Town Manager Weekly Update - April 30, 2026
Elaine Lazarus
Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 am in the Middle School Auditorium
The Annual Town Meeting will get underway at 9:00 am on May 2 in the Middle School Auditorium. All registered voters are eligible to vote. The warrant and Warrant & Motions document are posted on the town website. Presentation slides are posted there as well. The Warrant & Motions document is what participants will be using during the meeting.
https://www.hopkintonma.gov/departments/town_clerk/town_meeting.php
Continuing from my weekly updates for the last 2 weeks, I am highlighting some of the articles. I started with articles at the beginning of the warrant and below are some toward the end. There are 39 articles in all. At the end of this email is a list of article titles; please see the Warrant and Motions document for the language for each article and the motions that are anticipated to be made.
Please attend! The meeting could go as late as 4:00 pm. There will not be breaks during the meeting, but people are free to come and go. There is no food allowed in the auditorium, but if you bring food, the cafeteria will be open to use. There will be a video feed there so you won’t miss anything. There will likely be food and drinks available for purchase from the scouts and school groups.
Voters who attend an Annual or a Special Town Meeting are acting as the Town’s legislative body. It’s an opportunity to participate directly in the local democratic process, and I hope to see you there.
Neighborhood Planting & Block Party, Sunday, May 3; 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Celebrate the start of the community-led Hopkinton Resilient Land Initiative with neighbors and community members. Meet along Legacy Farms North, north of the East Main St. intersection. Hands-on transplanting; bring your plant home. Learn about what native plants to buy and why. Music and food; Free.
Friends of Hopkinton Seniors, Inc. - Annual Plant Sale Fundraiser May 16
The Friends of the Hopkinton Seniors will be holding their annual Plant Sale Fundraiser May 16, 2026 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Sale is located at the Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew Street. There will be a variety of tomatoes, vegetables, herbs and flowers grown by the members in the center’s greenhouse as well as donated plants, all at great prices! As part of this fundraiser donations are accepted from the community in the form of potted vegetables, herbs, annuals, and perennials. Please consider donating plants you have divided from your garden. Potted plant donations can be dropped off at the Senior Center Reception Desk, in clean containers marked with the plant name, on May 14 and 15. (Please, no common green hosta, or orange daylilies.) The funds raised from this important event support Hopkinton’s Senior Center Programs. We hope to see you there!
Hopkinton Residential Water Conservation Program
The Town of Hopkinton has launched a Residential Water Conservation Program this spring to support long-term water sustainability. As seasonal demand increases, small changes at home can help protect the community’s shared water supply and maintain system reliability. Throughout the year, the Town will continue to share practical tips, seasonal reminders, and helpful resources for residents.
Outdoor Water Use Awareness
Outdoor watering can account for more than half of total household water use during the summer months. As irrigation season begins, adjusting watering schedules and being mindful of usage can significantly reduce overall demand on the Town’s water system. Small changes early in the season can make a meaningful difference later in the summer.
Learn more and explore water-saving tips: Learn more and explore water-saving tips: Water Conservation
Understanding Hopkinton’s Water Supply
Most of Hopkinton’s drinking water is sourced from local groundwater wells that rely on rainfall for natural recharge. Periods of limited precipitation can impact supply, especially during high-demand seasons. Protecting this resource through responsible water use helps ensure a reliable and sustainable water system for all residents.
Learn more and explore water-saving tips:Water Conservation
At the Public Library
Puzzle Race! Saturday, May 2; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Teams will compete to complete a 500-piece puzzle first! All teams will complete the same puzzle. This program is appropriate for ages 9 and up. Maximum team size is 6.
Registration is required. If you are attending solo and would like to be placed on a team with other solos, please contact Adult Services Librarian Dan Boudreau at dbou...@hopkintonma.gov.
250th: American Girl Doll Tea Party, May 2; 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm.
Let's have a tea party! Bring your American Girl doll (or any doll!) for a fun afternoon of tea, juice, light snacks and American Girl/Colonial themed activities. Doll matching outfits and tea attire encouraged! This is an All Ages program. Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied at all times by a responsible person age 12 or older. Registration is required.
This program is part of our celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary. This program is generously funded by the Hopkinton Library Foundation.
250th: CreatorSpace Workshop: Sampler Embroidery, Tuesday, May 5; 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm.
Embroidery samplers were a way for colonial women and girls to humble-brag about their skill with a needle and thread, especially to potential husbands or in-laws. While today we value women for more than our needlework, fiber arts is still a popular skill for people to practice. Come learn some basic stitches and create a simple design that shows off your budding talent. This program is for ages 14 to adult. This program is part of our celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary.
VIRTUAL - On Courage, Turmoil, and the Transformative Power of Love, Thursday, May 7; 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Join us for an exciting conversation with internationally acclaimed author Marjan Kamali as we delve into the timeless wonder of her New York Times bestselling novel, The Lion Women of Tehran. Register now to hear directly from the author about the crafting of her tender, yet immensely powerful work. Click here to register
About the Author: Marjan Kamali, born in Turkey to Iranian parents, is the New York Times bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran, The Stationery Shop, and Together Tea. She is the 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Award. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages. Marjan lives with her family in the Boston area.
Learn About Dementia - May 16
On Saturday, May 16, the Hopkinton Council on Aging is sponsoring a Dementia Friends Information Session. Learn about dementia and available resources. The session is at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe, from 11 am to 12:30 pm.The session is free.
Artful Connections - May 19 at 6:30 PM
The next Artful Connections event is on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30 pm at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. This event features Japanese singer-songwriter Junko Ogawa, and Asian American poet May Chen. Sponsors include the Hopkinton Cultural Council.
Annual Town Meeting Article List
Proposed Consent Agenda items are noted as (CA) below. These articles are proposed to be voted as a group at the beginning of the Town Meeting. In general, these are articles where the motion is for no action, they are routine annual articles, or are non-controversial.
1: Acceptance of Town Reports
2: FY 2026 Supplemental Appropriations and Transfers (CA)
3: Unpaid Bills from Prior Fiscal Years
4: Rescind Authorized but Unissued Debt (CA)
5: Set the Salary of Elected Officials (CA)
6: FY 2027 Operating Budget
7: FY 2027 Revolving Funds Spending Limits (CA)
8: PEG Access and Cable Related Funding (CA)
9: Transfer to Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund (CA)
10: Transfer to the General Stabilization Fund (CA)
11: Transfer to the Capital Expense Stabilization Fund (CA)
12: PILOT Agreement, Frankland Road Solar Farm
13: Capital Improvements
14: One-Time Expenditures
15: Water Enterprise Capital Improvements
16: Sewer Enterprise Capital Improvements
17: Costa Bros Masonry Litigation Settlement
18: Authorization of Drainage Improvements for Hawthorne Lane Area
19: Community Preservation Funds (CA)
20: Community Preservation Recommendations
21: Amend MBTA Communities Multi-Family Overlay District (MCMOD) Bylaw
22: Fees-in-Lieu-of Affordable Housing Unit
23: Amend Fire Alarms Bylaw
24: Amend Driveways Bylaw
25: Expand Use of Police Revolving Fund
26: Establish Revolving Fund for Municipal Aggregation Funds
27: Establish Revolving Fund for Municipal Electric Vehicle Charging
28: Adopt New Bylaw - Use of Trails and Shared Use Paths
29: Require Civil Fingerprinting for Common Victualler Licensees
30: Authorize Lease of 148 Lumber Street
31: Disposition of 0 Woody Island Road
32: Acceptance of Whisper Way as a Public Way
33: Acceptance of Linden Street as a Public Way
34: Accept Easement at 64 Grove Street
35: Grant Easement at 147 Hayden Rowe to 145 Hayden Rowe
36: Grant Easement at 147 Hayden Rowe to Verizon
37: Grant Easement at 147 Hayden Rowe to Eversource
38: Acceptance of Auciello Drive and 0 Auciello Drive, Amendment of Chapter 174, Article VI,§ 174-22 (“Minor Repair”), Authorization of Limited Appropriation and Policy Direction Related to Private Ways.
39: Appoint Trustees of the School Fund (CA)
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