Acton Town Manager John Mangiaratti gave town updates at his monthly Java with John meeting at the Acton Senior Center. Here are the key takeaways from the meeting:
- Budget: The Town presented its budget for the upcoming year. The budget reflects the financial realities of the town, with needs outweighing available resources. However, the Select Board and the town manager were able to present a balanced budget that they feel meets the town’s needs.
- Department updates: Acton Fire Department is launching a pilot program to test alternative deployment strategies. As reported last week in the Acton Exchange, the pilot program will involve staffing fire stations differently in order to improve response times. The Acton Police Department also has new clinicians to help people in crisis.
- Construction projects: Several construction projects are underway in Acton, including the renovation of 17 Woodbury Lane, a new dog park, and a new 41-unit affordable senior housing complex.
- DEI initiatives: Wanjiku Gachugi, the town’s DEI director, gave a presentation on the department’s work. The DEI office works on a variety of issues, including bias incidents and programming for the Council on Aging.
The second half of the meeting focused on specific town initiatives and resident concerns.
- Health Insurance: The town has transitioned its employee health insurance plan to a consortium of 150+ towns, called the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association. This change aims to stabilize costs and provide more predictable insurance coverage.
- Traffic and Parking: Residents raised concerns about a traffic bump-out near the train tracks and parking near Jones Field. The Town manager explained the purpose of the bump-out and clarified parking regulations near the field.
- Drones: A resident inquired about the town’s potential use of drones for law enforcement purposes. While the town does not currently have drones for law enforcement, the town manager acknowledged the growing use of drones and promised to investigate any concerns.
Finally, the meeting concluded with a Q&A session where residents had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to the town manager.
For more details, you can watch the entire 51-minute long session, “Java with John – January 17th, 2025,” on Acton TV.
Greg Jarboe is the Acton Exchange’s beat reporter for the Council on Aging and issues pertaining to seniors.