Town Manager Weekly Update - March 26, 2026
Elaine Lazarus
Bobbi Gibb - The Girl Who Ran - Ribbon Cutting on Friday, March 27 at 11:00 am
Please join the 26.2 Foundation, state and town officials, and the general public at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the corner of Main Street and Hayden Rowe, across from the Town Common, on Friday, March 27 at 11 am. The new statue celebrates Bobbi Gibb, who was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon (1966). The 26.2 Foundation is a Hopkinton-based organization, and more about Bobbi Gibb and the statue is on their website. The Girl Who Ran - 26.2 Foundation
Upcoming Events
April 1 at 7 pm - Friends of Whitehall Annual Meeting at the Sanctuary at Woodville (Woodville Baptist Church), 249 Wood St. After a brief business meeting and review of 2025 accomplishments, guest speaker Alyssa Giaquinto of Giaquinto Wildlife Center in Marlboro, will talk about wildlife rehabilitation, native owls, and everyday actions that help protect wildlife. She will be accompanied by Bella, her ambassador barn owl, and discuss the important role ambassador animals play in education and conservation.
April 2 at 6:30 pm - Stories & Songs, a special event at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA). An evening of inspiration and music at Stories and Songs, a special event presented by the 26.2 Foundation and the HCA. Set against the backdrop of the Boston Marathon, five remarkable marathoners will take the stage to share their personal stories of triumph, resilience, and the power of the human spirit. Each athlete will select a song that reflects their journey, and after their story, a live band will bring that song to life. For tickets Upcoming Events, Live Performances & Workshops in Hopkinton, MA | HCA
April 4 from 10 am to 1 pm - Recycling and Reuse Day at Marathon Elementary School, 129 Hayden Rowe. For Hopkinton and Ashland residents. Please see the information in the flyer below and at HopGreen - Events. In addition to items for disposal/recycling such as electronics and mattresses, you can also bring documents for shredding, recent/like new books to support the Hopkinton Public Library, 5 cent deposit bottles and cans to support the Hopkinton Senior Center, plastic film to support the Hopkinton High School Environmental Club, and food pantry items (non-expired).
April 11 and 12 - The Marathon Quilt Guild 30th Anniversary Show, "A Thread Runs Through It", at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe. 10 am - 5 pm. Tickets are $10/person; children 12 and under are free. Tickets and more information is available at https://marathonquilters.com/
Appropriation Committee Vacancies
Do you have an interest in municipal finance and budgets? Please consider joining the Appropriation Committee. The members of the committee serve 3-year terms, and they may not hold any other elective or appointed office. The Town’s bylaws state that the residents who serve on the committee will have “sound business experience or good judgment", and “shall consider any and all questions involving the expenditure of money, for the purpose of making reports or recommendations thereon to the Town”. There are current vacancies. Please apply online on the town website via the link on this page: Boards & Committees
2026 Annual Town Meeting Information - Public Hearings on April 7
Hopkinton's Annual Town Meeting is on Saturday, May 2, at 9:00 am, at the Hopkinton Middle School. All registered voters may attend and vote. Budget and other documents are posted on the website now, and there’s more to come. Town Meeting & Budgets
Among the articles to be considered are several changes to the Town’s General Bylaws. The Select Board will hold a public hearing on the amendments on April 7 at 7:00 pm. Bylaw proponents will describe the proposal and hear feedback from the public.
The General Bylaw amendments are:
- Fire Alarms Bylaw - Proposed amendments to the current bylaw include referencing definitions in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code
- Driveways Bylaw - Proposed amendments to the current bylaw include clarifying language, and referencing guidance publications.
- Police Department Revolving Fund - The proposed amendments to the language of an existing revolving fund include the addition of revenues from cruiser fees, and using the funds for cruiser replacement and maintenance.
- Municipal Aggregation Revolving Fund - A new revolving fund would be established to hold the revenues received from the town’s Municipal Aggregation program. Funds would be used for energy related expenses.
- Municipal Electric Vehicle Charging Revolving Fund - A new revolving fund would be established to hold revenues received from the use of municipal electric vehicle charging stations, which would then be used for their maintenance and repair. There are no municipal charging stations now, and it is hoped that one will be installed in FY27.
- Use of Trails and Shared Use Paths Bylaw - A new bylaw is proposed that would allow the Trails Committee to designate the specific Shared Use Paths on town-owned property that will be subject to the regulations contained in the bylaw. The regulations include establishing a speed limit of 10 mph for electric mobility devices, bicycles, and other “vehicles” on the designated shared use paths.
- Civil Fingerprinting Bylaw - An amendment to the existing Civil Fingerprinting bylaw would add “Common Victualler License” to the list of licenses for which fingerprinting and criminal history background checks of license applicants are required.
- Temporary Repairs on Private Ways Bylaw - An amendment to the existing bylaw would remove the limit on the amount of money that the Town could spend on repairs to private ways in any one fiscal year. The current limit is $1,000.
The text of the articles are on the town website here: 2026 Annual Town Meeting & FY2027 Budget Documents
If you would like to check out all of the Town’s General Bylaws, you can see them on the Town Clerk’s page of the website: Town Charter & Bylaws
Also on April 7, the Select Board will hold a public hearing on the streets proposed for acceptance as public ways. The streets are Auciello Drive, Linden Street, and Whisper Way. The hearing is at 6:25 pm.
You may attend the April 7 public hearings in person at Town Hall or via Zoom, and the Zoom link will be on the agenda for the meeting, posted on the town website.
The 2025 Annual Town Report is now posted on the Town website! Check it out at this link:
Hopkinton Town Report for web.pdf Printed copies should be available in a few weeks.
Other 2026 Boston Marathon Events in Hopkinton
Winged Foot Art Exhibition & Auction
April 4 - April 26 | Hopkinton Town Common
A unique art exhibition and auction of 26 winged feet painted by regional artists with their interpretation of the spirit of the marathon. The exhibition will be on display at the Town Common from April 4th through the 26th creating a beautiful public art display connecting the community and visitors alike. Be sure to stop by and bid on your favorite!
The stART Line Experience
April 18 - April 26 | Hopkinton Town Common
A self-guided art and education tour of the Marathon Legend sculptures in Hopkinton. Participants download the map and begin at the newly installed, The Girl Who Ran, by Bobbi Gibb, artist and first woman to run the Boston Marathon. From there, they will visit each sculpture and scan a QR code to learn more about the artist and the sculpture. Also included are online coupon codes for discounts at neighboring restaurants.
Marathon Mural
April 4 - April 26 | Hopkinton Public Library
A signature piece celebrating the spirit of the marathon by artist Faith Sycaoyao.
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