The Select Board on Tuesday night received an update from the Water and Sewer Advisory Board that urged the town to take decisive action to connect to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s water supply.

Members of the fledgling board said several steps needed to be taken to achieve this goal. They include executing an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) with Southborough as well as meeting the Water Resources Commission’s performance standards for inter-basin transfer of drinking water.

“As everybody knows, Hopkinton needs a permanent solution for its drinking water quality and quantity,” said WSAB member Rob Scott.

While the advisory board has been considering three options, he noted that “we still need a lot of information” before making a final recommendation. The MWRA connection is the preferred option because it not only provides reliable water quality and quantity but is the most cost-effective solution at between $25 million-$32.5 million. Installing treatment systems for existing groundwater wells is expected to cost $46.2 million, while a hybrid system would cost $46.9 million.

Scott pointed out that while the town previously planned to ask the MWRA for 2.7 million gallons of water per day, it actually was unclear how much would be needed. He suggested connecting with the Planning Board and the Land Use Department to further discuss how development will impact future water consumption.

Said Scott: “We’re very, very taxing on our existing wells now.”

There also are “regulatory hurdles” the town would need to meet to achieve WRC and eventual MWRA approval, he added.

WSAB member Donald Sutherland explained that the IMA is “still a work in progress.” He stressed the need to “expedite that as fast as possible.” He suggested that town counsel review its proposed language, particularly in regard to payment and infrastructure requirements.

Scott and Sutherland praised resident Ken Weismantel, who is a WRC member, for guidance he has offered to help the WSAB navigate the approval process. MWRA approval typically takes five to seven years to complete. Hopkinton is about two years into this process.

Assistant Town Manager Lance DelPriore explained that the IMA process is “at a standstill.” Southborough needs to review the 30% design plan before it can move forward. Hopkinton has enough money to get the plan to a 50% design stage. A warrant article at the upcoming Annual Town Meeting on May 5 seeks funding so that the design plan can be completed.

“I’m definitely in favor of moving forward as fast as we can because it’s important that we all have clean water,” said member Amy Ritterbusch.

Lease, PILOT agreement OK’d for 66 Fruit Street

The board unanimously approved awarding the lease of 25 acres at 66 Fruit Street to the Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association Inc. (HSLA). A payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement was negotiated whereby the HSLA will pay $1 rent and $1 in taxes per year as part of a 99-year lease.

This is the culmination of a process that began with a 2017 Annual Town Meeting vote. Town Manager Elaine Lazarus explained that this portion of land had been set aside then for “undesignated use.” After the town issued two requests for proposals, HSLA was selected. Lease negotiations recently were completed.

HSLA president Karen Bograd told the board she has been involved with all the Scout units over the past 20 years. Members have been needing meeting space and room for activities for a long time, and she was happy to see this agreement come to fruition.

Residents push back against Horribles Parade

During the public comment period, two residents urged the board not to approve an upcoming request to hold a Horribles Parade on July 4, requesting that a non-partisan Independence Day parade be considered instead.

The Parks & Recreation Commission at its March 13 meeting told Hopkinton Republican Town Committee members to direct the group’s application to the Select Board for its approval before it would consider sponsorship. Last year, Parks & Rec agreed to sponsor the parade because the event must be sponsored by a town department in order to comply with the town’s insurance laws. In both instances, concerns  arose over the fine line between free speech and hurtful satire during a divisive period in Hopkinton’s history.

Resident Amy Groves, chair of the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee, spoke on her own behalf. She pointed out that, while a Fourth of July parade can have funny elements, its overall theme is “a positive one, stressing things that we have in common rather than things that divide us.”

“The Horribles Parade has at times been fun in the past,” she continued, noting that it shouldn’t be sponsored by either political committee. “But clearly, it’s been more fun for some people than for others.”

“There were friends of mine who were picked apart on those floats last year, and I didn’t appreciate it at all,”  added resident Beth Malloy. “I think we really do need to go to a Fourth of July-type of thing.”