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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180314 - Select Board - Minutes TOWN OF HOPKINTON Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2018 Hopkinton Middle School, 88 Hayden Rowe, Hopkinton MA 6:00 PM Board of Selectmen Members Present: John Coutinho, Chair, Claire Wright, Vice Chair, Brian Herr, Brendan Tedstone Board of Selectmen Members Absent: Todd Cestari Officials Present: Town Manager Norman Khumalo, Director of Land Use and Town Operations Elaine Lazarus CALL TO ORDER​: Mr. Coutinho called the public meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the Middle School Library. The Chair entertained a motion to enter into executive session to approve executive session Minutes, to consider litigation strategy with respect to Petition of Eversource Energy for Zoning Exemptions (DPU) because an open meeting may have detrimental effects on the litigating positions of the Board, to consider the purchase, sale, lease or value of real property in relation to Town Hall, the Main Street Corridor Project, the Town’s trail system and the Upper Charles Trail because an open meeting may have detrimental effects on the negotiating positions of the Board, to consider strategy relative to contract negotiations with non-union personnel, to reconvene in open session at the conclusion of executive session, and to allow the following officials to be present: Norman Khumalo, Elaine Lazarus. MOVED ​by Mr. Herr and ​SECONDED​ by Ms. Wright. ​ROLL CALL:​ Mr. Coutinho-Yes; Ms. Wright-Yes; Mr. Herr-Yes; Mr. Tedstone-Yes. ​VOTE to Approve​: ​Yes-4, No-0​. REOPEN PUBLIC SESSION:​ Mr. Coutinho reopened the Public Session in the HCAM Studio with the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:45 PM. PUBLIC FORUM: ​Residents were invited to share ideas, opinions or ask questions regarding town government. Dale Danahy, 25 East Main St., questioned why the Town prohibits nonprofits from receiving donations of alcohol for fundraising events, noting that they are instead required to purchase it from a licensed wholesaler. Mr. Khumalo stated there are ABCC requirements as to where alcohol can be obtained, but it should not prevent someone from receiving donations. He stated that town staff will research the matter. Mr. Coutinho thanked the Police Department for their recent work related to a robbery in Town. Ed Lee, Police Chief, described the incident and recognized the achievements of those involved 1 in the apprehension of the suspects. He listed the dispatchers and officers who were involved in handling the incident, and thanked them for their professionalism and quick action. VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: Bob Levenson reviewed the informal recognition process and encouraged people to nominate someone who has contributed to the Town in a volunteer capacity. He thanked the nominators of those recognized this evening. The following individuals were recognized for their volunteer service: ●Anne Marcy, nominated by Gale and Alec Levine, for her involvement in several groups and activities including Project Just Because, Special Olympics, Hopkinton Historical Society, and the Senior Center. ●Friends of Hopkinton: Anne Marcy, Pat Lynch, Sandy Sulfaro, Janice Robinson, Kippy Robinson, Marlene Beattie, Joanne Phipps, Paul Whitcher, Dale Danahy, Louis Mongiat, Ann Click, Dave Nelson, Diane Regan, Joe Regan, John Gardner, Colette Cronin, Don Cronin, Pat O’Brien, Pete Edwards, Kim Foemmel, Bill Hamilton, Donna O’Brien, Scott Dryden; nominated by Jean Bertschmann, for fostering a sense of community and organizing the Hopkinton Day/Family Day events. ●Barbara Beale, nominated by Darlene Hayes, for her involvement in local organizations including the Friends of Hopkinton Seniors and the Friends of the Hopkinton Library. ●Jerry Spar, nominated by his daughter Olivia Spar, for his work with the Hopkinton Basketball Association. ●Michael Boelsen, nominated by Peter LaGoy, for his work on Town property including the Center Trail. CONSENT AGENDA: MOVED​ by Mr. Herr and ​SECONDED​ by Mr. Tedstone to approve Consent Agenda items i and iii: 1) Approve the Minutes of the 2/27/18 meeting; and 2) Approve a Special Temporary Alcohol License for Wines and Malts only for Denise Antaki on behalf of St. John the Evangelist Church Youth Group, for an event on April 7, 2018 from 6 PM to 10 PM. ​Vote to Approve: 4-0​. The Board reviewed the Marathon Fund Request for backstop and in-line lift and tension model netting for the High School baseball field. Mr. Tedstone stated he attended the meeting where this item was discussed, and noted that there were 3 cost estimates received and the work underway for this field has been nicely done. Ms. Wright referred to safety reasons for the netting. ​MOVED​ by Mr. Herr and ​SECONDED​ by Mr. Tedstone to approve the $9,607.00 request by the Marathon Committee for the reimbursement to the Hopkinton Public Schools for the backstop and in-line lift and tension model netting. ​Vote to Approve: 4-0. The Board reviewed a request for the use of local roads for a Training Run in advance of the 2018 Boston Marathon. ​MOVED​ by Mr. Tedstone and ​SECONDED​ by Mr. Herr to approve the use of local roads for the Training Run on March 24, 2018 from 7 AM to 11 AM, as requested. ​Vote to Approve: 4-0. 2 ‘NO PARKING’ SIGNS ON GRANITE STREET: ​ Ms. Lazarus described the request to install No Parking signs on Granite Street, from Hayden Rowe to Deer Run, except in front of the cemetery. She noted that the narrow scenic road is busy, and the new Echo Trail trailhead on Granite St. has a small parking area where people are able to park off the road. Peter LaGoy, Clerk of the Works for the Echo Trail project, stated that nearby residents requested the signage. MOVED​ by Mr. Tedstone and ​SECONDED​ by Mr. Herr to approve the installation of No Parking signs on Granite St. between Hayden Rowe and Deer Run, with the exception of in front of the cemetery. ​Vote to Approve: 4-0. DRAFT BUDGET/CAPITAL PLAN​: Mr. Khumalo reviewed the vote taken at the 3/9/18 meeting relative to the FY19 budget. He stated that regarding the calculation of the proportional split percentage, he and the school administration have agreed that debt service will not be included in the numbers used to determine the percentages. He noted that the FY18 budget proportions were 62.4% school and 37.6% town with the debt service not included, and this is the split that will be used. It was noted that the Board’s 3/9 vote for a budget that shows no more than a 5% tax impact on the average taxpayer is unchanged. PILOT TOWN WEBSITE UPDATE​: Josh Grossetti, Director of Information Technology, noted that the Town will migrate to a new website, and the pilot website is available for review and feedback. He noted that there will be transparency enhancements, including a re-launch of SeeClickFix, an online portal for the reporting of non-emergency or non-urgent items. He stated that a new board/committee database will allow the posting of contact information for all Chairs, and the goal is to have the new site complete by the end of the fiscal year. HOPKINTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GROUP UPDATE​: Steve Slaman, Fire Chief, briefed the Board on the impact and responses in each of the three recent Nor’easter storms. He noted that many trees and wires were down, most notably in storm Quinn. The Board discussed Eversource’s response to power outages, whether a temporary shelter for sleeping might be needed in the future, and the ways information can be communicated to residents. Mr. Slaman gave special thanks to the community for their patience and understanding, town staff for their support, and Eversource, Mike Mansir and the Highway team, the Police Department, dispatchers and the Deputy Fire Chief for their hard work during this time. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES​: Mr. Khumalo reminded members to provide comments on the draft annual town meeting warrant as soon possible, in advance of the detailed review at the next meeting. LIAISON REPORTS/BOARD INVITES​: The Board reviewed invitations to various events. Mr. Tedstone reported that the Marathon Elementary School construction is ahead of schedule and under budget. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT​: Mr. Khumalo reported on the Main Street Corridor Project plans, noting that since the MassDOT hearing, the westbound through lane on Main St. at Cedar St. has been removed, a short northbound right turn lane on Cedar St. at Main St. has been 3 added, the two-way bike lane has been extended easterly from the Main/Cedar/Grove intersection to the Common, and all of these changes have yielded 17 additional parking spaces within this central area. He noted that the Marathon Way plan changes voted by the Board are now definitive as well. The Board discussed the two-way bike lane. Dave Daltorio, Town Engineer/Facilities Coordinator, stated that the separated bike lane would be about 3” higher than the road pavement, which helps a lot with drainage and is safer. The Board discussed bike lane design. Mr. Khumalo reviewed the status of repairs to Town Hall, noting that the completion date is May 18. Mr. Khumalo referred to the draft Entertainment Policy, and requested that the Board set a public hearing date. The Board discussed the matter, and scheduled a public hearing for March 27, 2018. Mr. Coutinho stated that another vote is needed on the Special Temporary Alcohol License for the St. John the Evangelist Youth Group Fundraiser on April 7 granted earlier this evening, specifically on a fee waiver request. ​MOVED​ by Ms. Wright and ​SECONDED​ by Mr. Tedstone to grant the fee waiver request. ​Vote to Approve: 4-0​. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS​: There were no future agenda items indicated. MOVED​ by Mr. Herr and ​SECONDED​ by Mr. Tedstone to adjourn the meeting. ​Vote to Approve: 4-0​. Adjourned: 8:50 PM Approved: March 27, 2018 Documents used at the meeting: ●Meeting Agenda ●Certificates of Recognition for Anne Marcy Barbara BealeJerry SparMichael Boelsen Pat Lynch, Sandy Sulfaro, Janice Robinson, Kippy Robinson, Marlene Beattie, Joanne Phipps, Paul Whitcher, Dale Danahy, Louis Mongiat, Ann Click, Dave Nelson, Diane Regan, Joe Regan, John Gardner, Colette Cronin, Don Cronin, Pat O’Brien, Pete Edwards, Kim Foemmel, Bill Hamilton, Donna O’Brien, Scott Dryden ●Draft Minutes of the meeting on 2/27/18 ●Marathon Fund Request, Hopkinton Marathon Committee, dated 2/27/18; and supporting documents ●Cash Balance in Marathon Fund as of 3/9/18 ●Special Temporary Alcohol License Application, St. John the Evangelist Youth Group/Denise Antaki, Spaghetti Dinner/Fundraiser to Support Youth Activities, April 7, 2018 ●St. John’s Youth Group Spaghetti Dinner, Special Temporary Alcohol License, Permitting Team Comments ●Letter dated 2/23/18 to John Coutinho from Thomas Grilk, BAA, re: Training Run, March 24, 2018 ●Board of Selectmen Invites, BOS Meeting Date: 3/13/18 4 5