The Select Board on Tuesday implemented some new rules during the public forum period to demonstrate responsiveness to participants’ comments.

Previously, this period at the start of each meeting allowed residents and others to bring issues before the Select Board within a time frame of 2-3 minutes. However, Select Board members cannot address comments immediately. They face time constraints as well as the potential need for further research or input from town counsel.

Select Board chair Joe Clark explained that each person now has 2 minutes to speak. He then will question if other participants intended to talk about the same topic so that multiple issues could be brought forward.

The public forum period now will end 20 minutes into the meeting. If more attendees want to speak, the chair will reopen the public forum period near the meeting’s end. This allows the board to proceed through its agenda items in a timely manner.

‘Public statement’ provides feedback on recent issues

Clark also introduced a “public statement” after the initial round of comments. This tool gives feedback on issues raised at previous meetings.

“We hear a lot of people that come up to public forum, and the feeling is that they’re not being heard and things aren’t being answered to,” he explained. “This is an attempt to show what the board’s thinking.”

He added that the board may address issues during subsequent meetings.

The major issue raised was the request for funding for an herbicide treatment for Lake Maspenock in the spring. This was discussed at length later in the meeting.

One controversial issue was the continued public outcry over the termination of former Hopkinton Police Sgt. Tim Brennan. Brennan lost his job because he did not bring forth accusations he heard from the survivor of three incidents of child rape at the hands of former HPD Deputy Chief John “Jay” Porter. Brennan and his supporters insist he kept quiet in an effort to protect the victim until she was ready to go public.

Porter was sentenced in June to concurrent seven-year terms in prison on two charges and three years parole on the third. He was found guilty in a jury trial earlier in June. Clark explained that because Brennan’s case still is in arbitration, the Select Board is “going to stay out of that process.”

At several recent meetings, attendees voiced outrage over the annual issuance of a common victualer’s license to Petros “Peter” Sismanis, the owner of the former Hillers Pizza. Sismanis was found guilty in June of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age and two counts of witness intimidation.

The native of Greece was removed from prison and reportedly is being held in the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigators. He may face deportation.

In 1998, Sismanis pleaded guilty to indecent assault and battery of a 19-year-old employee who worked at Jelly Doughnuts, another of his former restaurants in Hopkinton. As a result of that case, he was required to register as a sex offender. Yet he continued to receive CV licenses. The Select Board has been working on revamping its CV license issuance and renewal process, stressing more thorough background checks.

Clark explained that state law requires that incidents involving domestic violence, rape or sexual assault be withheld from the posted police log. A recent statement from HPD Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten outlined the laws prohibiting the release of information about sexual offenders to the public.

Other topics included how a swatting incident at Hopkinton High School in October 2024 was addressed and the need for e-bike regulations.

Said Clark: “We want to try this as an effort to directly respond to the things you guys bring up, because we do care.”

Maspenock weed management discussed

Joe Baldiga, the chair of the Citizens Input Group (CIG) for the Lake Maspenock Weed Management Control Advisory Group, updated the board on tactics to curtail weed proliferation. They include the upcoming extended lake drawdown and the planned application of herbicides in the spring. This use of herbicides needs approval from the Conservation Commission and the Select Board.

There was a targeted use of two herbicides last summer in the northern basin — Tribune (diquat) and Aquathol-K (endothall). While this action led to significant improvement, a different invasive weed species erupted, Baldiga said.

He also spoke in support of a budget request for $55,000 by the Department of Public Works for weed control.

“We certainly don’t want to do anything that’s going to harm the lake,” stressed Baldiga. “And I respect the comments from the other folks who have spoken in opposition to what we’re proposing for the weed control.”

He noted that they all share a “common goal” of keeping the lake “as healthy as possible.” Herbicide use is not his preferred method. But he said it was demonstrated to be the most effective and financially viable one.

A natural method would be “an extended cold period without snow cover,” Baldiga said. But the weather has not cooperated.

Opponents expressed concerns about the town repeating using chemicals that would put Hopkinton on a “toxic treadmill.”

Baldiga countered that the application is targeted to the 50-acre north basin, which is shallow. A new consultant now can monitor 79 areas, whereas 10-11 were studied before.

Commenters suggested hand harvesting, mechanical harvesting and using a bulldozer to dredge the bottom. These are more costly and end up spreading weeds, according to Baldiga. He compared harvesting with “mowing the lawn.”

Also, Baldiga said these tools aren’t feasible for an area of this size. Years ago, he noted a resident used the bulldozer without permission from the town. Estimates he obtained showed that dredging the north basin would cost about $1 million.

He added that the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association (LMPA), led by Sabine St. Pierre, has done “a good job” educating residents. The LMPA also provides tools to new residents and discourages the use of lawn fertilizer.

Vice chair Shahidul Mannan stressed the need for “balance.”

“Herbicides are not risk-free,” he said. “We all realize that. How can we make it manageable and targeted while we solve a real-world problem?”

Clark said the opinions of the DPW, Conservation Commission and  Sustainable Green Committee will be sought as the budget process moves forward.

PACE loan program gets OK

The board approved 3-0 a recommendation that Hopkinton join the state’s Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) loan program.

Administered by MassDevelopment, the program was launched in Massachusetts in 2020. It helps commercial and industrial property owners and nonprofits finance energy improvements. Eighty other Massachusetts communities are part of the PACE loan program. Currently, 32 states and Washington D.C. are members.

Town Manager Elaine Lazarus explained that a positive vote would allow her office to pursue an agreement to join the program. Loans would be made available if there is a proposed project as well as a private equity funder. No town funds are used to finance the program.

“The town can opt in, but it may never see a project,” she said. “The town serves as a pass-through for the repayment to the private equity company.”

Julia Chun, the town’s sustainability, economic development and equity project manager, explained the PACE concept via a slide presentation. She was informed about the program by the Sustainable Green Committee.

“As you all know, a significant goal of ours this year is job creation as well as attracting and retaining our existing businesses,” stressed Chun. Adding sustainability features and decarbonizing older buildings may help spur economic development.

Traditional loans for these improvements can be expensive, and some projects may not be eligible for them, she said. PACE loans have terms of up to 30 years, while terms for traditional loans range between 5-10 years. The PACE loans are repaid through property taxes and are transferred with the property.

Added Chun: “They qualify based on the property and not the borrower.”

Improvements can include solar panel installation, HVAC system upgrades, LED lighting and window and roofing modifications.

Members agreed that there did not seem to be drawbacks for Hopkinton becoming a PACE community. Brian Herr and Matthew Kizner were absent from the meeting.

Ekross promoted to HPD sergeant

The Select Board approved 3-0 the promotion of Robert Ekross, the Hopkinton Police Department’s senior patrol officer, to the role of sergeant.

HPD Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten explained that candidates for sergeant had to score a 70 or above on a test before proceeding to an interview round. Each of these elements counted for 40% of the applicant’s score. The remaining 20% was determined by Chief Joseph Bennett’s performance evaluation.

“He’s a candidate that came out on top,” said Bennett. “He’s more than qualified. He’s very active within the department.”

Ekross explained that he is a field training officer who has been with the department for more than seven years. He has trained more than 20 officers during a time when the department has seen an infusion of new recruits.

He added that he recently became a ballistic shield instructor. Ekross also has been a contributor to the department’s social media posts and an instrumental part of the HPD’s health initiative.

Said Ekross: “I do as much as I can with the department. Now I’m just looking for that next step, and I’m excited to do that.”

“He understands our posture in the community, our commitment to service,” added Bennett. “He’s been delivering on that, and I have every confidence that he’ll hold his officers accountable.”

STM focuses on FY 26 budget

A Special Town Meeting will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at Hopkinton High School’s auditorium. The sole article will be to amend the town’s operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

A quorum of 131 people is needed, Lazarus said. A positive vote will prevent people from being overcharged on their upcoming property tax bill, which goes out at the end of the month.

The budget voted on at May’s Annual Town Meeting was based on estimates, Property tax rates are based on the actual numbers rather than the estimated amount. This is why the tax rate will be lower than expected, if the article is approved.

Lazarus previously explained that total expenditures originally were projected to exceed $154 million. The revenue from other sources was estimated to come in at $46 million. But there was unanticipated savings on health care and debt payment projections totaling about $5.7 million.

Once those reductions are approved at STM, the amount needed to raise by taxation will be less than the levy limit of $102 million. It previously was estimated to be $108 million. This vote will reduce the amount of property tax that the town is authorized to collect in FY 26.

“I don’t think we can emphasize this enough,” Clark said. “It’s not returning money to people. It’s preventing people from being overcharged at the end of the month when tax bills get released.”

Added Clark: “Hopefully the shortest Special Town Meeting the town’s ever had.”