The inhabitants of the Town of Hopkinton, within the corporation limits as established by law, shall continue to be a body corporate and politic with perpetual succession under the name “Town of Hopkinton.”
It is the intent and purpose of the voters of the Town of Hopkinton, through the adoption of this Charter, to secure for the Town all the powers possible under the Constitution and statutes of the Commonwealth, as fully and as completely as though each such power were specifically and individually enumerated herein.
The Town of Hopkinton is committed to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion and believes that a positive culture of inclusion in Town governance contributes to the Town’s overall qualities as a great place to live and work. To this end, appointments and promotions of Town officers and employees shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination or other evidence of competency and suitability.
The administration of all the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs of the Town shall be vested in an executive branch headed by a Select Board and administered by a Town Manager. The legislative powers shall be exercised by an open Town Meeting.
Elected and appointed officers and employees of the Town of Hopkinton are expected to demonstrate, by their example, in general conduct and in the performance of their duties and responsibilities, the highest ethical standards to the end that the public may justifiably have trust and confidence in the integrity of its government. Elected and appointed officers and employees of the Town of Hopkinton are expected to recognize that they act always as agents for the public, that they hold their offices or positions for the benefit of the public, that the public interest is their primary concern, and that they are expected to faithfully discharge the duties of their offices regardless of personal considerations. Elected and appointed officials and employees of the Town of Hopkinton shall not use their official positions to secure or grant special consideration, treatment, advantage, privilege or exemption to themselves or to any other person beyond that which is available to every other person.