By MATT SCHOOLEY

 

With elections rapidly approaching, Hopkinton voters won’t see two familiar names on the ballot, as Selectmen Don Lane and Peter Russell have not filed to run for another term.

Russell, a member since 2000, and Lane, since 2002, decided it was time to find other activities to fill their time after serving the town for several years.

Lane, one of the main supporters of the newly opened Slusser Senior Center, said there is a possibility he may run for a selectman seat in the future, but not this year.

“This past year was a very difficult one because of the amount of animosity relative to the building of the Slusser Center,” he said. “I think my family put up with more than enough nonsense. I decided to take a year off and see how things happen, and see if I can find something to keep myself busy.”

After seven years with the board, Russell decided it’s simply time to move on.

“It’s time. It just is. I don’t think anybody ought to sit in those seats for an extended period of time,” he said. “Life is too short to worry about things that might or might not go on. It’s not a big deal, and I have other things that I will choose to do, and energy to place elsewhere.”

Russell said the things he reflects most fondly on are evident as he travels through town.

“Every time I drive down to the stop sign on Maple Street, see the train depot and park and the sidewalk, I’m very proud of the fact that we worked real hard to accomplish that. I see that every day,” he said. “We have people who come to town and think it’s been there forever. They have no idea what went into it.”

Lane, who is also proud of the work he’s done on Houston Fields, said he has mixed memories looking back on the work that went into the Slusser Center.

“The Slusser Center was both rewarding and difficult. It was a difficult period made so by people against it for reasons I can’t define,” said Lane. “The completion and its contributions to the social fabric of the town is evident every day, so that was a great satisfaction.”

Lane said he hopes to find some alternative activities to fill the time that he previously poured into the town.

“I don’t golf and I’m not terribly handy, so I have to find something to do with my life. I’ll find something. I want to also see how things play out with the government, and whether there’s any reason for me to run again later,” he said.

But, Russell has no plans on returning.

“I have gardening interests and golf interests, and energy I want to devote to myself and my family, and not necessarily to anyone else,” he said. “I want to be selfish with my time. That’s just the way I feel. I’ve done my thing, I’ve been involved in the community since 1970.”

After officially leaving his final board meeting, Russell knows what he will feel.

“I’m going to be one happy guy. I won’t look back and wonder if I should have done something,” he said. “I never had any obstacles. Other people may have thought I did, but I could always go home, put my head on my pillow and go to sleep.”

Upon leaving, Russell also said he doesn’t plan on following town government too closely.

“With the exception of the Slusser Center, I don’t think the board accomplished anything (during my time),” he said. “I won’t really look at (what’s going on). You will never find me criticizing what the board does, unless they try to move the town backwards. If they try to move the town forward, I’ll be happy.”