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TOWN OF HOPKINTON
Select Board
Meeting Minutes – March 12, 2020
High School Library, 90 Hayden Rowe, Hopkinton MA 7:30 PM
Select Board Members Present: Brendan Tedstone, Chair, John Coutinho, Vice Chair, Brian
Herr, Mary Jo LaFreniere
Select Board Members Absent: Irfan Nasrullah
School Committee Members Present: Meena Bharath, Chair, Nancy Richards-Cavanaugh,
Jennifer Devlin, Meg Tyler, Amanda Fargiano
Officials Present: Town Manager Norman Khumalo, Chief Financial Officer (Town) Timothy
O’Leary, School Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, Asst. School Superintendent Jennifer Parson;
Director of Finance (Schools) Susan Rothermich
CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Tedstone called the public meeting to order at 7:30 PM at the School
Committee meeting, which was already in progress.
FY 2021 BUDGET: Carol Cavanaugh, School Superintendent, reviewed the discussions at
Budget Advisory Group meetings and how the current proposed budget evolved. She reviewed
the funding sources and changes in amounts over the last several months. It was noted that the
Select Board is requesting that the School Committee’s proposed budget be reduced by
$323,000. The School Committee discussed the use of Legacy Farms Host Community
Agreement (HCA) funds. Mr. Khumalo confirmed that the developer stated he intends to pay
the $831,300 currently owed. School Committee members expressed concern that there would
be a deficit if the funds are not paid, and those in attendance discussed concerns related to the
use of one time funds from the Legacy Farms HCA for operational expenditures. The School
Committee reviewed anticipated school capacity needs in the future if enrollment projections are
valid, and how the $323,000 in reductions would be managed. Ms. Rothermich stated she feels
that the reduction can be managed.
Mr. Khumalo noted the impacts of growth are well known, and additional support has been
provided for 46 additional positions in the school budget. The issues were further discussed,
including confidence in the School administration and the Town team to manage the budget, and
the desire to know where the $323,000 in cuts would come from. It was noted that 80% of the
School Dept. budget is personnel, and that the teacher’s union contract calls for a 2.5% increase
in FY 21.
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MOVED by Ms. Fargiano and SECONDED by Ms. Tyler to move forward with the budget as
presented at this meeting, which is $323,000 less than the School Committee requested. Vote to
Approve: Yes-3 (Bharath, Fargiano, Tyler), No-0 (Richards-Cavanaugh, Devlin).
MOVED by Mr. Coutinho and SECONDED by Mr. Herr to forward the comprehensive budget
dated March 10, 2020 to the Appropriation Committee. Vote to Approve: Yes-4, No-0.
MOVED by Mr. Coutinho and SECONDED by Mr. Herr to adjourn the Select Board meeting.
Vote to Approve: Yes-4, No-0.
Adjourned: 8:56 PM
Approved: April 7, 2020
Documents used at the meeting: None
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