There are a number of articles on the warrant for Monday’s Special Town Meeting that span everything from tax exemptions to rezoning. The Independent recently sat down with town officials to understand each of the articles on the STM warrant and their impact on...
Town Manager
Building inspector takes responsibility for yard sign removal, cites complaint
After a week of confusion regarding the taking of anti-gas station yard signs on multiple streets, the town’s building inspector confirmed that it was his office behind the removal. Christopher McWhite, Hopkinton’s director of municipal inspections, and Town Manager...
Responses to survey of town manager candidates mirror Select Board’s preference for Lazarus
The town’s Human Resources Department on Friday released the survey results from the June 20 town manager finalist meet and greet event. They mirrored the Select Board’s decision that interim Town Manager Elaine Lazarus was the strongest candidate for the job. The...
Select Board votes unanimously to appoint Lazarus as town manager
The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night voted unanimously for Elaine Lazarus to be appointed as Hopkinton’s new town manager, pending successful contract negotiations. Before the vote, the board interviewed the finalists for the position: Lazarus, Lance...
Town Manager finalists shine during Select Board interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdpxBYt9tZw While the Select Board on Tuesday night unanimously voted to appoint Elaine Lazarus as Hopkinton’s new town manager, members also agreed that the other three candidates were well qualified for the position. Member Joe Clark...
Select Board to interview finalists for town manager Tuesday
The Select Board will interview the four finalists for town manager at its meeting Tuesday as it moves closer to appointing a permanent replacement for Norman Khumalo. Elaine Lazarus, one of the candidates, was appointed as the interim town manager on April 16. She...
Residents meet town manager finalists as end of selection process nears
Residents sat down with the finalists for the town manager position Thursday night at the Hopkinton Public Library. This meet and greet was one of the final steps in the selection process. The Select Board felt it was important for the public to interact with the...
Select Board decides to slow deputy police chief hiring process, announces town manager finalists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dedwnVvF7fU The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night decided unanimously to slow down the process for hiring a deputy police chief despite the process reaching its penultimate stage in order to allow for the review of police manual...
Herr urges Select Board to take slower pace with new town manager hire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWm02rwdyDs&ab_channel=HCAM New Select Board chair Brian Herr urged the town to slow down the hiring process for the new town manager during Tuesday night’s meeting, calling for public engagement with the finalists for this key town...
Select Board unanimously approves new CFO; graduation car parade OK’d
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aglLW3PjuI&ab_channel=HCAM The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday voted 4-0 to approve the hiring of Kyla LaPierre as the town’s new chief financial officer. LaPierre, a Milford resident, worked at State Street corporation for 29...
Update: Document released by town compromises anonymity of alleged sexual assault survivor; Kramer offers apology
After Friday night’s explosive hearing on the potential termination of Hopkinton Police Sgt. Tim Brennan, documents were released by the town that mistakenly included identifying information of the alleged sexual assault survivor in the case of the accused assailant,...
Town addresses ‘fraudulent invoice’ from HopNews, media advertising policy
Select Board chair Muriel Kramer at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting addressed a fraudulent invoice sent by the owner of a local news blog. In an email to the Independent Tuesday evening, Town Manager Norman Khumalo stated that Peter Thomas, the owner and publisher of...
Town Manager Khumalo announces his pending departure
Town Manager Norman Khumalo announced Monday that he will be leaving his job as Hopkinton's town manager after nearly 15 years. In a public relations statement from the town, he announced that he is retiring in early 2024 after more than 30 years in municipal service...
Community survey open to public through Oct. 31
The town recently made available a survey for residents to complete. The survey, which was mailed to a limited number of residents earlier in the summer, now is open to all residents. The survey closes on Oct. 31. According to an email sent by Town Manager Norman...