Featured: News
Hopkinton man found guilty of negligence, leaving scene in Grove Street crash
After a two-day bench trial, a judge on Friday found Hopkinton resident Stephen Murphy guilty on a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident that caused property damage. On Jan. 4, Murphy was arrested following...
CPC reviews funding requests for Center School, adaptive playground
The Community Preservation Commission at its meeting Thursday night discussed the two most expensive requests for fiscal year 2026 funding, including an adaptive playground and the renovation of the former Center School building. Under the Community Preservation Act...
Select Board receives positive report on town’s financial accounts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v18j2B4LD3M&ab_channel=HCAM Town Treasurer/Collector CJ Paquette updated the Select Board on the status of the town’s investments and bank accounts at its meeting Tuesday night, demonstrating financial stability. Paquette noted that...
Special Town Meeting passes Article 8 to adopt MBTA Communities zoning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ--iBxjIio&ab_channel=HCAM After nearly 90 minutes of debate, Special Town Meeting members Monday night approved Article 8 in a 236-167 vote. The Planning Board last week recommended this proposal for Hopkinton to be compliant with...
Real Estate Transactions, Nov. 18 edition
Articles on Special Town Meeting warrant cover MBTA Communities Act, budget matters
There are a number of articles on the warrant for Monday’s Special Town Meeting that span everything from tax exemptions to rezoning. The Independent recently sat down with town officials to understand each of the articles on the STM warrant and their impact on...
CPC faces ‘tough decisions’ as it reviews FY 26 funding applications
The Community Preservation Committee at its meeting Thursday night continued to review projects requesting fiscal year 2026 funds, acknowledging the challenge of allocating money in a tight economy. Under the Community Preservation Act that was signed in 2000,...
Planning Board votes to recommend MBTA Communities zoning bylaw proposal to STM that includes The Preserve, Walcott Valley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB9LTkHsiUw&ab_channel=HCAM In a 20-minute special meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Planning Board voted 8-0-1 to recommend a proposed option for a zoning overlay district to comply with the MBTA Communities Act to Special Town...
Select Board tackles tax concerns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfv20ODJIK0&ab_channel=HCAM With a significant residential tax increase looming over the next five years, the Select Board at its meeting Tuesday discussed the challenges faced by the Senior and Disabled Tax Relief Committee and...
Select Board, in performance review, credits HPD chief for improving engagement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfv20ODJIK0&ab_channel=HCAM The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night reviewed the performance of Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett over the past six months, commending him on hiring new officers to fully staff the...
Conservation Commission approves Newbury Glen building permit release
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBuBCMPqcqo&ab_channel=HCAM The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday night voted to release building permits for the Elmwood Farms III subdivision off Blueberry Lane, now called Newbury Glen, after hearing that the...
Parks & Rec Commission debates priorities for CPC funding
The Parks & Recreation Commission spent its meeting Tuesday night prioritizing projects for Community Preservation Committee funding. Chair Dan Terry previously presented Parks & Rec’s projects to the CPC at its meeting on Oct. 18. During that meeting, CPC...
Highway Department reminds residents of winter parking ban
The Department of Public Works is reminding residents about parking restrictions and snow removal bylaws as winter approaches. In a recent press release, highway manager Mike Mansir laid out the bylaws governing both winter parking bans and pushing snow into the...
Real Estate Transactions, Nov. 11 edition
OSPC unanimously approves signage request for historic Hayden Rowe properties
The Open Space Preservation Commission at its meeting Thursday voted unanimously to approve a request to commemorate the history of two Hopkinton properties with signage that would describe their significance in Hopkinton’s development from a farming and factory town...
Court documents detail investigation into school custodian
New information outlines the case against Benjamin Hogan, the Hopkinton Middle School custodian charged with possession of child pornography. Documents that the Independent obtained from Milford District Court detail the criminal complaint filed against Hogan. As...
As drought continues, Fire Department bans outdoor burning
A press release put out by the Hopkinton Fire Department on Tuesday underscores just how bad drought conditions in town and across the state have become. In the press release, Chief Gary Daugherty announced there would be a temporary prohibition on all “open,...
Election results: Residents support Democrats, reject most ballot measures
On Election Day in Hopkinton, more than 10,000 residents cast their votes in both national and state races — close to the turnout numbers Town Clerk Connor Degan predicted. The total includes about 5,000 who voted early. Based on unofficial results — about 100...
Tractor-trailer strikes utility pole on Pond Street, injuring 1, taking down power wires
A tractor-trailer struck a telephone pole Tuesday afternoon on Pond Street, injuring the driver and taking down utility lines. According to a police advisory, Pond Street was to be closed from Erika Drive to 20 Pond Street for the rest of the day. Drivers were advised...
