The Select Board on Tuesday continued its review of several budget requests by town departments for the upcoming fiscal year that adhered to the directive to maintain level-service funding.

Amy Beck, the Senior Services director, told the board that the activities the Senior Center provides are crucial for helping older residents maintain their independence and social connections. In addition to its programming, she indicated that the Senior Center provides more than 7,500 meals a year and 5,000 rides.

“Our motto is we want to seniors thrive, not just survive,” she stressed.

The department requested an operations budget increase of 2% for FY 27, which met the town’s guidelines. There were no staff increase requests.

While goods and services costs increased slightly, Beck said, “We continue to do a lot with a little.”

She called people who are not elderly yet “seniors in training.” The town’s older population is expected to reach 27% by 2030.

For capital requests, Beck requested $35,000 to replace the carpeting in the lobby and in the hallway leading to staff offices. It is “unraveling at the seams,” causing a tripping hazard, she explained.

The other request Beck presented was for $48,000 for a secondary exit door. It would lead from the dining room to the back patio area. This amount would come from free cash.

Vice chair Shahidul Mannan called this request “a good step.”

CPC addresses Center School, Carbone’s

Community Preservation Committee chair Ken Weismantel presented the requests approved by the CPC in December and January.

Under the Community Preservation Act (CPA), at least 10% of funding raised must be allocated among three categories — open space, historic preservation and affordable housing, according to the state website. The remaining 70% can be allocated to any of these categories, as well as recreation. The funding comes from a 2% surcharge on real estate tax and an 18% state match.

Weismantel said the account holds about $8 million. He explained that the money must be allocated for proposed projects that fit these categories.

The biggest request was for $2 million for the rehabilitation of the former Center School as part of a $10 million multiyear project. It is being funded via a public-private partnership between the town and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

Smaller requests included money for cemetery headstone restoration, floor restoration for the library’s Ellsworth Conference Room and limestone restoration at Town Hall.

Two Parks & Recreation Department requests were approved: lighting funds for the Fruit Street pickleball/tennis courts, and benches and tables at the Town Common, Sandy Beach and the EMC skate park.

Parks & Rec pulled its request for funding for $1.8 million to redesign Pyne Field to include a baseball field and cricket pitch. Safety concerns and rising costs hampered the project. Weismantel said he would like Town Meeting to re-vote the project it approved in FY 24 so that other options could be explored.

Two land purchases were proposed. The main one was for the Carbone’s Restaurant property, located at 280 Cedar Street, at the border with Southborough and Ashland. The article includes purchasing the rear parcel for open space. In a separate article, the town intends to purchase the main parcel for $2 million.

“I think this is an exciting thing for the town to get involved with,” said chair Joe Clark.

A small, triangular-shaped property off Winter Street could be purchased for $35,000 for open space, Weismantel said.

In addition to the Carbone’s land purchase, Town Manager Elaine Lazarus presented the budget requests for the departments that fall under her management “umbrella.” The requests encompassed additional hours for the animal control officer, creating an economic development fund for meals tax revenue, and general office expenses.

Accounting, finance requests ‘straightforward’

Cindy Johnston, the town’s senior accounting manager/town accountant, requested less money than in FY 26. Johnson had requested $278,521, a 3.5% decrease from the previous fiscal year, while Town Manager Elaine Lazarus recommended $283,331, a 1.83% decrease.

Member Amy Ritterbusch called this request “straightforward.”

Similarly, Kyla LaPierre, the town’s chief financial officer, presented her request of a 2.05% increase from the FY 26 budget. It included standard merit salary increases as well as cost of living adjustments of “roughly $27,000.”

CV license renewal process nears completion

The board unanimously approved the common victualer (CV) and entertainment license renewals for the Starbucks located at 85 West Main Street.

The Aramark at Dell locations at 176 South Street and 228 South Street are awaiting approval. Lazarus said the outstanding items at both sites are the 90-minute emergency lighting test and the replacement of bulbs and batteries in the exit signs, if necessary. The board voted 5-0 to extend the license renewal deadline to March 4.

The issue of emergency lighting testing was raised at the Feb. 3 meeting regarding the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. At that meeting, Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty explained that the law requires emergency lights to stay on for 90 minutes after the power is shut down. Christopher McWhite, the director of municipal inspections, said the emergency lights previously only needed to be tested make sure that they functioned.

“I think there were some changes this year that extended the amount of time to get some of these inspections done,” said Clark.

The license renewal process typically ends on Dec. 31. The strict adherence to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks for business owners and managers and the addition of Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks extended the review process timeline. Outstanding building inspections and tardy submission of application materials delayed some approvals.

Member Matt Kizner suggested a debrief of the “lessons learned” after the more extensive renewal process at a future meeting. Lazarus noted that a draft policy is being written that will be brought forward for the board’s approval.

Orale alcohol license transfer approved

In a separate public hearing, the board unanimously approved the all-alcohol license transfer for Orale Mexican Restaurant from Mauricio Bremermann to Victor Roman. Orale is located at 22-24 Main Street.

Lazarus explained that the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission originally determined that a “multi-step amendment” would be required because the corporate entity was the same. Bremermann and Roman consequently formed two separate entities, allowing for the transfer process to proceed.

Deceased longtime volunteer firefighter honored

The board voted unanimously to accept several monetary donations totaling $1,230 in memory of Henry “Artie” Pyne to the Hopkinton Fire Department.

Pyne died on Jan. 16 at age 84. He served as a volunteer firefighter for 45 years and was known for directing traffic as a special detail officer for the town. He worked at New England Power for 38 years.

Members thanked those who donated to the HFD in Pyne’s memory.