Page  1   Page 2   Page 3   Community   Seniors   Police   Letters   Weather   HPTA Source

Since 2003

Hopkinton Online PressTM

  "The News Starts Here!"

24 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748

Editor@HopNews.com 508-435-5534

Updated: July 13, 2012 06:06:00 PM

Please visit our discussion page      

HHSPressSchoolsTownArchivesDeaths DictionaryGoogleGoogle MapsMBTA 457CNNFOXCBSAOL GamesFree DailyFree Radio

White House Registry State House DCR MBTA MWRTA

 Selectmen's Meeting

Honoring the Past and Looking to the Future

by Muriel Kramer

October 13, 2010

Honoring the Spirit

On Wednesday night, October 20th, the public is invited to a welcome dinner for the United States Marine Corps Marathon officials and the unveiling of a painting that celebrates Hopkinton veterans from the battle on Iwo Jima. The painting is inspired by the seven (7) Marines with Hopkinton ties that served on Iwo Jima; miraculously all seven returned home safely.
 

According to one of those veterans, John Cahill (File photo, right), “young, green guys were turned into veterans after two days if they lasted; many didn’t make it that long.”
 

From the book, Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley: “It was America’s most heroic battle. More medals for valor were awarded for action on Iwo Jima than in any battle in the history of the United States. To put that into perspective: The Marines were awarded eighty-four Medals of Honor in World War II. Over four years, that was twenty-two a year, about two a month. But in just one month of fighting on this island, they were awarded 27 Medals of Honor: one

 third their accumulated total.” Click on small icon for video of vets on Iwo Jima Day, February, 2010.

 

Dinner will be at the First Congregational Church; RSVP to info@haa-ma.org or call 508-293-1139. Doors open at 6pm and dinner will be served promptly at 6:30. Since space is limited to 230 people and the event is filling up rapidly. To attend the dinner people MUST RSVP by 4-17-2010.

 

Additionally on October 21st at 10 AM outside the Hopkinton Police Station, Marine Corps Marathon officials will receive the Marathon Flame. Courtesy photo above: Mt. Suribachi in the background, man standing playing a fiddle, and arrow pointing to Hopkinton veteran Paul Phipps.
 

Former Board of Public Works Overview

The Board of Public Works elected in May 2010, served just over three months until the special legislation passed to disband the group, and in that time they held 7 meetings.

 

Eric Sonnett reported, “The enterprise funds are in excellent shape with both operating in the black. There are no rate increases for this year, and the rates won’t go up any time soon barring some disaster.”

 

The committee also updated all the existing rules, regulations and policies as well as the sewer main extension policy to accommodate new capacity when the Milford connection is finalized and the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Fruit Street goes online. The group also voted to expend money from the enterprise funds to upgrade the pump station on South Street to expedite the connection to Milford.
 

The group further met outside of the public forum after being formally disbanded by legislation to consider a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen. Their recommendation to the Board is that “there should be some advisory board to capture the history of the project and keep everyone on the same page going forward. There should be some form of ongoing Fruit Street Development Committee.”
 

Selectman Ben Palleiko, a former member of the Appropriation Committee, asked if the loans from the General Fund to the Enterprise Funds had been paid back. Mr. Sonnett replied, “All that has been paid.”

 

Brendan O’Regan, DPW Director, gave a brief update of the Milford Sewer connection. The final work on the Hopkinton side is scheduled to be completed by the end of October. Further, as long as an agreement is reached with Milford that Hopkinton can use the flow meter on the Hopkinton side temporarily, sewer flow from Hopkinton to Milford may begin as soon as November.
MORE:

From the Town Manager’s Report

  • Responding to resident requests and in concert with the recommendations of public safety officials, the Board voted to keep the intersection of Smith Road and Kimball Road a four way stop.

  • The Downtown Initiative Steering Committee has begun work with Attorney Tom Nealon serving as Chairman to oversee the $400,000 design effort. Mr. O’Regan spoke to a related initiative to address replacing the water main under Main Street, an effort that needs to be completed before improvements to downtown and the street can be finalized.

  • The future of the Economic Development Committee was discussed at length; the current committee has not met for better than a year. The Board discussed considering disbanding the existing committee at their next meeting, and Town Manager Norman Khumalo, discussed plans for the future. “In the 12 to 14 months I have been here, I’ve spent the bulk of my time speaking to the existing businesses in Hopkinton.” Acknowledging the relative lack of large developable lots for new businesses, Khumalo advocated the position that “the town’s business opportunities lie with our existing customers [businesses]. It is time to revitalize the Committee. We need to gain an understanding of the needs of our customers, so the Town can make strategic choices. We need to focus our energy on how we can work best with our existing businesses.”

  • Addressing the Hopkinton Public Library initiative and the requests for information from the Selectmen at a previous meeting, Mr. Khumalo proposed a study group that will update the Board twice a month. The group will consist of the Permanent Building Committee and representatives from Planning Board, Downtown Revitalization, Historic District Commission, Library Trustees, Library Department, School Committee, Parks and Recreation, the Appropriation Committee with Elaine Lazurus, the Director of Land Use, Planning and Permitting, serving as the project manager.

Khumalo also proposed hiring a consultant on a limited basis to help forecast the study group’s work, effort and report. The consultant would also help develop key questions, conduct peer reviews and provide technical services for example with sketch plans and cost estimates. Khumalo recommended asking the Appropriation Committee for a Reserve Fund transfer to pay for the consultant.

 

The group would be tasked: to study the age and condition of town owned buildings downtown, identify the deficiencies and recommend improvements that are needed; to forecast future space needs for the town for all town departments including the schools; to review, investigate and report on alternatives including alternative uses for all buildings studied; to provide cost estimates; and to review the impact on the vibrancy of downtown if the library is moved to behind the current Center school.

 

Selectman John Mosher supported the idea, “I hope this vets a clear direction for the town.” He added, “It is really important to get community feedback.”

 

Mr. Palleiko suggested, “We don’t want the tail wagging the dog; we don’t want to use this to somehow justify putting the library behind Center School.

 

Khumalo will get cost estimates for the Board for the next meeting and explore the possibilities of using a Reserve Fund Transfer to cover the cost of a consultant.
 

"The News Starts Here!"

24 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748  508.435.5534

 Editor@HopNews.com

 

 Last Update for this page:  07/13/2012 06:06:00 PM 

IP Trace

All content on this site and linked pages within this domain and affiliate domains are ©2010 Hopkinton News and HopNews.com and may not reproduced in any form without written permission. Learn more.