After months of concerted effort, the Select Board on Tuesday approved a common victualer (CV) license policy in a 4-0 vote.

“This is something we’ve been discussing for quite some time,” explained chair Shahidul Mannan “[We] went back to the drawing board to make sure we have a solid policy that’s efficient and that covers all the risks that the process comes with.”

CV licenses are required to operate establishments relating to the cooking, preparation and serving of food.

Assistant Town Manager Lance DelPriore explained that town counsel “refined” earlier policy drafts that had emerged as a result of board discussions and public feedback. He presented the final draft, which included input from other town departments.

“What we have here is a fairly robust policy,” he said. “It’s more robust than anything I have encountered outside of Hopkinton. At the very least, I think it’s a great start.”

DelPriore said the town’s new online permitting process is expected to start on Sept. 1, dovetailing with the approval of the CV policy.

Member Brian Herr questioned whether the policy is so “robust” that it would deter new businesses from applying for CV licenses.

“I think we’re just kind of putting in writing a lot of what has historically happened,” said DelPriore. “But now we’re just spelling out the process in a much clearer way for all involved.”

The policy specifies the conditions under which an application could be denied. It also notes that background checks on owners and managers will include both Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks.

“I just wanted to say for the public that the town counsel did review all of the comments from both us and members of the public,” added member Amy Ritterbusch. “And these are the ones that they recommended that we can move forward.”

Vice chair Matthew Kizner asked if the board would be notified of “flagrant” situations involving CV licensees. DelPriore said information can be brought to the board for its consideration. The policy, he explained, “does trigger certain thresholds” under which the town would engage town counsel.

Added Kizner: “This is a significant improvement from where we were.”

Mannan added that this policy could become “an example for New England towns.” He praised members’ collaboration and the balance between business interests and public safety.

The vote also included an increase in the application fee from $50 to $100. It noted that any waiver request will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the board as well. Member Joe Clark was absent.

STM to take place Oct. 26

The board also voted 4-0 for the town to hold a Special Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.

Revising the town charter was one impetus for the STM, as well as approving financial articles to be submitted by the town.

Town Manager Elaine Lazarus explained that an October STM would give the finance team time to complete its certification for the 2026 fiscal year, which ended June 30. Otherwise, the tax rate could be impacted.

Board members expressed concern that the charter review process was moving forward too swiftly.

“To me, it just feels like we’re trying to push this thing along too fast,” stressed Herr, adding that revisions do not necessarily have to be made.

Kizner agreed, saying that the changes that have been discussed “are not necessarily community driven.” He referred to what was being suggested as “very insider baseball.”

Town Clerk Connor Degan, who chairs the Charter Review Committee, said this is an “aggressive timeline” if the charter review is to come before the STM. If the deadline is not met, “we would have to push it off to another time.”

Charter Review Committee suggests elected CPC roles

Degan explained that a charter review needs to take place every 10 years. In 2016, an STM was held in the fall, when charter revisions were approved.

One change proposed by Charter Review Committee members is the election of the at-large members of the Community Preservation Committee. Two members historically have been appointed by the Select Board.

“The attorneys have pretty much said it’s not allowed,” noted Degan. “But it’s definitely interesting and new.”

Kizner said he was against the change because the Select Board charts the town’s “bigger-picture strategic alignment.”

The CPC votes on proposals for town projects. Community Preservation Act funds derived from property taxes are used to fund approved projects in four areas: historic preservation, affordable housing, open space and recreation.

Ritterbusch said she did not “see the wisdom” of changing the at-large CPC seats to elected posts. She noted that there is usually only one applicant for an open seat.

Added Herr: “The last thing we need is more elections in town, in my view.”

HPD work detail cruiser fee changed

The board voted 4-0 to change the Hopkinton Police Department work detail cruiser fee from a $50 flat rate to $16.10/hour to match the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement rate.The fee is paid by private parties who contract details.

Interim Police Chief Scott van Raalten explained that Annual Town Meeting in May voted to increase the revolving fund for administrative and detail fees. His research, he said, did not show any record of when a flat $50 fee was instituted.

He added that discussions with colleagues in other communities indicated rates of between $10-30/hour.

The FEMA rate is the reimbursement rate the town would receive it there were a national disaster, the interim chief said. It is continually adjusted, which takes the burden off of the town to update what it charges.

Board discontinues inactive committees

The board voted to disband five inactive committees, some of which had not met in almost a decade. They included the ADA Oversight Committee, the Cable Advisory Committee, the Irvine-Todaro Properties Advisory Group, the Lake Maspenock Dam Advisory Group and the Pratt Farm Master Plan Team.

Lazarus noted that the current Commission on Disability replaced the ADA Oversight Committee in 2022. The others were created for purposes that either were completed or put on hold.

“I think there are reasons for them being put in place that are now null and void,” said Herr.

Board’s rules of procedure reaffirmed

The board voted to reaffirm its rules of procedure 3-0-1, with Kizner abstaining.

The board discussed how the rules have been working, particularly for the public comment period. Herr stressed that free speech is paramount. But public comments are essentially opinions, not always statements of fact.

Ritterbusch said she believed it was important to vote to document that the policy had been reviewed, Kizner said he did not need to vote in favor of a policy that is remaining in place.