When it came time to vote on two major governmental policy changes, Hopkinton residents just said, “No.”

Citizen-petitioned articles to move from five to three members on the Board of Selectmen and changing to the town manager form of government failed, although the two were close races.

Hopkinton will continue its Monday evening board meetings with five selectmen rather than three, as Article 4 failed by a count of 664-404.

“I think the taxpayers have spoken that they like the fact that five members comprise the board rather than shifting to three,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman George Langwasser.

“It’s at a point now where we can actually plan for the ensuing year knowing how many members we will have to share the responsibilities, and to know the town will benefit from five varied opinions.”

Selectman Scott Flood said during a March 3 public hearing the biggest benefit of keeping the board at five members would be the difference of opinion between selectmen.

“There is no unanimity on our (current) board. There is often debate and that is a good thing,” said Flood. “The debate and discussion is healthy and really pure democracy.”

Langwasser said he is happy to be able to move on to the next steps following Election Day.

“The votes were cast, and it was a good turnout,” said Langwasser after about 25 percent of voters, 1,113 total, came to the polls. “The town has taken the time to signal to the selectmen how they want to town to be run, and that will now fall onto the selectmen to act upon.”

The tightest of the two procedural races was Article 3, which asked voters to switch to hiring a town manager instead of a town administrator position, which failed 556-480.

“They (residents) didn’t think the town manager was warranted,” said Langwasser. “Having a town administrator is the best way to resolve some of the problems that face the town, rather than have the responsibilities fall onto the shoulders of the town manager.”

The biggest difference between the two forms of government is that the town manager has a different type of authority, being able to manage several areas of the town, while being advised by selectmen. A town administrator works directly under the board members.

Switching to a town manager would have had a financial impact on the town, though the exact monetary difference between the two positions would have varied based on the market at the time of hire, according to Langwasser.