Hopkinton council appoints members to building committee and planning board alternates; seals executive session minutes

The Hopkinton Town Council on Jan. 9 recessed into an executive session under Rhode Island law for interviews related to the Charitable Building Committee and the Planning Board, then reconvened in open session and voted to seal the executive-session minutes before approving multiple appointments.

The meeting followed a public comment from a resident who criticized what she described as a last-minute change to application rules for the Cherry Hill School Committee Building Subcommittee. Sharon, a resident, told the council: "I've received several complaints from residents about the last minute changing of the rules to accommodate 1 party over another, such as 1 failure to follow what they perceive as rules to notify the public of an extension date to accept applications for being appointed to the Cherry Hill School Committee Building Subcommittee, failure to consider those citizens who volunteered their services within the original rules regarding the due date to apply, and concern for the reputation and trust of the council members who so cavalierly changed the rules."

Why it matters: The council's votes fill seats on advisory and oversight bodies that advise on construction and land-use matters in Hopkinton; how the council handles appointment procedures drew public concern during the meeting.

After the closed session, the council voted to seal the executive-session minutes. Councilors present recorded the vote in open session and stated no substantive votes were taken while in executive session.

On appointments, the council approved three members to the Charitable Building Committee: William S. Prince (Resaw Mill Road, Hope Valley), Scott Sunderland (79 Diamond Hill Road, "Ashway," Rhode Island), and Catherine m Gusty (14 Keith Drive, Hope Valley). The minutes show the council voted in favor on the first two appointments. For Catherine m Gusty, one councilor—identified in the meeting as Roy—expressly opposed while other councilors voted in favor; the motion carried.

The council also appointed two alternates to the Planning Board: Anthony (Tony) Apice (38 Pinochet Driftway, Oak Valley) and Robert Boudreaux (49 Kanatje Road, Oak Valley). Both planning-board alternate nominations passed on recorded voice votes at the meeting.

The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn, which passed by recorded voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Motion to recess to executive session under Rhode Island General Law for interviews related to the Charitable Building Committee and the Planning Board — approved (council recessed; no votes taken in executive session). - Motion to seal executive-session minutes — approved (recorded in open session). - Appointment: William S. Prince to Charitable Building Committee — approved (voice vote recorded in favor). - Appointment: Scott Sunderland to Charitable Building Committee — approved (voice vote recorded in favor). - Appointment: Catherine m Gusty to Charitable Building Committee — approved (Roy recorded as opposed; others recorded in favor). - Appointment: Anthony (Tony) Apice, Planning Board alternate — approved (voice vote recorded in favor). - Appointment: Robert Boudreaux, Planning Board alternate — approved (voice vote recorded in favor).

The council did not provide further detail in the public meeting record about candidate qualifications beyond the applications on file. A resident's complaint about the timing and notification of application extensions was read into the record and noted by councilors during the appointments discussion.