The Hopkinton Water/Sewer Department announced Monday that the town's water flushing program will begin on Monday, March 11, creating temporary water discoloration in town with the overall goal of improving water quality. The town will be conducting systematic hydrant...
Mary Ellen Gambon
School Committee seeks survey input on name for new elementary school
The Hopkinton School Committee announced Thursday that is seeking community input to narrow the list of names for the new elementary school via a survey. Since the district issued a press release in January requesting suggestions for potential names, nearly 50...
Select Board considers creating a clean water/PFAS remediation advisory council, approves new hires
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jiO7iVM-Rw&ab_channel=HCAM The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night discussed the creation of a clean water/PFAS remediation advisory council to address the town’s concerns about PFAS and other substances in the town’s water...
Kramer blasts police chief’s performance in scathing Select Board meeting report, calls for independent investigation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jiO7iVM-Rw&ab_channel=HCAM What began as a midyear performance review of Hopkinton Police Department Chief Joseph Bennett at Tuesday's Select Board meeting exploded into revelations by chair Muriel Kramer that she lacked confidence...
Commission on Disability focuses on website accessibility, goals gleaned from public forum
The Commission on Disability at its meeting Monday night learned important tools for website accessibility from commissioner and Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch. Ritterbusch, who works as a software and web analyst for the Wellesley Public Schools, gave a...
Trails Committee seeks better coordination with town entities
The Trails Committee at its meeting Wednesday raised issues with the lack of connection with town entities on issues that align with its mission. Chair Peter LaGoy mentioned that the Planning Board has proposed two articles for the Annual Town Meeting warrant that...
Select Board unanimously approves new CFO; graduation car parade OK’d
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aglLW3PjuI&ab_channel=HCAM The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday voted 4-0 to approve the hiring of Kyla LaPierre as the town’s new chief financial officer. LaPierre, a Milford resident, worked at State Street corporation for 29...
26.2 Foundation, HCA step up to generate enthusiasm for Boston Marathon anniversary via art
Tim Kilduff, the president and founder of the 26.2 Foundation, has a legendary history of involvement with the Boston Marathon that spans more than three decades. He served as the marathon’s race director in 1983 and '84 and has been involved in broadcasting,...
State Rep. Arena-DeRosa explains why party caucus process remains in effect for town’s upcoming election
In a statement released Wednesday, state Rep. James Arena-DeRosa announced that the party caucus process will remain in effect for May's election because the home rule petition he filed late last year has not yet been passed by the Legislature. At November's Special...
Select Board hears request for graduating senior car parade, town department budget proposals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o-f6TTQw_0&ab_channel=HCAM The Select Board at its remote meeting Tuesday night heard from advocates seeking a car parade for graduating high school students in the hope that it will become an annual town tradition. Last year, a...
Narcan training rescheduled to Thursday
The Hopkinton Health Department announced that a Narcan administration training session will be held Thursday (Feb. 15) from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. It originally was scheduled for Tuesday but was canceled due to the snowstorm that forced the...
Northwestern DA’s Office to review circumstances regarding HPD’s release of unredacted transcript of Brennan interview
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office is reviewing the release last month of an insufficiently redacted transcript of an interview with embattled Sgt. Tim Brennan by the Hopkinton Police Department, according to a Middlesex County DA spokesperson's statement...
Board of Health not amenable to developer’s request to waive water testing requirement
A developer's request to the Board of Health for a waiver of the potable water testing requirement for a Box Mill Road property could set a precedent if approved by the town, members cautioned before unanimously voting down the request at Monday's meeting. In a...
With veteran Select Board members opting not to run, opportunities for new candidates in upcoming election
With the town election on the horizon on May 20, two veteran Select Board members announced this week that they are not seeking reelection. Select Board chair Muriel Kramer said in an exclusive interview with the Independent on Feb. 10 that she has decided to run for...
Conservation Commission questions developer’s analysis of North Mill Street property
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHxJE4dl7R0&t=3174s&ab_channel=HCAM The Conservation Commission at its Feb. 6 meeting questioned why an area of resource delineation request by Wall Street Development for 12 North Mill Street did not document the...
Town responds to questions over new Finance Department hire who was fired from previous job
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNlNLiEhR40&t=2942s&ab_channel=HCAM At Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting, Cindy Johnston was hired as the town’s senior accounting manager, filling a void in the Finance Department that has been understaffed over the past...
Select Board approves police promotions, reviews budget requests
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNlNLiEhR40&t=2942s&ab_channel=HCAM The Select Board tackled a mammoth agenda Tuesday night, approving the promotion of two veteran Hopkinton Police Department officers to the rank of sergeant and reviewing fiscal year 2025...
Brennan supporters demand reinstatement, accuse police chief, Select Board members of misconduct
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNlNLiEhR40 Nearly a dozen supporters of suspended Hopkinton Police Sgt. Tim Brennan demanded his reinstatement at Tuesday night's Select Board meeting after picketing in front of Town Hall an hour before the meeting commenced. During...
Planning Board revisits Elmwood Farms III subdivision in light of proposed new construction on remaining lots
The Planning Board at its meeting Monday night discussed the stormwater management plan for the construction project proposed for the Elmwood Farms III subdivision. Principal Planner John Gelcich explained that the original Blueberry Lane subdivision was approved in...
Open Space Preservation Commission land transfers face wrinkles over acceptance letters
The Open Space Preservation Commission at its meeting Thursday discussed two subdivisions under development by the Nation family involving the donation of open space. Debate arose over the OSPC’s submitting letters endorsing the land swaps to the Planning Board and...