During its four-hour meeting Tuesday, the Select Board unanimously voted to determine that a Hayward Street dog is dangerous after hearing descriptions of the dog’s attacks on a neighbor’s chickens and cat.

The dog, named Thor, has resided at 50 Hayward Street since March, according to information presented to the Select Board. Bill Proctor, the town’s animal control officer, said Hopkinton Police responded to incidents involving the pit bull four times between April and July. He submitted reports that corroborate claims by Hannah Chase, a neighbor and owner of the cat and chickens that were attacked.

“Thor does not like other animals,” said Proctor. “It does not like chickens, cats — all that stuff.”

Thor was accused of chasing chickens in April, May and June. In June, Proctor discovered that the dog got loose from its trainer, jumped a 4-foot fence and killed a chicken while injuring two others. Proctor issued a $75 ticket.

Chase lives at 53 Hayward Street. She described an incident when Thor attacked the cat on May 11. Her boyfriend restrained the dog, which did not have a collar, while she pried the cat from Thor’s mouth. The cat ran away and hid in the woods, returning days later with puncture wounds. Chase said she had to pay a $900 veterinarian bill after Thor’s owner refused. A neighbor said she witnessed this attack.

In July, Thor jumped out of his home’s window to pursue the cat, according to the report. Proctor caught the dog, returned it to the porch and issued a ticket. He told the owner that he would have to appear before the Select Board to determine next steps.

The owner, Gabriel Knupe, questioned whether his dog attacked the cat. He admitted that the dog ran out of its property at least three times. He also said he has reinforced the doors and windows since the last incident.

The board voted unanimously that Thor is a dangerous dog and required that humane restraint, such as a kennel, dog run, fence and leash, be used. The dog owner must appear before the board again on Oct. 21 to discuss additional remedies after a review of the property by Proctor.

The McFarland-Sanger House is one of the oldest in town.

RFP OK’d for McFarland-Sanger House

The Select Board unanimously approved issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to seek a buyer for the historic McFarland-Sanger House, subject to a historic preservation restriction.

Historical Commission chair Michael Roughan explained that the house, located at 148 Lumber Street, is one of the 10 oldest houses in town. It contains unique architectural features, including a central stone chimney characteristic of 18th century homes.

“Its biggest asset is perhaps its biggest liability,” he added about the chimney.

Roughan noted that the commission owned the home for 20 years, but it has not been able to find a way to simultaneously preserve and utilize it. In 2021, Town Meeting voted to transfer the property from the commission to the Select Board to authorize its disposition.

While the Historical Commission has done work on the building previously, Roughan said it could not support further preservation efforts without knowledge that the building will be used. It agreed that it was better to put the house on the market with a deed restriction that would prioritize its preservation, even if it were moved to another location.

One impediment to its use is the lack of an adequate sewer system there. If adjacent town-owned open space could support a well, that would allow for a sewer system for the property, Roughan said.

Town Manager Elaine Lazarus said she prepared a draft RFP. Town Meeting approval would be needed to approve the sewer connection through the open space land.

Member Matthew Kizner questioned the meaning of the term “dispose.” Member Amy Ritterbusch explained that realtors use it to describe a sale. Kizner said he wanted to ensure that the town’s wish for preservation was honored.

Said Roughan: “Our intent has always been to preserve the property in whatever way possible — whether it’s through public ownership or private ownership.”

Town counsel discussion continues

Before the meeting, members (excluding Brian Herr, who abstained from the process), ranked the four law firms vying for the role of town counsel using a data matrix. They scored candidates on several qualifications, including cost, responsiveness and experience with government agencies. While they entered the meeting intending to choose two finalists for a second round of interviews, they decided to eliminate Brooks & DeRensis (offices in Boston and Natick) from consideration.

The remaining firms include current town counsel Harrington Heep (based in Wellesley); KP Law (based in Boston, with offices in Hyannis, Lenox, Northampton and Worcester); and Mead, Talerman & Costa (MTC) (offices in Newburyport, Millis and New Bedford). All members noted that their rankings separated firms by only a few points.

One major issue was the firms’ relationship with neighboring towns with which Hopkinton has or may pursue intermunicipal agreements (IMAs). MTC works with Southborough, Ashland, Holliston and Upton. KP Law, a larger firm specializing in municipal government practices, has Westborough and Medway as clients.

The town is pursuing an IMA with Southborough for connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) system. It currently purchases water from Ashland and sends sewerage to Westborough.

Chair Joe Clark and Kizner selected MTC as their top firm, noting its knowledge of area issues. KP Law was their second choice.

Kizner acknowledged that his analysis showed that this familiarity was a double-edged sword regarding IMAs.

“This exercise truly underscored for me the complexity of the potential conflicts of interest with Mead, Talerman & Costa,” he said. “Hearing their plan and understanding how that would financially impact the town has a significant impact on my decision.”

Clark noted that the only concern he had with Mead, Talerman & Costa was the cost of hiring outside counsel for IMAs.

Ritterbusch continued to express concern for Mead, Talerman & Costa’s involvement with communities involved in IMA processes and the additional cost to the town if outside firms were used for IMAs. Her top choices were Harrington Heep and KP Law.

Vice chair Shahidul Mannan echoed Ritterbusch’s choices, noting Harrington Heep’s history with Hopkinton.

Lazarus said her top choices were Harrington Heep and MTC. Because KP Law is the most expensive firm, she said she was “mindful of the budget.”

Clark initially proposed that MTC and KP Law come back for final interviews. The current town counsel, he suggested, would still be a finalist but would not need to be interviewed. Kizner agreed.

Mannan disagreed, raising the issue of fairness. He said that Harrington Heep should be “allowed to make their case.”

Assistant Town Manager Lance DelPriore noted that according to state procurement law, all candidates under consideration must be “treated fairly and equally.” Clark agreed to include Harrington Heep in the final round of interviews.

He added that if the firms billed the same hourly rate, one could be town counsel while another could be hired as special counsel for IMAs.

The town’s redaction policy was another issue. It was instituted after Harrington Heep failed to properly redact a document that released identifying information about a woman who accused former Hopkinton Police Deputy Chief John “Jay” Porter of child rape. Porter was convicted and sentenced in May.

The town manager said all firms could be asked about their process for reviewing and redacting records to not single out a firm.

Added Lazarus: “I think it’s more about what’s going to happen in the future than what happened in the past.”