Four months back, Ian Tewksbury was looking after his 11-year-old granddaughter when she accidentally jammed her finger in a bedroom door, causing the tip to chip off.

Being an experienced EMT, Tewksbury understood the urgency of the situation and called for an ambulance. However, due to logistical challenges, it took a considerable 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, as Hopkinton’s ambulance was stationed in Henniker, and Concord’s was someplace else. Bow’s ambulance had to step in.

To prevent such situations, Hopkinton’s operating budget proposed the addition of a part-time EMT position at the fire station for a quicker response and the use of a second ambulance, reducing reliance on neighboring towns.

“The pain and the anguish to sit there for about 20 minutes trying to console and knowing that my daughter might never let me babysit again. This is one of the things that every single person in this room could benefit from,” Tewksbury said in support of the budget at the town meeting on Thursday.

The budget also converts a part-time transfer station post into a full-time position to ensure better compliance with the pay-by-bag program and permit stickers. The major drivers of the budget are the payment of the road bond that was approved last year and the merit pool raises for town employees.

After public comments, residents approved the budget of $9.74 million through a secret ballot vote, with 337 voting in favor and 108 voting against.

The town-portion tax rate will be a 96-cent increase, which is $288 more annually on a $300,000 home.

As it had at the school district meeting, SB2 failed at the town meeting, prompting residents to call for a recount.

Following two recounts, the first caused by the accidental exclusion of a stack of voting cards, the final tally revealed 329 votes in favor and 370 votes against the form of government.

“I believe our current form of governance gives us the town’s people more transparency and more process than the SB2 which is a somewhat mysterious up or down vote that we get at the ballot box,” said Lucy Hodder against the split form of government at the meeting.

Hopkinton also approved community power and the revised Hopkinton-Webster transfer station agreement.

But the petitioned warrant article to hand count ballots failed by a voice vote.

“Research shows that machine counterparts are more accurate than handouts, which is despite best efforts does introduce the potential for human error. I think anyone who is taking part in an election as we all have understands this,” said the select board chair Sabrina Dunlap. “The town has been using these machines for many many years and our election officials can confirm they are secure and accurate.”