HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200123 - Growth Study Committee - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
GROWTH STUDY COMMITTEE
Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Senior Center
28 Mayhew St, Hopkinton MA 01748
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Members Present: Amy Ritterbusch, Fin Perry, Tim Brennan, Shahidul
Mannan, Wilson St. Pierre, David Wheeler, and Jenn Devlin
Committee Members Absent: Fran DeYoung, Chuck Joseph, Michelle Murdock, John
Coutinho and Muriel Kramer
Members of the Public: Jane Moran
Meeting called to order by Amy Ritterbusch at 7:08 p.m.
Administrative actions: Tim Brennan motioned to accept meeting minutes from the 12/3/2019
and 1/9/2020 meetings; David Wheeler seconded. Both were approved unanaimously.
Tim Brennan then motioned to accept the Growth Study Committee narrative for the Town
Annual Report. It was seconded by Wilson St.Pierre and approved unanimously.
Discussion 1: The committee recapped discussions with the Planning Board about the desire to
add an Economic Development Officer (EDO). The Planning Board indicated such an article
would have to come from the Select Board and that additional cost/benefit analysis would
probably be required for the Select Board to consider such a proposal.
Additional post-Planning Board meeting analysis indicated that $2.2 million in additional
property value (new tenants and/or improvements to existing property) would be required to
offset the salary and operating budget of an Economic Development Officer. The breakeven
number might be further reduced by harder to quantify benefits such as reduced
commercial/industrial property vacancy periods and “clustering” of similar businesses that are
less apt to decamp based solely on economic considerations. There was also discussion of a
hypothetical situation in which a major corporate entity vacated its property and sold it to a
non-profit entity, perhaps a university, which could deprive the town of meaningful tax revenue.
In such a scenario, an EDO might be able to help attract competing bids from other taxpaying
entities.
Following the Planning Board meeting, a member of our committee attended a meeting between
the Chamber of Commerce and Select Board where the Select Board suggested a different path
for the addition of an EDO. Rather than drawing up an article for the Town Meeting, such an
outlay could be inserted in the town budget if the Town Manager agreed. Previous overtures had
been rebuffed as other town priorities took precedence, but over the past few years, neighboring
towns (e.g. Ashland, Marlborough, Westborough) have provided examples of how an Economic
Development Officer(s) can be successful. Thus, it may be time to readdress the issue with the
Town Manager.
Where would an Economic Development Officer be best positioned for success, under the Town
Planner or the Town Manager? The committee agreed that the latter would be most appropriate.
Fin Perry then motioned to place a non-binding article in the Town Warrant to gauge support
for the addition of an EDO. The motion was seconded by Tim Brennand and unanimously
approved.
The committee also agreed we would present this to the Select Board on February 4th.
Discussion 2: Fin Perry met with Elaine Lazarus to share work done on the town’s major vacant
parcels. The revised map will be added to the town’s GIS mapping tool via the Town Planner’s
Office.
Discussion 3: Recap of the second Growth Study Committee Forum at the Senior Center for
committee members who were unable to attend. Those meeting minutes have been posted
separately.
Motion to adjourn made by Fin Perry at 8:31 p.m.; seconded by Tim Brennan and unanimously
agreed to.
Reference Documents:
●Shared Google Drive Folder
Respectfully submitted by Wilson St.Pierre.
Approved on date: February 26, 2020