Town Manager Weekly Update - April 16, 2026

3 views

Skip to first unread message

Elaine Lazarus

unread,

Apr 16, 2026, 7:16:15 PMApr 16

to Hopkinton Notices

From Elaine Lazarus, Town Manager - April 16, 2026

Celebrate at the Marathon Start Line on Saturday, April 18 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Check out the Hopkinton Parks & Recreation website for information about activities on the Common on Saturday, April 18. Food, crafts, and games!

Hopkinton Parks and Recreation: 2026 Boston Marathon Information

Boston Marathon Information for Spectators, including road closures: Info for Spectators - Boston Athletic Association

April 19 to April 25 is National Library Week!

Locally, the Select Board proclaimed April 19 - 25 Library Week, and a proclamation was signed by the Board. I presented the proclamation to Nanci Hill, Library Director, and Jak Miller, Assistant Director, this week. Sponsored by the American Library Association since 1958, the week highlights the essential role of libraries and staff in transforming lives and fostering community connections. The theme this year is "Find Your Joy at the Library." Stop by the Library to use the whiteboard to answer: What about the Library brings you joy?

There are many programs happening at the Library during the week. Some programs require registration, so visit the online calendar. Hopkinton Public Library

250th: Chickens 101

Tuesday, April 21st from 1:00-2:00 pm.

Come learn about Dominique chickens, the first true “American” breed developed in America around 1750. Dominique chickens are listed on the Livestock Conservancy's list of rare/threatened heritage breeds. This program includes a presentation with live Dominique chickens led by our Assistant Director and farm owner, Jak Miller. Registration is required.

Drop-In CreatorSpace Hours for Teens

Tuesday, April 21st from 3:00-5:00 pm

Baby & Toddler Storytime @ Night

Tuesday, April 21st from 5:30-6:15 pm. Registration is required.

250th CreatorSpace Workshop: Painted Barn Quilt

Tuesday, April 21st from 6:00-7:00 pm.

"Barn Quilts" are geometric designs in the style of traditional quilts that are painted on barns, and have a long and storied history in New England. Come paint your own 12" barn quilt, using a traditional design or making your own! This program is for ages 14-adult. Registration is required.

Earth Day Crafternoon

Wednesday, April 22nd from 1:00-3:00 pm.

Create some Upcycled art with us to celebrate Earth Day. Open to adults, teens, and kids ages 9 and up. Registration is required.

Step-by-Step Paint Class for Kids

Thursday, April 23rd from 2:30-4:00 pm.

Children ages 7-12 are invited to join instructor Julie Harrold for this step-by-step paint class. All materials will be provided and attendees will take home their completed painting of a Sunflower with Butterfly. Julie Harrold has a BFA in Studio Arts, is a former Elementary art teacher/Art director and currently a homeschool mom who also teaches art classes in her spare time. Registration required. This program is for children ages 7-12. Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied at all times by a responsible person age 12 or older while visiting the library. Registration is required.

Paint with Julia (ages 13-18)
Thursday, April 23rd from 4:30-6:00 pm. Registration is required.

News Release- Friends of Whitehall Spring Clean-up Saturday, April 25, 2026

The Friends of Whitehall‘s spring lake and trail clean-up will be held on Sat. April 25, 2026 from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. We will gather at the boat landing parking lot at Whitehall State Park on Wood St. (rte.135) and be assigned areas of trails and shoreline around the lake to clean up debris and refuse. We will work on both the DCR state trails and the Whitehall Conservation Area trails. We will also clean up some of the roadsides near the lake. Because the winter has been so harsh, we anticipate a lot of trail work will be needed. Boaters and kayakers are welcome to join us also to clean up the shoreline of the lake. Gloves, trash bags, tools, bug spray and water will be provided. We will also have coffee, cocoa and donuts available for volunteers. We will be working with the approval of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This is a wonderful opportunity to observe Park Serve Day and to help your community. We hope you will join us at this worthwhile event.

The Friends of Whitehall started in 2005 and have had clean-ups since then. FOW’s main mission is to preserve, protect and improve the wonderful natural resource of Lake Whitehall and its environs. We are proud of our many accomplishments which are cited on our website www.friendsofwhitehall.org. Even if you do not live in the immediate area around the lake, we would love to have you join our organization. Membership forms can be downloaded from our website. We are also on Facebook. We hope you will help with the clean-up on Saturday, April 25 th and that you will consider becoming a member of FOW. We are a non-profit 501c (3) organization.

Intro To Trails - Saturday, April 25

On April 25, drop in at the Library between 10 am and 12 noon for an "Intro to Trails" event, sponsored by the Hopkinton Trails Committee. If you are curious to try using trails, learn all you can do on trails, find a trail near you, or want some new trails to try, this is for you. See maps, learn about trail apps, get safety and courtesy tips, and more. All are welcome, from families with kids to seniors. At noon, we’ll head over to the nearby Center School Trail for a guided walk through a wonderful experience in nature that starts in the heart of downtown.

2026 Marathon Month 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.

Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Annual Town Meeting

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 other documents are posted on the Town website, and many more will be added over the next few weeks. Town Meeting & Budgets

Over the next few weeks I will highlight some of the articles on the warrant. Approving the FY27 comprehensive (town and school) budget is an important article, one of several financial articles, a few of which I have highlighted below. Please see the Warrant and Motions document on the Town website (links below and above) for a complete list with dollar amounts.

Article Number	Article Description
2	Current fiscal year (FY26) Supplemental Appropriations & Transfers - $1,150,000 from Certified Free Cash to the snow and ice control operating budget, $125,000 from sewer enterprise retained earnings to supplement the sewer enterprise fund operating budget, and $250,000 from water enterprise fund retained earnings to supplement the FY26 water enterprise fund operating budget.
6	FY27 Operating Budget: $138,486,663. Please see the Appropriation Committee Report for the budget details. 2026 Annual Town Meeting & FY2027 Budget Documents
7	There are several revolving funds for town departments, and the spending limits for each must be set annually. A table in the warrant & motions document lists the maximum amount that can be spent from each fund.
8	The PEG Access and Cable Related Funding article funds HCAM-TV for FY27. Funding is from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund Revolving Account and Certified Free Cash. Total: $396,996
10	$700,000 would be deposited into the Town’s General Stabilization Fund.
12	Proposes approval of a Payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) Agreement with the owner of the Frankland Road Solar farm. The agreement would guarantee the annual revenue from the personal property (solar panels/equipment) on the site over a 25 year period.
13	There are 32 capital improvement projects (expenditures for certain projects/items that exceed $25,000 per the Town’s General Bylaw Chapter 5, Section VI including land, buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles). These projects would be funded by Certified Free Cash ($10,149,356.59), Ambulance Fund Receipts ($215,681), and reappropriation from previously approved but unexpended capital projects ($84,029.41). Projects include: Purchase 280 Cedar St. (Carbone property) for water supply pump station for MWRA connection ($2,000,000) Three Police cruisers ($244,158) Two Fire vehicle replacements ($186,196) Replace cardiac monitors ($215,681) School student services van ($95,000) School classroom equipment ($217,000) Police Station HVAC improvements ($1,500,000) Senior Center HVAC assessment & design ($250,000) Elmwood School reuse study ($75,000) Grove St. drainage repairs & sidewalk ($1,000,000) Pave Briarcliff Drive area ($885,000) Grist Mill Dam rehabilitation ($1,450,000) Lake Whitehall quality improvements ($587,500) Senior Center exit door ($48,000) Fencing at Sandy Beach ($30,000)
14	One-Time Expenditures - Eight (8) items are proposed for a total of $102,425 in Certified Free Cash. Turbidity meter ($2,100) Stadia rod ($125) Upgrade/replacement of cameras at Police Dept. ($13,200) Library carpet ($13,000) Records software ($9,000) Fence at Center Trail ($21,000) Consultant for emergency response assessment ($24,000) Consultant for strategic planning ($21,000)
15	Water Enterprise Capital Improvements - Municipal water supply projects: Rehabilitation of Well #1 ($515,000) Vehicle W9 supplemental expense ($60,000) Portable generator ($175,000) Grove Street tank construction ($2,100,000) East Main St. area water main replacement (construction) ($9,805,000) Briarcliff Dr. area water main replacement (design, permitting) ($400,000) The first three items would be funded from water enterprise fund retained earnings and unexpended funds from prior capital projects. The Town would borrow to fund the last 3 on the list.
16	Sewer Enterprise Capital Improvements - Municipal sewer system projects: Sewer meter station upgrade, Westborough connection ($500,000) Fruit Street Wastewater Treatment Facility safety and control upgrades ($70,000) Sewer system evaluation survey, West Main St. pump station tributary ($250,000) The projects would be funded by sewer enterprise fund retained earnings.

I will provide more next week - you can see them all in the Warrant & Motions document. A draft is on the website and it will be finalized next week. 2026 Annual Town Meeting & FY2027 Budget Documents

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.

Elaine C. Lazarus

Town Manager

Town of Hopkinton

18 Main St.

Hopkinton, MA 01748

508-497-9701

All email messages and attached content sent from and to this email
account are public records unless qualified as an exemption under the
*Massachusetts Public Records Law
<http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/preidx.htm>*.

All email messages and attached content sent from and to this email account are public records unless qualified as an exemption under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.