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.

Portal intended to address permit process concerns

FILE PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

After over a year of work, the town has implemented an online permitting system intended to increase efficiency and convenience.

The system, which is run through OpenGov, soft-launched Sept. 1 and officially was announced by the town last week. According to Josh Grossetti, the town’s director of information technology and innovation services, the town already has processed more than 500 permit applications since the system went live.

“It’s definitely making a difference in terms of flagging things early that may be problematic later or incomplete,” said Grossetti. “It allows administrative staff that’s helping process these get insight into these [issues] earlier.”

The system currently offers 21 permit types across multiple departments, including the Health Department, Land Use Department, police and fire. Grossetti said more permits will come online soon, as well as a public portal component that is expected to launch in the first half of 2027.

Getting the permitting platform in place took an interdepartmental team more than 1½ years to complete. Not only did the town have to find the right vendor, it needed to look at the historical processes for many of the permits. Grossetti said much of the permitting work done by the town in the past has relied on institutional knowledge and sometimes required submitting the same information to multiple departments.

“Nobody had really looked at the big picture,” Grosetti said. “Why are we going to make an applicant fill out everything a second time?”

Added Grossetti: “That’s something that probably would have never come to light without this big picture review of the whole process.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

Members of the Charter Review Committee informed residents at Special Town Meeting Monday night about proposed changes to the town charter that will be voted on next year.

This week’s Move in Style Athlete Spotlight shines on senior football player Gabe Cafazzo, a three-year starter and multi-sport captain who recorded 35 tackles and an interception through six games.

Arthur McMahon, 98, of Hopkinton passed away Oct. 23.

The latest Senior Snippets features information on the Senior Center’s annual Halloween party, this month’s book club and a coffee with a cop event.

The Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation will host its annual gala on Nov. 7 at Hopkinton Country Club.

Town meetings tonight include the Water & Sewer Advisory Board (5).

Photo of the Day

For the fourth straight year, teenagers Nysha (left) and Arjun Paluri ran a fundraiser at the Polyarts festival at the Town Common, selling a variety of Hopkinton-themed merchandise and donating the profits to Hopkinton-based charity Project Just Because. According to their mother, the siblings raised $1,000 at last month’s event.