Town Manager Weekly Update - February 20, 2025
Elaine Lazarus
From the Town Clerk’s Office - Dog Licenses
The Town Clerk’s office kindly reminds all dog owners that the deadline to register your pup is April 1, 2025. To avoid a $25 late fee per dog, be sure to renew your license on time. (Exceptions may apply for dogs new to town or puppies turning six months old after the April 1st deadline.)
The annual license fee per dog is $10 for a spay/neutered dog with proof from a licensed veterinarian and $15 if the dog is intact. If you are 70 years of age or older, there is no fee to license your individual dog(s), but late fees are still assessed if you do not license on time.
To apply for a NEW dog license please CLICK HERE. If you are RENEWING a dog license please CLICK HERE to license your dog online. Please email town...@hopkintonma.gov if you have any questions, we're happy to help.
Sand for Seniors
With the recent snow and ice, and more to come, just a reminder about the Hopkinton Senior Center’s Sand for Seniors program. A bucket of sand will be delivered to your door - please call the Senior Center at 508-497-9730 to sign up.
FY 2026 Town Budget Process
The Town’s budget process for Fiscal Year 2026 is underway. Town Departments have presented budget requests at the Select Board meetings on February 4 and February 18. The Board’s February 25 meeting has been cancelled, so the remaining departments will present on March 4. At the Board’s March 11 meeting, the Select Board will vote to adopt a budget and forward it to the Appropriation Committee for its review and public hearing. All of the meetings are open to the public, and you may attend in person, via Zoom, or watch live on HCAM. The agenda is posted on the Town website.
These Town Departments will make budget presentations on March 4:
Finance, Human Resources, Town Manager, Town Clerk, Health, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Land Use, Engineering/Facilities
You can view the presentations made at the February 4 and 18 Select Board meetings here: Select Board - YouTube
The budget is not yet balanced. This is a challenging and uncertain time as we seek to close the gap between revenues and expenditures. Feedback and comment on Town budgets is welcome, via the online form here: https://forms.gle/uwv62WPtMc2PZ5xr6
All registered voters may attend the annual town meeting on May 5 and vote to adopt the FY 2026 budget for the Town. Budget documents, as they are created, are posted on the Town website at the link below. Each department’s presentation slides will also be posted: 2025 Annual Town Meeting & FY2026 Budget Documents
Additional documents and information pertaining to the annual town meeting and the budget will be uploaded throughout the process, so check regularly for new information.
Annual Town Meeting - May 5, 2025
Speaking of Annual Town Meeting, the Warrant closed on Feb. 3 and the titles of articles submitted are below. A Warrant with the draft article language should be available within the next week. The Warrant is the foundation of town meeting, and it’s a warning of the subjects to be acted upon. The Warrant and Motions (“Motions”) document that is used at Town Meeting will contain the final Warrant language plus the motions that are anticipated to be made for each article.
Key town meeting dates going forward are:
Until April 8 - Review and refine Warrant article language; sponsors may withdraw and/or refine articles
April 8 - Select Board votes to sign Warrant
Until April 21 - Motions document is prepared, reviewed, and finalized April 21
April 21 - Appropriation Committee Report completed
May 5 - Annual Town Meeting
List of Submitted Articles:
Acceptance of Town Reports
FY 2025 Supplemental Appropriations and Transfers
Unpaid Bills from Prior Fiscal Years
Rescind Authorized but Unissued Debt
Excess Bond Premium
Set the Salary of Elected Officials
Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget
FY 2026 Revolving Funds Spending Limits
PEG Access and Cable Related Funding
Chapter 90 Highway Funds; Sponsor
Transfer to Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund
Transfer to the General Stabilization Fund
Transfer from the General Stabilization Fund
Transfer to the Capital Expense Stabilization Fund
Transfer from the Capital Expense Stabilization Fund
Transfer to the School Special Education Reserve Fund
Home Rule Petition - Economic Development Special Revenue Account
Pay-As-You-Go Capital Expenses
Rescind Authorized but Voided Capital Projects
Water Department Vehicle Replacement (W3)
Water Department Vehicle Replacement (W1)
Townwide Water Main Flushing Program
Grove Street Water Tank Design
Water Department Vehicle Replacement (W9)
Supplemental Appropriation for MWRA Connection Design Work
Fruit Street Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) - Screen System Replacement
Sewer Main Replacement Design
Adaptive Playground at the Marathon Elementary School
Community Preservation Funds
Community Preservation Recommendations
Amend Article I, Section 210-4, Definition of “Veterinary Clinic”
Housekeeping - Amend Reference in Section 210-126.2 “Duplexes”
Rezone Properties at the Intersection of Hayward and South Streets from Residence Lake Front (RLF) to Rural Business (BR)
Amend Article XVIII, Section 210-126 “Accessory Dwelling Units”
Amend Article X, Floodplain District to comply with State and Federal requirements
Amend Council on Aging Bylaws Chapter 5, Article IV
Prohibition on Use of Engine Compression Brakes
Amend Bylaw to Establish Revolving Fund for Finance Department
Establishment of the Economic Development Advisory Board
Creation of an Office of Economic Development
Change Day and Time of Annual Town Meeting
Accept Gift of Land - 0 John Matthew Road
Accept Gift of Land - Frankland Road
Purchase of Land - Unknown
Lease of Former Center School
Town Funded Legal Review of 500 Acre Land Transfer
Temporary Easement at 32 Chestnut Street for Sidewalk Construction
Amend Charter to Include Appointment Powers by the Board of Library Trustees
Authorize Fee for Written Demands
Accept “Prudent Investment Rule”
Encouragement of Voluntary PFAS Testing for Private Well Owners
If you have questions about the draft articles, please call the Town Manager’s office at 508-497-9701.
Interested in Town Meeting? Check out Town Meeting Time: A Handbook of Parliamentary Law, published by the Massachusetts Moderators Association. It provides some historical information about Massachusetts town meetings, a description of who does what in preparation for and during town meetings, and the procedural rules.
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