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Select Board — June 10, 2024

Extensive public input on pay-by-bag combined with a split vote and off-agenda discussion of a new oversight committee created measurable tension.

Date Monday, June 10, 2024 Public comments 30 Decisions 7 Spirited
📄 Agenda 📄 Minutes

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Transfer Station fee schedule and refuse ordinance changes

New tipping fees and related rules requiring joint approval with Webster Affected: All transfer station users and haulers in Hopkinton and Webster
fee change
02

Green bag program enforcement pause

Temporary halt on enforcement pending Town Meeting vote Affected: Residents using the pay-by-bag waste disposal system
service reduction

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approved Consent Agenda of June 10, 2024
Approved yield tax, intent to cut, DRA forms, and certificate of appreciation
5-0
00:00
Approved Select Board Public Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2024
5-0
00:00
Approved three sets of Nonpublic Session Minutes of May 28, 2024 (sealed)
5-0
00:00
Motion to leave hauler exemption in place and halt green bag enforcement pending Town Meeting vote
Dunlap, Traum, Lipoma in favor; Donohoe, Whitley opposed
3-2
00:00
Authorized Neal Cass to execute CPCNH Cost Sharing Agreement and Member Services Contract; approved related policies
4-0
00:00
Approved entering $30,000 stormwater asset management grant agreement with NH DES
4-0
00:00
Entered nonpublic session for hiring discussion
Roll call; returned at 8:45 p.m., minutes not sealed
4-0
00:00

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
00:00 Call to Order and Administrative Items

Chair Dunlap opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m.; board approved consent agenda (including yield tax, intent to cut, DRA forms, and certificate of appreciation) 5-0 and approved multiple sets of May 28 meeting minutes 5-0.

Speakers: Sabrina Dunlap, Ken Traum, Neal Cass
00:00 Public Hearing – Refuse Disposal Ordinance and Transfer Station Fee Schedule

Hearing held on proposed tipping fees and related changes; public comments received on fees, illegal dumping, recycling, and implementation; board noted next steps require joint approval with Webster Select Board.

Speakers: Sabrina Dunlap, Thomas Lipoma, Kirk Morrill
00:00 Public Input Session – Pay-by-Bag Program

Extensive public input on continuing or discontinuing the green bag program; board discussed enforcement options and passed 3-2 motion to halt enforcement pending Town Meeting vote.

Speakers: Sabrina Dunlap, Thomas Lipoma, Ken Traum
00:00 Community Power Agreement

Board authorized Town Administrator to execute CPCNH Cost Sharing Agreement and related contracts; approved associated policies 4-0.

Speakers: Dave Hemenway, Jeff Donohoe
00:00 Storm Water Asset Management Grant

Board approved entering $30,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund grant agreement with NH DES for stormwater asset management 4-0.

Speakers: Neal Cass, Ken Traum
00:00 New Business and Nonpublic Session

Discussion on forming a Transfer Station oversight committee (staff to propose); board entered and exited nonpublic session on hiring (RSA 91-A:3 II(b)) and adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Speakers: Thomas Lipoma, Sabrina Dunlap

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Pay-by-Bag / green bag enforcement

Extensive public turnout over continuing vs. discontinuing the program, with residents voicing concerns about enforcement, illegal dumping, recycling incentives, and fairness; board cannot unilaterally end it without Town Meeting vote.
Board position: Halt enforcement pending Town Meeting while leaving hauler exemption in place
Internal dissent
Donohoe and Whitley opposed the 3-2 motion; Dunlap, Traum, and Lipoma supported
high concern
02

Transfer Station tipping fees and refuse ordinance

Public comments on fee amounts, taxes, illegal dumping, and impacts; requires joint approval with Webster Select Board, raising inter-town coordination concerns.
Board position: Proceed with hearing and coordinate with Webster on final ordinance and fees
medium concern

Split votes

Motion to leave hauler exemption in place and halt green bag enforcement pending Town Meeting vote
3-2

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Execute CPCNH Cost Sharing Agreement and Member Services Contract on behalf of the Town
Assigned: Neal Cass
Execute documents for Clean Water State Revolving Fund stormwater grant
Assigned: Neal Cass
Prepare proposal for new committee to oversee Transfer Station operations and enforcement
Assigned: Transfer Station staff
Discuss and finalize refuse ordinance with Webster Select Board at their next meeting
Assigned: Select Board · Due: 2024-06-17

Notable ⁠statements

Board cannot rescind green bag program; must go to Town Meeting vote; options are continue as is or double down on enforcement while preventing non-resident use — Sabrina Dunlap · During Pay-by-Bag input session 00:00
Encourage people to recycle; motion to halt green bag enforcement pending Town Meeting — Thomas Lipoma · Clarification on motion 00:00

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
30
Total speakers
1
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Kirk Morrill
Addressed
Asked for clarification on the proposed tipping fee amount during the refuse disposal ordinance hearing. Participated in discussion about Transfer Station fees, taxes, and related operational topics. Key concern
Clarification on tipping fees and Transfer Station fee schedule impacts
Board response
Board members provided synopsis of prior discussions and noted that fees must be agreed upon with Webster Select Board; extensive research on fee figures was explained
Direct discussion occurred and board explained process and data sources before closing the hearing

Accountability ⁠flags

Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.

Agenda items not discussed

Topics discussed — not on agenda

Transcript vs. official minutes

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Report composed by grok-4.3, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-27.