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Transfer Station policy work session process and upcoming opportunity for public input

Hopkinton Select Board (4/8/24): Transfer Station commercial waste policy under review. A work session is planned with no public input — residents can speak at the next regular meeting after. If this policy affects you, the April 29 meeting matters.

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Board did not respond to a safety concern raised in public forum

At the 4/8/24 Hopkinton Select Board meeting, resident David White raised bicycle safety concerns at Riverway Park, especially for children. No board response was recorded — no acknowledgment, no follow-up assigned.

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Board clarified authority over park planning in response to resident proposal

Hopkinton Select Board 4/8/24: Resident Byron Carr proposed a community group to plan Riverway Park's future. Town Administrator clarified all park decisions require Select Board approval. Residents can present ideas, but approval isn't guaranteed.

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Key decisions and upcoming work session

Hopkinton Select Board 4/8/24: Sabrina Dunlap elected Chair, Ken Traum Vice Chair. Board approved committee assignments 5-0 and a DES grant amendment for the Dustin Land Project. Transfer Station policy work session coming before April 29.

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🧵 What happened at Hopkinton's Select Board meeting on 4/8/24 that residents should know about. A thread. [1/6]

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1/ TRANSFER STATION POLICY: The board debated whether to keep accepting commercial waste and discussed green bag exemptions. No decision yet, but a work session with DPW staff is being scheduled. The work session won't include public input, but the board will welcome public comment at the next regular meeting. [2/6]

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2/ Town Administrator Cass stated on record that past Transfer Station decisions 'were not tied to a business, but were based on what the Board thought was best for the town at the time.' Board members had varying opinions on whether to continue accepting commercial waste. [3/6]

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3/ RIVERWAY PARK: Resident Byron Carr proposed forming a community group to plan for the park. The Town Administrator clarified that all parks are Town property under Select Board authority and all plans require board approval. The board asked Cass to provide info on previous park-related approvals. [4/6]

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4/ PUBLIC COMMENTS: Resident David White raised bicycle safety concerns at Riverway Park, especially for children — no board response was recorded. Resident Elizabeth Sides asked about soccer camp scheduling conflicts — also no recorded response. [5/6]

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5/ OTHER ACTIONS: Dunlap elected Chair, Traum Vice Chair. Committee assignments approved 5-0. DES grant amendment for Dustin Land Project approved 5-0 ($25,000 grant extension). Human Services Coordinator job description revised. Meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m. Next key date: April 29. [6/6]

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Longer-form draft.

**Hopkinton Select Board – April 8, 2024: Meeting Recap**

The Hopkinton Select Board met on April 8 for a mostly routine meeting that included leadership elections, committee assignments, and several policy discussions residents should be aware of.

**Leadership and Committee Assignments.** Sabrina Dunlap was elected Chair and Ken Traum Vice Chair. The board approved 2024 committee assignments unanimously, assigning members to the Budget Committee, Planning Board, Economic Development Committee, and others.

**Transfer Station Policy Discussion.** The board discussed whether to continue accepting commercial waste at the Transfer Station and discussed green bag exemptions. Board members had varying opinions. Town Administrator Cass clarified on the record that past Transfer Station decisions "were not tied to a business, but were based on what the Board thought was best for the town at the time." No decision was made. A work session with DPW staff has been directed before the April 29 meeting. The board noted the work session would not include public input, but public comment would be welcomed at the next regular meeting after the work session.

**Riverway Park.** Resident Byron Carr proposed forming a community group to create a plan for Riverway Park. Town Administrator Cass clarified that all parks are Town property under the Select Board and Town Administrator's authority, and all park plans require Select Board approval. The board noted that anyone can present park plans but approval is not guaranteed. Cass was asked to provide information on previous Select Board approvals related to the park.

**Public Comments Without Recorded Responses.** Resident David White raised concerns about cyclist safety at Riverway Park, especially for children, and volunteered for the Highway Safety Committee. Resident Elizabeth Sides asked about scheduling conflicts between two soccer camps. Neither received a recorded response from the board during the meeting.

**Other Actions.** The board approved a DES grant amendment for the Dustin Land Project (5-0), extending the completion date for a $25,000 grant. A revised Human Services Coordinator job description was approved 4-0. The Town Administrator was authorized to contact board and committee members about reappointment intentions.

The Transfer Station work session is expected before the April 29 Select Board meeting. If transfer station policy affects you, that meeting is the next opportunity for public input.