Live Coverage: Town Meeting Night Two

11:04

that's it for tonight, see you tomorrow at 7 p.m.

11:04

To borrow and appropriate $1.3 is approved as the last motion of the night

10:52

Presentation about the Elmwood Farm, see general details here:

10:45

According to the Appropriations Committee the land is appraised at a much higher dollar amount than the purchase price.

10:43

Approved

10:42

The address is 192 Hayden Rowe St.

10:38

$400,000 total transfers (from three different accounts for the purchase of land on Hayden Rowe Street. There is a discussion about current legal problems regarding the current owner.

Town Counsel is under the impression that there is no issue that would effect the town right now, but in case something comes up later it will be dealt with at that time.

10:34

Transfer $17,000 and $157,500 for Whisper Way property approved

10:33

$20,000 for assessors record approved

$10,000 for headstones approved

$8,500 for town selectmen's records approved

$7,000 for passive recreation approved

10:28

At the request of one person each transfer will be voted on separately.

10:26

Doesn't look like we're going to get through all 18 articles left tonight. Several biggies still on the warrant.

10:24

The first four are going to be taken together. The last three (the land purchases) will be done separately.

10:23

$174,500 for whisper way rather. $400,000 for land on Hayden Rowe Street and finally $1.3 million for the purchase of the Elmwood Farm purchase at 97 Ash St.

10:21

$20,000 to preserve old record, $10,000 to preserve historic headstones, $8,500 for preserving selectmen’s records, $7,000 Hopkinton Area Land Trust public trail system signs, $17,000 purchase land of Whisper Way,

10:19

Article 40, Community Preservation Committee to use $819,000 use Community Preservation Act fund that is already being paid will be used.

10:18

"Motion two is out of order and is not within the four corners of the article," Town Moderator Bruce Karlin said.

10:17

The question being voted right now is whether motion two is in order.

10:15

Good thing John Duffy was recognized earlier, he is setting the record straight. It appears that what I just said is correct.

10:14

"The CPC was approached by DISC to look at the appropriation for $580,000 and we voted in favor of that," head of CPC said. This is confusing me and I generally understand this stuff.

I still believe this cannot be approved because the last motion was not approved.

10:11

Because capital improvements committee did not hear this and make a recommendation to town meeting.

10:09

Fails 85- 103.

That vote not passing makes the next vote (to fund a study) essentially dead in the water.

The motion is to take no action, and defer to a potential fall Special Town Meeting.

10:05

Motion to end debate was made and approved, there will now be a vote to enable the town to petition the legislature.

Sounded close on that vote, counting now.

10:03

The current speaker said he was sitting at home watching the meeting on HCAM and had to come down here to have his voice heard.

He encouraged everyone sitting at home to come down.

9:50

"As an 18 year resident of Hopkinton, one of the reasons I got on this committee was to look at what makes up us as a community," Driscoll said

"As I enter my empty nesting years I look at what brings us together and to me that's the downtown. The ability to shop at Colella's or eat at Zio's and Bill's and see someone I haven't talked to in years."

9:49

"Essentially the study will give us the opportunity to consider how much we would like to fund," Driscoll said. "By funding the study we will have the ability to decide how much we want to do."

9:47

"I think it would be foolish for us not to get permission to do something before we know what we want to do," Jack Speranza.

This is getting convoluted. Sorry if I'm confusing anyone, if you have a question let me know.

9:45

if the $580,000 is approved tonight it will go towards the eventual cost of the project.

The $8 million estimate is from Wood Street to Ash Street, it will be cheaper to do a shorter distance but the town will not know any real cost estimates until the study is done.

9:44

It is not legal to do the study without first having the approval of the general courts.

9:41

"This is clearly very expensive, but we don't know how expensive and we won't until we approve this study to find out," Palleiko said.

"This is certainly a long road and I'm not going to kid you it's an expensive road, but we won't know how expensive and the worth of it until we do the initial study."

9:40

"The first part is to petition the courts to allow the town to pay for a project that will benefit private businesses in the town," Palleiko said. "This is not something that is generally allowable under the law and so with your approval we need to petition the courts."

9:38

"The basic idea of this article tonight is in two parts. First of all allow us to pay for under grounding of utilities if we decided to do it. The second part is to ask for the money to find out how much it's going to cost us."

9:37

Ben Palleiko is taking the mic to explain the situation

9:31

"As the downtown revitalization made their recommendations to town meeting several years ago we determined that one aspect of the aesthetics that should be looked at is the undergrounding of the utilities," Tom Nealon of DISC said.

9:28

The concern now is how the money will be paid back. Before approving the money for this project it will need to be voted by the Town Meeting and at that point it will be made clear how the cost is going to be paid off.

9:25

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Todd Cestari said cost associated with the second motion for this article (which has not been made yet) will be $580,000 that is for the planning only. Cost of the actual under grounding would be ballpark $8 Million.

9:23

it also included language that says it can be either paid for by taxpayers (everyone in town) or by rate payers (people who use the utilities)

9:21

There is no money associated with this article as presented by the Board of Selectmen.

9:19

Expect a lot of discussion about this. It's part of the same general DISC discussion of which the parking lot was voted down last night.

9:18

Now on to Article 39, under grounding the utilities on Main Street.

9:17

The current tractor is "tired" and although it is unclear how much this will cost over the next five years.

The reason to replace this now as opposed to waiting to see if it breaks down is that the emission requirements will be stricter next year and the requirements will increase the cost.

Frank D'Urso of the Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee recommends voting this down based on the rush to beat environmental controls.

Ultimately the article passed

9:12

Article 38, $64,000 for a new tractor for the school athletic fields.

9:11

Article approved. Long story short Lumber Street will get paved.

9:09

This was a discussion in 1987 according to Ken Weismantel. The decision then was to not pave the road in order to keep speeds down.

9:07

Now there is a motion in the table to pave the road. Town meeting politics just as confusing as ever.

Apparently it's a unique style of government in New England.

9:06

hahah after explanation of that the motion is voted down. The moderator is asking for a substitute motion.

9:05

Discussion seems to be revolving around neighboring residents concerned that this is unsafe for various reasons.

Looks like the meeting is going to vote on the motion for no action. A yes vote means they want throw out the motion, a no vote means that they believe a motion should be taken in another direction.

8:53

Article 37, pave Lumber Street. The appropriations committee recommends no action be taken.

This was apparently brought before the appropriations committee because there is a section that is not paved.

No mail service, many accidents, cars get stuck, dust issue for the neighbors.

8:51

Article passes.

8:41

"Trying to turn east at that intersection is heart stopping for experienced drivers and suicidal for new drivers," he said.

8:40

Article 36, a new traffic signal at West Main Street and School Street. Last year's town meeting and the Police Chief recognized this is a necessary improvement.

This is a debt exclusion. $540,000 for the final design and construction.

8:38

143-56 article passes

8:36

Another vote to be counted. Even after Westerling said if this were a public way it would be among the worst conditions in town.

8:28

These repairs can be completed during the summer and would be ready for next school year if this is approved.

8:23

This is separate from regular road repairs because it is not an approved public road and therefore ineligible for chapter 90 state funds.

This is not including in student parking fees because that money is used for regular maintenance of the parking lots.

8:21

Article 35, Loop Road repair. 14 years old "it is in very poor condition" $96,025 to be raised and appropriated.

8:20

Approved. I think there is one person voting no to everything but I can't pick him out of the crowd.

8:19

Article 34, replace know and tube electrical system at the library. It is more than 74 years old. the cost for this will be $50,000 to be raised and appropriated (added to taxes)

8:18

Article approved.

I can't ask questions at the meeting, but if any readers have any questions I can do my best at answering them for you.

8:17

A question about the security of the park in reference to recent graffiti. Potentially going to include security cameras and lighting in conjunction with working with the lake association.

8:15

no changes to parking lot actually. "Given my recent history with parking lots we're just going to leave the parking lot alone," Driscoll said in reference to the failed parking lot vote last night.

8:12

"We want to make this a destination for all of our families in town," Driscoll said. "We really want to make it a park. Part of what we do is provide lifeguards during the summer. Last year the cost of lifeguards broke even with the cost of accessing the beach."

8:10

Ken Driscoll, Chairman of Parks and Rec. is making a presentation. Improvements include upgrades to the parking lot, beach house, playground, the path to the beach and the beach itself.

8:06

Money is expected to come from the Parks and Rec revenues.

8:05

Article 33, Sandy Beach improvements. $332,000 for the design and construction of the Sandy Beach bath house and other property improvements.

8:04

Approved

8:03

Article 32, $43,000 from sewer enterprise for replacement of a sewer department vehicle. Also a 2003 vehicle with 97,000 miles apparently.

8:02

Approved

8:01

103-75, motion passes

7:57

Oral vote sounded slightly in favor of yes to me, but they are counting now. This vote requires a simple majority.

7:51

According to Westerling the water is being treated separately at each well, this will allow the DPW to see if the water can be treated centrally.

7:48

Approved

7:47

Article 29, water meter upgrade to radio read. $77,000 from water enterprise fund. Will provide more accurate billing to 800 customers.

7:46

The town manager is the official advisor, but there will be discussion at a future Selectmen's meeting about bringing back a public works advisory committee. It will also be overviewed by the Permanent Building Committee.

7:43

Last year the town approved $100,00 for a design for this. "We're comfortable with the 1.75 million cost estimate," Westerling said.

7:42

The current pump station is "overwhelmed" according to DPW Director John Westerling. "When it rains heavily we need to have additional sewer pump trucks there to deal with the large amount of water flowing through."

7:41

"Provided however, that while such bonds or notes (the money to pay for this) shall be general obligations of the town, it is the intent of the town that such bonds or notes be paid from the sewer enterprise fund revenues."

7:37

Article 28, Wood Street Pump station. $1.75 Million for the final design and replacement of the pump station.

7:36

Article 27, $17,000 for supplemental Tender Truck for the fire department. Approved

7:35

Approved, sounded like 1 no vote.

7:34

Article 26, American with Disabilities Act improvements. $150,000 including many improvements at Center School and a fix to the bathroom at the Library.

7:33

Article 25, $300,000 for improvements to the drainage on Lakeshore drive. Passes

7:31

Cheers from a Hopkinton runner in the crowd as that was approved. She looks to be High School aged.

7:29

A reminder from the moderator to keep comments and questions short. "I want to get this meeting done tonight"

7:25

For clarification purposes, there is no permanent override being voted tonight even though all of these are outside of proposition 2 1/2. They are debt exclusions.

7:22

The replacement will last 5-6 years. It cannot be resurfaced because it has already been resurfaced once. The problems lie in the base of the track as well as the surface. No grip, cracks and potholes. "We will be negligent and liable if we do not replace this track," Athletic Director Eric Karjel said. "We will not be allowed to race if we do not fix the problems."

7:15

Article 24 underway. $278,500 for a new track behind the high school. 

7:11

"This is a fantastic surprise and I'm very humbled by this. It's all about people," Duffy said. "I appreciate this award very much and I'll just keep going as long as I can."

7:09

45 years of service so far, and he's on the ballot again!

7:08

Welcome to night two of the 2012 annual town meeting,

Dr. John Duffy is being recognized for the Moderators Citizenship Award