Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

Health director affirms NFG regulations were driven by community

The Board of Health listens to speakers give testimony during a hearing on proposed nicotine-free regulation in May 2025. FILE PHOTO/NICK SCHOFIELD

Hopkinton’s health director has responded to claims made by a professional organization of convenience store owners alleging the Board of Health passed Nicotine Free Generation regulations in coordination with the state.

The New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association (NECSEMA) recently published realtruthma.com, which contains nearly 10,000 documents obtained from 15 municipalities and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) relating to Nicotine Free Generation (NFG) regulations. The site bills itself as a “public records investigation” and questions whether it is the municipalities or the commonwealth behind the regulations at the local level.

Hopkinton passed its NFG initiative in 2025. The regulations prohibit the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to any individual born after Jan. 1, 2005.

Real Truth MA has alleged that the outcomes of NFG hearings were decided beforehand and that local support was manufactured. It also claims the state funded the 24 towns that have adopted the regulations and hearings regarding NFG were controlled, with residents being kept in the dark.

At times, the website quotes Health Director Shaun McAuliffe directly.

“What they’ve ignored is the fact that when I got here in 2016, 40% of high school students were reporting … they were vaping and using other tobacco products,” said McAuliffe. He said that number has since decreased to 4%.

He also stated that his department’s focus on smoking cessation came from resident input. “The community had buy-in on this,” McAuliffe stressed. “Any accusation that we’re doing this without input from the public is untrue.”

He said the Board of Health had multiple meetings about the NFG regulations and that the matter was brought before the Select Board, which supported the initiative.

McAuliffe did admit that MDPH does assist local boards with drafting regulations, but he noted it was a legal requirement. He also responded to claims that he helped manufacture support for NFG regulations in Ashland.

On its website, Real Truth MA suggested McAuliffe offered to help Ashland’s health director Rajit Gupta “find some kids” to support NFG regulations when the town held its own hearing. 

McAuliffe explained that Gupta was new to Ashland at the time and he helped Gupta connect with organizations in that town interested in causes like NFG.

“Rajit wasn’t aware these groups were active in Ashland,” McAuliffe explained.

“We’re not colluding,” he added. “We’re just trying to do our job that’s required by regulation.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is Mochi, an affectionate 4-year-old dog looking for a patient family as he works on his confidence.

The Department of Public Works has scheduled work on Smith Road to start Wednesday.

The latest Professional Insights from Kim Foemmel of Foemmel Fine Homes discusses reasons buyers should consider purchasing a home sooner rather than later.

The Friends of Whitehall will host its rescheduled archeological tour of the Hopkinton Springs Hotel on Sunday.

Photo of the Day

A dog named Chris Craft is crowned King of the Dog Show during Golden Pond Assisted Living’s Paws for a Cause event Oct. 3. The fundraiser benefited local shelter Greyhound Friends.

PHOTO/WILLIAM DURFEE