The Select Board Tuesday night awarded invitational entries to the Boston Marathon from the Boston Athletic Association to town departments and nonprofits as a main focus of its two-hour meeting. It also discussed the need to register the Marathon Committee’s trademark federally to preserve it for the town.

The Boston Athletic Association distributed 65 invitational entries to the town for the Boston Marathon in April. Khumalo noted that they are in high demand, and the requests for them exceeded the supply. Twenty-three applications were received from nine town departments, including seven from the Hopkinton Police Department, one from the Hopkinton Fire Department, one from the Hopkinton Public Library and two from the Hopkinton Senior Center. Also making requests were six applicants from the Hopkinton Marathon Committee, although Select Board member Mary Jo LaFreniere related that the committee would be happy with five given the high demand. The Veterans Celebration Committee and the Hopkinton High School Business Professionals of America/robotics program each requested one entry, while Hopkinton High School and the Senior and Disabled Tax Relief Committee each requested two.

On the nonprofit organization side, there were 61 entries submitted by 40 registered nonprofit organizations, an interest in the number of applications that Khumalo called “remarkable.”

The board agreed that because of the town demand, 19 invitational entries could be distributed to the nine town departments. The Hopkinton Senior Center was allocated one entry, while the Hopkinton Marathon Committee received five. Hopkinton High School’s request was reduced to one entry, as was the Senior and Disabled Tax Relief Committee. The distribution was based on last year’s allocation. Each nonprofit was allocated one entry.

The balance was selected in a random drawing. Winners included the Hopkinton Emergency Fund, Sophie’s Hope Foundation and the Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association, which encompasses Troops 1, 11 and 14.

Said Kramer: “It should be noted how much we appreciate the BAA for making sure that we get those bibs.”

After the drawing, Tim Kilduff, the president of the 26.2 Foundation, announced along with Hopkinton Center for the Arts executive director Kelly Grill that there will be an informational session to instruct organizations on the best practices for raising money through their runners. The session will take place on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at Start Line Brewery.

LaFrieniere pushes for trademark for Marathon Committee slogan

LaFreniere advocated for an estimated $500 for the Marathon Committee to purchase a federal trademark for its slogan to preserve usage solely by the town. She recently attended a Marathon Committee meeting where members expressed concerns about the slogan — which is on its logo — being used in a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign for San Francisco.

“It all starts here” is a saying that has become synonymous with the Boston Marathon due to its creation by the Marathon Committee. A state trademark was registered by Dorothy Wallace, who chairs the Marathon Committee, but the need for a federal trademark emerged.

Said LaFreniere: “Once the Marathon Committee loses it, it’s lost. We’ll never get it back.”

Khumalo said he would look into the matter.

New employees Gus DeOliveira (fifth from right) and Carly Moniz (fourth from right) are welcomed at Tuesday’s meeting. PHOTO/MARY ELLEN GAMBON

New employees welcomed

The Select Board approved the Khumalo’s recommendation to hire two new employees: Agusto “Gus” DeOliveira and Carly Moniz.

DeOliveira was hired as a custodial maintenance worker in the Facilities Department, while Moniz was selected as the children’s librarian at the Hopkinton Public Library.

“We’re very confident that Agusto will deliver,” Khumalo said, noting that DeOliveira “works well under pressure” and “in a fast-paced environment.”

Khumalo described Moniz as “a programming phenomenon” who is dedicated to serving children. The Upton resident was praised for having “a passion for literacy” and her previous development of story time hours.

Select Board approves annual license renewals

The Select Board dealt with the annual process of renewing 10 different types of licenses related to food and alcohol purchases, transportation services and a car dealership.

The board approved all requests, including two with conditional approvals. All alcohol and associated licenses were approved for 10 local eateries, while Woodville Rod & Gun Club and The Spoon were granted renewals for Section 12 all alcohol, wine and malt and associated licenses. Start Line Brewing Company received an approval for renewal of a Section 19C farmer brewery pouring permit.

Package store all-alcohol renewals were approved for Hopkinton Wine & Spirits, Marty’s Fine Wines, The Vin Bin and Country Farm Liquor. A Section 15 package store wine and malt only license renewal was granted to Alltown Fresh.

Common victualer license renewals were approved for The Spoonery, Dunkin’, The Muffin House, Aramark at Dell as well as Blue Square Pizza, South Street Donuts, Starbucks at Price Chopper, Red Barn Coffee at Angel’s Cafe, Starbucks Coffee at 85 W Main Street and Hiller’s Pizza.

Regarding transportation, Class 1 and Class 2 license renewals were granted to Bulldog Fire Apparatus Inc., Whitehall Auto Sales, Inc, WSAB Enterprise and Main Street Service Center. Able Limousine, Inc received a livery and limousine license renewal, and MetroWest Regional Transit Authority was awarded a municipal street license renewal.

Consultant named for municipal aggregation plan development

Mass PowerChoice was selected out of three similar companies, according to Julia Chun, the town’s sustainability, economic development and equity project manager, who said the company’s team is “community-centric.” The plan should take 12-15 months to complete.

She noted that this decision is in line with the town’s goals to reach net zero status.

Approval granted for taking of Foxhollow Road, Box Mill Road

The Select Board voted 3-0 to approve the notices of taking for Foxhollow Road and Box Mill Road, in accordance with the votes under Articles 35 and 36 of the 2023 Annual Town Meeting. Vice chair Shahidul Mannan and member Irfan Nasrullah were not in attendance.