The board unanimously decided to have a public hearing due to the owner of Hiller’s Pizza’s sexual assault conviction.

The Hopkinton Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to schedule a public hearing regarding the common victualer license for Hiller’s Pizza at 77 West Main Street, following impassioned testimony from community members calling for immediate action against the establishment owned by convicted sex offender Petro Sismanis.

Public Outcry Over Hiller’s Pizza License

More than a dozen residents and advocates spoke during the public forum at last night’s select board meeting to demand the revocation of Sismanis’ business license following his recent conviction for indecent assault and battery on a 16-year-old employee and witness intimidation. Sismanis is currently serving a six-month sentence for crimes committed at the restaurant in January 2023.

“This isn’t about a single business, it’s about halting a proven predator and his apparent enablers,” said Beth Malloy, representing a coalition of concerned residents. Malloy detailed Sismanis’ pattern of offenses, noting his 1998 conviction for indecent assault at the same Main Street location when it operated as Jelly Donuts.

Several speakers criticized the Select Board’s past handling of the license, pointing to apparent oversights in required background checks. John Lukowski of Ashland accused the board of “undeniable legal and moral collapse,” citing Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 9, which empowers boards to revoke licenses for good cause.

Sexual assault survivor Maria Lukowski delivered compelling testimony, drawing parallels to her own experience and challenging the board: “Do you stand with the children of Hopkinton, or do you stand on the side of a convicted sex offender?”

Family Pushes Back Through Attorney

An attorney spoke on behalf of Hiller’s Pizza, announcing that ownership had been transferred to Sismanis’ wife, Eleni, and that the family is pursuing a complete license transfer. He defended family members against what he called “baseless comments” and “harassment,” specifically criticizing Board of Housing Authority Commissioner Beth Malloy for her public statements about the case.

Sismanis’ daughter, Sophia, also addressed the board, emphasizing her mother’s innocence and the family’s commitment to compliance. “My father is not affiliated with the business at this time,” she said, requesting the board be “mindful” of the impact on family members.

Board Follows Legal Process

Board Chairman Joe Clark explained that state law requires a public hearing before any license can be revoked. “What we are looking for tonight is to move to a public hearing,” Clark said, noting the board cannot take immediate action without following proper procedures, under M.G.L. Chapter 140, section 9.

All four board members—Clark, Amy Ritterbusch, Matt Kizner, and Brian Herr—expressed support for scheduling the hearing, with Kizner stating he preferred not to discuss the matter further until the formal proceeding.

The timing of the public hearing has not yet been announced.

Cornell’s Irish Pub Gets Green Light

In contrast to the contentious Hiller’s Pizza discussion, the board unanimously approved transferring Cornell’s Irish Pub’s liquor license to new owners Erin Friis Trites and Bradley Kay through their corporation, Four C’s Pub Inc.

Friis, a 13-year employee at Cornell’s, and Kay plan to maintain the establishment’s current character while potentially expanding entertainment options. The approval came with conditions requiring the installation of a fire alarm system and an emergency response system that would shut down music and illuminate lighting during emergencies.

Fire Chief Daugherty initially expressed concerns about the expanded entertainment license request, particularly regarding live music, but supported the application after the owners agreed to the safety upgrades.

Former Select Board member Brendan Tedstone vouched for Friis’s integrity, citing her proactive approach to managing difficult situations during her tenure as bar manager.

MWRA Water Connection Advances

The board received comprehensive updates on the town’s pursuit of a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) connection to address long-term water supply challenges.

Water and Sewer Advisory Board Chair Paul Gallagher outlined four key points:

• Definitive need for a new water source
  • Max available from existing Hopkinton wells, with all wells treated: 1.5 MGD
  • Ashland has typically supplied 0.5 MGD in peak season
  • Need additional water for:
    • Demand grows over time
    • Redundant capacity for security of supply
    • Account for the likely future decline in well output
    • Account for the possible abandonment of some wells
• Significance of the 2.7 million gallons per day (MGD) maximum demand figure
  • It’s a conservative (won’t be exceeded) estimate of future maximum daily demand
  • Will likely be adjusted as an outcome of permitting and detailed design processes
  • Don’t let the debate over this number delay the project
• Importance of maintaining Ashland water purchases
  • Clean, affordable water source supplying 35-40% of drinking water for 25+ years
  • Seek renewed agreement (current agreement does not extend beyond 6/30/2028)
  • Include this water in the new alternatives analysis and other project planning.
• Urgency of completing the project within five to seven years.
  • The risk of exceeding the capacity of the existing system will increase over time.
  • Inherently, a slow process to do a project of this nature:
    • Many permitting agencies and regulatory requirements
    • Seek opportunities to save time
  • Proactive outreach to regulators – in progress.
  • Be prepared for design changes.
  • Plan and budget for water conservation, billing, and metering upgrades likely to be mandated for Interbasin transfer approval.

“Our water quality and quantity issues don’t really improve” during the lengthy permitting and construction process, Gallagher warned, noting that existing wells may yield less over time, potentially forcing the use of lower-quality sources.

Place for a Pump Station

DPW Director Kerry Reed reported that the town has scheduled a crucial pre-filing meeting with state environmental regulators for August 21. The town is still seeking approximately one acre along Cedar Street for a required pump station, with Reed noting they may need to purchase property since no suitable town-owned land is currently available.

Board member Matt Kizner pressed officials on the town’s concerning 19.2% water loss rate, well above the 10% target preferred by state regulators. Town officials acknowledged this issue must be addressed, but noted other communities have successfully navigated similar challenges.

The board postponed selecting a representative for negotiations with Southborough until all members are present.

Other Board Actions

• Approved multiple gift acceptances to police and fire departments
• Confirmed several new employee appointments and resignations
• Approved a license change for Hopkinton Center for the Arts
• Confirmed Jed Fenneuff’s promotion to Water and Sewer Manager
• Authorized a 200% senior tax exemption despite assessor concerns about tax rate impacts
• Reappointed Principal Assessor John Neas as Principal Assessor (3-year appointment)

DPW Billing Dispute

The meeting opened with continued complaints from resident Mary Arnot regarding DPW billing practices. Arnot argued that water and sewer bills are not appropriately prorated, resulting in overcharges to residents.

Arnot requested that the board review the billing system and require immediate corrective action, seeking a written response within 30 days.

Looking Ahead

• The board will conduct interviews for new town counsel services at the select board meeting on August 12, with four firms competing for the contract.
• The contentious Hiller’s Pizza public hearing will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
• MWRA connection planning continues with the critical state regulatory meeting later this month.

The meeting concluded with the board entering executive session to discuss personnel matters, ongoing litigation, and property negotiations.