Etta Zasloff, acting chair of Hopkinton's Economic Development Commission, announced at a town-hall meeting that the commission has been reconstituted after about 17 years of inactivity and is seeking volunteers to fill open seats. "We even increased the number to 10 so we can have 10 members. We have 6 active right now, and we're looking to fill those other 4 seats," Zasloff said, and encouraged interested residents to complete an application for Town Council appointment.

Zasloff told about two dozen attendees that most commission applications are not yet available online and that the commission is working to change that; she noted the exception of a state-requested 250th-commission application that is already online. She emphasized the advisory nature of the Economic Development Commission, saying the panel can develop ideas but not enact policy: "Economic development commission is strictly advisory ... we really can't do anything. We can come up with ideas, and we can help you come up with ideas."

The meeting included a roll call of active members and identification of vacancies across town boards and commissions. Zasloff listed openings on multiple bodies including the Economic Development Commission (four vacancies), the Affordable Housing Partnership (two vacancies), the Committee on Aging (five vacancies), the Conservation Commission (one vacancy), the Historic District Commission (three vacancies), the Juvenile Hearing Board (two vacancies), the Tax Board of Review (one vacancy), and the Zoning Board of Review (one vacancy). She said interested residents should submit applications to the town clerk for council consideration.

Jasmine Roy was identified during the meeting as the Town Council liaison to the commission; Zasloff praised the liaison's role in helping the new commission "pull this together and do all kinds of things." The meeting recording and minutes were noted as being available on the town YouTube channel and through town records.

Zasloff and other speakers also encouraged broader community engagement, underscoring that Town Council and staff cannot handle all redevelopment and program work alone. Residents at the meeting repeatedly urged use of the commissions to channel ideas for small, visible projects and to pursue grant or foundation funding.

How to apply: Zasloff said applications are available at the town office ("drop it off to Marita") and that most forms would be moved online in the coming weeks. Specific appointment timelines and vetting procedures were not specified at the meeting.