HomeMy Public PortalAbout20130226 - Select Board - Meeting Minutes
1
Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes February 26, 2013
TOWN OF HOPKINTON
Board of Selectmen
February 26, 2013
A meeting of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at
Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Selectmen present: Ben Palleiko,
John Mosher, Todd Cestari, Brian Herr. Not present: Michelle Gates. Officials present: Town
Manager Norman Khumalo, Operations Assistant Jamie Hellen.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Palleiko called the public meeting to order at 6:17 PM in Room
211 and entertained a motion to enter Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy
with respect to collective bargaining because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on
the bargaining position of the board; to discuss contract negotiations with nonunion personnel; to
allow town staff Flannery, Khumalo and Hellen to participate; to consider approving minutes
from previous Executive Sessions; and that the meeting will resume in open session after the
Executive Session ends. So MOVED by Mr. Mosher and SECONDED by Mr. Cestari. ROLL
CALL: Mr. Palleiko - Yes, Mr. Mosher-Yes. Mr. Herr-Yes, Mr. Cestari - Yes. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-4, No-0.
REOPEN PUBLIC SESSION: Chairman Palleiko reopened the Public Session in Room 215 at
6:40 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM: Residents were invited to share ideas, opinions, or ask questions regarding
town government. Police Chief Flannery addressed the Board to announce he has decided not to
renew his contract when it expires in June of this year. The Board and Town Manager thanked
Chief Flannery for the contributions he has made in his role as Police Chief. A brief discussion
was held on the process that could be used in choosing a successor.
Pat Lynch, longtime Hopkinton resident and volunteer, presented the Board with a plaque
containing Boston Marathon coins. MOTION by Mr. Cestari to accept this gift, SECONDED
by Mr. Herr. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
Amy Ritterbusch, 54 Grove Street, President of Educate Hopkinton, invited the Board and
residents to attend a fundraiser which will be held on Tuesday, March 12, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
at Bertuccis in Holliston.
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Public Session Minutes – The Board considered approval of public session minutes for
12/18/12, 1/8/13, and 1/22/13. MOTION by Mr. Mosher to approve, SECONDED by
Mr. Herr. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
2
Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes February 26, 2013
2. Appointments – The Board considered the appointment of Evan Lowell as an at-large
Hopkinton Resident Member of the Lake Maspenock Dam Advisory Committee and
Frank Holland as the second Hopkinton resident of the area in the vicinity of Lake
Maspenock. Evan Lowell introduced himself to the Board and explained why he would
like to serve on this committee. MOTION by Mr. Mosher to appoint Evan Lowell,
SECONDED by Mr. Herr. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
Frank Holland introduced himself to the board and explained why he would like to serve
on this committee. MOTION by Mr. Cestari to appoint Frank Holland, SECONDED by
Mr. Mosher. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
3. Resignation – The Board considered acceptance of the resignation of Gretchen Govoni as
an Associate Member of the Sustainable Green Committee. MOTION by Mr. Cestari to
approve, SECONDED by Mr. Mosher. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
JOINT BOARDS PUBLIC MEETING: The Board of Selectmen and the Housing Authority
held a joint meeting to consider the appointment of Nancy Kelleigh to the Hopkinton Housing
Authority for the remainder of the current term, which expires after the 2013 Annual Town
Election. Ms. Kalleigh introduced herself and discussed why she would like to be a member of
the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority Members voted unanimously to appoint Nancy
Kelleigh. MOTION by Mr. Herr to appoint Nancy Kelleigh, SECONDED by Mr. Mosher.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
GENERAL OBLIGATION MUNICIPAL PURPOSE LOAN: The Board considered
approving the recommendation from the Town Treasurer to sign a General Obligation Municipal
Purpose Loan in the total amount of $8,280,986 for two purposes: (1) Subject to Chapter 44, Sec.
7, $6,301,166 of the loan will account for 20 projects, in accordance with articles voted at the
2012 Annual Town Meeting; and (2) Subject to Chapter 44, Sec. 21A, the loan will also cover
$2,070,000 for the outstanding balance for the Fruit Street parcel, approved as Article II of the
2002 Town Meeting. MOTION by Mr. Cestari to sign a general obligation municipal purpose
loan for the total amount of $8,280,986, SECONDED by Mr. Mosher. VOTE to Approve:
Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
LIAISON REPORTS: Chairman Palleiko stated the Board received a letter from the Milford
Board of Selectmen inviting them to a meeting to discuss the proposed casino. Mr. Palleiko
stated he has accepted this invitation and will be meeting on March 18, however, he did express
in a letter to the Town of Milford the Board’s strong opposition to a casino in the Metrowest
area.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Khumalo asked the Board to provide three general
topics that could be included in the Citizen Satisfaction Survey Update. The Board
recommended getting feedback from department heads and putting this discussion on a future
agenda after the Board has had time for careful consideration.
Mr. Khumalo stated the last time discussion was held on the Alta Legacy Affordable Housing
proposal there was a question raised regarding local preference. He stated after consultation with
Town Counsel, Counsel for Alta Legacy, and DHCD, it has been determined it would be very
3
Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes February 26, 2013
difficult to meet a requirement for local preference. Discussion on this topic was tabled until
later in this meeting.
TOWN MANAGER RECOMMENED FISCAL 2014 COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET
JOINT BOARDS PUBLIC MEETING:
The Town Manager presented the draft comprehensive FY 2014 Budget to a joint meeting of the
Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Appropriations Committee, and the Capital
Improvements Committee. Comments and questions of the Boards were addressed.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT (Continued): Mr. Mosher stated he would like further
expert information on the issue of local preference for Hopkinton residences for the Alta Legacy
Affordable Housing Proposal.
Mr. Khumalo provided the Board with a copy of the Council on Aging Outreach Report for
information purposes. He also provided information for the Board to review relative to town
work on private ways and lots to assist in developing a future policy.
Mr. Khumalo provided the Board with information from Elaine Lazarus regarding placing on the
Town Meeting Warrant the sale of two town owned lots on Duffield Road and Knoll Road.
MOTION by Mr. Mosher to place this on the warrant, SECONDED by Mr. Herr. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
Mr. Khumalo provided the Board correspondence regarding possible town acquisition of a parcel
at 25 Ash Street. The Board authorized Mr. Khumalo to begin discussions on this parcel.
FUTURE BOARD AGENDA ITEMS: Mr. Mosher asked for an update on the parking
situation and for a future discussion on the DPW. He recommended including on the citizen
survey questions pertaining to the proposed improvements in the downtown area.
ADJOURN: MOTION by Mr. Mosher to adjourn, SECONDED by Mr. Herr. VOTE to
Approve: Unanimous. Meeting adjourned.
Correspondence to the Board of Selectmen
1. BAA Annual Payments Letter
2. Hopkinton Area Land Trust Re: Frankland Road
3. Mary Ann DeMello Correspondence: Virtual Reality/Real Danger
4. MassDOT “The Way Forward – A 21st Century Transportation Plan”
5. Tax Relief Fund for Elderly and Disabled Residents’ Annual Summary of Tax Relief
6. Mosquito Control Project at 66 Fruit Street
4
Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes February 26, 2013
Summarized Transcription by
//Patricia McDonnell// Date: March 14, 2013
Patricia McDonnell
Certified Transcriber, OfficeSolutionsPlusLLC.com
//Elizabeth Tice// Date: March 14, 2013
Elizabeth Tice, President
OfficeSolutionsPlusLLC.com
My commission expires August 26, 2016
On April 23, 2013 the Board approved the Minutes for February 26, 2013 with this addendum
serving as remedial action to correct an error in the process for entering Executive Session on
that day. The motion to enter executive session should have been as follows:
Motion to enter Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy
with respect to collective bargaining with the Hopkinton Teachers
Association and the Superior Officers because an open meeting may have
a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Board; conducting
contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, specifically the Police
Chief; and considering approval of minutes from prior Executive Sessions;
provided, however, that the following persons are invited to join the Board
in the executive session: Rick Flannery, Norman Khumalo and Jamie
Hellen; and provided further that the meeting will resume in open session
after the Executive Session ends.