UPDATED: 58 Articles to be Voted on at Town Meeting Including Votes

Intro by Dr. Bruce Karlin, town moderator. In the list of articles in italic writing has been added by the editor.

Welcome to Town Meeting. 

Let me outline how Town Meeting proceeds: 

To start the meeting I ask the Clerk for confirmation of a quorum (100) and that the hour has arrived (as posted in the warrant). We salute the flag and then take a moment to honor those who have passed in the last year. I next review the handouts available to aid the meeting. I then establish the bounds of the hall and where voters and non-voters should sit. I give instructions on how voters can speak at the meeting. It’s a simple and easy process; voters should not be intimidated. I then review the rules of order of the meeting. It has been our custom to address any rule changes at this time. We usually have a motion to end discussion of the article at hand at 11 PM and adjourn to the following evening. Other considerations might changes the order of articles or request paper ballots for some article. I then ask the Town Clerk to read the call and return of the warrant signifying that the meeting has been announced and that we are ready to begin. 

With that we launch into Article 1. We proceed through the Articles. In an unusual Hopkinton wrinkle, the meeting adjourned to the voting booths for a May 21 election. Only when the voting booths close do we end Town Meeting. 

Voted on May 7

Approved Article 1: Acceptance of Town Reports

Approved Article 2: FY 2012 Supplemental Appropriations

Approved Article 3: FY 2012 Budget Transfer

Approved Article 4: Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years

Approved Article 5: Amend FY 2012 Building Permit Revolving Fund

Approved Article 6: Amend the Salary of an Elected Official this article represents a $4,000 increase to the Town Clerk's salary from $61,000 to $65,000

Approved Article 7: FY 2013 Operating Budget The budget is to be voted at $30,354,762

Approved Article 8: FY 2013 Operating Budget – School Department The budget is to be voted at $34,085,238

Approved Article 9: FY 2013 Revolving Funds

Approved Article 10: Chapter 90 Highway Funds

Approved with ammendment Article 11: Transfer to Capital Expense Stabilization Fund This would increase a fund for needed capital improvements by $50,000. The town voted to transfer $100,000 from free cash to the capital stablization fund. They took out a portion of the article which called for the collection of $20,000 in taxes.

Approved with ammendment Article 12: Transfer to General Stabilization Fund This article would increase the general stabilization fund by $100,000. The town voted to transfer $300,000 from free cash to the capital stablization fund. They took out a portion of the article which called for the collection of $100,000 in taxes.

Approved Article 13: Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund

Approved Article 14: Close Drainage Improvement Fund & Return Funds

Approved Article 15: Cemetery Building Removal

Approved Article 16: Acceptance As-Built Plans for Hearthstone Road and Carriage Hill Road

Approved Article 17: Fire Personal Protective Equipment

Approved Article 18: Fire Generator Station 2  

Approved Article 19: Property Tax Exemptions  

Approved Article 20: Pay-As-You-Go Capital Expenses These are one-time budget expenditures that will not result in a year-to-year budget increase. Included in this article are new police cruiser, an updated IT system for the schools and the town among other items.

Approved Article 21: Repair Drainage Improvements to Hayward Street

Approved Article 22: Town Hall Basement Water Damage

Rejected Article 23: Parking Lot – Town Hall This came to fruition as part of the DISC process and would expend $50,000 for design and engineering of the parking lot behind Bill's Pizza.

End of meeting on May 7.

Begin meeting on May 8

Approved Article 24: High School Track Renovation According to Athletic Director Eric Karjel if the track is not replaced it may not be acceptable for use in the 2012/2013 school year. This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 25: Lake Shore Drive Culvert This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 26: ADAOC Phase VI This article would recommend $150,000 for Americans with Disabilities compliance.

Approved Article 27: Tender Truck Supplemental Appropriation This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 28: Wood Street Pump Station Improvements

Approved Article 29: Water Meter Upgrade to Radio Read

Approved Article 30: Water Supply Study

Approved Article 31: Water Vehicle

Approved Article 32: Sewer Vehicle

Approved Article 33: Sandy Beach Improvements This would allow $332,000 for the design and construction of a bath house and other property improvements.

Approved Article 34: Library – Replace Knob/Tube Electrical System/Envelope Repairs The electrical system in the library basement is outdated and can be considered dangerous. This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 35: Loop Road Repair. Specifically the entrance next to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 36: School and West Main Street Traffic Signal. This is part of the plan to increase traffic flow between the Upton town line and route 495. This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 37: Pave Lumber Street. There is a currently unpaved section that was left that way to help control the speed of drivers. This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 38: Buildings & Grounds Equipment – Tractor-Mower This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Rejected Article 39: Undergrounding Utilities On Main Street. This article came about as part of the DISC process for improving the downtown area. This article also requires a positive vote in the upcoming election.

Approved Article 40: Community Preservation Recommendations

End of Meeting on May 8

Start of Meeting on May 9

Approved Article 41: Amendment to Alcoholic Beverage, Marihuana or Tetrahydrocannabinol and Tobacco Bylaw This would increase the fines associated with public consumption of marijuana and alcohol.

Approved Article 42: Amendment to Wetlands Protection Bylaw

Approved Article 43: Unregistered Motor Vehicles Bylaw This would create a bylaw limiting the amount of unregistered vehicles and trailers on any property to one.

Rejected Article 44: Secondhand Dealers Bylaw

Article 45: Site Plan Review Bylaw

Article 46: Health Services Facility

Article 47: Medical Office Use

Article 48: Continuing Care Retirement Community

Article 49: Restaurants in Industrial B District

Article 50: Retail Uses

Article 51: Zoning District of 91 Grove Street

Article 52: Off-Street Parking Bylaw

Article 53: Life Sciences

This article was pulled by it's sponsor, EMC, who might persue the zoning change at a future time. Article 54: Amend Zoning Map

Article 55: Street Acceptances

Article 56: Acquisition of Property on West Main Street. This would allow for the purchase of 2 West Main Street so as to allow a more complete traffic redesign at the intersection of West Main Street and Wood Street.

Article 57: Package Licenses This would allow developer Chuck Joseph to apply for a special permit through the state to allow a site-specific liquor license at the new Hopkinton Square business development.

Article 58: PerkinElmer TIF