Select Board — June 30, 2025
Hopkinton Select Board voted on a utility rate change affecting enrolled households' monthly bills — and it wasn't on the public agenda.
The meeting was largely procedural and cooperative, but was elevated by a significant off-agenda item (Community Power rate increases with direct financial impact on residents), an acknowledged communication failure that may erode public trust in the program, and one split vote on a property tax abatement denial.
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⚠️ Hopkinton Select Board — June 30, 2025: A Financial Decision That Wasn't on the Agenda
At Monday's Select Board meeting, the most consequential discussion of the evening wasn't listed on the public agenda at all. Representatives from Community Power NH (CPCNH) informed the board that program rates will increase by 2 cents per kilowatt hour effective August 1, 2025 — putting them approximately $13/month above Eversource's default rate for the average enrolled customer. The board voted unanimously to push out notifications via the town website, social media, and email lists. That's the right call. But here's the problem: the entire discussion and vote happened without prior public notice. Residents enrolled in Community Power — including many who were automatically switched into the program — had no opportunity to show up, ask questions, or comment.
Board member Jeffrey Donohoe put it plainly: he was concerned that program participants may feel the program was "misrepresented" to them. If you're currently enrolled in Community Power and want to switch back to Eversource, be aware that the process takes approximately one month — meaning you should act soon if you want to avoid the August 1 rate increase.
On the abatement front, the board took up at least three specific property tax cases. The Sorrell abatement was approved unanimously based on an independent appraisal showing the assessed value was too high. The Morgan application (Map-Lot 240-12-2) was denied 4-1, with Alyssa McKeon as the sole dissenter. The denial was based on incomplete information — a situation made more complicated by a missing USPAP report from the previous assessor, raising legitimate questions about whether a process failure outside the applicant's control affected their case. The Sandy Beach request was tabled pending additional information about campsite valuation.
One more note: the official minutes published for this meeting end abruptly mid-section with the notation 'NEW BUSIN' — leaving the abatement votes, action items, and adjournment undocumented. The town should correct and complete those minutes so the full public record is available to residents.
Public impact
2 cents per kWh increase effective August 1, 2025, averaging approximately $13/month per enrolled customer above Eversource default rates
Topics discussed
Ken Traum and Stephen Eckberg presented information about CPCNH rate increases effective August 1, 2025, which will be 2 cents higher per kilowatt hour than Eversource default rates, representing an average monthly increase of $13 per customer. The board discussed methods to notify residents about the rate change and their option to switch back to Eversource.
The board reviewed property tax abatement requests but faced delays due to missing USPAP report from previous assessor. They discussed sending correspondence letters to pending applicants explaining procedural denials under state law while noting final decisions would be made by July 31st.
The board reviewed three specific abatement requests: Morgan (Map-Lot 240-12-2), Sorrell, and Sandy Beach. They approved the Sorrell abatement, denied the Morgan application, and tabled the Sandy Beach request pending additional information.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Community Power Rate Increase Above Eversource Default
Morgan Property Tax Abatement Denial
Off-Agenda Community Power Rate Discussion and Decision
Split votes
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Accountability flags
Agenda items not discussed
Topics discussed — not on agenda
Transcript vs. official minutes
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