Hopkinton News : local government

Sidewalk planned for safety at Hopkinton's Harold Martin Elementary School

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:41:00 GMT

Walking to school will soon be a safer option for children attending Hopkinton’s Harold Martin Elementary School.

The school has been awarded a $31,000 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation that the Hopkinton School District will be able to put toward improvements for student safety.

School officials worked with community members to apply for the “Safe Routes to School” grant before finding out in December they had been awarded the money.

Although much of the grant includes lessons and studies on safety, the biggest aspect of it includes a sidewalk that will be built from Main Street to Harold Martin School.

“The driveway in and out of Harold Martin has long been a safety concern. Last year, we began looking at ways to correct that, but we pulled it out of the budget because it wasn’t necessarily supported by the community,” said Hopkinton Superintendent of Schools Brian Blake.

Blake also said the sidewalk will be help after school hours as well.

“When we have large activities at night and cars are on Main Street, pedestrians will have a safe way to walk into the school,” he said. “Having a safe way in and out will encourage parents to walk or ride bikes to school with their children.”

In addition to building the blacktop sidewalk, the grant will also fund bicycle safety courses at all three schools in town. Also, the school will be able to do safe route studies at each level as well.

“The studies involve analysis of travel patterns and safety concerns,” said Blake. “By doing the things involved in this phase of the grant, we’ll have the opportunity to apply for additional grant money based on the studies we’ll be doing.”

Selectman Don Lane said he is in full support of the grant and the projects involved.

“I think it’s a no-brainer. I don’t see any opposition. It’ll help, especially with those kids walking to school, and there are certainly some,” he said. “They’ll be able to do it more safely, and maybe the parents can drop them off at the end of the road so the kids can get out and walk.”

Lane also said there are more benefits than just safety.

“Anything you can do to get the kids up and walking makes sense,” he said.

Paper’s test gets strong reaction – Hopkinton pleased with outcome

Bow Editor — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:26:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Officials in Hopkinton are pleased with the outcome of an investigation Neighborhood News recently conducted of how open town governments are.

While some towns in the area were reluctant to give up information, Hopkinton complied with requests for town, police and school information.

SAU 66, which covers Hopkinton schools, was one of the districts subjected to our test.

Superintendent Brian Blake, who was present during the reporter’s request, said he was uncertain exactly what information was being requested.

The request was for a list of the district’s salaries and the most recent School District Meeting minutes. Although Blake said it was no problem getting the documents, he did note that it was not a common request.

“I was thinking (she was) from another town that was in the process of building schools, or separating from an SAU,” said Blake, who added that the reporter seemed guarded while asking for the materials. “I’d like to think we run a transparent operation. If people want the information, and it is legal and ethical that I give it to them, then I don’t have a problem giving it to them.”

The Hopkinton Police Department doesn’t often get requests in the area of the Right to Know Law. Ironically, the last request the department received came on a day several years ago – the last time Neighborhood News requested for public records.

From that day forward, Police Chief David Wheeler instituted a policy to have the log available on a clipboard in the office for anyone interested in seeing it.

Although there was a slight delay by the secretary who was asked for the information, our reporter was given the police log upon request.

“We update it every day, but no one ever looks at it. When she came in and asked for the log, our secretary called me right away because it hasn’t happened since she was in there. I told her to just give it to her, no questions asked,” said Wheeler.

In addition to the clipboard, at the end of every month the logs are posted online for the previous month’s arrests.

Wheeler said his department takes pride in its knowledge of the law.

“Our objective is to always be fully compliant. That’s our mission for everything. It isn’t an issue of how important it is to be able to get the information; it’s an issue of it being the law. We are always going to be compliant and make it simple for anyone to get the information they are looking for.”

Finally, the Hopkinton Town Hall passed our test as well, and without even a hint of trouble.

Interim Town Administrator Bob Veloski was not sure exactly where the records were located, which led to a slight delay, but every step of the way he apologized to the reporter for taking longer than anticipated.

“It’s public information, under RSA 91-A (the Right to Know Law),” Veloski said. “I’m not even supposed to ask you why you want it. That’s what the law says to do, and that’s what we do.”

Finance officer Bob Blanchette was able to help Veloski find the information, and he said it could have been anyone coming in, and he’d extend the same courtesy.

“It doesn’t matter who comes in here, whether it be President Bush or (a civilian). If you want the information, here you go,” Blanchette said.

Susan Koehler, a Contoocook resident, reacted to the results of the Right to Know test.

“It doesn’t surprise me that some people don’t want to give it out. It may sometimes be that the clerk just doesn’t know the law,” she said. “People in Hopkinton are educated and know what they’re supposed to be doing, so I am not surprised that the town did well. I trust people who work here.”

Police guard arrest reports

Bow Editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:05:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

Of the 16 police departments we visited, there was an even split between who allowed us to see a list of police activity and arrests for the week, and who didn’t.

While the Right to Know Law does not specifically address the need for police departments to keep a log of activity, recent court cases have clarified that arrests are public information, said attorney Kathleen Sullivan.

Eight departments – Candia, Dunbarton, Epsom, Hopkinton, New Boston, Salem, Pelham and Windham – provided police logs immediately or later that day.

Even at these eight departments, employees asked reporters who they were and why they wanted to see the log. At four departments, we were given the police log only after the person on duty figured out we were reporters.

Our reporter visited the Hopkinton Police Department, and asked the secretary, Patricia Finnerty, to see a list of the past week’s calls and arrests. She was asked if she was a reporter and then requested to show a press ID.

When our reporter said she didn’t have a press ID, Finnerty made a phone call.

“I heard her tell whoever was on the other end I had come to the station, claiming to be a reporter, and asking for the arrest log,” said our reporter. “After hanging up, she took the log out of a file and made a copy for me.”

Of the eight departments that wouldn’t give us the police log, Auburn, Bow and Pembroke required us to file a written request. Weare even suggested filing a Right to Know request.

In Hooksett, it was impossible to even find an employee to say yes or no to our request for information. On three separate visits, our reporter was either told no one could help him or there was no one at the police station window.

At the Allenstown Police Department, we asked for a list of last week’s calls and arrests. A woman asked for what purpose we needed the logs, and we said we just wanted to see them.

“We don’t have that information,” the woman said. “It doesn’t print out.”

In Bedford, we spoke with secretary Charlene Robinson and asked for the same list.

We were told if we wanted a list of arrests, we could try going to the court. When we asked if the Police Department had a list of calls and arrests, she said yes, but it was not for public viewing.

The Goffstown Police Department discovered our staffer was a reporter, but told her there is no police log.

Debbie Odette, an employee in the records department, said a Goffstown News reporter used to come in to speak with someone at the department about arrests, accidents and reports.

The Salem Police Department was willing to let us have a copy of the police log, but at a price.

A woman at the records window said we could get a copy, but it would cost $1 per page for the report we wanted.

Because we wanted to know what it would cost before committing to paying for the log, our reporter left her name and number for the department to call later with the cost.

Ten to 15 minutes later, the woman in records called to say they printed the report, and it was 158 pages, so it would cost $158.

The Salem Observer receives the police log free every week.

Wojnowski steps down

Bow Editor — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:26:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

After nearly five years as the Hopkinton town administrator, Ed Wojnowski has accepted a position in Newmarket, effective in late August.

Wojnowski, born and raised in Newmarket, will serve his last day in Hopkinton on Aug. 24, before beginning the three-week transition process to the same position in Newmarket, officially starting Sept. 1.

According to Wojnowski, the decision was not an easy one, as he waited until the final day of the filing period to submit his resume for consideration in Newmarket.

“I got a letter from the town suggesting I submit my resume in February, but I just let it sit on my desk and looked it over once in a while,” said Wojnowski. “I had to convince myself to send my resume in. It’s a great opportunity and I look forward to a variety of challenges to get involved in.”

The position will include overseeing departments’ day-to-day activities in the Newmarket community.

Special projects in town are what Wojnowski most looks forward to, including digging up Main Street, searching for more water sources and scouting locations for potential soccer and lacrosse fields.

However, despite his excitement for moving on, Wojnowski also looked back fondly on his years in Hopkinton.

“I really enjoyed working here, and always loved to come to work. I had been in Hopkinton for two years and I had only had one bad day,” he said. “I always liked something that changes daily and always keeps fresh.”

For Wojnowksi, the best part of working in Hopkinton was the close relationship he had with the town’s residents.

“You can sit down and have a one-on-one coversation with people that come into your office, and I really liked that,” he said. “I’ll miss that because there are not too many places where that can happen. I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to be part of this.”

A new town administrator has not yet been named, but selectmen will discuss the open position at the selectmen’s meeting on July 30.

Changes made to July 4 festivities

Bow Editor — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:30:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Times are changing in Hopkinton.

Residents have spoken out against rising taxes, a new senior center is in its finishing stages, the town has a new recreation director, and now, after decades of tradition, the Fourth of July celebration is changing.

Gone is the Strawberry Festival at the community center and the typical parade route, replaced by an old-fashioned family fun day at Houston Fields and a new, improved course for the kiddie and town parades.

On July 4, the Hopkinton Recreation Department will unveil many of new activities, including games, live music, raffles, a pie-eating contest and a chili cook-off, as well as historical presentations from Ben and Jane Hampton of Goffstown.

“The Recreation Department had a vision and the community stepped up and helped put it together. and now we have a real family-oriented, good old-fashioned good time event that brings us all together,” said Louise Carr, chairman of the town’s recreation department, who noted the event will offer an inexpensive alternative for townspeople to gather on summer’s most festive holiday.

“I was really amazed at how this all came together,” she continued. “Everyone has been so flexible and enthusiastic about putting this all together. It sounds like it’s going to be a great event this year and hopefully it will grow every year. I think this is really going to take off.”

Prior to the noon to 4 p.m. fun day events, the town will hold its annual parades.

The town will also bring back a 5K (3.1 mile) road race, for residents to run or walk only, from the Contoocook fire station, up Pine Street to Bound Tree Road and back. The race begins at 9 a.m., though participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early.

A canoe and kayak race will follow at 11 a.m., at Multi Weld on Riverside Road. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and carries a $15 fee. Life jackets are required of those 12 and younger.

This year, rather than circling Contoocook Center, the kid’s parade will take place in the municipal parking lot behind TD Banknorth. Participants must arrive at the town gazebo by 11:15 a.m. for the 11:30 a.m. event and are encouraged to decorate their trikes and bikes in festive red, white and blue decor.

The Fire Department will then hold its Independence Day Parade, which, rather than beginning at Hopkinton Middle/High School, will start at HMC Corporation at 284 Maple St., at noon, and will travel down Maple Street, to Contoocook Center then turn up Pine Street toward Houston Fields. Those walking, driving or displaying floats will gather at 11 a.m.