Hopkinton over Medway

October 2, 2013 —  Recently appointed Interim Parks and Recreation Director Jack Nealon, above, who completed his first week at Town Hall, is the third generation of his family to hold a position in Town of Hopkinton government. 

           His aunt, Ann (Nealon) Click, is the recently retired Town Clerk, who held the elected position after her mother, "Bunny" Nealon, bowed out, after she had succeeded her husband, Ann's father, Robert. Jack's father is Tom Nealon, a politically active attorney and former School Committee member.

          Jack got his toes wet in Town Hall recently when he helped coordinate the highly successful "Live4Evan" event in memory of his friend, Evan Girardi, who lived a full life, although he had a congenital heart defect, which took took him at 20 years-old.

           "I worked with a lot of town departments to get Live4Evan organized," he said.

           Jack said that family friend Bob Dobinsky asked if he could take the position, and that Bob and two other Parks and Recreation Commissioners appointed him to the position.

            "I am trying to work through school, and as long as that doesn't interfere, I'll continue," he said.

October 2, 2013 — Fire trucks and police cruisers with wailing sirens and blasting horns parted the traffic to make a quick run to the Gulf Mart in response to a reported car fire at 2:30 this afternoon. Above, a fire fighter stands by the hood of a vehicle with an extinguisher behind him at the ready.

October 2, 2013 — A delivery driver on break takes advantage of the season's waning warm weather at the Whitehall Dam as the leaves on the deciduous trees reveal the changing season.

October 2, 2013 — Last night Selectmen shot down any idea the owners of Country Farms had of selling beer and wine to be consumed off premises in the same location as a Subway  franchise at 3 Cedar Street. The applicants for a wine and malt license, the last one left in Hopkinton that is not designated for another property, left after receiving bad news for a third time.

          At the first license hearing, they were asked to return another time with a floor plan that showed a smaller display area for the wine, a suggestion  by Selectman Vice-chair Ben Palleiko, who said last evening in arguing against approval,  that there was no way to enforce that condition.

          That first license hearing, a Public Hearing where abutters were notified and a notice was advertised, was closed the same night, and a new one scheduled soon thereafter. As that second date two weeks later drew near, it became clear that the Town Manager's office had not followed established rules in notifying abutters and advertising the Hearing in a daily newspaper. The applicant was advised not to show, and the hearing was not held until last evening.

           Even though he ended up voting for the license, Selectman Brian Herr warned sternly that if there were any violations at the location, the license would be "one and done." 

           Mr. Palleiko  and others did not see the need for another establishment selling alcohol within 100 yards of each other.

          "I don't see a lot of upside for the town," he said. 

           Chairman John Mosher, referring to the location of  Subway sandwich counter in the same tight location said, "I have concern of the location and the availability of cold beverages to go with your sandwich."

          Although the applicants complied with the requests to alter their floor plan, agreed to train employees in the floor plan and have extra help on days when school is released early — and had the blessing of Chief of Police Charles Wallace — the vote to approve the license, offered by Mr. Herr failed by a tie vote of 2-2 with Mrs. Gates and  Mr. Herr voting in favor, and Mr. Palleiko and Mr. Mosher against.

 

Hockey Rink Agreement

         Selectmen signed an agreement for a hockey rink at Legacy Farms, but without the name of the other party,  presumably the Demons, written into the text.  First there will be a formal Request for Proposals, which needs to be publicized, and which the Demons or any other entity could answer. However, the Demons is the only group that has expressed an interest.

 

Citizen Satisfaction Survey

         Approximately 41%, 492 of 1,200 Hopkinton residents sent a Citizen Satisfaction Survey from the town, replied with an overall very positive view of the town, its environment and its services.

         The community overall as a place to live received a 97% approval rating, higher than the national benchmark.

         The lowest satisfaction was in the area of traffic flow and shopping opportunities, at 21% and 23% respectively.

         Public safety was high on the list of things going well with 99% of people feeling safe Downtown during the day.

        There were three questions specifically added for Hopkinton, the first seeking likelihood of support for increasing the budgets of a dozen town departments.

         The Library was near the bottom of the list following by Town Hall services, which received the lowest approval for an increase.

         Library service was the next group of questions that showed a 72% overall favorable ranking, but 61% for technology access.

         (See the entire Power Point presentation here.). 

October 2, 2013 — The roving HopCam caught another shot of this rarely seen white chipmunk yesterday, this time  more closely and with its cheeks full of recently gathered acorns as it scurried along a hillside near its home.

September 30,2013 — Above, crews dressed the roadway today to prepare for a coat of asphalt to cover the trench made for the Downtown water main to seal the integrity of the work. The trench needs to settle for a year before the permanent pavement can be applied.

         In addition to  the water main having been installed, NStar is currently installing 1,900 feet of gas pipe, one representative said, from the Common to Legacy farms.