Live Annual Town Meeting Updates 2016 | Hopkinton MA Community TV Stations

By Tom Nappi, News Director
4 May, 2016

Stay Tuned to this page for Live Annual Town Meeting Updates. Town Meeting is scheduled for 7pm Monday May 2nd, Tuesday May 3rd and Wednesday May 4th. View the full town meeting warrant here! View town meeting live here: https://hcam.viebit.com/ or Comcast Channel 8, Verizon Channel 30.

Motion to change order of Article 51 (Town Clerk), to come after Article 7 (Set the Salary of Elected Officials) - Passed

Article 1 - Acceptance of Town Reports
Passed

Article 2 - FY 2016 Supplemental Appropriations - ($200,000 to supplement operating budget)
Passed

Article 3 - FY 2016 Budget Transfers
Passed (Consent Agenda)

Article 4 - Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years - ($3,142.25)
Passed

Article 5 - Property Tax Exemption Increase
Passed (Consent Agenda)

Article 6 - Personal Property Tax Bill Threshold - (Sets $1,000 as minimum value of personal property subject to taxation)
Passed

Article 7 - Set the Salary of Elected Officials - (Sets salary of Town Clerk to $65,630)
Passed

Article 51 - Town Clerk - (Discussion if position should be Appointed or Elected, Town Council; "Position would be appointed by Board of Selectmen")
Failed (Town Clerk will remain Elected Position)

Article 8 - Fiscal 2017 Operating Budget - (Standing Vote to decide whether to subtract from line item 422, Lake Maspenock weed control from question Passes (100-65), vote retracted due to misunderstanding. FY 2017 Omnibus Budget: $75,982,132.38.

Re-vote on if to divide question and separate line item 422 so Lake Maspenock Weed Control is voted seperately Fails Standing Vote (2/3rd requirement) 76-94)

Passed

Article 9 - FY 2017 Revolving Funds
Passed

Article 10 - Chapter 90 Highway Funds ($651,957 towards road repairs, construction, maintenance and preservation)
Passed

Article 11 - Transfer to General Stabilization Funds - ($300,000 from General Fund to General Stabilization Fund)
Passed

Article 12 - Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund - ($612,647 from General Free Cash to Other post employment benefits liability trust fund)
Passed

Article 13 - Pay as You Go Capital Expenses
Passed

Article 14 - Weed Control at Lake Maspenock - (No Action Recommended)
Passed

Article 15 - Sidewalk Master Plan Phase II - ($136,000 for design and engineering sidewalks. (Installs sidewalks on Holt and Granite St. Connect Woodville and Fruit Street to town center and center trail, including enabling walking access to Fruit st. Fields.)
Passed

Article 16 - Transfer Funds to Purchase Five Vehicle and Equpment - (Allow use of $500,000 toward Rescue 1)
Passed

Article 17 - Transfer funds to Purchase Fire Vehicle (Used Ladder Trick)
Passed

Article 18 - Transfer Funds to Reequip/Reconfigure Fire Vehicle and Equipment ($55,000 reequiping and reconfiuring engine 2 and 4)
Passed

Article 19 - Purchase of Dump Truck ($200,000)
Passed

Article 20 - Grove Street Water Tank Replacement - ($1,530,000 for new water tank at Grove St. water facility.)
Passed

Article 21 - Water Main Replacement - Hayden Rowe Street ($260,000)
Passed

Article 22 - Water Source of Supply ($1,000,000 for infrastructure improvements associated with the connection to the MWRA by the Town of Ashland.)
Passed

Article 23 - Biological Filtration Wells #4 and #5 ($50,000)
Passed

Article 24 - Middle School Auditorium Upgrades ($167,000)
Passed

Article 25 - School Bus Parking Lot (No Action Recommended by Appropriations Committee and Capital Improvements Committee, School Committee recommends vote NO towards no action, recommends amendment for $320,000 for school bus parking lot)
Standing Vote differs action to day 2.

Article 26 - Storage Facility Feasibility Study
Passed (Consent Agenda)

Article 27 - Artificial Turf Field - (No Action Recommended)
Passed

Article 28 - Signage for Historical Sites (15,000 for signs designating historical sites around town)
Passed

Article 29 - Transfer Funds for New Capital Projects (Appropriations and Capital Improvements recommend No Action)
Passed

Article 30 - Cemetery Roadway Opening ($2,500 from sale lots fund to be used for removal and relocation of stone wall at Mt. Auburn Cemetery)
Passed

Day 2:
Article 25 - School Bus Parking Lot (No Action Recommended by Appropriations Committee and Capital Improvements Committee, School Committee recommends vote NO towards no action, recommends amendment for $320,000 for school bus parking lot)
Continued from Day 1
-The School Committee moves to have $320,000 directed toward 25,000 sq ft school bus parking lot at new Elementary School (Todaro Property). - Passed
-Selectmen amend that the permanent building committee supervise. - Passed
- Selectmen candidates Claire Wright and Michael Umina spoke against amended article.
Amended Article Standing Vote fails 2/3rd's requirement 62-71.

Article 31 - Community Preservation Recommendations ($362,500 towards various projects)
Amended to remove Item H) $10,000 for fencing around Claflin Fountain and item I) protective netting at the Fruit Street Athletic Complex.
Request to divide Items H and I and vote on them seperately approved by town moderator.
Request to remove Item H) Fencing Around Claflin Fountain: Standing vote - Fails 42-64
Request to remove Item I) Protective Netting at the Fruit Street Athletic Complex - Standing vote - Fails 38-65
Amendment to remove Items F and G.
Continued from Day 1
Amendment to remove Items F and G. (Debate if town owns Stone Bridge, town council states town owns land)
Amendment - Fails unanimously
Question Divided: Simple Majority A-J / 2/3rds Majority - Item D
Items A-J - Passed
Item D: Standing Vote Passes 129-2

Article 32 - Amend Open Space Mixed Use Development Overlay District (Zoning change to build International Marathon Center, would allow "Cultural Uses" in Legacy Farms Residential Subdistrict)
Passed

Article 33 - Amend Garden Apartments in Residential Districts and Village Housing in Residential Districts Bylaws (Prohibits condominiums as long as town meets 10% requirement from state, all projects started or approved would be grandfathered)
Planning Board member and Selectmen Candidate, Claire Wright argues this is one regulation that can slow down growth of town.
Passed

Article 34 - Repeal Senior Housing Development Bylaw (Repeal senior housing bylaw)
Passed

Article 35 - Amend Site Plan Review and Open Space and Landscape Preservation Development Bylaws
Passed

Article 36 - Amend Sign Bylaw
Passed

Article 37 - Amend Hotel Overlay District
Passed

Article 38 - Elmwood Park Business District (Caters towards business uses)
Standing Count: Fails 2/3rd requirement 88-49

Article 39 - Dog Day Care (No more than 12 dogs at facility at once, no more than 2 dogs outside together before 9am, facility must be located on a lot containing at-least 3 acres, no overnight stay.)
Passed

Article 40 - Animal Shelters (3 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area)
Amended: Item B1) An animal shelter shall be located on a lot containing a minimum of 3 acres amended to 6 acres
Mike Shepard: "This is all by special permit...Board of Appeals has authority to give permit"
Amendment Failed
Passed

Article 41 - Repeal Sex Offender Residency Requirement (Delete unconstitutional bylaw as ruled by Supreme Court) Town Council: "This Law will never get overturned."
Standing Vote: Passes 64-30

Article 42 - Acquisition of Easement - 91 West Main Street (Selectmen acquire 91 West Main Street..land to be used for purposes of an exclusive right turn lane in West Main Street eastbound onto Lumber Street.)
Passed

Article 43 - Acquisition of Easement - Leonard Street (Acquire 0 Leonard Street to be used for storm water management purposes)
Passed

Article 44 - Gift of Land - Connelly Hill Estates (allows town to accept gift of 9.5 acres of open space in Connelly Hill Estates)
Passed

Article 45 - Gift of Land - Hilltop Road
Passed (Consent Agenda)

Article 46 - Gift of Land - Legacy Farms Recreation Parcel
Passed

Article 47 - Street Acceptance
Passed

Article 48 - Street Discontinuance (Discontinue the portion of the public way known as "Frankland Road")
Passed

Article 49 - Disposition of Property (No Action Recommended)
Passed

Article 50 - Solar Tax Agreements (Negotiate a tax agreement for payments in lieu of taxes)
Passed

Article 52 - Trustees of the School Trust Fund in the town of Hopkinton
Passed (Consent Agenda)