[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6251862,"mediaKeyId","3193156-be90a4d75ee23826537dfbf4c89d2f28","parentId",3193156,"title","Hopkinton council votes to ratify November 5 charter amendments for state-level recognition","audioSeconds",186,"startMs",3758000,"endMs",3944000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193156-be90a4d75ee23826537dfbf4c89d2f28&start=3758&end=3944","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193156-be90a4d75ee23826537dfbf4c89d2f28/thumbnail_3758000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6251862/Hopkinton/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Hopkinton-council-votes-to-ratify-November-5-charter-amendments-for-state-level-recognition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251862-4ca8394bcff654185b5777b42a82808e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770854681&Signature=YPXHODjl13JNui5kguFOqXLOWgshForHBTDYh85d6BeHhxum2Td7PxuyEO-XjD0Y-pucLYm3U78EEYdRHFjbj2bHRa3Nih2rTOCU9isoYwvJat9lUGPbUljw1aFvtwySpM-TgouT5qZNwfKgIwawtsQFGeqrp~JuRSUYBPeTtQS4W4v9I0l8YtxXSOGqYod1AT~uP9ovl3Y-mkiGByykbhZrARS7YdFVxIRGG2ENTXjRSdGSX6EpadCulz~pb8aeWwBJ6YhSUwcvgOE8i5tLPz8hDUifECWnpyR~LOZ-Ugq5hsKdMyC3GCKYxy8dIgg73sCxc4Qr0v5HSSpIsCIP-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hopkinton","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Hopkinton Town Council on May 5 voted to adopt a resolution asking the Rhode Island General Assembly to ratify charter amendments approved by voters on Nov. 5, 2024.

A councilor moved to adopt the resolution; the motion was seconded and carried on voice vote with the record showing \"Davis, aye; Roy, aye; Burns, aye.\" Town officials explained that ratification gives the charter amendments a status equivalent to state statute, providing additional legal recognition if the town charter ever conflicts with state law.

The council discussed why ratification is a common practice even when amendments are already effective after voter approval. One councilor summarized that while the amendments have been effective since approval, formal ratification provides an added level of recognition if conflicts arise with state statutes. No legal objections to sending the resolution forward were recorded.

The council approved sending the resolution to the General Assembly for ratification; no further conditions or implementation steps were recorded on the May 5 meeting record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hopkinton Town Council Meeting May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Hopkinton Town Council adopted a resolution to request ratification by the General Assembly of the Home Rule Charter amendments approved by voters on Nov. 5, 2024. Councilors said ratification gives charter changes the same status as state statute; the motion passed by recorded voice vote.","taxTitle","Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79578,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251867,"Hopkinton council appoints Michelle McCray to Economic Development Commission",46,2607000,2653000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193156-be90a4d75ee23826537dfbf4c89d2f28&start=2607&end=2653","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193156-be90a4d75ee23826537dfbf4c89d2f28/thumbnail_2607000.jpg","/articles/6251867/Hopkinton/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Hopkinton-council-appoints-Michelle-McCray-to-Economic-Development-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251867-e42e95b64041962757993615e432b727/orig.mp4?Expires=1770854681&Signature=XQ4MqbIlCALfHNrMeCVdvDz8kCiAsRimx1Yt5ichV8t7oILW3d6eG6RCy2pMXrBCP~fBszhmp75Nb2WBu8JFCyFGj018K5fi24RMvBHdBf9QMOeevXvfOkgw6U0Xm77mmqs1JXnCYfnFAsxDuT4Zsy90kNjoSRruHuXxrNbZs-McYRYJeP5ltEesTkHKO-59aCIaWVEzEchvlUYfCGBxsiesQD0vk6Yl7XyHoeRBiNzMcqZShaNT~3qINTZjB0lzNgPTreh~-FwkSvNGwBKfDJJMSPWZhIJIy7iRO4WgKqoTM48oknDTdMhU1HSCHH6asHEyyFR-SN8PNbGcTx8J0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hopkinton Town Council on May 5 voted to appoint Michelle McCray as a member of the town’s Economic Development Commission.

A councilor moved to appoint McCray and the motion was seconded. The council recorded an affirmative voice vote: \"Davis, aye; Roy, aye; Burns, aye.\" After the vote councilors welcomed McCray and wished her success on the commission.

No additional details about term length or the commission’s upcoming agenda were provided on the record. The appointment followed a short roll-call and was taken from the vacancies and appointments section of the council agenda.","The Hopkinton Town Council unanimously appointed Michelle McCray to the Economic Development Commission on May 5 after a motion and voice vote; councilors welcomed her to the commission.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251872,"Hopkinton council reopens noise ordinance hearing; sets May 19 vote after debate on business exceptions and enforcement",1060,2669000,3729000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193156-be90a4d75ee23826537dfbf4c89d2f28&start=2669&end=3729","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193156-be90a4d75ee23826537dfbf4c89d2f28/thumbnail_2669000.jpg","/articles/6251872/Hopkinton/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Hopkinton-council-reopens-noise-ordinance-hearing-sets-May-19-vote-after-debate-on-business-exceptions-and-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251872-91aadf9cc1c8a7e6921210f7e15e9d73/orig.mp4?Expires=1770854681&Signature=ElGtRKzXXDOXJuMBmk3pbaek-cscbVyURWTf4vr3-PZ8YfDH-WgvcCsSov0tSxWHizs~x8AyQpVJTLQKt5-O0gqH02UnNq0i3bK8BU8dwZ0c0LXXBy0dP2KiL-Im~T5~deUshWoZaZi8Pfo4QGQfphznEWUueNcJtjpfgw2bYldOyOeZwiYWuphqFNB8JI0hFNT2r9h0tcyLfKnnU9yv1hHJi8JmvFUkTtet8ChntUbVmQ68tIzCDdYLcD0U6ZfrsKu2cT05175hIAdCkrn1B4WelF9ZxC3zUgZjfHfr694hOx7P8qkLGuA7DhDg60KDIJI1GT66WWti9w49WEakcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hopkinton Town Council on May 5 reopened a hearing on proposed amendments to the town’s noise ordinance and voted to close the hearing and set a date of May 19 to consider adopting the changes.

The proposed amendment would change quiet hours to 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; limit construction and repair work to 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekends; and add penalties and enforcement provisions. The draft text also includes a 65-decibel limit measured from a distance of 200 feet in one subsection and lists exceptions, including limited exemptions for local businesses under certain conditions.

Councilors and members of the public debated how the ordinance should treat businesses that operate near residential areas. Several councilors and commenters urged the council to avoid creating a broadly discretionary enforcement standard for police officers, saying that too much discretion could create due-process problems in court. A speaker identified as Steve warned that language giving police subjective enforcement discretion could be challenged as unconstitutionally vague: \"it's a due process issue to say that the police have too much discretion,\" he said.

Ron Perlowitz, chair of the planning board, told the council that project applicants already submit noise studies showing decibel values at 40, 100 and 200 feet, and that the planning board reviews those materials under state and federal standards. He said those packets typically accompany development proposals and include sound-level data.

Several councilors and residents raised concerns about ordinary service vehicles and licensed businesses — for example, garbage trucks or fuel deliveries — that may make noise early in the morning. One councilor noted that the draft contains an exception allowing the council to grant exemptions for \"special events, public safety, public work projects, or activities deemed beneficial or necessary for the community,\" provided the exception specifies duration, hours and conditions.

Multiple councilors discussed an administrative approach in which certain licensed businesses (for example, haulers or other licensed service providers) could receive a written exemption as part of their business license, so that noise exemptions are disclosed and considered during permitting. That suggestion drew support during the hearing as a way to balance business needs and resident complaints.

After roughly an hour of discussion and public input, a councilor moved to close the hearing and set a date of May 19 for formal consideration and possible adoption; the motion carried.

The council will consider the ordinance amendment on May 19. The draft ordinance as discussed on May 5 includes: quiet hours of 10 p.m.–7 a.m.; construction hours limited to 7 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.–6 p.m. weekends; a 65-decibel measurement point at 200 feet in at least one section; and a process for limited, time-specified exceptions granted by the council or tied to business licensing.","The Hopkinton Town Council reopened a hearing on proposed amendments to the town’s noise ordinance, debating new quiet hours, construction hours, a 65-decibel standard measured at 200 feet, and whether businesses should get licensing exemptions. The council closed the hearing and scheduled a vote for May 19.","actionData","errors"]

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Hopkinton council votes to ratify November 5 charter amendments for state-level recognition

Hopkinton council appoints Michelle McCray to Economic Development Commission

Hopkinton council reopens noise ordinance hearing; sets May 19 vote after debate on business exceptions and enforcement