Select Board Votes 4-1 to Adopt FY28 Budget Message

Select Board · Meeting of October 7, 2026

HOPKINTON — The Hopkinton Select Board voted 4-1 to adopt a fiscal 2028 budget message warning of a $5.7 million deficit, with Vice Chair Matthew Kizner the lone dissent and calling it "an insulin conversation" about hard choices ahead. Town Manager Elaine Lazarus said estimated revenues fell 1.3 percent to $142,388,000. Members separately voted unanimously to oppose Amazon Prime Air's proposed drone-delivery hub at 64 Otis Street in Westborough, directing outreach to the FAA, MassDOT and the legislative delegation, with member Brian Herr comparing it to the town's past fight against a proposed Milford casino.

The board also approved a $1.8 million purchase of 280 Cedar Street for future water infrastructure, appointed officers Kevin Sager and Derek Mendez, named Caroline Schroeder to the Library Board of Trustees, and gave Lazarus a performance rating of 3.63, "achieves and sometimes exceeds expectations."

In the full story:

• Public Forum: Drone Concerns and Police Accountability
• Consent Agenda and Routine Approvals
• Appointment of Two New Hopkinton Police Officers
• Library Board of Trustees: Caroline Schroeder Appointed
• FY28 Budget Message: Board Warns of $5.7 Million Gap
• October 26 Special Town Meeting Warrant: Signing and Article Recommendations
• Wine and Malt License Change of Officers
• Amazon Prime Air Drone Delivery: Board Votes to Oppose
• Economic Development Plan: Presentation and Deferred Vote
• Town Manager Annual Performance Review
• Land Purchase: 280 Cedar Street for $1.8 Million
• Town Manager Report and Liaison Updates
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,898 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of October 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.