HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200702 - Select Board - Meeting Minutes
TOWN OF HOPKINTON
Select Board
Meeting Minutes – July 2, 2020
Remote Meeting via Zoom 7:00 PM
Select Board Members Present: Brendan Tedstone, Chair, Irfan Nasrullah, Vice Chair, Brian
Herr, Mary Jo LaFreniere, Amy Ritterbusch
Officials Present: Town Manager Norman Khumalo, Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus
CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Tedstone called the public meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mr. Tedstone
called the name of each Select Board member. Mr. Herr, Mr. Nasrullah, Ms. LaFreniere and Ms.
Ritterbusch responded affirmatively that they were present and could hear him. Mr. Tedstone
called the names of staff members, Mr. Khumalo and Ms. Lazarus, who responded affirmatively
that they were present.
Mr. Tedstone stated that the meeting is being conducted remotely consistent with Governor
Baker’s Executive Order of March 12, 2020, due to the current State of Emergency in the
Commonwealth due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. He noted that in order to mitigate
the transmission of the visus, the Board is complying with the Executive Order that suspends the
requirement of the Open Meeting Law to have all meetings in a publicly accessible physical
location. He stated that the Executive Order allows public bodies to meet entirely remotely as
long as the public body makes provisions through adequate, alternative means to ensure that
interested members of the public are provided reasonable access to the deliberations of the
meeting. He noted that this meeting will include public comment. He noted that for this meeting
the Board is convening by video conference via Zoom App as posted on the Town’s web
meeting calendar and the Board’s agenda identifying how the public may join. He stated that the
meeting may also be broadcast by HCAM. He noted that the meeting is being recorded and
some attendees are participating by video conference. Mr. Tedstone stated that all supporting
materials that have been provided to the Board are available on the Town website via the web
meeting calendar, unless otherwise noted.
Mr. Tedstone reviewed the ground rules of the meeting including how speakers, board members
and the public may participate. He stated that all votes taken in the meeting will be conducted by
roll call vote.
Board members recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
REORGANIZATION OF THE SELECT BOARD: Mr. Tedstone opened the floor for
nominations for Chair. Ms. LaFreniere nominated Mr. Herr, and the nomination was seconded
by Ms. Ritterbusch. Mr. Herr declined the nomination, stating he is appreciative but it is not
1
feasible for him to serve this year. Mr. Nasrullah nominated Mr. Tedstone, and the nomination
was seconded by Mr. Herr. There were no other nominations. MOVED by Mr. Nasrullah and
SECONDED by Mr. Herr to select Brendan Tedstone as the Chair of the Select Board for the
next year. ROLL CALL: Mr. Herr-Yes; Mr. Nasrullah-Yes; Ms. LaFreniere-Yes; Ms.
Ritterbusch-Yes; Mr. Tedstone-Abstain. Vote to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstain-1 (Tedstone).
Mr. Tedstone opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair. Mr. Herr nominated Mr.
Nasrullah, and the nomination was seconded Ms. LaFreniere. There were no other nominations.
MOVED by Mr. Herr and SECONDED by Ms. LaFreniere to select Irfan Nasrullah as Vice
Chair of the Select Board for the next year. ROLL CALL: Mr. Herr-Yes; Mr.
Nasrullah-Abstain; Ms. LaFreniere-Yes; Ms. Ritterbusch-Yes; Mr. Tedstone-Yes. Vote to
Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstain -1 (Nasrullah)
CONSENT AGENDA: MOVED by Mr. Mr. Herr and SECONDED by Mr. Nasrullah to
approve the Consent Agenda, consisting of: 1) approve the Minutes of the 6/16/2020 meeting, 2)
accept the resignation of Jaime Goncalves from the Lake Maspenock Weed Management &
Control Citizen Advisory Group; 3) accept a $200 gift to the Ambulance Fund from Judith
Breault, Glen Rock, NJ, and 4) accept a $250 gift to the Library from Jennifer Keeler,
Hopkinton. ROLL CALL: Mr. Nasrullah-Yes; Mr. Herr-Yes; Ms. LaFreniere-Yes; Ms.
Ritterbusch-Yes; Mr. Tedstone-Yes. Vote to Approve: Yes-5, No-0
PUBLIC FORUM: Mr. Tedstone asked if anyone participating wishes to make a public
comment. Ilana Casady, 19 Eastview Road, recited a Call to Action requesting formal
statements and actions on the part of Town officials related to Black Lives Matter, hiring
practices, diversity, allocation of funds, and racial bias, and requested that it be scheduled on the
Board’s July 21, 2020 meeting agenda. Muriel Kramer, North Street, thanked John Coutinho for
his service on the Select Board and for his many years of service on other boards and
committees. She stated that he was the best at leading through his involvement and commitment.
Mr. Nasrullah thanked Mr. Coutinho for his timeless work on behalf of the Town. Mike Werner,
12 Old Farm Road, congratulated Ms. Ritterbusch on joining the Select Board, and expressed
support for the Call to Action read by Ms. Casady. Ms. LaFreniere thanked Connor Degan,
Town Clerk, on the successful election held on June 29, 2020.
Mr. Tedstone thanked John Coutinho for his service on the Select Board and to the Town in
various capacities over the years. Mr. Tedstone welcomed Ms. Ritterbusch to the Select Board.
MOVED by Mr. Herr and SECONDED by Ms Ritterbusch to adjourn the meeting. ROLL
CALL: Mr. Nasrullah-Yes; Mr. Herr-Yes; Ms. LaFreniere-Yes; Ms. Ritterbusch-Yes; Mr.
Tedstone-Yes. Vote to Approve: Yes-5, No-0.
Adjourned: 7:20 PM
Approved: 7-21-2020
2
Documents used at the meeting: Meeting agenda
3