & more.
Article 37: Lease of Center School – Passed Unanimously (Transfers care, custody & control of the former Center School to Select Board)
Article 27: Amend Zoning Bylaw Definition of “Veterinary Clinic” – Clicker Vote: Passed 119-20 (“A veterinary clinic may provide for on-site cremation or aquamation services for the disposal of animal remains, provided that the crematorium and/or aquamation processes shall emit no odors or visible emissions and that all activity relating to the deceased shall be screened from public view to the maximum extent possible, including delivery and storage of the remains.“)
Article 28: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Housekeeping – Amend Reference – Passed Clicker Vote 135-2 (“The Board of Appeals must determine that the construction and occupancy of each duplex unit shall meet the requirements of § 210-152 § 210-223 of this chapter.”)
Article 29: Amend Zoning Bylaw for “Accessory Dwelling Units” – Passed Clicker Vote 128-12 (Definition. Accessory dwelling unit shall mean a “self-contained housing unit, inclusive of sleeping, cooking, and sanitary facilities on the same lot as the principal dwelling.”)
Article 30: Amend Zoning Bylaw for Floodplain District – Passed Clicker Vote 132-3 (The purposes of the Floodplain District are to ensure public safety by reducing the threats to life and personal injury; eliminate new hazards to emergency response officials; prevent the occurrence of public emergencies resulting from water quality, contamination, and pollution due to flooding; avoid the loss of utility services which if damaged by flooding would disrupt or shut down the utility network and impact regions of the community beyond the site of flooding; eliminate costs associated with the response and cleanup of flooding conditions; and to reduce damage to public and private property resulting from flooding waters.)
Article 31: Amend Council on Aging Bylaws – Passed Unanimously (Council of Aging changes from 7 to 9 members)
Article 32: Amend Bylaw to Establish Revolving Fund for Finance Department – Passed Unanimously (Creates new revolving fun for town departments, boards etc. for software.)
Article 33: Change Day & Time of Annual Town Meeting – Clicker Vote: Passed 97-39 (Sponsored by Town Clerk, Article changes Annual Town Meeting from first Monday in May to first Saturday in May of each year with starting time set between 8 & 10am by the Select Board.) -Article would make Annual Town Meeting one full Saturday rather than the first full-week of May. -Required 2/3rd Majority
Article 34: Prohibition on Use of Engine Compression Brakes – Clicker Vote: Article Fails 35-80 (Citizen petition by Ed Harrow) Prohibition on Use of Engine Compression Brakes (Ch.190). This Bylaw may be enforced by any Police Officer of the Town. The penalty for violation of this Bylaw shall be $100.00 for the first offense and $300 for the second and any subsequent offenses. Mr. Harrow states “this is based on regulations in other towns”.
Article 39: Amend Charter to Include Appointment Powers by the Board of Library Trustees – Clicker Vote: Article Passed 88-27 (The Board of Library Trustees may appoint a Library Director, in accordance with the Personnel Policies of the Town. The Board of Library Trustees shall annually set goals for the Library Director with input from the Town Manager.)
Article 40: Authorize Fee for Written Demands – Passed Unanimously
The 2025 Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting has concluded in 1 night! (Approximate time: 3 hours & 46 minutes)