BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Changes could be in store for Town Meeting in Hopkinton if a group of citizens has its way.

Fifty-nine Hopkinton residents recently signed and submitted a petition warrant article requesting the town to accept an SB2 form of government.

Under SB2, or official ballot law, the town would still hold a deliberative session to review and potentially amend warrant articles.

Residents would then vote on the articles, via official ballot, on Election Day.

Though many towns in the region have accepted SB2 over the last decade, several are sticking to their roots.

Last year, Dunbarton overwhelmingly opposed transitioning to SB2.

Donald Gleason, who saw the assessed value on his 720-square-foot home jump from $114,600 assessed value to $210,700 last year, wants to have more of a say, but he wants to do it without the scrutiny of others.

“I feel that a lot of people, if they have an idea at a Town Meeting, if the public sentiment seems to be going one way, they don’t want to stand up and say their piece because of public sentiment,” said Gleason. “If you look around in a meeting, especially if your own neighborhood is strong on one thing, you hate to stand up and say ‘no,’  but if you go into a booth, you can say whatever you want and vote on whatever you want.

“I’m not saying this is the way that it is, but some people think that if the police department is looking for a new police cruiser, you’re definitely hesitant to stand up and speak in opposition. Or if the public works department is looking for a new truck, some people feel that they won’t get their street or driveway plowed for weeks.”

Selectmen have a different view.

“I don’t think SB2 should be considered as an alternative for Hopkinton,” said Selectman Don Lane. “The stance of the selectmen is we don’t support it, but it is a ballot initiative, so people are going to be able to vote on it.”
Lane pointed out a lot of towns, even those larger than Hopkinton, have a difficult time drawing decent turnouts to their deliberative session.

“If the attempt is to involve the citizens, it’s worth it. But the problem is that it just doesn’t seem to work,” he said.

Moreover, Lane noted that those who attend the deliberative sessions often have an agenda and, with little opposition, can often change the intent of an article.

“SB2 has a history of being a negative influence on the town,” said Lane. “You work to keep the town moving and going all the time and then you adopt SB2 and you lose a lot of what you’ve worked toward.”

Some residents, like Diane LaChance, don’t have an opinion yet, but are in favor of allowing the SB2 form of government to be presented and considered on the floor at Town and School District Meetings.

“I support the idea being discussed,” said LaChance, who signed the petition warrant article. “I haven’t made a decision yet, but I’m hoping my mind will be made up by or at the meetings.”