2024 is shaping up to be a transformative year in Hopkinton. From politics to policing, here are the key events we’re tracking.
A New Town Manager
Expect to see several new faces around Town Hall as the Select Board looks to fill key vacancies, none bigger than the Town Manager position. Current Town Manager Norman Khumalo announced his exit last December, and while no formal end date has been set, sources at Town Hall speculate that he will likely help the Select Board through the FY 2025 budgeting process and finalize the Warrant for Town Meeting before departing. Khumalo has served as Hopkinton’s Town Manager since 2009.
Also still vacant are the Chief Financial Officer, Town Accountant and Director of Human Resources roles. With those positions reporting up to the Town Manager, it’s possible the Select Board will wait to fill them until the new Town Manager is seated, thereby allowing them to choose their own direct reports.
Khumalo has several critical infrastructure projects underway. The completion of the PFAS filtration system at Fruit Street’s Well 6 hit a snag when components of the system had to be sent back to the manufacturer for a fresh coat of paint; apparently the original paint was not designed to withstand a New England winter. Residents should expect this project to be completed by mid-April.
Khumalo is also in the process of negotiating a Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) with Southborough to allow Hopkinton to connect to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). This would enable Hopkinton to retire its wells and draw water from the Quabbin reservoir instead. The business terms of the IMA are expected to be agreed upon by February, and while the engineering work is approximately 30% complete, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is threatening the plan by refusing to allow Hopkinton to install a booster pump station on their property on Cedar Street.
Finally, and most acutely for many residents, is the incomplete Main Street project, which is held up by Eversource’ inability to provide underground transformers. There is still no word on when the equipment will be available.
Another Vote for Schools
Last May, Hopkinton voters generously approved a $158 million measure for a new Elmwood Elementary school to be built on Hayden Rowe Street, and construction is expected to begin in 2024. Expect the School Committee to return to voters at Town Meeting in May to request an estimated $40 million to build an addition at the Hopkins School. School administrators project they will need 6 more classrooms to support 120 additional students at the school. The national average class size in the US as of 2022 is 24 students, and in Massachusetts it’s 19, but Hopkins is currently at 26 in fifth grade.
Key Elections
The May elections will be interesting, as there are two Select Board seats and two School Committee seats up for voter consideration. The positions occupied by Select Board Chair Muriel Kramer and Irfan Nasrullah are expiring, and neither Kramer nor Nasrullah have publicly indicated if they will run again. Additionally, the School Committee vacancy that was recently filled by Lori Nickerson expires in May, and while Nickerson would not commit to re-running, her competitor Jamie Wronka pointedly stated that she would be. Current committee member Amanda Fargiano previously announced that she would not seek reelection.
This election cycle is sure to be unique as Town Meeting voters approved Article 2 in May, which eliminated political party caucusing. For the first time in living memory, Hopkinton voters will not see a “D” or an “R” next to a candidate’s name on the ballot.
Crime and Punishment
The jury trial of Petros “Peter” Sismanis is scheduled for March. Sismanis is the owner of Hillers Pizza, and stands accused of one count of Indecent Assault of a Minor and two counts of Witness Intimidation. The charges stem from an alleged incident that took place on January 12, 2023 with an underage female employee.
The trial of Hopkinton’s former Deputy Chief of Police John “Jay” Porter is scheduled for September. Porter was granted a delay to accommodate the wedding of his daughter, scheduled for this summer. Porter has been charged with three counts of child rape stemming from his time as Hopkinton’s School Resource Officer.
Related to the Porter matter is an administrative hearing for suspended Hopkinton police Sergeant Timothy Brennan, who was placed on leave last May for a departmental policy violation. Brennan is expected to appear before the Select Board sometime in January. There is no word if the meeting will be held publicly or behind closed doors.
Sports
April 15, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon starting in Hopkinton. It was 1924 when the distance was standardized for all future marathons, at 42 kilometers, or 26 miles, 385 yards (26.2 miles), and the start line was moved from Ashland to Hopkinton. We expect the Marathon Committee, the 26.2 Foundation, and the B.A.A. to collaborate on a celebratory display on the Common.
Business
Finally, remodeling is underway for a new restaurant opening on Main Street. Dominos Pizza will open its doors at 70 Main Street sometime in January, a move that has drawn the ire of many commenters on social media, who questioned the need for a fourth pizza shop in Hopkinton. No word on if The Noid will be available for the grand opening.
