Select Board — February 18, 2025

**Hopkinton Select Board — February 18, 2025: What You Should Know Before March 20**

The Hopkinton Select Board met on February 18th, and several things from that meeting deserve public attention — especially with a high-stakes Town Meeting Business Session coming up on March 20.

**An unscheduled nonpublic session for personnel matters was not on the agenda.** The posted agenda listed one nonpublic session, for legal matters. But the board held a second, unannounced nonpublic session to discuss personnel. Residents who reviewed the agenda before deciding whether to attend had no way of knowing personnel matters would be discussed or decided that night. The board voted 4-0 to enter the session and 4-0 to seal the minutes, citing potential reputational harm to a non-board member. The legal basis for sealing may be sound — but the lack of prior public notice is a transparency failure, plain and simple.

**The proposed FY2026 budget means a significant tax bill increase.** Budget Committee Chair Mr. Traum reported that the committee unanimously backed all financial items: a 2.54% increase for the Town, a 7.99% increase for the School District, and a 5.98% overall combined increase. That school district number is the driver to watch. All Hopkinton property owners will see the impact. Voters will approve or reject these figures at the March 20 Business Session — if you're not in the room, you don't have a say.

**Article 6 — the SB2 proposal — is a major governance decision.** This article would shift Hopkinton from traditional deliberative town meeting to an Official Ballot Referendum format, changing how residents participate in municipal decisions for years to come. It requires a 3/5 supermajority of those present at the Business Session to pass. Multiple residents testified at the February 18 public hearing, signaling real community interest on both sides. Board member Mr. Cass noted that hybrid models (like Peterborough's) exist as a middle-ground option. This deserves an informed, well-attended vote.

**Finally — and this matters for accountability — the officially published minutes from the February 18 meeting are incomplete.** The entire SB2 public hearing, including all resident testimony, is absent. So are the budget committee update and the Webster lagoon bond discussion. These are substantive, high-significance items. Residents who rely on official minutes to stay informed are being shortchanged. If you want the full picture, you need to review the meeting transcript directly.