Hopkinton Select Board Meeting Scheduled for Sept. 24, 2019

Edwin E Harrow
8 Spring Lane
Hopkinton, MA 01748


26 September 2019

Hopkinton Select Board, Brendan Tedstone, Chair
Hopkinton Town Hall
18 Main St
Hopkinton, MA 01748

Subject: Select Board meeting of 24 September


Dear Board Members,

Thank you for your concerted effort, and Norman’s deft management, to grant the citizens of Hopkinton a forum to discuss our concerns re the Main St project. I find it amusing that the historical commission finds it necessary to hold a public meeting, complete with registered letters to abutters, to learn of possible citizen concerns regarding the placing of a statue on the lawn in front of #2 Hayden Rowe, but that the Select Board never felt the same need with respect to a project that, even more clearly, will affect the residents and businesses on Main Street. A private developer is typically required to send notices to abutters when their project is being discussed at a Town Board. Why the Select Board felt that such a notice need not be sent to abutters to this project will forever remain a mystery to me. In not just my opinion, this is the root of the feelings of lack of transparency that was mentioned several times Tuesday night, about the management of this project.

It was nice to see the Board energized with respect to, finally, listening to the concerns of several business owners along Main St. How the Board could, seemingly, overlook the very reasonable issues, such as access, parking, etc, during the duration of the project is beyond my ken, but the owners’ points seemed well taken by the board, and some enthusiastic discussion ensued. I believe the owner’s concerns were somewhat abated but that they are still uneasy about the consequences of this project to their business; consequences that may well extend beyond the completion date of this project.

The simple property owners at last were able to present issues pertaining to their property. At least the members of the Board appeared to listen to the residents’ concerns, but, generally, made it clear that one’s ‘front yard’ ain’t necessarily all it’s cracked up to be; I think the message from the Board can be summed up with “Just suck it up.” Hopefully some reasonable accommodation can be made for Ms Auger’s situation. Frankly, I’ve not noticed a significant number of cars making a left from W Main St. to Wood St. Most people know, whether by experience or electronic guidance, that taking the left at the lights at Lumber St to Elm St is a better way to go. I can’t believe that a left-turn lane on W Main St for Wood St will have much effect on the quantity of cars driving on Elm St. This is part of the reason for my question, that was not answered by anyone on the Select Board, as to whether there was an updated Traffic Study, as the last one is based upon data from 2007 – 2011. That’s 8 to 12 years ago, and, based upon the comments directed at me the week before by William Desantis of VHB, that Traffic Study data must be suspect.

In closing, I noted that members of the Board appeared far more interested in the welfare of business owners in town, than that of young kids zipping down the 6.75 % grade, with multiple curb cuts, on the supposedly safe bike lane. A bike lane which will be unlike any in Massachusetts, or the Nation as far as I know, with respect to both grade and number of curb cuts, as after the several inquiries I made when this two-way bike lane plan was announced, no examples of anything similar have been shown to me. The only comment made from the Select Board was that I should “Hurry up.”

Sincerely,



Edwin E Harrow


Cc: The Hopkinton Independent
MWDN
HopNews

Thank you and my Mum!

I've been interviewed today by another news organization. Results unknown at this point, of course.