As it continues its preparation for the May 5 Annual Town Meeting, the Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night heard from the proponents of amendments to general town bylaws and reviewed the draft warrant articles.

The general bylaw amendment review was an opportunity for the public to ask questions of the sponsors. Four were discussed in some detail.

One amendment proposed by Town Clerk Connor Degan was to change future ATMs to a Saturday rather than the first Monday in May. He described concerns raised by older residents and people with disabilities who were not able to get transportation to meetings on weeknights or stay until late at night. He explained that these concerns prevented a significant portion of the town’s population from participating.

Added Degan: “It’s something where I hear real accessibility concerns about, and I think that’s concerning about the risk of disenfranchising a whole population of voters.”

Member Amy Ritterbusch suggested that the article call for the ATM to be held “no later than the seventh of May each year” rather than on a specific day and with time to promote flexibility. The Select Board can set the exact date when it begins budget calendar preparations. Degan appeared amenable to the request.

Treasurer/Collector CJ Paquette explained an article requesting that a revolving fund be created for the Finance Department. Municipal certificate fees and demand fees paid to the Finance Department would go into this fund to use toward new budget software. These fees currently go into the general fund and revert to free cash if unspent.

Another town-related article seeks to change the town bylaw to allow the Council on Aging to become a nine-member board rather than a seven-member board with two alternates.

Resident Ed Harrow proposed an article prohibiting the use of compression brakes, also known as Jake brakes. He likened the sound of Jake brake use to a jackhammer or a machine gun.

Member Joe Clark suggested that Harrow discuss his proposal with Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett. Ritterbusch noted that there is no money proposed for signage and said Harrow should speak with the Department of Public Works about his idea.

Board reviews draft ATM articles

The board voted to recommend several warrant articles, many of which were perfunctory in nature. These included the acceptance of town reports and articles related to fund transfers. An article related to the leasing of the Center School also received Select Board recommendation.

Capital expense articles were passed over because they have not had a second review before the Capital Improvement Committee. Additional funding to the town in the state budget and from other sources may be available now to cover the cost of some capital requests. There were several DPW requests for new vehicles, a townwide water main flushing program and sewer main replacement design, among other items. The proposed adaptive playground also will get a second look from the CIC.

Chair Brian Herr suggested holding off on recommending the fiscal year 2026 operating budget until the Appropriation Committee finishes its review process. Community Preservation Committee funding recommendations also were passed over. The board will discuss articles that were passed over during April.

The one article that prompted discussion was in regard to PFAS testing for homeowners with private wells. While it was meant to encourage voluntary testing, the reporting and remediation costs involved may complicate matters for residents, according to Health Director Shaun McAuliffe.

He explained that while the state’s Department of Environmental Protection does not have oversight over private wells, it can step in if a private well has a PFAS concentration greater than 20 parts per trillion.

“The DEP for the first time is being quite clear,” said McAuliffe. “Sampling a private well may trigger a legal notification obligation on the part of the homeowner if the result is equal to or greater than the reportable concentration.”

At that point, the homeowner would be “held under a regulatory obligation” to install a treatment system. This could hurt homeowners “living on the edge,” because the cost would be around $10,000.

In one situation McAuliffe encountered, he was able to get a homeowner assigned downgradient property status by MassDEP, releasing them from remediation responsibilities.

He said an educational program telling these homeowners when and how to test for PFAS may be more helpful than the proposed article.

Herr expressed concern that this article will cause confusion and some angst among residents, particularly if its merits are debated on the floor.

Added Herr: “Whoever presents this is going to confuse the hell out of the members of Town Meeting.”

Assistant Town Manager Lance DelPriore spoke about crafting the language so that it will be an “affirmation of support to those private well owners” that will help them make informed decisions about PFAS testing.