The Conservation Commission at a brief meeting Tuesday night announced that Hopkinton received a grant to develop the town’s first climate resiliency plan. Conservation administrator Kim Ciaramicoli told the commission that the town was awarded a $35,000 grant from...
Mary Ellen Gambon
Select Board hears options for town buildings presented in facilities study
The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night heard several options for the future repurposing of four key town-owned properties. To gain more insight into the best ways to use the buildings, the Select Board unanimously approved the issuance of requests for proposal...
Major water main break ‘will cause water discoloration throughout the town’
As the region recovers from Monday's torrential storm, the town announced that a major water main broke Tuesday morning. Department of Public Works Director Kerry Reed announced Tuesday morning via email that crews are responding to a water main break on White Street....
Board of Health discusses plastic bag usage, vaccine vendor partnership
The Board of Health at its meeting Monday night heard a resident’s concerns about plastic bag usage at local stores as well as details about a partnership with a multistate vaccine vendor that is expected to save the department money. Sustainable Green Committee...
HFD urges caution during storm after receiving high volume of calls
Monday's heavy rain and wind gusts of 50 mph prompted the Hopkinton Fire Department to ask residents to use caution if they have to travel. "This morning has been one of our highest call volumes in recent memory," HFD stated in a tweet on the X social media platform...
HPD arrests ‘fugitive from justice’ who appeared to be homeless on default warrant
The Hopkinton Police Department on Tuesday arrested a man who appeared to be homeless on a default Rhode Island warrant at the Price Chopper shopping plaza on South Street. The man was determined to be a "fugitive from justice," acording to an HPD incident report....
CPC votes against $1M funding request for Marathon School accessible playground but approves $100K for study
The Community Preservation Committee at its meeting Thursday night voted against a $1 million request from the School Department to design and build an accessible playground at the Marathon School. Instead, the CPC unanimously approved $100,000 for further study into...
Trails Committee prioritizes bridge repair work at Berry Acres Trail
The Trails Committee at its meeting Wednesday night prioritized maintenance of the Berry Acres Trail due to the recent rains that caused flooding and debris to accumulate. Chair Peter LaGoy noted that the two projects proposed by Scouts in September are “progressing...
Cycling advocates voice concerns about new Main Street bike lane
Cycling advocates raised concerns about the safety of the separated bike lane implemented as part of the Main Street Corridor Project, hoping that modifications will be handled when construction resumes in the spring. Construction halted for the winter on the Main...
Parks & Recreation Commission defines need for written policies, approves gaga pit
The Parks & Recreation Commission at its meeting Tuesday evening discussed the need to have written policies in place regarding program registration for out-of-town residents as well as scholarship parameters for lower-income Hopkinton residents. Department...
Select Board chair Kramer ‘resting and doing well’ after experiencing stroke
Select Board chair Muriel Kramer announced that she experienced a stroke Wednesday evening, which prevented her from engaging in community activities late last week. In an email to the Independent early Sunday afternoon, Kramer issued a public statement about what...
Travel blog recognizes Hopkinton as ‘most peaceful town’ to visit in country
A travel blog recently named Hopkinton the "most peaceful town to visit" in the country. Hopkinton topped the list in the "12 Most Peaceful Towns To Visit In The United States" article published in The Travel, noting its extremely low violent crime rate and abundance...
Open Space Preservation Commission seeks updated documents for development off Whisper Way
At Thursday's Open Space Preservation Commission meeting, Land Use Department administrative assistant Shannon Isaacs told the commission that she was asked by Principal Planner John Gelcich to obtain an updated map and plan for the 12-unit subdivision off Whisper Way...
Judge compels town to release police internal investigation records in Porter case by Jan. 9
The judge in the ongoing court case against former Hopkinton Police Deputy Chief John “Jay” Porter on Wednesday said he would file an order compelling the town to provide internal investigation records to him if he did not receive them by Jan. 9. If this request is...
Conservation Commission questions Lumber Street condo development’s stormwater plan
The Conservation Commission asked for additional information on stormwater infiltration requirements before deciding whether to issue a certificate of compliance for Deerfield Estates, a condo development off Lumber Street. Capital Group Properties was listed as the...
Select Board roundup: Marathon invitational entries awarded, federal trademark requested for Marathon Committee slogan
The Select Board Tuesday night awarded invitational entries to the Boston Marathon from the Boston Athletic Association to town departments and nonprofits as a main focus of its two-hour meeting. It also discussed the need to register the Marathon Committee's...
Town addresses ‘fraudulent invoice’ from HopNews, media advertising policy
Select Board chair Muriel Kramer at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting addressed a fraudulent invoice sent by the owner of a local news blog. In an email to the Independent Tuesday evening, Town Manager Norman Khumalo stated that Peter Thomas, the owner and publisher of...
Party leaders agree that key to moving forward after caucus elimination is return to civility in politics
The narrow passage of Article 2 by a 245-214 vote at the Nov. 13 Special Town Meeting to eliminate party caucuses and party affiliation on town election ballots signaled a shift away from what has become a divisive political culture over the past decade both locally...
Legacy Farms wastewater treatment plant addresses high nitrogen levels
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection in early November cited the private wastewater treatment plant at Legacy Farms for having a higher than permitted level of nitrogen discharge in the groundwater. The problem has been corrected and nitrogen levels are...
Open Planning Board seat goes to newcomer Happ
The Planning Board at its joint meeting with the Select Board Monday night voted 9-1 for Parker Happ to become its newest member. Happ interviewed for the open seat along with Peter Thomas, who received a lone vote of support from Planning Board chair Gary Trendel....