HI 8.2.23

INDEPENDENT

Resident drowns while swimming at Sandy Beach

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

Thesearch for a missing swimmer in Lake Maspenock came to a tragic end the morning of July 22, as the body of a 21-year-old Hopkinton resident who failed to return from an evening swim at Sandy Beach was pulled from the water by emergency personnel.

The victim was identified as Wilinson Orbe Quito, who had moved here from Ecuador and was working as a roofer, according to Father Peter Joyce of Milford’s Saint Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church. Joyce was on-site at the beach area, comforting the relatives and serving as a translator for the Spanish-speaking family members (some of whom attend his church).

Orbe Quito was reported missing at about 8 p.m. on July 21.

“The swimmers went beyond the safe-swimming zone set up at the beach and continued further into Lake Mas-

Arena-DeRosa hits stride at State House

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Nowsix months into his term as Hopkinton’s state representative, James Arena-DeRosa is beginning to hit his stride as a legislator.

Sitting in a State House conference room in between hearings recently, Arena-DeRosa spent an hour sharing his goals for Hopkinton with the Independent and how his current duties differ from the public policy work he previously has accomplished on the federal and state levels. In this position, he said he has devoted up to 70 hours per week between constituent outreach and legislative work.

“I’ve been involved in public policy for a long time,” the Holliston resident said. “I’m enjoying the job a lot, but there’s still a learning curve. I’m still

Arena-DeRosa | 8

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO SUMMER SOUNDS PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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Library takes stand against censorship

In a recent Hopkinton Public Library newsletter, Director Nanci Milone Hill addressed the issue of book banning. She referenced an American Library Association report that indicated there were 1,269 demands to censor library books in 2022 — a 38% increase from 2021 and the highest total since the organization began compiling such data more than 20 years ago.

INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS JERRY

SPAR

“Perhaps not surprisingly, of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Hill noted.

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EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND INQUIRIES, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to Editor@HopkintonIndependent.com

Letters to the Editor must include the writer’s name, address and contact information for verification. Letters should be no more than 400 words, and the Hopkinton Independent offers no guarantee that all letters will be printed. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event or thanking volunteers and sponsors.

In an effort to get ahead of the situation, Hopkinton’s Board of Library Trustees adopted a statement on censorship at its spring meeting.

“Intellectual freedom is a right for all, and libraries are tasked with providing reliable information, quality service and diverse resources in order to enable that right,” the statement reads. “We respect the right of patrons to decide which materials are appropriate to their individual circumstances, however, no individual or group has the right to restrict access for others. The Board of Trustees endorses and follows the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which states that a library serves all members of the community, offers diverse materials and condemns censorship.”

Added Hill: “As a librarian, I believe in a collection where everyone can see themselves reflected. I believe in a balanced collection with diverse points of view and experiences. I believe, as librarian Jo Godwin once said, ‘A truly great library has something to offend everyone,’ including, by the way, me.”

In a follow-up interview, Hill noted that the Board of Trustees declared Hopkinton as a book sanctuary, which means that the library “endorses and supports the idea that books have a right to be read, and that people of all different backgrounds and nationalities and colors and sexual orientation have a right to be represented in the library materials.”

Hill said there have not been any challenges or even informal requests for

removal of materials. The library has a formal procedure for challenges, with details on its website.

However, what she did find was that there was a segment of the community that was feeling left out. She recalled a situation in June in which she was approached by a library patron.

“I was on the floor somewhere, and a woman approached me and said, ‘I know that this is not going to be a popular opinion, I know that we live in a fairly liberal town, but there are conservatives who live in town, and I don’t feel like we’re represented in your collection. When I look at the new materials, it’s all sort of left-leaning materials.’ So we walked over to the new materials shelf, and as far as what was there, she was absolutely right.

“I said to her, ‘I don’t want to jump to assuming why that is. It could be all of the conservative titles were checked out right now. It could be that the town has made a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and along with that we did a diversity audit of our collection, which is where the service where we order our books from looked at our entire holdings and ran it against lists of popular diverse authors and titles and gave us recommendations for purchases, and we’ve been making purchases to fill holes.’ ”

Shortly thereafter, the library had a staff meeting, and the topic was raised. A staff member said she was conservative and offered some ideas for new materials, which the library then purchased, Hill said, calling the experience something Independent thoughts | 3

Hopkinton Public Library Director Nanci Milone Hill has been trying to make sure new materials reflect the diversity of the town.

FILE

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

Why is trail project a hostile debate?

The Hopkinton Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) was created to provide leadership and oversight in planning, design and development of a multiuse trail connecting Milford to Ashland. The idea is to connect the towns via an off-road, 6-mile trail using old Hopkinton railroad tracks.

The tracks, however, were purchased by individuals. To create a connection between the towns, negotiations are required. Some property owners have been cooperative, some have not.

For 10 years the UCTC has conducted its business according to regulations and conventions used by other Hopkinton volunteer committees, and posted information on the Hopkinton town website.

The UCTC, working with our town engineer, has evaluated multiple sections of possible routes.

Management of Hopkinton trails was assigned to the Trail Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC).

Differences of opinion about trail route, surface and users developed between the UCTC and TCMC. Instead of hammering out those differences, a power play commenced.

Town counsel determined that a citizen petition to disband the UCTC was not valid. The Town Meeting vote for this petition was taken at midnight, and 158 voted yes while 61 voted no. I was embarrassed that night at Town Meeting for the shameful way our town volunteers were treated.

The Select Board created a survey to determine the type of trail citizens preferred. I’m not sure how residents knew about the survey, only open until July 2. I was unable to submit the survey online. The paper copy was not an exact copy of the online version. Survey responses (135) were small. Survey questions were biased Select Board decisions regarding the future of the UCTC may reflect the views of a very small number of Hopkinton residents.

The Select Board suspended the UCTC, which prevented UCTC members from answering criticism. They have been prevented from providing correct information and from identifying lies.

The Select Board allowed divisions to fester and explode by shirking management responsibilities. Our town manager is qualified to manage the conflict. Why has he been prevented from doing so?

Why do I care? Because I want a multiuse trail in Hopkinton. I want a safe route for bikers and others that connects us with the existing Upper Charles Trail in Milford/Holliston and the developing trail in Ashland. It could also connect us to the growing East Coast Greenway. If you care, please let the Select Board know (selectboard@hopkinton.gov).

— Sally Snyder, Hopkinton (former Select Board member and spouse of a current UCTC member)

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions, check the Hopkinton Independent website (HopkintonIndependent.com) and click on the Contact header, then on Editorial Deadlines.

Library takes stand against censorship

the library “learned and grew from.”

“We do, I think not just here, but libraries and librarians in general, we tend to be a little bit left-leaning,” Hill acknowledged. “The review journals that we read and look at to decide what we’re going to purchase for our collection are written by librarians, so of course they have the same kind of left-leaning tilt — not that they don’t review conservative authors and titles, and not that we don’t have them in our collection, because we do. But certainly it made us more aware of maybe our internal biases.

“When we say that everyone has a right to see themselves represented in the collection, because diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is such a hot topic right now, we tend to think about that, but we also need to think: Are we representing those in our community who don’t have that viewpoint? That was really helpful for our growth that she came forward, and we’re thankful for that.”

Examples of new conservative titles include a biography of Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis and some Christian-based literature for teenagers, Hill said.

“All of these titles are titles that can be enjoyed by anyone,” Hill added.

“You don’t have to be liberal or toward the right to enjoy a clean romance or to want to learn about folks whose political ideology is different from yours. It’s how we understand and how we think the library can facilitate that conversation about our differences and how we can come together. And we can do that by being more open and understanding to learning more about each other.”

On a related note, the library is planning a program this fall called One Book One Hopkinton.

“We are asking the entire community to read the same book,” Hill said.

The book is “Digging to America” by Ann Tyler. It tells the story of two families in Baltimore — one American, one Iranian-American — who adopt Korean babies and raise them very differently.

“The American family raises her with her Korean culture, and the Iranian family chooses to raise their child completely American,” Hill explained.

“So it’s this conversation about how do we move into new communities and become part of these communities while still keeping our own cultural identity.”

There will be related events for children, teens and adults, Hill shared.

She noted that the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton is involved with the program, which is funded by the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation.

Said Hill: “It’s a great way to bring the community together, and that’s what we’re hoping to do.”

Independent thoughts | from page 2

Main Street project progresses, but transformer issue might cause delay

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Walking up Main Street, tangible signs of improvement can be seen as the Main Street Corridor project nears its anticipated completion date in the fall after three years of construction, including the installation of curbing and the pouring of sidewalk concrete this week.

But a supply delay and project modifications likely will carry work into next year, according to town staff members familiar with the project.

In an interview last month, Dave Daltorio, the town engineer and facilities director and the town’s Main Street Corridor Project manager, said one thing that will delay the project’s completion is that Eversource has had trouble procuring underground transformers due to supply chain issues during the pandemic. Eversource does not produce or distribute transformers; the company relies on outside manufacturing.

“The transformers are part of the new underground infrastructure from Eversource,” he explained. “They more or less replace the transformers that are currently on the top of the poles.”

These transformers must be installed into the underground vaults that have already been built as part of the construction project. Eversource is responsible for ordering the transformers and scheduling the work because the transformers will be installed into their underground equipment.

Transformers are used to take high-voltage electricity and convert it to a lower voltage for use in individual buildings, noted Daltorio. The mainline wiring has been installed and is waiting to be connected to the transformers.

Said Daltorio: “Without that infrastructure in place, they won’t be able to switch over from the overhead system until the underground system for all of the utilities is fully completed and up and running.”

The vaults were installed last year, according to Nicole Bratsos, the town’s inspector of construction. She said work is being finalized this year to install new lids on the underground structures.

“They’ve been telling the town for the past six months at least about a potential delay to give us a heads-up,” Daltorio

added. This delay was mentioned at the Select Board meeting on July 11.

While Eversource has not given the town a date for the transformer installation, Daltorio said that Eversource representatives told him that it is “a nationwide problem.”

“We ask them weekly, and they attend our biweekly construction meetings to give us updates on the scope of work,” he added.

“It definitely is a supply chain issue,” said Michelle Murdock, the town’s professional project specialist who has been providing weekly project updates on the town’s website and via email. “We have put that in the town manager’s report multiple times. So it’s not like the first time we’ve heard of this or that it’s been discussed.”

She added that notifications were increased to being sent on a weekly basis to keep the public informed. At the start of the project, this occurred biweekly.

While Daltorio said he hasn’t been made fully aware of the transformer installation process, his understanding is that the entire street will not be dug up. There will be utility trucks onsite when this occurs, and the transformers will be constructed within the underground vaults.

There will be conversations with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which is funding the majority of the project and is overseeing it, over where the lines will be installed. Eversource will be doing the transferring of the main line, which is in the street, to the property line and then into handholes — shallow enclosures that allow easy access to pull, splice and terminate wires and cables. Wires also may go from the property line into the buildings, Daltorio said. Electrical subcontractors will be performing the work inside the buildings.

In response to public concerns about tearing up the new street, Daltorio said, “That is the typical process.”

“It’s hard for us to say what is going to happen or not going to happen because we don’t have a crystal ball or anything,” he

explained. “There’s always a possibility of something going on that wasn’t planned.”

There may need to be traffic detours for one lane of the road not because of digging up the road but because of the utility vehicles involved in the transformer installation, he added. But because of the recently installed curbing, he said he is “hopeful” that two traffic lanes will remain open. In a worst-case scenario, there will be one lane of traffic open “with an alternating approach.”

Murdock added that the entirety of Main Street did not go through the transformation to underground utilities because it was voted down at Town Meeting more than a decade ago due to the cost.

Another concern is that paint already is peeling off many of the newly installed traffic light poles.

“This is not a Hopkinton-unique problem,” Daltorio explained, noting that MassDOT has had this issue with the manufacturer that has been seen in four or five other towns.

Said Daltorio: “The town has requested that MassDOT supply replacement materials and not to accept a field improvement repair.”

Progress on the work has been steady, Daltorio said. But he added that in construction work, there can always be unanticipated delays due to unforeseen factors. This has been stressed throughout the town’s messaging about the project during its entire duration.

“Things can change on a daily basis,” he added. “And you can’t always keep up with real-world schedules on occasion.”

Recent work included the installation of conduit and bases for site lighting from the Muffin House Cafe to Ash Street in the excavated sidewalk area. Granite curbing was to be installed, and the sidewalks were to be graded and the concrete poured.

A few changes have been made to the project since work began three years ago, such as striping, to accommodate other projects in town, Daltorio noted. Once construction is completed and the project reverts from state control to town control, “there’s nothing to stop the town from making changes.”

Intersection at Hayden Rowe sees changes

Daltorio added that concerns were raised recently regarding changes at the intersection of Main Street and Hayden Rowe Street that he wanted to address.

Crews worked on the sidewalk and bike lane on Main Street late last month.

PHOTO/MARY ELLEN GAMBON

Resident charged in dog’s death

AHopkinton woman was arrested July 14 outside a Rhode Island casino after a dog was left alone inside a car and died, according to police in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

The Lincoln Police Department visited Bally’s Twin River Casino around 7 p.m. after being alerted by security about a vehicle with “heavy condensation on the windows and the brake lights on.” An officer broke into the car and found the dog dead on the floor on the driver’s side.

“Further investigation from Lincoln Police determined the dog had been left in the vehicle for several hours without water or air conditioning with the windows closed while temperatures were near 80 degrees,” police stated.

Young Ju Seol returned to the car shortly thereafter and was arrested and charged with one count of malicious injury or killing of animals, and one count of animal confinement in motor vehicles, police stated.

Added the police: “The killing of defenseless animals in such a cruel manner is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by our agency.”

Police special projects consultant hired

Police Chief Joseph Bennett announced July 20 that retired Holliston Police Chief John Moore will serve as a special projects consultant. Moore also is an attorney who worked in an advisory capacity for the town in the past. He retired from the force in 2017.

“His credentials are outstanding,” Bennett said, noting that Moore also has held teaching positions at multiple colleges. “He’s already hit the ground running.”

Intersection at Hayden Rowe sees changes

Main St. project | from page 4

The new curb was just set there about a week ago. Temporary striping had been put down, “but there had been no reference point for it because the curb had not yet been installed.”

The permanent curb line will be moved forward when it is finalized, Daltorio said. Residents commented that the current line forces cars on Hayden Rowe to go past the crosswalk to see ongoing traffic as cars try to make the turn onto Main Street.

Bike lanes and accessible curb cuts are other factors in where the final curb line will be delineated, he added. Bike lanes were a requirement for the project to be eligible for state funding and align with the town’s goal of increasing multimodal transportation. MassDOT provided $11.35 million of the $21.5 million through a transportation improvement program, or TIP. The town borrowed $3 million for the project. Any remaining funds once the project is completed will go back to the town. A couple of parking spaces may be removed as the placing of the lines is tweaked.

“The town has always been sensitive to on-street parking,” Daltorio said, noting that the new public parking lot behind 25-35 Main Street and additional spaces at the police station now provide more parking opportunities.

Turning trucks will have to use

Moore was brought on to help the department with administrative work and support the command staff. He also will be helping with the department’s accreditation and policy development, particularly on recruitment and promotion, for a department that is younger than in years past and is serving a growing town.

Town Manager Norman Khumalo noted that he has worked with Moore twice in the past in Hopkinton when there was a previous chief search and in the development of the department’s strategic plan.

Bennett added that Moore will be developing and implementing policies on body camera use and drug testing, as well as public records requests.

Mosquito spraying scheduled

Personnel from the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) are scheduled to spray areas of Hopkinton on Aug. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30.

All dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity and/or special event spraying. The program will shut down when cool nighttime temperatures become predominant in the area.

The detailed spray schedule is updated after 3:30 p.m. each day at the CMMCP website (cmmcp.org) and the department’s phone line at 508-393-3055 (press 0 at the prompt to hear a recorded message).

For a list of products used in the spraying, check the CMMCP website’s Pesticide Information page. For information on how to be excluded from the spraying, check the CMMCP website’s Pesticide Exclusion page or call 508393-3055.

more than one lane depending upon their size to turn around the corner, so drivers should be aware, he added.

Daltorio said he can understand the public’s anticipation about the project being completed. When he started in this role 13 years ago, it was the first project that was discussed with him, he said. Now, the project’s fruition is only a short distance down the road, so to speak.

“It was already an ongoing project for about five years at that point,” he explained. “So it’s going to be a 20-year project.”

Time has been built into the project next year for any adjustments that need to be made, he added.

MassDOT design standards also changed during the course of the project, such as the one for separated bike lanes.

“Many people have had questions because they were not here at the beginning of the project,” Daltorio continued, noting Hopkinton’s population growth over the past several years. He stressed that there was public involvement throughout the design process. He also praised the cooperation and patience displayed by everyone involved, from the public to government and construction partners.

The project is part of the movement to revitalize the downtown and to make the street safer for vehicles and pedestrians through road design, sidewalks on both sides of the street and separated bike lanes.

Construction project updates can be viewed at hopkintonmainstreet.com.

TCMC officially recommends Upper Charles Trail subcommittee

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Trail Coordination and Management Committee on July 19 voted unanimously to rename itself as the Trails Committee and to recommend that the Upper Charles Trail Committee become a Trails Committee subcommittee under the new name of the Upper Charles Trail Building Committee.

During the 90-minute meeting, chair Peter LaGoy said these moves were consistent with Town Meeting’s vote in May on a nonbinding article that called for the current UCTC to be disbanded and reformulated as a subcommittee under the Trails Committee.

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Renaming the TCMC as the Trails Committee will help the community understand that it is the overarching body that oversees the town’s trails, because some residents would request help regarding UCTC trails when it was not within that committee’s purview.

By contrast, the Upper Charles Trail Building Committee (referred to as the UCBC) would focus solely on creating a shared-use trail through the town to connect to Milford and Ashland. It also is consistent with the Select Board’s request for the TCMC’s advice as “content experts,” LaGoy said.

“Most other towns are simply trails committees,” LaGoy explained. “It makes it easier so residents will know

where to look.”

The committee also formulated its mission statement, vision statement and charge after some discussion. The mission statement articulated the committee’s goals of “maintaining, enhancing and developing user-friendly trail networks throughout Hopkinton.”

“That covers all the bases,” noted member Chuck Dauchy.

Member Fran DeYoung put forward the need for the charge to align with the town charter and reflect the town’s character. LaGoy also stressed that the committee’s role as a group of volunteers is to facilitate, fund and oversee trail construction activities rather than perform the actual work on the trails.

The structure and makeup of the UCBC also were discussed. LaGoy suggested that the UCBC be comprised of seven members to equal the number of Trails Committee members, with one of its members coming from the Trails Committee. He questioned the role of liaisons in both committees, noting that many of the same people tend to get tapped for committee service. Relying on the same people potentially could discourage new members from wanting to join, he said.

Instead, LaGoy suggested having at-large members commit to communicating with committee chairs on a regular basis to relay information between entities. DeYoung also suggested committee updates once per quarter.

Members noted that not all Trails Committee members need to have trail experience, but they do need to demonstrate an interest in trails. LaGoy said this will help the Select Board in determining the “balance of representation” of the committee members the

Select Board will appoint regarding demographics and “a mix of valuable skill sets” that the committee can utilize. Institutional knowledge can be balanced with new energy and skills, members said.

DeYoung also suggested that a trail network master plan be “baked into” the town’s master plan, which is updated every 10 years. This would allow the committee to be a resource for the Planning Board and increase connectivity among committees.

The committee also discussed its relationship with the UCTC and then voted to recommend to the Select Board that it be incorporated into the Trails Committee as its subcommittee with a new name. LaGoy said that, “on bigger money matters,” the Trails Committee and UCBC should have a two-thirds vote of members from each body to approve funding requests, giving state grant proposals as an example. The number of members and the two-thirds majority on “big items” should be reflected in both entities’ structures.

Said LaGoy: “It’s still a recommendation to the Select Board, which is going to make the decision in any case.”

Trail surface decisions may be another issue where a two-thirds majority would be helpful in decision making. LaGoy noted that if two-thirds of the bodies can’t be convinced of an option, “then it probably isn’t the best way to go.”

“We should be developing the trails in town and doing what is important,” LaGoy stressed.

LaGoy said he would draft a memo to the Select Board outlining the Trails Committee’s decisions and recommendations.

Resident drowns in Lake Maspenock

Emergency crews remove their boats from Lake Maspenock on July 22 after the victim’s body was discovered.

penock,” according to a press release from the town. “Upon arriving at the beach, the returning swimmer noticed his friend was missing and called 911.

“Hopkinton firefighters and police officers immediately kicked off a search. Divers from the Massachusetts Fire District 14 Technical Rescue Team also participated. The Hopkinton Fire Department used its sonar-equipped rescue boats and received mutual aid from Natick Fire Department and Westborough Fire Department boats.”

Sandy Beach is staffed by lifeguards, but they do not work evenings.

“There was no lifeguard on duty because their hours end at 5 p.m.,” explained Parks and Recreation Commission chair Dan Terry, noting that there is signage to that effect posted at the beach. “This is a tragedy.”

The search, interrupted multiple times by thunderstorms and heavy

rain the evening of July 21, was halted around midnight, then resumed the following day at about 6:15 a.m. At that point, it was considered a recovery operation, and support was provided by the District 14 Dive Team along with Auburn Firefighter Matthew Ethier and K-9 Riggs, a specially trained dog.

The body was recovered at approximately 8:10 a.m. in 12 feet of water about 90 feet from the shore along the buoy line, according to a town press release.

Joyce said the family was taken to the beach to see Orbe Quito and pray over his body, which is to be returned to Ecuador for burial. Orbe Quito’s parents still live in Ecuador, Joyce said.

This is the second drowning at Sandy Beach in four years. On June 3, 2019, a 9-year-old boy from Worcester died after being pulled from the water.

Mary Ellen Gambon and John Cardillo contributed to this report.

Drowning | from page 1

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

CPC addresses confusion about land considered for Upper Charles Trail

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Community Preservation Committee at its meeting July 20 discussed an apparent misunderstanding about the parameters of outreach required for a $40,000 grant approved at May’s Annual Town Meeting for the Trail Coordination and Management Committee. The TCMC was to conduct a preliminary engineering study for the proposed western alternative route for the Upper Charles Trail.

The point of contention between the CPC and the TCMC is the future of a parcel referred to as the Gorman property. As discussed at last week’s CPC meeting, TCMC chair Peter LaGoy noted that his request was for the route to begin on town-owned land west of the Hughes property. It would continue to land west of the Charlesview neighborhood and then connect to the Mastroianni property. He noted that an agreement has not yet been reached on the Gorman property and that the land was not included in the funding request.

According to CPC chair Ken Weismantel, he and LaGoy had planned to work on the proposed article language before it was submitted for the warrant. Weismantel said he received LaGoy’s draft “later than expected,” prompting him to write and submit his own language, which ultimately received Town Meeting approval.

Weismantel said he believed confusion arose because LaGoy assumed his language was being used when Weismantel’s submission was submitted. In Article 24, Section M, the article states that the grant was for funding for “preliminary engineering including wetlands assessment, topographical evaluation, and trail mapping of the town-owned portions and abutting properties of the Western Route Trail.”

In addition, the article stipulated that before spending any money for engineering, the TCMC needs to get “written statement[s] from private property owners for permission to walk the site, determine wetlands, and survey the land for future trail locations, and [property owners must express a] willingness to enter into discussions on the town purchasing an easement or land for the future trail.”

Weismantel showed a map submitted with the article that included the Gorman property, for which LaGoy has not received the written statements requested.

That requirement was made, Weismantel said, to ensure that the property owner had considered talking with the town about a potential purchase of land or an easement before work commenced. Weismantel called it “a pretty low bar” to fulfill as a first step.

Before the money is spent, Weismantel said the committee needs to know the proposed route and receive the written statements.

LaGoy said that when he appeared before the committee in November 2022, he originally proposed having an engineering study on “just the town-owned pieces.” He expanded the scope, he said, because he had had discussions with the other two property owners for the Colella and Chirco parcels. LaGoy explained that the majority of the wetlands that would require the engineering study are on these two properties, and both owners provided permission statements to walk the land.

Said LaGoy: “That was always the intent, to do those two pieces plus the town-owned land.”

Weismantel reiterated that LaGoy needs permission for activity on the Gorman property to continue with the engineering study. LaGoy disagreed, saying that the article only refers to “private property owners.” He stressed that the Gorman property is “Chapter 61 land.” This regulation allows the town a right of first refusal should the property go up for sale.

In his draft article language submitted to Weismantel in December, LaGoy stressed that the Gorman land was not referenced.

Said Weismantel: “That’s why we didn’t accept that draft.”

“There’s no sense to spend a dime on engineering if you know you’ve got a roadblock,” he continued, noting that just because the land has a Chapter 61 designation doesn’t mean the town will buy it. An example of such land is Weston Nurseries, which the town decided not to purchase.

Weismantel referred to the Gorman property as “a very developable piece of land” with connections to two adjacent subdivisions.

There is another trail option, LaGoy said, that would only use the town-owned land and the Chirco and Colella properties, but it would cross Daniel Road. This may prove contentious, as residents previously said they did not want a trail there when approached by the Upper Charles Trail Committee. At Wednesday night’s TCMC meeting, LaGoy said he “would not push” that alternative.

At that point, Jim Ciriello, the CPC’s Conservation Commission liaison, interjected.

“For me, permission to walk on someone’s land is not the same as an intention to grant an easement or sell a property,”

he said. “I want to see their intentions. And why would you do it without Gorman?”

He added that it was his understanding that the town-owned land was under the control of the Conservation Commission. LaGoy would then need permission from the Conservation Commission as well.

Dan Terry, the CPC’s Parks & Recreation Commission liaison, said this process showed that the committee has “to be a little more careful” with applicants moving forward about the requirement of landowner permission.

LaGoy said that at the CPC’s Nov. 17 meeting, he articulated that he was not including the Gorman property. He did not recall the request for landowner permissions, but he did seek permission “to do an assessment of the land.” Had he known, he said he would have asked for the other permissions.

Terry also asked why the Gorman property would not have been included to do it “in the right order.”

Said Weismantel: “I wouldn’t have voted for the western route if I didn’t think it was going through the Gorman property.”

Jane Moran, the UCTC chair, spoke as a private citizen about hearing the Gorman property referenced at a CPC meeting about the proposal. She said she did not believe that permission would be received for the Gorman property. Under Chapter 61, she explained that the Gormans would have to give a year’s notice of sale to the town and have the opportunity to pay any back taxes owed on the property.

She added that “the Gormans were not interested in playing ball with the town” when the UCTC approached them about acquiring the land for a trail. Because of the town’s financial situation, she did not believe that the town would enter into a purchase agreement.

CPC member Steve Levandosky said that if the Gorman property was not mentioned, there is no reason to prevent the grant from being executed. He also noted that the town potentially could take the Gorman land by eminent domain.

Weismantel disagreed, noting that the permissions needed to be received on all properties before the money is spent, or else the TCMC would “be on the hook for it.”

When the permissions are received on the three properties, Weismantel said he would call a CPC meeting to move forward.

— CPC chair Ken Weismantel

State Rep. Arena-DeRosa shares ideas, goals

learning new approaches, new personalities, new alignments and the way things are set up. The officials in Hopkinton and my colleagues in the State House have been very helpful and welcoming.”

He added that this work reminded him of his previous role as director of public advocacy for Oxfam America.

Committee assignments welcomed

Given his work experience, ArenaDeRosa’s assignment to the Joint Committee on Agriculture seemed like a natural fit. He previously served in the Obama administration as the Northeast Regional Administrator of USDA Food and Nutrition Service, a $12 billion federal agency that focuses on areas such as food insecurity, education and agricultural issues.

“The committee assignments I was given were a nice mix,” he explained. In addition to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, DeRosa also serves on the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management, and the Joint Committee on Public Health. They will allow him to focus on areas critical to Hopkinton’s growth as well as the needs of the other communities in his district, which also includes Holliston, Sherborn and two precincts in Millis.

Contact with constituents crucial

Constituent services have become a priority for Arena-DeRosa. In June, he held office hours at Hopkinton Town Hall, and he plans on returning to engage more residents and hold focus groups with key stakeholder communities, including older residents and veterans. He also appeared at June’s Eversource LNG facility meeting, where he volunteered to compile reports on the project, and he marched in the annual Pride Parade.

One of his goals is to increase pub-

lic awareness about who government officials are and how constituents are served. A recent study performed by the Holliston Senior Center showed that 40% of older residents in that town did not know who to contact with their concerns.

“I’m happy to help the people who reach out to us,” explained Arena-DeRosa. “But what about the people who don’t know who to call?”

Party-based town election system questioned

The most popular question ArenaDeRosa said he heard at the Hopkinton office hours session was how the town can move toward a nonpartisan local election system. Concerns have come to the forefront since the May election. Ashley Fogg, an independent candidate for the School Committee, accused the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee of negatively targeting her campaign. Then in June, HDTC chair Darlene Hayes resigned from her position as well as two town offices after an investigation showed that Hayes posted critical comments about Fogg online under various aliases.

“People from all sides of the spectrum have been saying this to me,” he said. “But it’s up to the community

whether they want to do that.”

The three other towns in ArenaDeRosa’s district already have nonpartisan elections at the local level. Hopkinton is one of just 16 towns in Massachusetts that has partisan caucuses preceding its town elections, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

LNG facility concerns prompt response

Arena-DeRosa said all reports on the LNG facility were sent by his office to Town Manager Norman Khumalo and are available at Town Hall for the public to review.

“The fascinating thing about it is it’s a case where you have local government issues, state government issues and federal regulations,” he explained. “Everyone has their little piece of it.”

He is “happy that there is more dialogue” between the community and public safety officials about what to do in the event of an emergency since the June meeting. Development closer to the tanks, including Legacy Farms, may have prompted an enhanced awareness of the facility’s activities, he said.

Arena-DeRosa also discussed the LNG facility with the Joint Committee

on Emergency Preparedness and Management. He plans on meeting with Massachusetts Emergency Management Association officials soon.

“It’s kind of an anomaly,” he said of the LNG plant. “You might see a willingness for Eversource to do some things, but it could bump up against federal and state regulations. It’s going to be an interesting dialogue, and I’m glad that we started it. I don’t know exactly what role I can play, but I’m happy to take a look at it.”

One positive step he commended the facility on is putting in a new mixing station that will generate less noxious fumes as part of its remodeling effort.

But a concern he mentioned is that LNG has been seeking tax abatements, noting the company’s argument is that it is among the largest taxpayers in town.

“I’m looking at whether or not there should be a limit on how many times someone can do that,” he explained. “But if someone owes a lot of back taxes and uses that as a strategy, I mean, come on.”

Support for small businesses important

Arena-DeRosa called small businesses “the backbone of our local communities.”

“In the work that I’ve done, I’ve taken on corporate largesse, whether it’s oil companies or Amazon,” he said. “The small town community businesses are what keep the town going. Sometimes, if we aren’t careful, we put out these rules and laws that affect everybody the same way. That’s not always the right approach.”

He added that the previous administration under Gov. Charlie Baker “has made a multibillion-dollar mistake.”

What concerned him the most was that the state paid out a couple of billion dollars on fraudulent unemployment claims. Some were made by people who honestly thought they might be eligible for relief during the pandemic, and those will be indemnified.

“What I do not like is that the state decided to get money back by putting a surcharge on unemployment insurance,” he stressed. “It offends my sense of fairness.”

While he understood the need to build back the unemployment insurance fund, he argued that it was wrong for the state to put that responsibility on small businesses. A better idea, he explained, would have been to exempt the first 50 employees so that many small businesses in the area likely would be exempted from the surcharge.

“My whole life has been about social and economic justice,” Arena-DeRosa explained. “But on economic development and financial issues, I tend to be very pragmatic. For our economy to work, it has to work for everybody, especially since so many small businesses in the area have been impacted.”

PFAS concerns raised

Arena-DeRosa also talked about the concerns in Hopkinton about PFAS, a group of synthetic, potentially harmful chemicals used in a wide variety of household products and industrial processes that have been found in town wells.

“While we all want people to have access to clean water, the regulators got so far ahead of the appropriators,” he said. “You don’t want to cripple small towns. There has to be balance in there.”

There is an earmark he proposed in the current version of the state budget — H. 2018 — that will provide funding for the

State Rep. James Arena-DeRosa (left) sits with Town Manager Norman Khumalo (center) and legislative aide Jeff Meyers during a June visit to Hopkinton to meet with residents and hear comments and concerns.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

How will you exit your business?

If you own a business, you’ve always got a lot on your mind. But no matter how busy you are today, you need to think about tomorrow. Specifically, you’ll want to create an exit strategy for the day you want to move on from your business to a new phase in your life.

To develop this strategy, you’ll need to address these key questions:

• How much do you need (or want) for your business? Ideally, you’ll want the sale of your business to meet your retirement and estate-planning goals. So, you’ll need to think carefully about these goals and what costs they may entail. And these issues aren’t just financial — for example, when you think about how you may want to spend your time in retirement, you might realize that you don’t really want to exit your business completely. So, you might decide to sell just part of it, or sell it entirely, but stay on to help manage it or possibly do some consulting for the new owners.

• How much is your business worth?

You may want to calculate your business’ value three to five years before your planned exit. You could do this on your own, but it’s typically advantageous to use professional valuation services. If you’re gifting or selling your business to family members, selling it to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) or settling an estate, you’ll need to get a more formal qualified appraisal to meet IRS standards.

• How can you close the gap between what you need and what your business is worth? The amount you need from the sale of your business to support your retirement goals may be more than

PFAS concerns raised

town for an economic development and grants officer. A conference committee vote was pending at press time. This employee would research funding opportunities to help mitigate the elevated PFAS levels, among other town needs, he explained.

“I sponsored that because of all the federal money that is coming in, especially ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] money,” he said. “Substantial money is available in tranches, but towns have to have shovel-ready projects. One of the arguments that I made is that small towns are not set up with staff to go after these grants or look for opportunities for economic development.”

Future goals identified

“I think one of the biggest challenges we face in Hopkinton and our other small towns is how do we hold onto the character of a town that has become so expensive?” said Arena-DeRosa. “I think that Hopkinton and Holliston are very welcoming for people from different backgrounds. However, it can be challenging for people to feel welcomed if it can cost a million dollars to move into a

what your business is actually worth.

To help close this gap, you could try to boost your business’s profits through the usual means, such as introducing new products, raising prices or cutting costs. But you might also try to lower the amount you need from the sale by working longer, reducing your personal spending and saving more outside the business.

• Who will take over your business? When planning for a successor for your business, you have several choices, including selling to a family member or an outside buyer. Going public or liquidating the business are also options. These are distinct paths, but depending on your circumstances, one might be more appropriate for you than another. To cite just one factor, if you don’t have an obvious choice for a family member to take over the business, you might have to consider other buyers. In any case, you’ll need to explore all the economic and personal factors involved in the choice of successor.

Who can help you with your exit strategy? Exiting a business can be complex. To ensure you’re making the right moves for your overall financial and family situations, you may want to build an exit strategy team, possibly consisting of your financial, legal and tax advisors. You may also need to enlist the services of a commercial banker and a business evaluation expert. Each of these professionals can bring a different area of expertise to your exit decisions, and together they can help address all the issues related to your exit strategy.

Exiting your business will take a lot of planning and decisions — but if it’s done right, it can be worth the effort.

Christopher Stevenson

Edward

Jones Financial Advisor

77 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA (774) 991-0781

Christopher.Stevenson@edwardjones.com

community.”

He said seniors are being priced out of their homes, and some young people can’t afford to live in the towns in which they grew up.

He also worried that a small town’s character can change if some officials are commuting up to an hour to their jobs.

Said Arena-DeRosa: “They care about the community, of course. But it changes the fabric of the town.”

One suggestion he presented was more support for in-law apartments. He also discussed the need for environmentalists and affordable housing advocates to work together to support cluster housing that allows for the preservation of open space.

Hopkinton has been growing rapidly in recent years, necessitating new schools and housing opportunities, he stressed.

A long-term statewide goal of ArenaDeRosa, who formerly worked with the Peace Corps, is to explore student debt relief for those who engage in public service.

“It’s important for equity as well as people applying for jobs,” he stressed, noting that the current structure allows for more participants from wealthier families.

Said Arena-DeRosa: “If I could do one thing during my term, it would be to make sure that the voices of the community are represented at the table.”

Professional insights

Christopher Stevenson

Planning Board discusses Center School reuse, MBTA Communities law

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Planning Board at its meeting July 24 discussed several potential reuses for the Center School property and how they would fit into compliance requirements for the MBTA Communities zoning law.

Dan McIntyre, the chair of the Permanent Building Committee, appeared before the board to seek its input because the Permanent Building Committee currently is working on a facilities study to determine the best use for several town properties. They include Town Hall, the Center School site, the Fruit Street site and potentially the Elmwood School site, assuming a replacement school is built.

He noted that the workspaces at Town Hall have become overcrowded and limit effective public interaction. There also is a “definite lack” of meeting and storage space there. He raised the option of building a new Town Hall at either the Center School or Elmwood sites and then repurposing the current Town Hall building for commercial or residential use. Another plan would be to keep part of Town Hall’s current functions there and move other departments to either school site.

“Parks & Rec is a big player in this game,” McIntyre added, because it previously used the Center School gym and is in need of more gym space for its programming.

The main goal discussed was the best use for the Center School site, which might then trigger a need for rezoning the property. It currently is zoned for municipal buildings and single-family homes.

Said McIntyre: “If we want to improve the downtown and invigorate the whole business atmosphere downtown, we’re going to have to do some sort of zoning change on that property.”

“I just want to preface it by saying that clearly there’s no obvious answer here,” said Planning Board chair Gary Trendel. “There’s no easy one because you would have already come to that conclusion.”

Housing was a critical need raised at a recent public forum, with senior, affordable and subsidized housing options stressed. Older residents voiced fears that they would be unable to afford to stay in Hopkinton because of the housing prices, while others feared that the housing market would drive away young professionals and families.

Businesses and restaurants also were suggested for downtown revitalization, but some residents expressed caution that it could change the character of the town. At a public forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce in July, other uses suggested were art studios, public gathering spaces, and bookstores as “big-picture ideas.” McIntyre also said current businesses such as the Muffin House Cafe may want to move to another site with better parking.

Member Navdeep Arora suggested a potential “revolving restaurant” where the cuisine would change every month. He said these are popular in New York and Miami.

Members also said that affordable housing should be integrated into the community rather than be separated out into a particular area.

MBTA Communities law will affect zoning

Principal Planner John Gelcich explained that if the town decides to accept the MBTA Communities law, it would be required to zone 50 acres of land for multifamily housing. This does not mean that the housing has to be built. Because Hopkinton was designated as an MBTA-adjacent community, those 50 acres could be spread throughout town in parcels of at least 5 acres, and at least 15 units per acre would have to be included by right. This is an attempt to ease the state’s housing crunch by allowing for denser housing. The zoning does not provide for commercial or mixed use.

I just want to preface it by saying that clearly there’s no obvious answer here. There’s no easy one because you would have already come to that conclusion.

— Gary Trendel Planning Board chair

Both the Center School and Elmwood School sites have been determined to be appropriate for this zoning, he said. Also, the town adopted the inclusionary zoning bylaw so that in case the town adopts the MBTA Communities zoning, affordable housing would have to be provided in development plans at the town’s current rate of 10%.

Said Gelcich: “If you’re trying to get the most flexibility out of this site, MBTA Communities isn’t the answer.”

“The surest way to provide affordable housing is to provide smaller housing,” Trendel pointed out, saying that denser housing makes sense for downtown. “And housing is easier to fit in when you have more density requirements.”

Member Matthew Wronka said that businesses and restaurants downtown make sense because of the area’s walkability.

Member Jane Moran asked about the acreage of the Center School property. McIntyre said the land consists of two lots of 5 and 6 acres that are divided by an Eversource right of way. The front parcel faces Ash Street, while the back one is landlocked.

Other parcels that may be suitable for MBTA Communities zoning are a portion of the industrial district near Interstate 495, part of the hotel overlay district, and land across from Hopkinton State Park. The state also suggested the Windsor at Hopkinton property off Lumber Street, according to Gelcich.

Trendel suggested that the front Center School parcel should be an anchor space for the community that would draw a broad cross section of residents. Further back, Town Hall, community meeting space, and “attainable housing” would be viable. His overall goal, he said, is the best benefit for the town as a whole.

Plans for 188-190 Fruit Street introduced

Nick Skoly, a civil engineer at VHB, spoke about plans for two single-family homes at 188-190 Fruit Street. He is seeking a stormwater management permit. The project has been reviewed by the Conservation Commission, which scheduled a site walk for Aug. 1. He also has consulted with the Health Department and the Fire Department. He added that a request for an earth removal permit would be coming “in a couple of days.” Gelcich noted that the disturbance to the site would be “fairly significant.”

The Planning Board scheduled a site walk for July 29. The hearing was continued until the next meeting on Aug. 7.

Misc.: Preliminary review given to amendments

Because only five members of the board were present for this meeting, members agreed that a full review of amendments to the inclusionary zoning bylaw and electric vehicle parking regulations be discussed in fuller detail at the next meeting on Aug. 7. Gelcich gave a review of proposed edits, which the members will review before then. … The hearing regarding Hopkinton Stone & Lumber’s request to construct a medical office building at 28 Lumber Street was continued at the request of the applicant until Sept. 11.

Presents

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s winner is Laura Hakanson for this photo of “Atwells enjoying cotton candy skies and pond views at Halstead Hopkinton.”

To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent. com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

The Hopkinton Independent presents “A Slice of Hopkinton” photo contest, sponsored by Bill’s Pizzeria. Readers are encouraged to submit photos of people, places or things in Hopkinton. The Independent staff will select one winner for each issue. The winner will have their submitted photo published in the paper and will receive a $25 gift certificate to Bill’s Pizzeria.

SENIOR SNIPPETS

The Hopkinton Senior Center is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. For a more extensive listing of programs and services, including lunch program menus as well as a newsletter, check hopkintonseniorcenter.com. Anyone with questions can call 508-497-9730. The Senior Center also has a Facebook page that provides updates on resources, programs and events.

Transportation Programs

The Senior Center offers transportation to and from the center as well as local shopping Mondays through Fridays for Hopkinton residents. Those looking for transportation for medical appointments or essential shopping should call to learn about options.

Our Time Memory Cafe

Thursday, Aug. 3, 1 p.m.

Our Time Memory Cafe is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, along with their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, have social experiences with others going through similar changes and form friendships. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. The program is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and Hopkinton Public Library. For more information or to register, call 508-497-0108 or email info@ourtimememorycafe.org.

Ice Cream Social

Thursday, Aug. 16, 1 p.m.

Advance registration is requested for this event, which is sponsored by the Friends of Hopkinton Seniors. The center will have all the fixins to make a perfect hot fudge sundae. Non-dairy options also will be available.

Thrift Shop Red Tag Sale

Thursday, Aug. 17, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

In honor of National Thrift Shop Day, the Friends of Hopkinton Seniors are hosting a Red Tag Sale. Anything in the shop with a red tag will be an additional 50% off the lowest price. Jewelry is excluded from this sale.

Cannes: Glamour and Beyond

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 1 p.m.

This live virtual tour is of Cannes, one of the most iconic destinations on the French Riviera. The tour will start at the top of a small hill, showing a breathtaking panoramic view of Cannes. Information will be shared about its history as a small fishermen’s village and how it gradually grew into the city of glamour as it’s known today. The tour will make its way through the old town of Cannes and see charming architecture, quaint boutiques and local food before moving on to the famous Croisette, a palmlined boulevard that stretches along the shore. The tour will stroll the promenade on the way to the Festival Palace, the home of the world-famous Cannes Film Festival.

All photos must be submitted by individuals 16 and over. The photo must be high resolution, and not submitted for use by any other media outlet. Winners will pick up their gift certificate at Bill’s Pizzeria.

Conservation Commission discusses proposed subdivision off Blueberry Lane

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Conservation Commission on July 18 continued a hearing on five subdivision units on Myrtle Avenue — a road that is to be built off Blueberry Lane — after commissioners spoke about encroachment into the buffer zone.

Notices of intent were filed for five single-family homes proposed by Toll Brothers, the developer of the ChamberlainWhalen project. Ted Marchant, the land development director for Toll Brothers, led the presentations. He explained that the project had been approved in the late 1980s, which exempted it from current standards. The company began investigating the lots to determine their viability for development.

Matt Ashley from Bohler, an engineering consultant, went through the lot presentations. Located on the southern side of Myrtle Avenue, the lots abut a wetland. The first two lots at 9 and 7 Fitch Avenue (another proposed road) had driveways and utilities that connected to Myrtle Avenue. The front yards were graded to slope toward Myrtle Avenue, while the backyards sloped toward a swale system to the wetland and into basins on Blueberry Lane. On the first lots, grading work was proposed within the 50- to 100-foot buffer zone.

Member Janine LeBlanc asked if the house could be moved further back from the buffer zone, a concern that was reiterated about the other lots. While the house is outside the buffer zone, the roadway does impact it. Chair Jeff Barnes noted that the applicant has “done a good job” keeping the homes out of the buffer zone despite not being required to do so under the approval.

The second lot had a similar design. The home is outside the 100-foot buffer zone, while the lot line is outside the 50foot buffer zone. After member Ted Barker-Hook expressed concerns about the driveway being in the buffer zone, Ashley said the developer could consider flipping it to the other side of the property. It was proposed this way to be nearer to the roadway and because of grading issues.

The third lot at 11 Fitch Avenue was to the west of the wetland. The access and grading were similar to the first two lots. On this corner lot, the house intruded into the 100-foot buffer zone.

Barker-Hook said that possibly shrinking the size of the houses is “a concept worth exploring.” Marchant explained that the yard size was similar to the size of the yards on the Chamberlain-Whalen project. Barker-Hook later noted that the approval of the Chamberlain-Whalen lots was not meant to set a template to be used for subsequent developments.

The fourth unit at 4 Myrtle Avenue was on a triangular lot closer to Blueberry Lane. The house went slightly into the 100-foot buffer zone.

Said Barker-Hook: “The less we can have lawn in the buffer zone, the happier a commission member I am.”

The final lot at 13 Fitch Avenue was located at the corner of Fitch and Myrtle avenues. This lot is located near the planned wetland replication area. Barnes noted that a “significant portion” of the house was within the 50-to-100-foot buffer zone on a challenging lot.

HOPKINTON HOME IMPROVEMENT

• Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling

Barnes stressed that this subdivision should not negatively impact the neighboring subdivision. Conservation administrator Kim Ciaramicoli added that the road would not be approved as a town roadway unless the drainage system is brought up to the current town and state standards.

LeBlanc added that Adams Street would be taken away with this development. She wondered if the side setbacks on Adams Street could be changed to bring the home there potentially out of the buffer zone. Marchant said he could request a side-yard setback waiver from the Board of Appeals.

Residents from Blueberry Lane expressed concerns about the development bringing about potential flooding. Marchant said that while the subdivision will include 24 lots, four of them that would have fronted Adams Street will be under a conservation restriction.

The hearing was continued until Aug. 8.

More water issues at The Trails, Leonard Street

Ciaramicoli called out two developments that have had a history of stormwater violations for new violations due to the recent heavy rainfall — the new subdivision phase at The Trails and the Leonard Street subdivision.

She noted that developer Lou Petrozzi reported the violation at the Leonard Street site. This property previously had been called out by the commission for violating erosion controls beginning during a period of flooding in July of 2021.

The Trails, an 80-unit open-space mixed-use development (OSMUD) off Legacy Farms North Road, between Wilson Street and the Ashland border, has been plagued by stormwater management issues that have negatively impacted the water system in Ashland.

Talks have resumed on a long-ago proposed subdivision off Blueberry Lane.

At this meeting, the fourth phase of The Trails was found to be in violation of stormwater regulations, which were reported by Barnes and vice chair Melissa Recos. At the June meeting, fines for similar incidents were enforced that had been held in abeyance beginning two years ago. Ciaramicoli added that a subsequent violation was issued against The Trails on July 10.

“The applicant and [project engineer] Mr. Peter Bemis should have been aware at that time that updates and changes needed to be made,” she said. “And they had a week to prepare, in which that preparation did not occur.”

In addition, Ciaramicoli issued a cease and desist order for all work except regarding stormwater infrastructure and erosion controls. A fine is being issued for this violation and will be discussed at the next meeting. She also is notifying Ashland so officials there can seek damages as well.

Said Barnes: “How can this happen again after everything we’ve been through?”

Pictures showed turbid water running directly into the reservoir.

Regarding the Leonard Street property, Barker-Hook noted that the erosion control mats that Petrozzi proposed were never put down. Also, the driveway is crumbling and will need to be repaved.

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Winter Services Snow Plowing & Roof Snow Removal

• Deck Replacement & Repair

• Window & Door Replacement

Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week we feature 8-year-old Joel.

Here is Baypath’s description of Joel:

• Wood Flooring Installation & Refinishing

• Window & Door Replacement

• Basement Finished

• Kitchen & Bathroom

Remodeling

• Siding - Roof

• Wood Flooring

• Masonry –Walk Way & Patio

• Siding

• Roofs

• Decks

• Masonry

• Power Washing

• PowerWashing

• Painting

• Gutter Repairs & Cleaning

• Carpentry

• Basement Finishing

Detailed & Meticulous

“Are you prepared to settle down, retire and savor the best years of your life? Well, you’re not alone! Our good friend Joel is an 8-years-young gentleman, looking for a companion to settle down with. Joel knows he isn’t getting any younger; there’s no better time than the present to find that special someone! To help this charmer on this mission, Joel’s adoption fee is completely waived!

“To put it simply, Joel not only wants to be your companion, he wants to be your other half. If it were up to him, he would never leave your side! This clingy cuddle bug needs a home with parents able to provide consistent love, affection and, most of all, company. Joel is slowly learning to be independent and to trust his people.

Reasonable Rates Call Mauricio 508.202.8602

Reasonable Rates Call Mauricio 508.202.8602

FULLY INSURED MA HIC.#169427

“Joel and his forever family will receive a valuable gift to prepare for their golden years — a series of free training sessions with Sophie Oldsman at the time of adoption!”

For more information on Joel and any of the other available pets at Baypath, email adopt@ baypathhumane.org or visit baypathhumane.org/adopt.

For more Adoptable Animals of the Week, check the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS in Hopkinton

Savignano, Constance Wright

20 Judith Peterson, William Peterson, John Whistler Est.

Wyman, Margaret Wyman

Smith, Tiffany Smith

21 Nancy Ryan Trust, Patrick Ryan Trust, Kathleen Gallagher Trust, Anne Tomasz, Joel Stewart William Ryan Irrevocable Trust, Nancy Ryan Irrevocable Trust

4-6 Claflin Place $800,000 July 21 Judy Cheng, Yueh Ching & Judy Cheng Family Trust

20 Teresa Road $1,370,000 July 21 William Poillucci, Mary Poillucci

66 Weston Lane $754,000 July 25 Trails LLC

10 Rosewood Lane $450,000 July 25 Ronald Pagnini

The above are all property sales as recorded by the state and posted in the previous two weeks.

Listing sponsored by ...

CALENDAR

Renan Arias, Marielba Arias

Alo Basu, Siddhartan Govindasamy, Ranu Basu, Anupam Basu

Joseph Stebbins, Teresa Stebbins

Marlon Nogueira, Susy Nogueira

To submit an item for the Hopkinton Independent calendar section, email the information to editor@HopkintonIndependent.com. Submissions should be limited to 100 words and are subject to editing by the HI staff.

Hopkinton PolyArts Festival at Town Common Sept. 9

The 48th annual Hopkinton PolyArts Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Town Common. Proceeds fund multiple scholarships for Hopkinton graduates majoring or minoring in the arts. For details, visit cozzens.net/polyarts.

Blooms, Brews & BBQs at Weston Nurseries Sept. 9

The annual Blooms, Brews & BBQs event will be held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Weston Nurseries (93 East Main Street), raising money for the Jimmy Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. There will be local bands, barbecue and breweries. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit westonnurseries.com.

Hopkinton Family Day at HHS fields Sept. 23

Hopkinton Family Day, a community event featuring live entertainment, games, activities and food trucks, and topped off with a fireworks display, is set to return Sept. 23 on the field behind Hopkinton Middle School. The event, which runs from 2-9 p.m., is sponsored by many generous local businesses. Town organizations, nonprofits, clubs and businesses located in town offer activities for everyone. All activities (not including the food trucks) are free for the whole family. For more information, including how to participate as a sponsor or town organization, visit the Friends of Hopkinton website at friendsofhopkinton.org.

Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk Oct. 1

Registration is open for the 35th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1. Funds raised are donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk features four distances, from the full marathon (starting in Hopkinton) to a 5K. To register or to support a walker, visit JimmyFundWalk.org or call 866-531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for a $5 discount off the registration fee. All registered participants will receive a bib, medal and T-shirt.

Weekly Farmers Market Sundays at Town Common

The Hopkinton Farmers Market is held weekly at the Town Common on Sundays from 1-5 p.m., running through Oct. 15. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers receive a $10 incentive for a $10 purchase, and there are Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits as well. For information, including a list of vendors, visit the Hopkinton Farmers Market Facebook page.

Veterans Breakfast first Friday of each month

The Veterans Breakfast is held on the first Friday of every month from 9-10 a.m. at the Hopkinton Senior Center. In July, and if the first Friday of the month is a holiday or snow day, the breakfast switches to the second Friday. No registration is required. For more information, contact Amy Beck at the Senior Center, 508-497-9730.

Trails organizations seek monthly volunteers

The Hopkinton Trail Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC) and the Hopkinton Trails Club have created a monthly trail volunteer day on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-noon. Residents also are encouraged to inform these groups of maintenance issues observed on trails (downed trees, trails becoming overgrown, etc.) by emailing TCMCchair@hopkintonma.gov or hopkinton.trails. club@gmail.com. For more information, visit hopkintontrailsclub.com.

Al-Anon weekly meetings Thursdays

Anyone affected by someone else’s drinking is welcome to attend a confidential Al-Anon meeting, which takes place every Thursday from 7:30-9 p.m. at the meeting room in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (61 Wood Street). For more information, visit al-anon.org or call 888-4AL-ANON.

Event Calendar Sponsored by HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Legally Blonde The Musical

August 4, 5, 11, 12 | Curtain 7:30 p.m.

A fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde

The Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Actionpacked and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances — this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal!

Directed by Alyssa Rae Surrette | Musical Director Mark DiCampo

The C-Jammers

August 18 | Music starts at 6:30 p.m.

The C–Jammers are a high-powered, horn-driven band specializing in playing blues, swing, and early rock ‘n’ roll the way the music was originally played — with joy, vitality, and spirit. The band has been entertaining listeners and dancers to great acclaim since the early ‘80s and has recently been reconstituted with the return of several original members and the addition of one of MetroWest Boston’s best guitarists/singers, Pete Henderson. The C-Jammers will be playing in our outdoor amphitheater. In the event of rain, the show will move inside our performance space.

The Nervous Eaters with Special Guest Girl with a Hawk

August 19 | Music starts at 7:30 p.m.

Formed in the mid-’70s, the Nervous Eaters would eventually become the house band for the legendary Boston punk rock club The Rat, where they established themselves as a leading punk rock band in the Northeast, playing with a who’s who of punk and new wave luminaries, including The Police, The Ramones, The Cars, Patti Smith, Dead Boys, Iggy Pop, The Stranglers, Go-Go’s and many others.

Girl With A Hawk: Singer/songwriter

Linda Viens’ band of Boston rock legends — gorgeously emotive indie rock with Americana, garage, and punk roots.

Orphan Play

August 20 | Curtain 2 p.m.

Orphan Play is a new work by Maggie MacDonald which follows a playwright as she tries to write an autobiographical play. As she writes, she begins to relive her memories in the theatrical space of her imagination. Based on MacDonald’s life, Orphan Play grapples with grief, loss, and the traumas of growing up.

Select Board discusses priorities for year

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Select Board met for nearly two hours on July 20 to discuss members’ most pressing priorities, reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and brainstorm about overarching town goals.

Select Board chair Muriel Kramer led an icebreaker exercise over pizza called Rose, Bud and Thorn. It prompted Select Board members, Town Manager Norman Khumalo and Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus to share what they considered to be working well in town, challenges encountered and new ideas.

Members Mary Jo LaFreniere and vice chair Shahidul Mannan cited the town’s economic stability as a challenge. Future spending concerned LaFreniere the most.

“It’s just looking like it’s going to be outrageous,” LaFreniere said, noting that public outreach and support will be critical.

Positives she mentioned included the recognition of community volunteers and the activities at the Senior Center. The MWRTA senior shuttle has been helpful as well. She would like to focus her work on senior housing as well as advocating with state legislators for a home rule petition for a tax exemption for older residents during the time period when the town connects to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system. Some older residents

them depart for economic reasons.

Said LaFreniere: “We’re going to lose our seniors.”

Mannan said passing this year’s budget was a success, while not knowing about future economic resources is a detriment. Having a new staff member working on economic development issues is a positive, and working on a capital plan may help jump-start economic development.

At the Aug. 1 meeting, he will bring up the possibility of forming an economic development council. The council could review commercial opportunities that will help the town without disrupting its character.

Focus groups can be formed regarding water quality and PFAS issues as well as regarding the Eversource LNG facility to increase transparency and information sharing, he said. LaFreniere raised the possibility of getting state aid if it is determined that the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy training operations in Hopkinton in the 1970s and ‘80s contributed to the spreading of PFAS into Well 6 on Fruit Street.

Both Mannan and LaFreniere also raised affordable housing as a goal. LaFreniere suggested looking at other towns to see how they are tackling the issue.

PFAS has been a challenge that is being managed, Mannan added. A focus group could be formed regarding the state of the town’s water quality, with quarterly reports issued to the Select Board.

cording to Khumalo. They engaged in a retreat on July 24. Another good thing is that recent vacancies are being filled with qualified people.

“The pain is I have the front seat in getting information about the community’s aspirations,” he said, noting that he continually hears from students and commercial developers about what they envision for Hopkinton.

Said Khumalo: “The painful part is, do we have the resources to address those aspirations?”

Member Amy Ritterbusch shared that while the board and committee appointments were going well, a negative would be the ongoing debate about the future of the Upper Charles Trail Committee. The recent appointment of a sustainability, economic development and equity project manager in this newly created position, she said, holds future promise.

For member Irfan Nasrullah, the progress on the Main Street corridor project has been a rose, with the exception of a delay in receiving the transformers that need to be installed.

A thorn, he said, has been trying to implement policy changes in the Police Department, which has been understaffed in recent months. There has been no active deputy chief since John Porter was placed on administrative leave and eventually charged with child rape. He resigned in May and pleaded not guilty to those charges the following week. Later in May, Sgt. Tim Brennan was placed on paid administrative leave.

Climate change was addressed by Lazarus. She also spoke of the need

for a strategic plan for the town, which Khumalo echoed.

Kramer said her positive is that the Select Board works constructively together as a team. A negative is the “divisive times that we live in,” which necessitates building connections for better trust and understanding.

The board discussed focusing on a few key goals. Mannan said he would work on spearheading economic development, a process he called “overdue.” Forming the strategic plan is another one, which Khumalo said will help departments and committees align their goals. Nasrullah pledged to help the UCTC reorganize its structure to “instill more confidence in the public as to what they’re doing” and spoke of the need for downtown revitalization.

One problem Kramer noted is that people talk about the need for commercial development, but individual items have been voted down consistently at Town Meeting. Mannan said that South Street has about a 30% capacity for new businesses without the need for rezoning.

“We really do have to change the mindset of the townspeople,” said LaFreniere. “Because we’ve had a number of chances, good chances.”

One of them is the land across from Hopkinton State Park, which had been proposed for office buildings, as well as another property on Lumber Street.

Members were to speak about the goals they would like to spearhead at their next meeting on Aug. 1.

“We can’t any of us do it in a vacuum,” Kramer stressed. “None of us can boil the ocean.”

andice Kunneh was recognized as a recipient of a 2023 Maxo Joseph Excellence in Direct Care Award from MAB Community Services, a leading social service agency supporting over 1,500 individuals with visual impairment, intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries across Massachusetts. Kunneh, who received a $2,000 award, was saluted along with 11 other honorees at a ceremony and luncheon at MAB’s headquarters in Brookline on

“Candice Kunneh is recognized for her unwavering support of participants at MAB’s group home in Hopkinton, helping them to lead fulfilling, active lives,” MAB announced in a press release. “As assistant residential director since 2022, Candice lets participants take the lead in building their own skills, like learning to cook lasagna. She emphasizes spending time in the community, abiding by the mantra, ‘A happy house is an empty house. Living is outside. Let’s get out of here.’

“Candice also prioritizes participants’ interests, letting them choose how to spend their time. It doesn’t matter if it’s a drive through the countryside or choir practice; Candice’s only consideration is participants’ joy.”

“The entire Central Massachusetts team is proud of Candice for her

achievement,” said Silvia Borges, program support director at MAB. “She has made such an impression on the participants of her group home in the short time that she has been there and always prioritizes making sure they are active and happy.”

Established in 2021, the awards honor direct care staff in MAB’s Adult Disability Services division who go above and beyond in their commitment to the participants they support. Their dedication reflects the legacy of Maxo Joseph, an exceptional caregiver and colleague who passed away in 2020.

Out of 28 nominees, 12 direct care staff received awards this year, representing MAB group homes across Greater Boston and Central Massachusetts. Honorees are chosen by a committee consisting of MAB staff, community supporters and family members of the participants the nominees serve.

Candice Kunneh (right) receives her award from MAB Program Support Director Silvia Borges.

For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. Many programs require registration. Visit the library’s website calendar for event registration information. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @HopkintonPLMA.

Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, Aug. 3, 1-6 p.m.

Registration is available at the Red Cross website at rcblood.org/3AmuYsP.

Our Time Memory Cafe at Senior Center

Thursday, Aug. 3, 1-2:15 p.m.

Sponsored by Hopkinton Senior Services and the Hopkinton Public Library, Our Time Memory Cafe invites those with forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment or dementia and their care partner, family and friends to attend. Our Time Memory Cafe takes place on the first Thursday of each month.

Women’s Financial Roundtable

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 1-2 p.m.

This virtual program is for anyone confused about financial markets, wondering what Bitcoin is all about or staring blankly at retirement statements. Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone present Women and Money Roundtable: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets. Each session focuses on a different topic.

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Participants are invited to bring their current project or pattern. This group is open to teens and adults of all skill levels. All fiber arts crafts (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, needle felting, etc.) are more than welcome. This group meets on the second and last Wednesdays of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Snakes of New England and the World

Thursday, Aug. 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Attendees of all ages can learn about (and interact with) 20-25 snakes of New England and the world. Anyone wondering what kind of snakes might be living in the woods near their house, or who has caught a glimpse of a snake just as it disappeared into some shrubs and wished for a closer look, this is a chance to see native and exotic snakes close up. Registration is required.

Trail Walk with Hopkinton Trails Club

Thursday, Aug. 10, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

This week’s walk will take place at the Center School Trail, off Ash Street. The Hopkinton Public Library and the Hopkinton Trails Club present the Summer Trail Walks series. In this series, experts from the Trails Club will lead attendees on one-hour leisurely trail walks through Hopkinton trails and discuss the history, flora and fauna of the area. These walks are not strenuous, and no one will be left behind. Families are welcome. Registration is optional.

Author Talk: Robert Jones Jr.

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 4-5 p.m.

All are welcome and encouraged to join an engaging hour online with New York Times bestselling author Robert Jones Jr., as he discusses his debut and award-winning novel, “The Prophets.”

Zero Waste Kids: Birthdays, Lunches and More

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 7-8 p.m.

This virtual program for all ages is led by Sarah Robertson-Barnes, who will dig into practical tips to make children’s birthday parties and school lunches eco-friendly and low waste. There also will be a discussion about how kids, families and communities can be more sustainable as some towns/cities/states move toward free lunches for all.

Monthly Music & Movement

Thursday, Aug. 17, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

This children’s concert by performer Julie Stepanek is recommended for ages 0-5. Music & Movement is generously supported by the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation. Registration is required.

Ukulele with Julie Stepanek

Thursday, Aug. 17, 1-1:45 p.m. (children), 2-3 p.m. (teens/adults)

Julie Stepanek will show the fundamentals of the ukulele, an instrument that is fun and easy to play. No experience is necessary. Ukuleles will be provided. Registration is required.

Author Talk: Cassandra Clare

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 8-9 p.m.

This online chat is with mega-bestselling author Cassandra Clare, who wrote The Mortal Instruments series, and will focus on her newest and final book in The Last Hours series, “Chain of Thorns.”

Trail Walk with Hopkinton Trails Club

Thursday, Aug. 24, 7-8 p.m.

This week’s walk will take place at the Pratt Farm Trail, off Ash Street. The Hopkinton Public Library and the Hopkinton Trails Club present the Summer Trail Walks series. In this series, experts from the Trails Club will lead attendees on one-hour leisurely trail walks through Hopkinton trails and discuss the history, flora and fauna of the area. These walks are not strenuous, and no one will be left behind. Families are welcome. Registration is optional.

Author Talk: Jeff Selingo

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2-3 p.m.

Spend an hour online with bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who wrote “Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admission.” Selingo immersed himself in the world of admissions for a year to answer the question on the minds of teenagers and their parents: How do colleges select their freshman class?

State reimbursement, traffic on ESBC’s agenda

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Areview of changes to the Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursement process and another look at a traffic study dominated the July 25 Elementary School Building Committee meeting.

The MSBA reacted to changes in the Massachusetts Energy Code involving its shifted focus from energy reduction measures to heating and cooling demand reduction, or Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI).

Also, reimbursement for having electric vehicle-ready parking rose to 20% for businesses and schools.

Jeff D’Amico, Vertex project director, noted there is a push for electrification of buildings on new projects, a direction toward which Hopkinton already is working.

To help communities meet codes, the MSBA issued an advisory showing its reimbursement increasing from 2% to 3% and an additional 1% possible for meeting certain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria.

Dan Colli, Perkins Eastman project manager, said this project would have a “passive house modeling” approach rather than TEDI because there are still a lot of questions about the accuracy of how TEDI works.

Projects must earn points in several categories such as low-emitting materials, an indoor air quality assessment and materials ingredients. Colli said the latter LEED points can be earned by collecting 20 environmental product declarations (EPD) and health product declarations (HPD) from five manufacturers.

He likened these documents to labels with food ingredients listed.

D’Amico explained that the Elmwood replacement project had its preferred schematic report approved in June and expects MSBA approval in October for its schematic design. That puts the district in a position where it can follow the former

program or try to earn extra points with the new one.

Colli said he is confident the group can achieve the path with more points to get more reimbursement.

D’Amico added that Hopkinton already has a “sustainable goal and is forward-thinking.”

ESBC member Mike Shepard asked whether the reimbursement would cover the costs of the energy-saving measures.

“We want to do the right thing, but not if it costs more than the regular thing,” he said.

Colli responded that extra points translate into more reimbursement that will cover the costs.

Some items are ineligible for reimbursement from MSBA and include legal fees, off-site improvements, building permits, financing costs and more.

In addition, caps are set for things like construction and owner’s project manager costs.

Prior to the exclusions, the reimbursement rates would range from 48.645% to 49.64%. However, the actual rate is closer to 25% to 30% when those factors are put in, according to D’Amico.

D’Amico pointed out the proposed Elmwood School has less than 1,000 square feet of space that is considered “ineligible” by the MSBA.

He said discussions still need to happen about how much in contingencies should be set aside. D’Amico said putting extra in reserve does not mean it will be used. Rather, it is a way to avoid having to return to Town Meeting seeking additional funds following an initial allocation, he noted.

A more specific project budget should be available by the end of August, D’Amico added, with an end date in October.

“Everybody wants to know the final answer, but it’s a process, and you guys are on a journey,” D’Amico said to committee members. “You’ve made decisions at every meeting that affect the cost. We’re going to see where all the decisions shake out.”

Traffic study reviewed

In other business, Vinod Kalikiri from VHB reviewed the traffic study data, noting factors like Hopkins School’s start and

dismissal times changing to correspond with the middle and high schools as it adds Grade 6.

Also, the proposed new school would have Grade 4 (in addition to Grades 2 and 3), so the traffic was reassigned there. All analysis included enrollment projections for 10 years, Kalikiri said, and was done on “typical days,” without detours or road closures.

He said improvements are needed on Hayden Rowe Street at the driveways at Marathon School and the proposed new school.

Kalikiri highlighted recommendations like putting a traffic control signal at the Marathon driveway and having right turns only coming out of the proposed school’s driveway.

The existing turn lane near Marathon could be extended from 175 feet to 400 feet, he said. Other recommendations are a signalized crosswalk at Marathon (operated by a push button), an internal connection between the two schools to provide flexibility for parents with children at multiple grade levels, and “signal ahead” signs traveling north and south.

Kalikiri said the study showed the times with the most traffic did not correspond with school-related start and closing times.

ESBC member Bill Flannery said a resident spoke to him earlier in the day about how long it took to get from Hayden Rowe Street to downtown.

“I suspect it had more to do with the downtown corridor issue going on than what you are showing here [in the presentation],” Flannery said.

Chris Eberly, Vertex senior project manager, said the challenge is not the volume of traffic on the road, but rather the perception of frequent stopping because of people turning and traffic lights.

“It’s slowing them down because you expect the road to be free-flowing,” Eberly said. “Instead, someone 20 cars in front of you is trying to make a left turn, and they have nowhere else to go.”

Added Eberly: “The interventions proposed are specifically to address that aspect of it.”

ESBC chair Jon Graziano said the perception reinforces the importance of messaging to the public.

“What you are describing is a world this town has not lived in for several years,” Graziano said, noting there had ESBC | page 17

The proposed Elmwood replacement school is being designed to house Grades 2-4.

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

The School Committee on July 27 reviewed updates to the district’s capital plan and talked about enrollment in conjunction with the proposed new Elmwood School and Hopkins School addition.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance/ Operations Susan Rothermich focused on a series of “if/then” scenarios during her presentation. The Elmwood replacement project is working with a $170 million “placeholder” figure for fiscal year 2024. It is anticipated the total will be reduced once the Massachusetts School Building Authority and Mass Save and other energy incentives are factored in.

Rothermich added that decisions made by the Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) also will significantly reduce that number.

According to School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh, also liaison to the ESBC, those decisions include selecting indoor and outdoor materials that are less expensive, making changes to the design to cut square footage and opting for a designbid-build approach, which is expected to result in a $10 million reduction.

She said more precise cost estimates will be available in August so voters will know better what true total they are facing. (The $170 million figure represents what it would cost if the ESBC chose all the most expensive materials and included

all the features).

Vice chair Amanda Fargiano said she wished an asterisk or footnote could be put with the total estimate to indicate to voters the impact on their taxes would be lower once incentives and reimbursement are included.

Rothermich explained that the number on the Town Meeting warrant and election ballot must be the overall gross figure.

“It comes down to communicating to the public. … They’ll see the total but need to understand there will be ‘X’ in incentives and ‘X’ in MSBA reimbursement” lowering that figure, she said.

School Committee member Adam Munroe said there would be “immense repercussions” if things do not pan out with reimbursement, for example. He reiterated the need for communication with the public.

If/then scenarios given on capital projects

The fate of Elmwood and Hopkins projects impacts other capital needs that have been expressed in the past, Rothermich said.

For example, Rothermich said if Elmwood has a successful vote, then one grade moves off the Hopkins/middle school/high school campus, and the tennis courts could be moved or reconfigured to add parking. With one grade removed from the middle

school, the traffic could be cut/reconfigured for the higher-grade schools.

Also, a successful Elmwood vote would open up the existing school for a potential relocation of the preschool. Relocating the preschool, she said, would result in six more classroom spaces to absorb enrollment at Marathon. The issue remaining would be common areas like the cafeteria.

If the Elmwood and Hopkins projects are both approved, Rothermich said moving Grade 6 would free up 10 classrooms for the high school and create capacity up to year 2028 there if all space is utilized. Then the timeline for a feasibility study in the higher grades could be adjusted.

There also is a question of whether a loop road paving and sidewalk project could be wrapped into the Hopkins addition if it is approved. It would involve a new emergency access road around the building and parking and could be moved to FY27 to coincide with the Hopkins addition opening or scrapped altogether, she said.

Using the “if/then” scenarios shows how the Elmwood and Hopkins projects can influence other capital needs that are on the district’s long-range plan, according to Rothermich.

“If we do these two projects, it opens up the possibility to delay things elsewhere,” said Nancy Cavanaugh. “It’s not the reality we live in to do all of them.”

Rothermich also talked about the ef-

fect one item can have on another.

“There is a danger in taking a 10-year capital plan, adding it up and saying, ‘This is the effect,’ because there are levers that are pressed annually that change that information,” she said.

“You can see how easily these ‘if/then’ statements change projects,” Rothermich added.

Enrollment increase broken down to classrooms

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh reviewed enrollment and general education classrooms, noting an increase of 780 students from 2018 to 2023. Breaking that down to 20 students per classroom means 39 classrooms are required, she said.

The superintendent said the district has added 18 classrooms since 2018: four modulars at Elmwood, four modulars at Hopkins, four stick-built classrooms at Marathon and six stick-built classrooms at Hopkinton High School.

Therefore, the district has handled 360 students with those measures, Carol Cavanaugh said. “We have absorbed the other 420 students without space. … That’s a very large number.”

Fargiano said the district had done all it could to accommodate the influx of students.

“There is no easy next step. If there was, we’d do it,” she said.

TheUniversity of Massachusetts

Amherst announced its dean’s list for the spring semester, and a number of Hopkinton students are included: Molly Andrews, Jessica Applebaum, Hayden August, Haley Bernardo, Angela Bonnell, Tess Bouvier, Ethan Champlin, Shivali Chandrasekar, Alan Chen, Jordyn Cheverie, Jake

elor’s degree in psychological science, and Madeleine Holden graduated with a bachelor’s in English. …

COLLEGE HONORS

Chirco, Olivia Coelho, Melanie Cole,

Ciara Cross, Kyla Crum, Caleb Dacey,

Anish Doki, Melinda Dyan, Nathan

Foster, Eva Franks, Jessica Franks, Lauren Gelbwachs, Hayley Glassburn, Natalia Donate, Prithvi Govindaiah, Tyler Holbrow, Olivia Hyman, Luke

Joseph, Devin Kelly, Alexandra La-

zarov, Tobin Lock, Justin Mak, Julia

Markey, Emma Meek, Rachael Nordling, Bianca Pal, Mirabella Paolucci, Meera Parthasarathy, Kyle Perkins, Jordan Pessin, William Quinlan, Calvin Rodman, Aaditya Saini, Amelia Senseney, Austin Summers, Li Sutherland, Journey Tamba, Parth Tare, Evan

Theodorou, Alexis Trendel, Madeline Ullman, Caroline Wauters, Lillian York and Grace Young

Sara Cahill received the 2023 Rev. John W. Flavin, S.J. Award in Biology from College of the Holy Cross. The award is given to a fourth-year biology major who has shown excellence in scientific achievement and humanitarian service, or contribution to the vitality of the Biology Department and the college. …

Matt Burdulis, Sasha Fomin and Grace Ye were named to the dean’s list at Tufts University. …

At the University of Vermont, Landon York graduated cum laude with a bach-

At Bryant University, Dennis Field was named to the president’s list and dean’s list, while Michael Ambrosone, Sean McGrail and Jacqueline Zeigler were named to the dean’s list. …

At St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, Abbey Kelley-Lanser, who is majoring in church music, was named to the dean’s list. …

Nora Drechsler was named to the Champlain College dean’s list. …

Harriharan Thirukallam Srinivasan was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Editor’s note: Information for college honors is provided by the schools. Those interested in being included in this section should forward the official notification or request for the school to email it to editor@ hopkintonindependent.com.

ESBC | from page 16

been utility work on Hayden Rowe Street, closing sections of it.

“People feel Hayden Rowe is a mess at times that have nothing to do with schools … like 1 p.m. in the summer,” Graziano added.

The next public forum on the proposed new school is Aug. 10, with other ESBC meetings on Aug. 15, 22 and 29. The ESBC might meet with the School Committee on Aug. 24 as well.

Rudden nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year

Stonehill College women’s lacrosse

standout Lydia Rudden of Hopkinton was selected as one of the Northeast Conference’s two nominees for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

Now in its 33rd year, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award recognizes graduating female studentathletes who have exhausted their NCAA eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

Rudden, named Stonehill’s Edward E. Martin Senior Female ScholarAthlete of the Year and the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipient for women’s lacrosse, graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree, having achieved a 3.88 cumulative grade point average as a philosophy major and business administration minor. The Moreau Honors Scholar at Stonehill will attend Boston College Law School as a juris doctor candidate and is the first studentathlete from the college to be named a conference nominee for Woman of the Year. She received the Outstanding Philosophy Student Award this spring, and was named to the dean’s list and athletic director’s honor roll all eight semesters, also earning spots on the NEC academic honor roll and commissioner’s honor roll for the spring season.

Rudden is a Moreau Honors Program mentor, writing tutor at the Center for Writing and Academic Achievement and teaching assistant at the Meehan School of Business. She was a member of the college’s mock trial team, served as an admissions event panelist and conducted philosophical research on ethical leadership to develop a capstone course for Stonehill’s ethical leadership minor. Rudden worked as a laboratory

assistant at UMass Memorial Hospital assisting with COVID-19 testing during the pandemic.

Rudden is a two-time Academic All-District at-large honoree by College Sports Communicators and earned Northeast-10 academic all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior, also collecting the NE10 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award in 2022. She was named to the NE10 academic honor roll all six semesters prior to the college’s transition to NCAA Division 1 and is a three-time St. Thomas Aquinas, Patron Saint of Students, Medal recipient for having the highest cumulative GPA on the team.

Rudden served as a captain for the Stonehill women’s lacrosse program this past season as she earned All-NEC first team honors after leading the conference in scoring with 72 points and assists with 48 — ranking seventh nationally in assists and second with 3.20 assists per game. The assist total is tied for third on Stonehill’s all-time single-season list, along with her sister, Brooke Rudden (Class of 2015), behind her own single-season record of 77 assists in 2022. She also scored 24 goals this spring to rank fourth on the team, while adding 16 ground balls and five caused turnovers in 15 games.

Rudden, a two-time first team allconference selection over her career,

earned first team All-America and All-East Region honors from the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) as a junior. The 2022 NE10 Attack of the Year posted just the third 100-point season in program history in leading the Skyhawks to a sweep of the NE10 regular season and tournament championships as well as an NCAA tournament bid, finishing with a program-record 119, on her way to 237 points in 49 career games to rank eighth all-time at Stonehill with 83 goals and a program-record 154 assists.

The Woman of the Year Selection Committee will select the top 10 honorees in each division in early September. The 30 honorees will be whittled down to nine finalists (three from each division) at the end of the month. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will cast votes among the nine finalists to determine the 2023 Woman of the Year.

Stonehill finished its inaugural NCAA Division 1 season tied for third in the final NEC standings with a 5-3 mark.

Locals shine at Wheaton

Hopkinton products Tommy Ambrosone and Josh Fischer were members of the Wheaton College baseball Sports Roundup | page 19

Lydia Rudden graduated Stonehill as one of the school’s best-ever lacrosse players.

PHOTO/BRIAN FOLEY/STONEHILL COLLEGE

Locals shine at Wheaton

Sports Roundup | from page 18

team that advanced to the NCAA Division 3 Super Regional round before falling in a best-of-three series to top-ranked Johns Hopkins in late May.

Ambrosone, a junior outfielder, started 29 of the 30 games in which he played, batting .343 with 13 RBI.

Fischer, a junior left-handed pitcher who transferred from Fairfield, appeared in 10 games, six in relief, and went 2-1 with a 4.06 ERA. He recorded 32 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.

Wheaton went 42-9 overall and 16-1 in the NEWMAC and won the conference tournament championship for the third straight year. The Lyons finished the season ranked 11th nationally by D3Baseball. com. …

Also at Wheaton, junior catcher Jill Ceddia had a solid season for the Lyons softball team, batting .322 with 21 RBI while starting 36 of the 38 games in which she played. Wheaton finished with a record of 22-18 (8-10 NEWMAC). …

Kate Powers, who just completed her freshman season on the track and field team at the University of Kentucky, was named to the Southeastern Conference first-year academic honor roll.

TONDORF TITLISTS

Members of the Hopkinton Little League 9-and-under summer team pose with their trophies after winning the Tondorf Tournament last month.

obituarieS

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.

Robert Cornell

Robert F. Cornell, 65, of Milford died July 12 at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Mary (Howe) Cornell.

Robert was born in Westborough, the son of the late Edward Cornell and the late Mary (Harrigan) Cornell. He was a graduate of Westborough High School, Class of 1975. Upon graduation from high school as an accomplished baseball player, he was awarded a four-year baseball scholarship to New Mexico Highland University, but with the untimely passing of his mother at a young age, he returned home to support his family after only one year. He later received his bachelor’s degree from Assumption College in 1981.

Robert was first employed as a young man as a police officer working for the City of Richmond, Virginia, from 198284. In 1984, he returned home to take over the management of the family owned business, Cornell’s of Hopkinton, which he managed until 2012.

Robert had been a resident of Milford since 1991. He was an avid supporter of the My One Wish Program and was named the organization’s Man of the Year in 1999. He was an avid sports fan and supported all of the New England teams. Robert also was a history buff, and, during his retirement years, he taught history to students in the Department of Youth Services.

Along with his beloved wife of 36 years, he is survived by his two sons, Robert James “Rory” Cornell of Valencia, Spain, and Ian Timothy Cornell of Milford and “Planet Mars”; his four siblings, Edward Cornell Jr. of Millbury, Marybeth Cornell of Vernon, Vermont, Paul Cornell of South Carolina, and Richard Cornell and wife Connie of Grafton; and several nephews and cousins.

His funeral was to be held at the Edwards Memorial Funeral Home, Milford, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Milford. In accordance with his wishes, cremation was to follow his mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DanaFarber Cancer Institute at Milford Regional Medical Center, c/o the Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation, 14 Prospect Street, Milford, MA 01757, or to VNA Care Hospice, 100 Trade Center, Suite #G-500, Woburn, MA 01801.

Renzo Fazzuoli

Renzo John Fazzuoli, 91, formerly of Eastview Road in Hopkinton, died peacefully July 10 at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. He was the loving and devoted husband for 70 years of Frances Salvo Fazzuoli.

Renzo was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on July 13, 1931, to the late Gaetano and Maria Suffredini Fazzuoli. He served his country with honor during the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Army. After being discharged, he resumed work at the former New Haven Dairy and later Sealtest Ice Cream, where he worked for an accomplished 52 years, the last 40 spent at the plant in Framingham, where he ended his career as senior project engineer. Renzo’s expertise was well regarded in the industry, and he was responsible for designing production machinery for Ben & Jerry’s first ice cream plant in Waterbury, Vermont.

Renzo had a passion for the outdoors and spent countless days camping, fishing and hunting, for which his two sons were often a part. In his retirement, he mastered the skill of making bamboo fishing rods and produced many of them through the years — each a work of art. Renzo was liked by everyone and known for his generosity.

Renzo was the beloved father of David Fazzuoli and wife Gail Fazzuoli, and John Fazzuoli and wife Despina Fazzuoli; devoted grandfather of Lauren Fazzuoli, Sofia Fazzuoli, Anthony Fazzuoli and Nico Fazzuolil; and brother of the late Steve Fazzuoli and the late Rita DeMasi. Renzo’s kind soul will be missed by all.

Visiting hours were held July 15 in the Iovanne Funeral Home, New Haven. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in Blessed Michael McGivney Parish at St. Michael Church, followed by burial in All Saints Cemetery.

Jay Fournier

Joseph “Jay” Fournier, 76, passed away peacefully at his Hopkinton home surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pauline Byrne Fournier, his son, John, his sister Joyce Jacobsen of Paxton, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents, Joseph G. and Stella (Magerowski), and his sister Lucille Westberg of Sturbridge.

Jay was born and raised in Worcester. After graduating from North High School, he attended Framingham State College. He enlisted in the Navy and served on the Joseph P. Kennedy destroyer. He proudly served for 35 years in the Air National Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was employed by the Worcester Gas Company for 40 years.

Jay and his wife lived in Hopkinton since 1978. Jay loved to read. He also enjoyed the ocean, especially sailing and swimming.

His funeral Mass was celebrated July 24 in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, Westborough, followed by burial with military honors in St. Luke’s Cemetery.

Services were under the care of the Pickering & Son West-

borough Funeral Home, Westborough. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Luke the Evangelist Church Memorial Fund (70 West Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581) or the VNA Care Hospice (254 2nd Avenue, Suite 200, Needham, MA 02494).

Gary DiGiantommaso

Gary P. DiGiantommaso (Carmichael), 68, died June 22 surrounded by his family at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a brief illness.

Gary was born on Dec. 31, 1954, to the late Rocco DiGiantommaso, formerly of Walpole, and Marilyn (Larsen) Greeno of Hopkinton, where Gary spent most of his childhood and attended high school. He will be dearly missed for his gentle and friendly nature, his wide-ranging interests and curiosity, his sly wit, his perfectionism, his love of music and the New England Patriots and, of course, his Christmas decorations.

In addition to being a lifelong guitar player and music lover, Gary was proficient at many things. In his profession as an industrial maintenance electrician, he was a gifted problem-solver and also skilled at machining and woodwork. Like many, he first developed his meticulous mechanical skills by working on cars throughout the late 1960s and ’70s in his parents’ garage. Also talented at drawing and illustrating, Gary could master anything he put his hands and mind to.

In 2013, after living in various locations in southern New Hampshire for many years, Gary settled into his property in Townsend, which he tended to with care and his characteristic eye for detail, enjoying many nights by the firepit.

Working as an electrical technician as a teenager, Gary gained a wide variety of experience in related industrial fields. Later, after spending many years working first in plastics extrusion, then injection molding and blow molding facilities, including Amcor in Manchester, New Hampshire, Gary earned a reputation as a sought-after industrial electrician. In 2006, Gary and a team of hand-picked manufacturing specialists were recruited by a water-bottling company in upstate New York to rebuild their failing bottling operation. Most recently, Gary was employed since 2011 by Alpha Wire Company of Leominster.

Gary leaves behind his mother, Marilyn Greeno of Hopkinton, his brother Richard Carmichael of Franklin, and his brother Jeffrey Carmichael and wife Lucy Stamp of Dummerston, Vermont. He was predeceased by his brother Christopher Carmichael.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street, Hopkinton.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society at cancer. org.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

This report contains important information about your drinking water. Please translate it or speak with someone who understands it or ask the contact listed below for a translation.

Updated information as of July 2023

Hopkinton Water Department located in Hopkinton, Massachusetts has levels of PFAS6 above the Drinking Water Standard

What happened?

Our water system received notification of PFAS6 results showing that our system violated the 20 ng/L PFAS6 Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) drinking water standard during the April through June 2023 compliance period with a quarterly average of 21 ng/L at the Fruit St. Pump Station. The quarterly average of PFAS6 has ranged between 18 and 42 ng/L since Quarter 3, 2021 to date and our system will continue to notify consumers every 3 months with updated information as required.

Samples collected in April 2023, May 2023, and June 2023, reported levels of PFAS6 at 20.9 ng/L, 21.7 ng/L and 19.6 ng/L, respectively. Exceedance of the MCL standard has been determined from these results.

Compliance with the PFAS6 MCL is calculated as a quarterly average based upon the total number of samples collected during the compliance period. The location where elevated levels of PFAS6 were reported is from our Fruit Street Blending Facility, one of five facilities (including the Ashland Interconnection) that supplies drinking water to our system. PFAS6 levels were reported below the MCL at our other locations.

What does this mean?

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. Although this is not an emergency, as a consumer of the water, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did and are doing to correct this situation.

On October 2, 2020, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued a new drinking water regulation setting a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) for the sum of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (called PFAS6). PFAS6 includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA).

PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in the manufacturing of certain fire-fighting foams, moisture and stain resistant products, and other industrial processes. An MCL is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system. Some people who drink water containing PFAS6 in excess of the MCL may experience certain adverse effects. These could include effects on the liver, blood, immune system, thyroid, and fetal development. These PFAS6 may also elevate the risk of certain cancers. For more information on PFAS, see the links below.

What should I do?

For consumers in a sensitive subgroup (pregnant or nursing women, infants, and people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system)

• Consumers in a sensitive subgroup are advised not to consume, drink, or cook with water when the level of PFAS6 is above 20 ng/L.

• Consumers in a sensitive subgroup are advised to use bottled water for drinking and cooking of foods that absorb water (like pasta).

• For infant formula, use bottled water or use formula that does not require adding water.

• Bottled water should only be used if it has been tested. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires companies licensed to sell or distribute bottled water or carbonated non-alcoholic beverages to test for PFAS. See https://www.mass.gov/info-details/water-qualitystandards-for-bottled-water-in-massachusetts#list-of-bottlers-

For all other consumers not in a sensitive subgroup

• If you are not in a sensitive subgroup, you may continue to consume the water because 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime consuming the water and shorter duration exposures present less risk.

• If you have specific health concerns regarding your past exposure, you should see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) link below and consult a health professional, such as your doctor.

Steps you can take to reduce your intake - Consider taking the following steps while actions are being implemented to address this issue:

• For older children and adults (not in a sensitive subgroup), the 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime of consuming the water. For these groups, shorter duration exposures present less risk. However, if you are concerned about your exposure while steps are being taken to assess and lower the PFAS6 concentration in the drinking water, use of bottled water will reduce your exposure.

• In most situations, the water can be safely used for washing foods, brushing teeth, bathing, and showering. Please note: Boiling the water will not destroy PFAS6 and will somewhat increase its level due to evaporation of some of the water.

What is being done?

Our water system has taken the following pro-active measures:

• The bid for construction of the Fruit Street filtration system was awarded and Construction is underway.

• The Southborough Town Meeting approved an article on March 25, 2023, that allows Hopkinton to pursue a connection to the MWRA water system. The design of that connection will begin soon.

• Our other sources were sampled, and those sources did not contain PFAS6 above the MCL.

• We will continue to blend water at the Fruit St. Water Treatment Facility to reduce PFAS6 levels at this location.

• We will continue to sample our water sources for PFAS6.

• We offer a bottled water rebate program for people in a sensitive subgroup in the form of a $20 monthly credit off your water bill - you may apply on our DPW website at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoImZWL-TX h4helWCVjnl6LH5vLXfmh3lqWsWyvnR2pnhw5Q/viewform

• When additional information becomes available, this public notice will be updated.

Where can I get more information?

For more information, please contact the Director of Public Works, Kerry Reed, at 508-497-9740 or kreed@hopkintonma.gov, or the Water/Sewer Manager, Eric Carty, at 508-497-9765 or ericc@hopkintonma.gov, or view our website at: https://www.hopkintonma.gov/departments/department_of_public_works/ pfas.php

Additional information can be found at the weblinks listed below:

• MassDEP Fact Sheet – Questions and Answers for Consumers https://www.mass.gov/media/1854351

• CDC ATSDR Information on PFAS for consumers and health professionals https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health information about PFAS in Drinking Water - https://www.mass.gov/service-details/per-andpolyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-in-drinking-water

police log

ARRESTS

July 16

1:07 a.m. Officer Nicholas Walker and Sergeant Arthur Schofield conducted a motor vehicle stop on South Street and subsequently arrested a 67-year-old from Wilton, New Hampshire, and charged him with marked lanes violation and OUI liquor.

4:33 a.m. A Cumberland Farms employee on West Main Street reported a male outside asking for gas, as he had no money. Officer Nicholas Walker responded and reported the party walked from Interstate 495, where he left his car. Officer Walker attempted to get in contact with the man’s son and placed him into protective custody.

July 22

12:57 a.m. On Legacy Farms South, Officers Brennan Grimley and Nicholas Saletnik arrested a 27-year-old Woodview Way resident and charged her with OUI liquor and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

July 24

2:35 a.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Robert Ekross, Sean McKeon, Cody Normandin, Matthew Santoro and Nathan Wright responded to a two-car motor vehicle accident with airbag deployment on Wood Street. A 52-year-old from Weymouth was arrested and charged with marked lanes violation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and OUI liquor. A tow truck removed both vehicles. No personal injuries were reported.

Editor’s note: Due to space limitations, this is an abbreviated version of the Police Log. For the full Police Log visit the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

July 11 12:28 a.m. A Walcott Valley Drive resident reported someone was ringing her doorbell. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Augusto Diaz responded and checked the area with a negative find.

1:13 p.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Matthew Santoro investigated a suspicious incident on West Main Street and took a report.

1:16 p.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil took a report of bank fraud on South Street.

6:58 p.m. A Front Street caller asked for help removing a small snake from his garage. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and assisted.

10:05 p.m. A caller reported he was being blackmailed by someone online. Officer Cody Normandin assisted and took a report of fraud.

July 12 12:16 a.m. A caller reported a gray sedan speeding back and forth in the parking lot on Revolutionary Way with a female sitting on the outside of the win-

dow. Officer Augusto Diaz responded. The vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

8:12 a.m. The Upton Police Department reported a male vomiting on a bike on Angels Way and requested a person check. Officer Tyler Staback responded and was unable to check on the person.

5:16 p.m. On South Street, Officer Cody Normandin came across two juveniles on dirt bikes with no license plates and took a report. An adult arrived to pick up both the kids and bikes.

5:33 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross found a lawn chair with a cushion on the sidewalk of Wilson Street. The DPW was contacted for pickup.

July 13

8:06 a.m. A caller reported a deceased deer in the middle of the roadway of Frankland Road. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and notified the animal control officer.

8:38 a.m. Sergeant Scott van Raalten and Officer Shannon Beloin responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street and took a crash report.

4:12 p.m. A caller reported she was assaulted on West Main Street previously. Officers Brennan Grimley, Cody Normandin and Nathan Wright assisted and took a report.

4:49 p.m. A caller reported his

vehicle was vandalized in a West Main Street parking lot. Officers Cody Normandin and Nathan Wright responded and took a report.

5:43 p.m. Officer Brennan Grimley searched for a white truck on Pond Street that was involved in a hit and run. He checked the area with a negative find.

10:04 p.m. A caller reported someone on the walking path on Granite Street with a flashlight. Officer Cody Normandin responded and found a person using a metal detector in the area.

July 14

5:23 a.m. A caller reported a large branch across two-thirds of the roadway of Clinton Street that was preventing two-way traffic. Officers Augusto Diaz and Nicholas Walker responded and placed cones in the area until the DPW arrived.

7:23 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street involving a car and a motorcycle. Personal injuries were reported. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Nathan Wright, Tyler Staback and Robert Ekross responded along with an ambulance. The vehicle was towed. A crash report was taken.

10:09 a.m. A caller reported a person was choking a dog on Main Street. Officers Tyler Staback and Nathan Wright responded and spoke with those involved and determined there was a misunderstanding.

11:24 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Nathan Wright and Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident with personal injury on Hayward Street. An ambulance and a tow truck responded. One vehicle was towed.

6:01 p.m. A Pond Street resident reported a FedEx truck backed into his garage earlier in the day and caused a lot of damage. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

7:19 p.m. A caller complained of a jet ski operating at a high rate of speed too close to shore at Sandy Beach. Officers Matthew LaTour and Brennan Grimley responded and contacted the environmental police and spoke with the three adults with the jet ski.

7:51 p.m. While patrolling Sandy Beach on Lakeshore Drive, Officers Matthew LaTour and Brennan Grimley issued parking violations to non-resident vehicles.

July 15 11:36 a.m. A Chestnut Street caller reported someone attempted to break into her daughter’s car two days earlier and then took off. Officer Brennan Grimley spoke with the caller and took a report.

5:35 p.m. A caller reported a 6-yearold’s birthday party taking place on Walcott Valley Drive, and then the phone disconnected. Sergeant William Burchard responded to Walcott Valley Drive to speak with the caller, who denied calling 911.

6:55 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious incident on Main Street in front of CVS where a 12- or 13-year-old asked him to get her an Uber using PayPal. Two young males were with her. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Shannon Beloin responded and spoke with the three parties and subsequently contacted their parents. A father picked them up. Officer Beloin took a report.

6:59 p.m. A caller reported he stopped at the ice house on Main Street and noticed a broken window. Officer Brennan Grimley responded and confirmed a lower left pane of glass was out. He took a report of vandalism.

7:09 p.m. A caller reported that on North Street she was forced to pull to the right in order to avoid a vehicle coming toward her, and she got a flat front tire. No information on the other vehicle was given, and she just wanted the incident logged.

7:59 p.m. A Saddle Hill Road caller reported a vehicle pulled into his driveway and two men got out, knocked on the front door, then got back in their car and drove away. The caller just wanted the incident logged.

July 16

11:02 a.m. A caller reported a large tree limb in the roadway of South Street. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and removed the limb.

3:04 p.m. A Teresa Road resident reported a young hawk hopping around near his house. He was given the number for Tufts Wildlife.

July 17

1:37 a.m. Officer Augusto Diaz came across a motor vehicle accident on South Street and found an occupant passed out inside with the door locked and the vehicle smoking. The Fire Department responded, and a tow truck was requested to assist with the single car rollover. Officer Diaz reported the occupant was outside of the vehicle and ambulatory. Street sign damage was noted. The DPW was notified. A report was to follow.

12:25 p.m. A Fruit Street caller reported seeing a suspicious vehicle that she had an odd interaction with in previous years. Officer Sean McKeon responded. The vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

1:28 p.m. A park ranger in the State Park reported a suspicious person driving a vehicle to each parking spot and asking patrons odd questions. The incident was logged.

July 18

1:06 p.m. A West Main Street resident reported goats in her front yard. Officer Nathan Wright responded. The goats were gone upon his arrival.

2:27 p.m. A Lincoln Street caller reported a cement mixer slid off the road and into her yard. Officer Sean McKeon

responded and took a report. A heavy wrecker responded to remove the truck.

5:02 p.m. A caller reported a large tree limb was blocking the roadway of Pond Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded, placed cones in the area and notified the DPW.

5:55 p.m. A motorist reported an erratic operator driving a vehicle on the wrong side of the road, hitting curbs and almost hitting other cars on Main Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and located the driver, who stated he was tired after a long week.

6:20 p.m. Sergeants Aaron O’Neil and Matthew McNeil and Officer Cody Normandin responded to suspicious activity on West Main Street and searched a vehicle. A report was taken, and the driver was sent on his way.

July 19

7:08 a.m. A caller reported a road rage incident on Main Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Sean McKeon responded and pursued a motorcycle, which would not stop. The Ashland Police Department was advised. The reporting person went to the station, and Officer Tyler Staback took a report.

7:41 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Tyler Staback and Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on West Main Street. Officer McKeon reported a female operator fled into the woods. Sergeant McNeil subsequently placed a female into custody.

2:41 p.m. Officer Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident on Main Street and took a crash report. No personal injuries were reported.

6:14 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Brennan Grimley, Nathan Wright and Cody Normandin issued a warrant to a person on Woodview Way.

July 20

8:25 a.m. A Country Way resident reported unwanted utility workers trespassing on her property. Officer Cody Normandin responded, spoke with all involved parties and reported the utility company will work on an appointment time to return to the property.

2:13 p.m. A Saddle Hill Road resident reported when he arrived home, a vehicle sped off from his

driveway. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find on the vehicle.

3:23 p.m. A caller reported her dog and husband were attacked by a dog, and her husband sustained a puncture to his arm. A message was left for the animal control officer. Officers Shannon Beloin and Matthew LaTour followed up at the caller’s house and took a report.

9:23 p.m. A caller reported that while driving in town earlier in the evening, his car was egged. He wanted the vandalism logged.

9:58 p.m. A walk-in from Woodview Way reported harassment and suspicious activity. Sergeant William Burchard assisted and took a report.

July 21

2:43 p.m. A walk-in reported receiving threats. Officers Shannon Beloin and Robert Ekross assisted and took a report.

3:06 p.m. A walk-in reported check fraud. Sergeant William Burchard took a report.

7:39 p.m. An Ash Street resident reported “weird” happenings going on around the house and wanted the residence checked. Officer Shannon Beloin and Sergeant William Burchard responded, checked the house and took a report.

8:05 p.m. A caller reported a person missing in Lake Maspenock. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Shannon Beloin and Brennan Grimley responded.

9:22 p.m. Officer Brennan Grimley responded to a motor vehicle accident on South Street and issued a complaint application to the operator. A tow truck removed the vehicle.

9:33 p.m. A caller reported roadway flooding on Grove Street. The DPW was notified.

July 22

7:09 a.m. Several callers reported a manhole cover that was completely open on South Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and reported he was able to replace the cover.

1:07 p.m. A caller reported several spots on the roadway of Cedar Street were washed out and causing a hazard. Officer Sean McKeon responded

Speeding vehicle rolls over in South Street accident

Avehicle speeding along South Street crashed into a tree and rolled onto its side early July 17, according to Hopkinton Police.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:37 a.m. According to information from the HPD, Officer Nicholas Saletnik was parked in the area of 80 South Street, checking vehicles with radar. When the car passed by at a “high rate of speed,” Saletnik pulled his cruiser onto the road and activated his emergency blue lights in order to initiate a traffic stop.

Saletnik lost sight of the vehicle as it went around a curve in the roadway, but as he continued he could see that the car had failed to navigate the turn and crashed on the side of the road in front of 86 South Street. It was determined that the driver lost control due to the speed and the wet roadway. When the driver overcorrected to keep from spinning out, the vehicle left the right side of the roadway, traveled into a ditch and struck a tree, ending up on its side.

Saletnik radioed dispatch to send the Fire Department and an ambulance to the scene. The driver was trapped inside the car and was extricated with Saletnik’s assistance and moved to safety. The driver was treated at the scene by Fire Department personnel.

Police Chief Joseph Bennett said the driver, Brianna Pimentel of Wellesley, was issued a citation for using an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle and speeding.

There were two other motor vehicle incidents of note two days later.

On July 19 at 7:08 a.m., a road rage incident on Main Street involving a motorcycle was reported by

police. The vehicle refused to stop. The pursuit of the motorcycle was terminated at the Ashland border, and the Ashland Police Department was notified. Bennett said the incident was under investigation.

Also on July 19, a two-car motor vehicle accident occurred on West Main Street. According to the police report, the female driver of one vehicle fled into the woods. The woman, whom Bennett identified as Tricia Spadone of Milford, was taken into custody. She was issued a citation for leaving the scene of property damage and operating a motor vehicle while suspended.

and contacted the DPW for cleanup.

1:17 p.m. An East Main Street resident reported her adult daughter was intoxicated and being belligerent, and she wanted her removed from the house. Officers Matthew LaTour, Shannon Beloin, Sean McKeon and Cody Normandin responded along with an ambulance. Officer McKeon spoke with all parties involved and took a report. A 44-yearold woman was transported to the station and placed into protective custody.

July 23

11:08 a.m. A caller reported unlawful boating on Lake Maspenock. The environmental police were notified of a white boat with a blue bottom and a canopy rolled up.

1:23 p.m. A caller reported an ongoing complaint of a vehicle without a placard in a handicap parking space on Main Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded and spoke with the owner, who subsequently moved the vehicle.

7:09 p.m. A Hoyt Way caller reported the cushions on her back porch were ripped and were bloodstained. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and reported it appeared to be the work of an animal and nothing suspicious.

8:26 p.m. A park ranger reported he let out multiple vehicles from the State Park on Cedar Street, and they took off speeding toward the center of town. Officer Cody Normandin located the vehicles and issued verbal warnings for speeding and improper turns.

8:46 p.m. A caller reported he was locked inside the State Park on Cedar Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and opened the gate.

July 24

9:27 a.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Wood Street. No personal injuries were reported.

3:33 p.m. The Holliston Police Department requested assistance after a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident in Holliston. Officer Cody Normandin responded and made contact with the driver on Chestnut Street and put him on the phone with the Holliston Police Department.

9:01 p.m. A caller reported the strong odor of gas on Main Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded along with the Fire Department.

9:08 p.m. A caller reported the strong odor of propane on Lorigan Road. Officer Cody Normandin responded along with the Fire Department.

A car sits on its side following an accident on South Street early in the morning of July 17.

PHOTO/HOPKINTON FIRE DEPARTMENT