Hopedale Select Board set to vote on interim town administrator contract; recent meeting minutes still pending

The Hopedale Select Board is scheduled to vote today, July 6, on a contract for Interim Town Administrator Gallagher, the most consequential personnel decision on the board's agenda. The board will also vote to accept the resignation of Firefighter J. Cote, effective August 16, 2026.

All eight recent meetings held between June 22 and June 30 were published as agendas only — minutes have not yet been posted. The summaries below reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action, not confirmed outcomes.

Select Board

The Select Board met three times in late June. The June 22 agenda included review of a Special Town Meeting warrant covering FY 2026 budget supplements and Water/Sewer department transfers, discussion of Draper Field layout options (a proposed new varsity baseball field and multi-use sod field), appointments of Police Sergeant Jeffery Dean and Communications Call Taker Dylan Ferris, Town Park change orders 2 and 3, and executive sessions on Assistant Treasurer Collector and Deputy Fire Chief contracts.

A Special Town Meeting was called for June 23 to vote on supplementing FY 2026 operating budgets, Water and Sewer Department Retained Earnings transfers, and a reduction of the Fire Department (220) salary line item for FY 2027.

On June 29, the board was scheduled to interview three interim town administrator candidates — Nathan Bodreau, Michael Gallagher, and Kelly Grant — vote on a Deputy Fire Chief McMorrow contract for FY27–FY29, accept a $47,894.58 donation to the legal donation fund, appoint Emily Boutin as Assistant Treasurer Collector, and review the Special Town Meeting warrant.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met June 25 to review the June 2026 Special Town Meeting warrant, discuss FY2027 budget and transfers, and take up Stabilization Fund and Council on Aging budget items. A second meeting on June 30 was set to discuss and possibly vote on recommendations for Special Town Meeting Warrant Articles 2 and 3.

MetroWest Regional Transit Authority

The MWRTA Advisory Board's June 23 agenda included an executive session on pending litigation strategy, approval of the FY27 final budget, discussion and approval of a fixed route network redesign, the FY26 performance evaluation for the administrator, and approval of an FY26 optional performance bonus for the administrator.

Council on Aging

The Council on Aging Board met June 25 to review FY26 year-end financials, transition to the FY27 budget, plan the July/August 2026 activities calendar, discuss senior center social media strategy, and consider local partnership opportunities.

Park Commission

The Park Commission met June 25 with votes scheduled on whether to retain legal counsel and on budget expenditures.

Coming up

• **July 6 — Select Board:** Vote on interim town administrator contract for Gallagher and acceptance of Firefighter J. Cote's resignation.
• **July 7 — CMMPO:** Review of amendments to the 2026–2030 Transportation Improvement Program, including a $1,645,731 cost increase for Chandler Street and May Street intersection improvements in Worcester, $4,171,534 in Carbon Reduction funding for that project, and rescheduling of the Leicester Road bridge replacement in Oxford from FFY 2027 to FFY 2026 with an updated total cost of $4,594,106.
• **July 8 — Road Commissioners:** Hope Street parking redesign request from the Hopedale Community House, revised Road Opening Permit Fee documents, and a Hopedale Country Club fence discussion.
• **July 9 — Conservation Commission:** Public hearing on a Request for Determination of Applicability for 304–306 South Main Street, plus discussion of a fee waiver for an After the Fact Notice of Intent at 10 Charlesview.

Earlier weeks

• week of 2026-06-29 — Hopedale Special Town Meeting Weighs Budget Supplements, Select Board Advances Interim Administrator Search

Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.