HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200602 - Select Board - Executive MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
Select Board
Executive Session Meeting Minutes
June 2, 2020 6:00 PM
Remote Meeting
Select Board Members Present: Brendan Tedstone, Chair,John Coutinho, Vice Chair (6:05 PM),
Brian Herr, Irfan Nasrullah, Mary Jo LaFreniere
Officials Present: Town Manager Norman Khumalo, Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus
CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Tedstone called the public meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Mr. Tedstone
called the name of each Select Board member. Mr.Herr, Mr. Nasrullah and Ms. LaFreniere
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.
MOVED by Mr. Herr and SECONDED by Mr. Nasrullah to enter into executive session to
consider the disposition, acquisition or value of interests in real property because the Chair
declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the
Select Board: 1) rights and obligations under the Legacy Farms Host Community Agreement;
the School Committee will join the Select Board for this discussion; 2) property interests
associated with the Main Street Corridor Project;and 3) property interests associated with Town
Hall and adjacent properties; to consider approving executive session minutes, to discuss
strategy with respect to contract negotiations with DPW and Dispatch Communications unions
because the Chair declares that discussion in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect
on the bargaining position of the Town; to allow Norman Khumalo, Elaine Lazarus, Carol
Cavanaugh, Susan Rothermich, Meena Bharath, Nancy Cavanaugh, Jenn Devlin, Meg Tyler,
Amanda Fargiano and Ray Miyares to participate in the discussion, and to convene in Open
Session at the conclusion of Executive Session.ROLL CALL:Mr. Tedstone-Yes; Mr. Herr-Yes;
Mr. Nasrullah-Yes; Ms. LaFreniere-Yes.Vote to Approve:Yes-4, No-0.
The Board moved from Zoom to Google Meet. Mr. Herr joined the executive session at 6:05
PM.
DISCUSSION:
Real Property - Legacy Farms Host Community Agreement,with School Committee:Carol
Cavanaugh, School Superintendent, Susan Rothermich,Director of Finance (Schools), and the
following School Committee members were present: Nancy Cavanaugh, Jenn Devlin, Meg Tyler,
Amanda Fargiano. J. Raymond Miyares, Town Counsel,was also present. Mr. Khumalo
reviewed the terms of a draft amendment to the Legacy Farms Host Community Agreement
(HCA) relative to payments to the School Department.He noted that the total compensation
would be $4,300,000, and outlined the payment schedule.He noted that the Town’s goal was to
obtain the payments sooner rather than later. He noted that there are other payments to the
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Town in the amendment, including $13,190 to better document the impacts of the development
on the Town, and a payment toward a fire station regardless of whether a building permit is
issued. Mr. Miyares stated the intent of the original HCA payments to the Schools was to have
funds to manage impacts in advance of the tax revenue becoming available, and he described
the negotiating position of the developer on this item, which includes their position that the
development has been a financial windfall for the Town. He noted that additional Town goals
included clarifying that the $3,000,000 already paid and linked to the MassWorks grant would be
used for the Main Street Corridor Project, accelerating the payment for a fire station, and
changing language pertaining to “gifts” per guidance from the Mass. Dept. of Revenue. He
stated that this is an unusual agreement in that it is based on making sure the development is
revenue neutral or positive to the Town.
There was discussion as to the current and projected school enrollment and it was noted that
the non-age restricted component of the project is about ⅔ constructed. It was noted there are
many young children in the development who aren’t school age yet. After discussion, Ms. Tyler,
Ms. Devlin, Nancy Cavanaugh and Ms. Fargiano expressed support for the changes to the
school payments and the payment schedule in the HCA.
MOVED by Mr. Herr and SECONDED by Mr. Coutinho to accept the tentative agreement and
bring it to a formal vote at the June 16 Select Board meeting.ROLL CALL:Mr. Tedstone-Yes;
Mr. Coutinho-Yes; Mr. Herr-Yes; Mr. Nasrullah-Yes;Ms. LaFreniere-Yes.Vote to Approve:
Yes-5, No-0. It was moved and seconded that the School Committee support the tentative
agreement.ROLL CALL:Ms. Cavanaugh-Yes; Ms. Fargiano-Yes;Ms. Devlin; Ms. Tyler-Yes.
Vote to Approve:Yes-4, No-0.
Mr. Khumalo stated that at the end of the negotiations,Legacy Farms requested additional
water, which was rejected. Another request was for relief from provisions of the Master Plan
Special Permit (MPSP) issued by the Planning Board that pertain to road improvements, some
of which may be captured in the Main Street Corridor Project. The text of negotiated wording of
a possible vote of the Select Board in that regard was read. It was stated that ultimately, it will
be up to the Planning Board to determine whether to grant relief from the MPSP requirements.
MOVED by Mr. Herr and SECONDED by Ms. LaFreniere to adopt the following: The Select
Board acknowledges that the Town’s planning for various traffic, intersection and infrastructure
improvements evolved after the approval of the Master Plan Special Permit for Legacy Farms.
To support the Town’s initiatives to implement those improvements, including the Main Street
Corridor Project, Legacy Farms agreed to amendments to the Host Community Agreement that
were adopted after approval of the Master Plan Special Permit. These amendments have
provided substantial financial assistance, flexibility and cooperation in support of the Town’s
efforts, notwithstanding their having developed after approval of the Master Plan Special Permit.
ROLL CALL:Mr. Tedstone-Yes; Mr. Coutinho-Yes; Mr.Herr-Yes; Mr. Nasrullah-Yes; Ms.
LaFreniere-Yes.Vote to Approve:Yes-5, No-0.
MOVED by Mr. Herr and SECONDED by Mr. Coutinho to exit Executive Session.ROLL CALL:
Mr. Tedstone-Yes; Mr. Coutinho-Yes; Mr. Herr-Yes;Mr. Nasrullah-Yes; Ms. LaFreniere-Yes.
Vote to Approve:Yes-5, No-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Brendan Tedstone, Chair
Adjourned: 6:55 PM
Approved: June 16, 2020
Released: June 15, 2021
Documents used at the meeting: None
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