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Selectmen Approve New Permanent Building Committee Library Board authorized for architect search
May 26, 2010 — A newly organized Hopkinton Board of Selectmen with two new members approved the creation of a Permanent Building Committee at last evening's meeting, a proposal from Town Manager Norman Khumalo that went through a six month process of modification and negotiations. The Board also voted to proceed with the search for an architect for the town’s new library while the town is in the process of receiving the deed to the library and reorganizing the library administration as a town agency.
The May 25 meeting was the
first to include new selectmen John Mosher and Benjamin Palleiko
following the May 17 elections and the retirements of Chair Brian Herr
and Selectman Matt Zettek. The Board’s first move was to elect RJ Palleiko, who has lived in Hopkinton and worked in finance since 1997, has been on the town’s Appropriations Committee for four years. Mosher served on the Planning Board and is chair of the Sustainable Green committee. After an extended process of consulting with town agencies and amending the proposal, Town Manager Norman Khumalo achieved one of the major goals of his first year in office when the Board of Selectmen approved his executive order to create a Permanent Building Committee to oversee and offer advice on town construction projects over $100,000, excluding those that fall under the School Committee’s purview. Coinciding with the creation of this committee, the Board was also introduced to the new Town Engineer/Facilities Coordinator, Dave Daltorio (Photo). The creation of the committee was approved over the objections of Selectwoman Michelle Gates. “I have a major concern about adding another layer of bureaucracy,” Gates said. As Gates highlighted, the various ad-hoc committees that oversee construction projects now have the expertise of the newly-hired Town Engineer and a liaison appointed by the Board of Selectmen, in addition to committee members appointed by the agencies In addition to Daltorio’s expertise, the committee will include three temporary voting members for each project appointed by the agency or committee sponsoring that project. This, however, excludes the School Committee, which may seek the advice of the Permanent Building Committee, but will not be bound by any of its recommendations. MORE: The Board took action to continue working towards a new library by authorizing the current library Board of Trustees to search for and possibly hire an architect to first complete a feasibility study and then draft a design for a new library building. The Board also authorized Khumalo to advertise for positions on the Permanent Building Committee, which will be involved in the process of design, approval and construction of the new library. Library Trustee Laura Barry emphasized the need for action on the library. “We are at mission critical now. We have now eight months to apply for this grant. We don’t have a design, we don’t have a site,” Barry said. Hopkinton is hoping to receive state grant money for the new library, but first has to assume ownership of the library as a town agency. Khumalo said Town Counsel Ray Miyares will complete the conveyance of the property from the Board of Trustees in two to four weeks.
Additionally, the town must then complete a
feasibility study and complete designs for the new building in order to
apply for the grant by January 2011. Barry emphasized that the grant was
competitive, with an expected 50 communities to competitive for 10 grant
awards. The feasibility study and design of the library are each
expected to take 90 days, in addition Reporting as a liaison to the Sustainable Green Committee—and as its chair—Selectman Mosher announced that Gov. Deval Patrick had visited Hopkinton to announce that it had been named one of 35 Green Communities across the Commonwealth. This designation makes the town eligible for a portion of $8.5 million in state grants which will awarded annually. The Board presented proclamations to Eagle Scout Mark James Garner (Photo) and Mason John Warren. Garner recently accomplished the rank of Eagle Scout following a project that lasted about five months in which he identified and removed invasive plant species in the town. Warren, of the John Warren Masonic Lodge, has led an effort to hold a Flag Retirement Ceremony in Hopkinton on June 27. The ceremony will also include a band playing patriotic music and a parade. In addition to the proclamation, which declared June 27, 2010, John Warren Masonic Lodge Day, the Board approved Warren’s request for a permit for the parade. The Board also recognized the accomplishments of Police Sergeant John Porter and Officer John Moran, who were recognized by the state chapter of MADD for their commitment to enforcing drunk driving laws; and the Sealer of Weights and Measures for obtaining a state grant of $10,000 for the town of Hopkinton. The Board of Selectmen’s next meeting is on June 8 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 215 at the Town Hall. |
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"The News Starts Here!"
Dourney as Chair and Todd Cestari as Vice-Chair.
to the time needed to draft the grant.
