2020 Town Meeting

RESULTS - Town Meeting Drive Through Voting 7/25/2020 - Town Meeting is now concluded.

BALLOT - Town Meeting Drive-through Voting 7/25/2020

Video of Friday Virtual Session 7/24/2020

Video of Select Board Meeting 7/23/2020 - Review of comments/amendments and finalization of ballot

Comments, Questions, Amendments received during comment period

VIDEO OF FIRST VIRTUAL SESSION 7/20/2020

PowerPoint Presentation - First Session Virtual Town Meeting

New Law Changes Virtual Town Meeting Amendment Process - Please click here for important information.  Also please note the additional Thursday, July 23, 2020 Select Board Meeting below.

HOPKINTON TOWN MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

 First virtual meeting – Monday, July 20, 2020, 6:00 p.m.:  Introduction and explanation of Warrant Articles and public comment.  The meeting will be recorded and posted online.

• Voters can watch the presentation over the internet or listen by telephone.  During public comment, comments and questions will be taken. Commenters must identify themselves by name and address.  Again, just like the regular meeting, the Moderator will ask that comments be kept brief (regular 3-minute maximum will apply).
• To access this meeting:
  • ZOOM MEETING:  https://bit.ly/HopkintonTownMeeting-ZOOM
  • YOUTUBE LIVE: https://bit.ly/HopkintonTownMeeting-Youtube   (Can watch here but not participate)
  • TELPHONE:  Dial:  1-312-626-6799 and then enter Meeting ID:  867 8931 4545
  • If there are access issues during the meeting call 603-746-8242

Public comment and suggested article amendments – Tuesday-Thursday, July 21-23, 2020:  After the first session is recessed, questions, comments, and motions will be accepted by the Moderator until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2020.  Just like a regular in-person meeting, all questions, comments, and motions on the articles and the Rules and Procedures must start with the voter identifying his/her name and street address.  All comments will be included in the minutes of the meeting.  The Moderator will not consider any comments deemed inappropriate or offensive, or which do not properly identify the voter.

• To submit comments to the Moderator:
  • Email:     moderator@hopkinton-nh.gov 
  • Voice mail:     (603) 746-8256

Select Board virtual meeting - Thursday, July 23, 2020, 6:00 p.m.:  To review amendments and determine final article to be on the ballot.  AGENDA

• To access this meeting:
  • ZOOM MEETING:  https://bit.ly/HopkintonTownMeeting-ZOOM
  • YOUTUBE LIVE: https://bit.ly/HopkintonTownMeeting-Youtube (Can watch here but not participate)
  • TELPHONE:  Dial:  1-312-626-6799 and then enter Meeting ID:  867 8931 4545
  • If there are access issues during the meeting call 603-746-8242

Second virtual meeting – Friday, July 24, 2020, 6:00 p.m.:  Discussion on article amendments and public comment.

• The Moderator will present a summary of comments and questions received.  The Select Board will respond to comments and questions as deemed appropriate by the Moderator.  The Moderator will present any Motions to Amend at this time.
• Voters can watch the presentation over the internet or listen by telephone.  Commenters must identify themselves by name and address.  Again, just like the regular meeting, the Moderator will ask that comments be kept brief (regular 3-minute time limit will apply).
• To access this meeting:
  • ZOOM MEETING:  https://bit.ly/HopkintonTownMeeting-ZOOM
  • YOUTUBE LIVE: https://bit.ly/HopkintonTownMeeting-Youtube (Can watch here but not participate)
  • TELPHONE:  Dial:  1-312-626-6799 and then enter Meeting ID:  867 8931 4545
  • If there are access issues during the meeting call 603-746-8242

 Drive-through voting – Saturday, July 25, 2020, 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.:  Hopkinton Middle High School, 297 Park Avenue, Contoocook

• Voters should enter from Park Avenue and proceed to the back of the school.  All voting will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Any voter in line by 2:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• This is the Business Session of the 2020 Hopkinton Town Meeting and as such, same day voter registration and absentee ballots are not permitted by law. All votes must be made in person.

 Town residents who are not already registered to vote may register to vote for the July 25 Town Meeting voting with the Town Clerk at the Town Hall (330 Main St., Hopkinton), Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. – noon.  The deadline for registering is 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

INFORMATION POSTED FOR THE JULY TOWN MEETING

GENERAL MEETING INFORMATION

• Information on the new law changing virtual Town Meeting amendment process
  • Moderator Bruce Ellsworth's letter on the changes
  • HB 1129 Complete Text
  • Town-wide mailing on new law and the procedure change
• Letter from the Hopkinton Town Moderator, Bruce Ellsworth
• Hopkinton Town Meeting COVID-19 Compatible Procedures
• 2020 Original Posted Warrant with Select Board Proposed Changes Attached
• Meeting & Voting FAQs
• Town Meeting Mailing 7/11/2020 - Details of the process, dates, and links

BUDGET INFORMATION

• Proposed Budget Summary - Updated 7/6/2020
• Estimated Tax Rate Summary - Updated 7/6/2020
• 2020 Select Board Proposed Budget - Line by Line - Updated 7/6/2020

WARRANT ARTICLE INFORMATION

• SB2 Technical Assistance from NHDRA
• SB2 Information including lists of towns/schools using it
• TIF District Proposed Changes

ORIGINAL INFORMATION POSTED FOR THE MARCH TOWN MEETING

Call to the Meeting:

To the inhabitants of the Town of Hopkinton in the county of Merrimack in the state of New Hampshire qualified to vote in town affairs are hereby notified and warned that the Annual Town Meeting will be held as follows: 

Official Ballot Voting Day:

You are hereby notified to meet at the Hopkinton Middle/High School Gymnasium, 297 Park Avenue, Contoocook, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, beginning at 7:00 a.m. to act on Articles requiring ballot vote, the election of officers and zoning amendments.
The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Business Session:

You are hereby notified to meet at the Hopkinton Middle/High School Gymnasium, 297 Park Avenue, Contoocook, on Saturday, March 21, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. to act upon the remaining articles.

This Business Session will be live streamed.  The link will be published soon.

• 2019 Annual Town Report
• 2019 Annual School Report
• 2020 Town Meeting Warrant

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Ballot Voting:

• Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Information
• Sample Ballot - TOWN
• Sample Ballot - SCHOOL
• Those Who Have Filed for Office
• Complete Text of Proposed Zoning Amendments
• A Brief Explanation of Proposed Zoning Amendments
• Candidates Forum Flyer

Saturday, March 21, 2020 9:00 a.m.

• 2020 Proposed Budget Summary
• 2020 Budget Form MS-737
• 2020 Select Board Proposed Budget - Line by Line
• 20 Year Capital Expenditure Plan
• Budget Hearing Handout - 2/12/2020
• Budget Hearing Presentation - 2/12/2020
• SB2 Technical Assistance from NHDRA
• SB2 Information including list of towns/schools using it
• TIF District Proposed Changes

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Town Meeting State Statutues  (RSA 40)
• 16 Things Every Citizen Should Know About Town Meeting
• Town Meeting Election Calendar
• "Cookies with Cass" Presentation -Primer for 2020 Town Meeting

Contacts for questions prior to Town and School Meeting

Voter Information: 

• Town Clerk Page
• Carol Harless, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - (603) 746-3180 - clerkcollector@hopkinton-nh.gov 

Town Budget/Warrant Articles: 

• Town Meeting Website  
• Neal Cass, Town Administrator - (603) 746-8242 - townadmin@hopkinton-nh.gov

School Budget/Warrant Articles: 

• School District Website Opens in New Window
• Steve Chamberlin, Superintendent of Schools - (603) 746-5186 - schamberlin@hopkintonschools.org