HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210913 - Select Board - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
Select Board
Meeting Minutes – September 13, 2021
18 Main Street, Hopkinton MA - Lower Level Meeting Room 6:00 PM
Select Board Members Present: Irfan Nasrullah, Chair, Amy Ritterbusch, Vice Chair, Brendan
Tedstone, Mary Jo LaFreniere, Muriel Kramer (participating remotely)
Others Present: Jon Wortmann, Norman Khumalo, Town Manager, Elaine Lazarus, Assistant
Town Manager, Vasudha Dutta, Executive Assistant
CALL TO ORDER : Chair Nasrullah called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. He confirmed that
Muriel Kramer, participating remotely, could hear and be heard.
Jon Wortmann discussed with the Board the traits of an effective Select Board, noting that some
boards are strategic, some are advisory in nature in that they review presented alternatives and
then make decisions, and some are involved in “the weeds”. He asked each Board member their
opinion as to the nature of their Board at this time, and what they aspire to be as a Board. It was
the opinion of members that the Board is advisory, oriented toward answering to the people.
Mr. Wortmann reviewed types of basic communication tendencies and styles (including internal
or external, inductive or deductive, debater or pleaser, fast or slow talker, loud or quiet talker,
lots or fewer words, etc), and those present discussed their personal communication tendencies,
matching the tendencies to specific scenarios such as formal presentations, verbal, one-to-one
meetings and large meetings.
Board members then worked on problem statement generation which then led to a discussion of
what they see as a major problem over the next year. Responses were the budget, civic
engagement, growth and development of the Town, and the Main Street Corridor Project. Mr.
Khumalo suggested that sustainability and mental health may also be considered.
Ways to identify potential goals were discussed, such as for mental health, which could be better
and more access to mental health resources for everyone, or to have Hopkinton 100% mentally
healthy. Macros associated with a 100% mentally healthy community could be universal access,
communication around resources, cost, and town employee training.
Jon Wortmann asked each Board member why they are a Select Board member, and each
described their interest in serving on the Board.
Irfan Nasrullah suggested that the budget problem identified should be the top priority given the
time of year, and possible problem statements were discussed. It was noted that “adhering to a
timely budget process” would be appropriate.
The Board agreed to set another meeting to discuss the individual goals in greater depth and
prioritize them before setting the budget message.
The Board set a meeting date of Sept. 28, 2021 to set the budget calendar and message.
MOVED by Brendan Tedstone and SECONDED by Mary Jo LaFreniere to adjourn the
meeting. Roll Call Vote: Irfan Nasrullah-Yes; Amy Ritterbusch-Yes; Brendan Tedstone-Yes;
Mary Jo LaFreniere-Yes; Muriel Kramer-Yes.Vote to Approve: Yes-5, No-0.
Adjourned: 8:00 PM
Approved: September 28, 2021
Documents used at the meeting:
None
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