On March 25 at 6 p.m., Hopkinton town officials will host an educational event at the Hopkinton Public Library’s large event room to help prepare residents for the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) on May 5. This event is designed to inform and engage residents about the ATM process, ensuring they are well-prepared to participate effectively.

HPL Reference and Technology Supervisor Danielle Cook will moderate a panel discussion between Town Manager Elaine Lazarus, Town Clerk Connor Degan, and Chief Financial Officer Kyla LaPierre.

This discussion will inform residents about the following:

• The structure and history of the ATM
• How it will run
• How to participate respectfully and effectively
• How to be more informed on the topics.

These town decisions are extremely important as they affect residents’ taxes, access to services, and general well-being.

This event will be part of a new civic education / civic literacy series that will replace Hop101. “We hope that smaller, bite-sized programs will help folks feel less intimidated. They can approach civics topics one at a time to get a deeper, more meaningful experience at each event,” said Cook. She stressed the importance of being educated before the ATM.

The rules and procedures governing town committees, boards, and project management can be complex and potentially overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the system. This complexity is evident in the interactions during Select Board (SB) meetings, where members often seek clarification from each other or the Town Manager about proper procedures and permissions.

Various committees and boards have specific responsibilities for different aspects of projects, as defined by rules and laws. This structure ensures that projects are handled systematically and comply with established procedures.

Hopkinton Public Library is About Education

Civic education, or education about government at all levels, is vital for residents of Hopkinton. However, “People can’t advocate for themselves or their communities if they don’t know how,” said Cook.

Future events in this approximately quarterly series might include topics like food security, mental health, disability visibility, or green space preservation. Keep an eye out for them. If there’s a topic you want to learn about, you can email Danielle Cook.

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodation for Residents

If a resident has a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, they can request an ADA Accommodation Form. The town clerk’s office works on a case-by-case basis with each accessibility request to find an accommodation that fits the requester’s needs with the spirit of ATMs.

Please Note:

• The ADA Accommodation Form must be submitted at least three days prior to the ATM
• One cannot vote from home without an ADA accommodation approved by the clerk’s office in advance of the meeting.

Hopkinton Electronic Voting System Used at ATM

HPL will host more events in the future that address topics such as food security, mental health, disability visibility, and green space preservation.