HomeMy Public PortalAbout20100413 - Select Board - Meeting MinutesBoard of Selectmen Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2010 Page 1
TOWN OF HOPKINTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF MEETING
April 13, 2010
A meeting of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at
Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Selectmen present: Brian Herr,
Matthew Zettek, RJ Dourney, and Michelle Gates. Todd Cestari was absent.
Administrative Personnel in attendance: Town Manager Norman Khumalo, and Assistant
to the Town Manager Geri Holland. Other officials present: Town Accountant Heidi
Kriger, Police Chief Rick Flannery, DPW Director JT Gaucher, Appropriations Chair
Ron Eldridge, Parks & Recreation Commission Chair Ken Driscoll, School
Superintendent John Phelan, and School Committee Chair Nancy Burdick.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Herr called the public meeting to order at 6:30PM in
Room 215 with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM: ►Two Hopkinton Police Officers requested donations for the four-
day Police Unity Bike Tour beginning May 9 from New Jersey to Washington, D.C.
Donations will go toward development of the National Law Enforcement Memorial and
Museum. Interested donors may visit www.policeunitytour.com.
►Mrs. Mary Pratt expressed concern that there is insufficient information regarding a
traffic light installation at School and West Main Streets to present at an upcoming
hearing on municipal grants.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: NONE
CONSENT AGENDA: Items contained within the Consent Agenda include; a)
Approval of Public Session Minutes from 3/15/10 and 3/23/10 (held until 4/20/10, per
request by Mr.Zettek), b) Approval of honorary Town citizenship for Greek officials/
runners and Kenyan runners of the 2010 Boston Marathon, c) Acceptance of gifts from
the Boston Athletic Association ($72,000.00) (held for discussion, per request by Mrs.
Gates), the New England Laborer’s Training Trust Fund ($3,720.00) and Town Hall
landscape gifts from McIntyre Loam and New View, Inc., d) Approval of Marathon Fund
requests from Friends of Hiller Hockey for $1,425.00 and the Babe Ruth Baseball League
for $1,505.00, e) Acceptance of the resignation of Carol Mecagni from the Cultural
Council, effective immediately, f) Appointment of Ruth Jones to the Tax Credit Work
Program for the 2010 calendar year, and g) Consideration of holding a Board of
Selectmen meeting on May 18 rather than May 25. MOTION by Mr. Zettek to approve
the Consent Agenda with the exceptions of items a) and c) SECONDED by Mrs. Gates.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. DISCUSSION: Mrs. Gates noted that the
BAA gift is larger than it’s been in the past and suggested that a member of the Marathon
Fund Committee be apprised as invoices are received and payments are made for
Marathon related expenses. MOTION by Mrs. Gates to approve item c) of the Consent
Agenda SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2010 Page 2
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Mrs. Gates suggested that a first annual review of Mr.
Khumalo’s job performance be conducted prior to a new Board of Selectmen being
elected.
LIAISON REPORTS: ►Mr. Dourney recalled an event at the Library where the efforts
of Rownak Hussain and other staff were recognized. He also participated in a Planning
Board meeting to discuss the proposed creation of a Permanent Building Committee. An
update is forthcoming. ►Mr. Zettek said a public hearing will take place on April 15,
7:00PM at the Senior Center focused on the Green Communities grant program. The
second annual Green Up day will be held on Saturday, May 1. Mr. Zettek encouraged
the participation of citizens and local businesses. ►Chairman Herr thanked local Girl
Scouts for their clean-up efforts near the train station on Route 85. ►Mrs. Gates
reported that the Marathon Fund Committee is reviewing grant applications and will
announce award recipients at its next meeting.
LICENSE TRANSACTION: Star Package Store - The management of Star Package,
located at 70 Main Street in Hopkinton, has requested that the Town agree to a liquor
license pledge where the liquor license approved by the Town can be used as collateral.
Legal counsel for the owner said he wishes to continue doing business while restructuring
the loan using this forbearance agreement. Mr. Khumalo reported that Town Counsel
advises pledging the license, so long as contingency language is included. Police Chief
Flannery said such an agreement will have no impact on the HPD’s enforcement
authority. MOTION by Mrs. Gates to approve the liquor license pledge for Star Package
so long as the Board of Selectmen retains the right as local licensing authority to suspend,
revoke, or otherwise regulate the license and that any outstanding taxes owed the Town
of Hopkinton are paid within a reasonable period of time SECONDED Mr. Zettek.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS: Lumber Street Parcel – Right to First Refusal
on Chapter 61, Section 8 Land: Mrs. Gates stepped off the Board for this discussion.
The Board deliberated on whether or not to exercise the Town’s right of first refusal on
278 square feet of a 7.5 acre parcel on Lumber Street owned by the Hopkinton
Sportsmen’s Association, Inc. The Town may acquire the land for $35,000.00, or
relinquish its right and the parcel will be sold for residential development. Input was
solicited from the School Department, DPW, Fire and Police Departments, the Public
Library and the Parks & Recreation Department. No input was received by the comment
deadline of 3/19/2010. Land Use, Planning and Permitting Director Elaine Lazarus and
Mr. Khumalo recommend that the Town not exercise its right of first refusal. MOTION
by Mr. Dourney that the Town of Hopkinton not exercise its right to first refusal in the
purchase of 278 square feet of a 7.5 acre parcel on Lumber Street SECONDED by Mr.
Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-3, No-0, Absent-1, Abstained -1.
Hopkinton-Ashland Collaboration Vision Statement – Parks & Recreation Commission
Chair Ken Driscoll suggested that such collaboration may prevent some P&R programs
from being cancelled due to under-enrollment. He maintained that Hopkinton residents
will be given preference for program enrollment and that better programs may result from
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2010 Page 3
such collaboration. Mrs. Gates expressed concern that the language in the vision
statement as written may prematurely commit the Town and the P&R Department to a
permanent consolidation with Ashland. Mr. Dourney concurred and suggested that the
vision statement be amended to reflect that the “ultimate vision is to explore the creation
of a consolidation of departments” rather than endorse a straight consolidation.
MOTION by Mr. Dourney that the Board of Selectmen endorse the Parks & Recreation
Commission’s Hopkinton-Ashland Collaboration Vision Statement as amended
SECONDED by Mrs. Gates. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
Mr. Driscoll also reported that the Hopkinton Youth Soccer Association expects to secure
a letter of commitment from the Middlesex Savings Bank by the end of the week for
financing the development of athletic fields at Fruit Street. This will negate the need to
extend the CPC agreement at Town Meeting. It is possible a turf field could be delivered
at the site by September 1, 2010. With regard to the Town Common, a hearing on
lighting and tree removal was held on April 5. It was recommended that seven trees be
removed, with new trees to be planted. Nine other trees will be reevaluated later.
Citizens may review the plan at the Parks & Recreation Office at Town Hall.
FY2010 Budget Update – Revision Submissions from the Appropriations Committee
The Appropriations Committee has recommended several revisions to the FY2011
Budget, which include increases of $130,000.00 for the School Department, $250,000.00
for the Pavement Management Program, $25,759.00 for IT, and $3,000.00 for the
Stabilization Fund. State aid is reduced by $82,000.000 and it is suggested that ADA
improvement item be reduced by $31,000.00. Items that the Board of Selectmen did not
approve, but which were endorsed by the Appropriations Committee include work on the
loop road at the Hopkins/Middle/High School complex, additional service vehicles for
the Fire and Water Departments and an increase for the DPW snow dump. The
Appropriations Committee did not endorse a pedestrian light at Church and Main Streets,
as the item can be considered during the larger Downtown design process. The
Committee unanimously endorses a $310,500.00 reduction in the CPA surcharge. The
proposed adjustments will increase the net property tax levy from $45,271,402.00 to
$45,596,121.00. Mr. Eldridge said he does not wish to undermine the value of the CPA,
but suggested that it is not prudent to commit funds for such narrow use when there are
larger general needs. Mr. Dourney said an open discussion on this reduction can take
place at Town Meeting. Mr. Zettek confirmed with Mr. Eldridge that the ADA
Committee Chair had no objections to the proposed reduction in that portion of the
budget as project estimates are lower than previously expected. MOTION by Mr.
Dourney that the Board of Selectmen approves the FY2011 Budget adjustments as
presented by the Appropriations Committee during the 4/13/2010 Board of Selectmen
meeting and that the Town Manager be authorized to make said changes in the official
Budget document SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. DISCUSSION: Chairman Herr
confirmed with Mr. Eldridge that the Pavement Management Program is updated
annually and that it is currently under funded. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0,
Absent-1.
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2010 Page 4
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT: 1) Establishment of a Permanent Building
Committee and of the Hopkinton Public Library as a Town Agency: Mr. Khumalo will
follow up on Planning Board and School Committee concerns prior to a public hearing on
the proposed committee. MOTION by Mr. Dourney that the Board of Selectmen
conduct a public hearing on establishing a Permanent Building Committee on April 27,
2010 at 7:30PM SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0,
Absent-1. MOTION by Mr. Dourney that the Board of Selectmen conduct a public
hearing on establishing the Hopkinton Public Library as a Town agency on April 27,
2010 at 8:00PM SECONDED by Mrs. Gates. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0,
Absent-1.
2) ATM Articles Review: MOTION by Mr. Dourney that the Board of Selectmen
RECOMMEND articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 36, 51, 54, and 55; PASS on Articles 5, 6, 30, 33,
34, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 56 and 57 SECONDED
by Mr. Zettek. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. A VOTE that the Board
of Selectmen recommend Article 35 follows: Yes -3, No-1 (Mrs. Gates), Absent-1.
3) Hopkinton Public Library Request to Access 0 Claflin Place: MOTION by Mr.
Dourney that the Board of Selectmen authorize the Hopkinton Public Library Board of
Trustees to access four acres of Town-owned property located at 0 Claflin Place to
evaluate the site as part of the HPL Feasibility Study, as recommended by the Town
Manager SECONDED by Mrs. Gates. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1.
OLD BUSINESS: NONE
ADJOURN: MOTION by Mrs. Gates to adjourn SECONDED by Mr. Zettek. VOTE
to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Absent-1. Meeting adjourned at 9:27PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth Aghababian, Recording Secretary
Approved: April 27, 2010