TOWN OF HOPKINTON
Board of Selectmen
June 18, 2013
A meeting of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at Town
Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Selectmen present: John Mosher, Ben Palleiko,
Michelle Gates, Brian Herr. Not Present: Todd Cestari. Officials present: Town Manager
Norman Khumalo, Operations Assistant Jamie Hellen.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Mosher called the public meeting to order at 5:54 PM in Room
205.
MOVED by Palleiko and SECONDED by Ms. Gates to enter into executive session for the
purposes of to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel
with respect to the Fire Chief, Police Chief and Town Manager’s contracts, respectively; to
conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel with respect to
the Interim Police Chief’s contract; to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining of
the Fire Department, Police Union and Police Dispatch contract negotiations, because an open
meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Board; to consider the
purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property at 25 Ash Street, because an open meeting
may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Board; and, discussing the
deployment of security personnel or devices, or strategies with respect thereto.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Mosher - Yes, Mr. Palleiko-Yes, Ms. Gates - Yes. VOTE to Approve:
Yes-3, No-0.
REOPEN PUBLIC SESSION: Chairman Mosher reopened the Public Session in Room 215 at
6:58PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM: Residents were invited to share ideas, opinions, or ask questions regarding
town government. There was no one present to participate in open forum.
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Appointments – The Board considered appointing Amman Haidri and Beth Malloy to the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board for 2-year terms to expire on June 30, 2015.
2. Resignations – The Board considered approving the resignations of Kim Hesse and
Suzanne Hermalyn from the Youth Commission and Andre Griben from the Woodville
Historic District Commission.
3. Bond Authorization Note – The Board considered approving a Bond Authorization Note
for $860,000 for the Main Street Water project.
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June 18, 2013
4. Gifts – The Board considered approving a donation to the town of $1,000 to the
Hopkinton Public Library from the Trust of Joan L. Strathern.
5. Minutes – The Board considered approving the public session minutes of April 2, 2013
and April 23, 2013.
6. Proclamation – The Board considered approval of a proclamation for Alexander Gabriel
Kirshy in obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout.
Mr. Herr asked that Items 1a and 1b be broken out.
MOTION by Mrs. Gates to approve the Consent Agenda with Items 1a and 1b broken out,
SECONDED by Mr. Palleiko. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
Mr. Herr asked if Mr. Haidri or Ms. Malloy were present and would like to address the Board.
Amman Haidri introduced himself and explained why he is interested in serving on the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board.
MOTION by Mr. Herr to appoint Amman Haidri to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board
for a 2-year term to expire on June 30, 2015, SECONDED by Mr. Palleiko. VOTE to Approve:
Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0. MOTION by Mr. Herr to appoint Beth Malloy to the Affordable
Housing Trust Fund Board for a 2-year term to expire on June 30, 2015, SECONDED by Mrs.
Gates. VOTE to Approve: Yes-3, No-1 (Palleiko), Abstained-0.
COMMITTEE REAPPOINTMENTS: The Board considered reappointment of members to
respective Town boards and committees, as well as election poll workers. Mr. Hellen explained
the process used to compile the information of individuals due for reappointment and how this
information will be tracked going forward. He stated all information is available to the public on
the Town website, and anyone interested in applying for an appointment can fill out the form on
the website. He stated no one has expressed interest in being appointed to a seat currently held by
someone else. He pointed out to the Board that there is an opening for a Selectman on the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board.
MOTION by Mr. Palleiko to appoint Todd Cestari as the Board of Selectmen representative on
the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board, SECONDED by Mr. Mosher. VOTE to Approve:
Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0. MOTION by Mr. Palleiko to reappoint members to Town boards
and committees, as well as election poll workers, as described in the agenda attachments,
SECONDED by Mr. Herr. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
FISCAL 2014 WATER AND SEWER RATES: The Board continued discussion of setting the
water and sewer rates for Fiscal 2014, effective July 1, 2013, pursuant to the Special Act of
establishing the Department of Public Works in Hopkinton. Mark Abrahams, Consultant, and
John Westerling, DPW Director, presented to the Board a three year and four year plan for
implementation of rate increases.
MOTION by Mr. Palleiko to set the water rates for FY 2014 to reflect a 7.7% increase,
SECONDED by Mrs. Gates. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0. MOTION by
Mr. Palleiko to set the sewer rates for FY 2014 to reflect a 0.0% increase, SECONDED by
Mrs. Gates. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
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YEAR-END TRANSFERS: The Board considered approving year-end transfers, pursuant to
Chapter 44, Section 33B of the Massachusetts General Laws. MOTION by Mr. Palleiko to
approve the year-end transfers as proposed by the Town Manager, SECONDED by Mr. Herr.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
ESTABLISH OPEB TRUST: The Board considered establishing the Other Post-Employment
Benefits (OPEB) Trust account, pursuant to Article 13 of the 2013 Annual Town Meeting and
Mass General Law Chapter 32B, Section 20. MOTION by Mr. Palleiko to establish the OPEB
Trust Fund Account and appoint the Treasurer as the custodian, SECONDED by Mr. Herr.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
POLICE CHIEF HIRING PROCESS: The Board considered approval of a hiring process for
a new Police Chief. Debbie Hilton-Creek, Human Resources Director, reviewed a few changes
to the proposed hiring process which was discussed at the last Board meeting. MOTION by
Mr. Herr that the Board approve the recruitment process for the Police Chief as submitted per the
June 18, 2013 meeting and to be mindful of the taxpayers when considering inclusion of an
external search committee and to keep the numbers within the budget discussed here this
evening, SECONDED by Mr. Palleiko. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
LIAISON REPORTS: Mrs. Gates stated she attended the MetroWest 495 partnership meeting
last week where the Mass Gaming Commission Chair was the guest speaker. She stated last
week was the first Concert on the Common with the band Help performing. She announced next
Sunday’s concert will be by Still Burning, which is a southern rock band. She stated in
conjunction with the concerts the Parks and Recreation Department has started the Farmers
Market which starts at 1:00 p.m. She announced a workshop which is being put on by the Broad
Institute at Harvard on Thursday, June 20th, to discuss strategic and tactical thinking for women.
She stated further information will be posted on the Town website. She announced Bose
Corporation, in conjunction with Community Service Day, will be sending 250 employees to
Hopkinton to provide community service. Mrs. Gates stated the Senior Center is always looking
for volunteers and encouraged community members to consider helping out.
Mr. Herr announced the MetroWest Anti-Casino coalition has been meeting every Thursday
evening at 6:00 p.m. at the Holliston Town Hall. He stated additional communities are
considering joining the coalition. He attended the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority
meeting and discussed the FY 2014 budget, which is fully balanced.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT:
1. Rownak Hussain, along with Susan Marshall, provided a presentation on the Library
Department.
2. Hockey Rink Update – Mr. Khumalo stated the Town is in continuing discussions with
the Demons Hockey organization and will be scheduling regular meetings to keep the
process moving forward. He stated about three months ago the Town received a letter
from the YMCA indicating they no longer have an interest in the parcel at Legacy Farms.
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3. DPW Vacancies – Mr. Khumalo indicated the Town is in the process of filling two heavy
equipment operator positions in the DPW.
4. Town Manager Appointments – Mr. Khumalo stated he will be making the following
annual appointments: Bill Proctor, Animal Control Officer; Cynthia Proctor, Animal
Inspector; Gary Haynes, Fence Viewer; Gary Haynes, Surveyor of Lumber, Wood, and
Bark. The Building Inspector will be making the following appointments: Louis Sakin,
Thomas McIntyre, John Palmer, Jane Adams, Kathleen McIntyre, Jamie Wright.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Mrs. Gates asked when appointments to liaison posts would be
conducted. Chairman Mosher indicated this will be discussed at the Board’s next meeting.
MOTION by Mr. Palleiko to enter into Executive Session to discuss strategy sessions in
preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel with respect to the Fire Chief’s contract,
SECONDED by Mr. Herr. VOTE to Approve: Yes-4, No-0, Abstained-0.
Correspondence to the Board of Selectmen
1. 25 Ash Street Correspondence from the Elementary School Building Committee
(June 2013)
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Summarized Transcription by
//Patricia McDonnell//
Patricia McDonnell
Certified Transcriber, OfficeSolutionsPlusLLC.com
//Elizabeth Tice//
Elizabeth Tice, President
OfficeSolutionsPlusLLC.com
My commission expires August 26, 2016
Date: June 28, 2013
Date: June 28, 2013
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Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
June 18, 2013