Letters to the Exchange

I’d like to share that the Acton-Boxborough Education Association (ABEA) and the School Committee have agreed on a new three-year contract through June 30, 2029.

For eight months, our union worked towards a new contract with meaningful improvements in benefits and working conditions for teachers. We made progress in parental leave, support for special educators, and health and safety provisions, among many other gains.

However, we also made difficult concessions, including accepting a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) below what our teachers deserve. Compensation will increase by 6.25 percent over the next three years (plus a $1,000 bonus this July). This is lower than the 7.25 percent increase throughout the previous three-year contract, and significantly lower than the cost of inflation over that same period, which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics increased by 12.5 percent.

When we polled membership about the School Committee’s final COLA offer, about 65 percent of members preferred to settle rather than continue to bargain into the fall with an expired contract. I’m sure many of those educators appreciate and understand the challenging fiscal situation facing both Acton and Boxborough. But the fact that 35 percent of members wanted to take our contract fight public in September speaks to the deep frustration our teachers are feeling. Next year will be the fifth year in a row of cuts to staff in our district. Class sizes across all grades continue to creep up, while student needs continue to grow and evolve in their complexity. Elementary educators will spend this summer preparing to welcome new cohorts of students into brand new school communities in service of AB Forward. We’ve been asked to do more with less, and now we’ll do it for less as well.

Like many residents, my wife and I chose Acton because of our amazing school district. Like many families, we’re grateful for the tireless efforts of our world-class teachers. As our towns wrestle with fiscal challenges and needed municipal investments on the horizon, I hope we won’t forget that our educators are one of our most valuable resources. We need to invest in them, too.

Mike Balulescu

President, Acton Boxborough Education Association

I am writing on my own behalf as a member of the jury panel for the Town of Acton’s “United by Soccer” Storefront Decorating Contest — and I want to make the case to local restaurants, shops, and stores that entering is worth their time.

Here is what surprised me. The Harris Poll found that half of all Americans plan to watch the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup – not just soccer fans, but half the country. Fifty-two percent told Harris that hosting the tournament in North America converted them into followers of a sport they would otherwise have ignored. Among the groups driving this: “Hybrid workers.”

Acton has an exceptionally high concentration of remote and hybrid professionals. According to the Acton Economic Development Strategy, 34% of Acton residents work from home. This rate significantly outpaces the Massachusetts state average of roughly 24% and the national average of 14%, driven heavily by local employment in high-tech, professional services, and corporate sectors.

A decorated storefront during a 39-day event of this scale isn’t decoration. It’s marketing. It signals to every passerby that your business is part of a shared community moment – and consumer research consistently shows that signal drives foot traffic.

As a jury member, I can tell you exactly what the panel will be evaluating: creativity, visual impact, theme interpretation, craftsmanship, and use of storefront. Those five criteria reward businesses that already invest in their visual identity. Applying is straightforward – a title for your display, a brief description, and photos via the QR code on the contest flyer.

The winner will be announced on July 18. Patricia Costa, Acton’s Economic Development Director, organized the contest and can answer questions at pcosta@actonma.gov or (978) 929-6516.

You don’t have to be a soccer fan to enter. You just have to recognize a good marketing opportunity when it’s standing in front of your storefront.

Greg Jarboe

The fire at the Acton Transfer Station on June 6, 2026, was caused by two failures. First, a resident discarded batteries into the scrap metal pile. They got punctured when Transfer Station staffer Willie Wilkie scooped up the metal pile to put it into the dumpster for transportation to the metal yard. When Willie’s front-end loader ruptured the protective case of a lithium battery, it burst into flame. Willie notes that residents often discard batteries with e-bikes, scooters, and kiddie cars. Residents need to be more mindful of this fire hazard. Thanks to Willie’s alert notification and the Acton Fire Department’s quick response, the fire was extinguished without any injury or damage. Residents can bring all batteries to Staples and other retailers for recycling. Rechargeable batteries can go to the gatehouse attendant at the Transfer Station.

The second failure that led to this fire is by the Massachusetts Legislature. Manufacturers and retailers here are under no obligation to provide an easy battery take-back and recycling system. Residents of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and 10 other states, plus all Canadian provinces, can take used batteries of all kinds back to retailers for recycling at no additional cost. This model is supported by the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association and their “Battery Network” recycling company. The model was also endorsed by the Massachusetts Extended Producer Responsibility Commission’s report of 2025.

During the current MA Legislative Session proposed, legislators submitted two battery stewardship bills, H.968 and S.556, but both failed. I hope that in the upcoming session, laws enabling convenient recycling of all batteries will pass. This will help make our state safer and save our taxpayers the cost of disposal.

Yours truly,

Rob Gogan

Volunteer Director of the Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council

On 2024-03-15, a developer acquired the property where the former Papa Razzi restaurant was located (768 Elm St, Concord MA, across the street from the soon-to-be-developed former state prison).  The developer, with a straight face, put out a press release calling the new development a "neighborhood center." 

It's a strip mall.

When you welcome chain stores (like Starbucks and Chipotle) to your strip mall, most of the profits from those stores flow to out-of-state companies.  Starbucks is based in Seattle WA, Chipotle in Newport Beach CA.

Plus, it's a strip mall.

So, I am glad to see some back-and-forth between Actonians and the Acton Town Manager (as letters to the editor of The Acton Exchange) about the various projects going on in Acton.  We should definitely debate projects, even when they are completed.  Acton must learn from its successes and from its failures.

What Acton chooses to spend money on matters exactly as much as what Acton chooses not to spend money on.  That $20 million project we're debating?  It could have been 20 miles of sidewalks (had voters been given that choice).

So, did you just build a "neighborhood center" in Acton?  Or is that place now just another big nowhere?  History will be the final judge.  Oh yeah, and don't believe your own press releases.

Erik Heels

Author’s Note: Erik is an associate (non-voting) member of the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC).  Opinions expressed herein are Erik’s individually, not the opinions of any Acton board or committee.

I wanted to commend the Acton250 Committee for providing a wonderful and varied series of lectures, tours, performances, and community-building social events over the past several years. Their efforts have enriched our understanding of events in our town, leading to revolution and independence. The committee brought well-recognized historians Bob Allison, Bob Gross, John Bell and others to explore Acton's history. Those lectures were very well attended, especially by Acton-Boxborough history students, and are available on ActonTV YouTube Channel. Sunday's performance of "Declaring Independence, Then and Now" at the Congregational Church featured a cast of talented Actonians beautifully articulating the words and meaning of both Acton's and the Continental Congress's Declarations of Independence. The Acton250 committee, which includes Stephen Trimble, Mike Gowing, Dean Charter, Steve Crosby, Bob Ferrara, Anne Forbes, Ann Kadlec, Bill Klauer, Pam Lynn, Mary Price Maddox, and Suzanne Peterman, has put in many hours of work to bring this all to pass. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Well done!

Mary Fuhrer

I really appreciate and thank the Acton Exchange for providing news about Acton that is not generally available.

I would like to make a correction to the recent article about the Acton Dog park. The article is incorrect in stating that no taxpayer funds were used to build the dog park. In fact, the 2024 Acton Town meeting approved $100,000 to be used for its construction. These funds came from Community Preservation Act funds, which are funds collected from Acton residents as a surcharge on their real estate taxes.  In addition to funds from the Community Preservation Act: in 2021 Town Meeting approved $21,000 from Free Cash as a match for the Stanton Construction Grant; and, in 2019, the Select Board a $2 increase in dog licenses to help pay for maintenance.

It is important that Acton citizens are accurately informed about how their tax dollars are spent. I hope you will post a correction in your next edition.

Thank you,

Jim Colman

Chair, Acton Community Preservation Committee

Editors’ note: A correction notice has been added to the article.

On May 21st, the School Administration presented a plan to introduce artificial intelligence in our schools. Several members of the School Committee raise concerns about important issues that will arise, including classroom distractions, reduced effort when completing assignments, challenges for teachers in evaluating authentic student work, bullying through deepfake content, and environmental impacts. In addition to those critical issues, another important problem is the opportunity cost.

Every addition to the curriculum comes at the expense of something else. If AI literacy is introduced, what will be removed from the current curriculum? Teachers already face the challenge of covering a substantial body of material within a limited amount of time. Because if there is anything scarcer than money, it is time.

I work for a multinational aerospace company, where we currently use around ten different generative AI tools. It takes only days or weeks to learn how to use those tools effectively. It is not too complicated. But it takes years to develop a person with deep knowledge, strong skills, and a foundation of solid values.

It’s similar to learning to drive a car, which isn’t part of the high school curriculum despite being an essential skill nowadays. Instead, schools focus on building the foundational knowledge and habits that enable lifelong learning.

History seems to be repeating itself. Years ago, phones arrived in schools. After a decade, statistics showed the harm they were causing, and phones were banned from our schools. Later, 1:1 computers were introduced, and now data is piling up about their detrimental effects, and we are wondering whether that was the right decision. Do we need to experiment again with our children and harm another 10 generations? Or are we going to be smarter and recognize that AI should not be prioritized during this fundamental period of a person’s development?

The question is not whether future generations will need to learn AI. The question is when the right time is to learn it. Introducing AI in our schools will open the door to too many important issues when there is no need for it.

Sincerely,
Diego Represa

Statements about fire stations in the May 15th letter are inaccurate. The North Acton Fire Station was approved by voters in 2019 and put into service in 2022 after many years of planning. North Acton consistently has the highest call volume. Currently, we deploy personnel from three (North, Center, and South) stations. The West Station is under repair and will be returned to service in some capacity soon. 

We did not add staffing when the North Acton station was built. Existing personnel were spread out to four stations. Supervision and morale were impacted, and the department started to see significant staff turnover. In a 2025 pilot program, personnel were consolidated into two stations, and then three stations in a few different deployments. A final decision on station use and deployment has not been made. We observed that the consolidation of personnel back to three stations appears to be an efficient and effective distribution of resources. Staffing levels have now improved significantly, and we are currently at the highest level of department personnel that we have been in many years. 

What the writer called a "$1.5 million shed" is the historic Asaph Parlin House at 17 Woodbury Lane. You may remember this small yellow house behind Town Hall that was deteriorating after decades of denied demolition requests. To break the stalemate, we utilized a $750k federal earmark, $600k in federal ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] funds, $100k state earmark, and CPA [Community Preservation Act] funds to preserve the historic fabric in a functional new community space. This highly leveraged project resolved a local blight and will provide a unique space for programming with very little impact on local property taxes.

A new DPW [Department of Public Works] fueling station was approved by Town Meeting and we just completed construction. New above ground tanks and pumps replaced the outdated facility and its underground storage tanks. This facility allows us to purchase fuel in bulk instead of paying retail. Acton-Boxborough Schools and CASE [Concord Area Special Education] transportation also use this facility and contributed to the capital project. I welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone about town services, projects, or budgets. Please reach me at manager@actonma.gov. 

Sincerely,
John S. Mangiaratti, Acton Town Manager

The writer of the May 15th letter to the editor expressed frustration with the duration of MassDOT’s major infrastructure project in the Kelley’s Corner area. Construction started in late fall of 2022, which was about 3 ½ years ago. The construction has caused disruptions and we appreciate everyone’s patience. Among  the reasons for the long schedule are the extensive utility work required, limited opportunities to work overnight, and that the entire area remained in service throughout the project. If the state’s contractor had the ability to close the intersections, the work could have been completed sooner.  

Despite the busy construction, new businesses have opened in Kelley’s Corner including the completely renovated 58,000 square foot former Kmart building for a Stop & Shop and retail spaces. I am only aware of one business closing during this timeframe, which was driven primarily by regional market factors and not roadwork. It’s important to remember that even though the state is paying for and overseeing the project, the Acton residents and businesses helped design this project with extensive community engagement efforts and multiple discussions and approvals at Town Meeting. While it has been difficult to live through, this infrastructure project will transform the area and have long-term positive impacts on the community. 

We are committed to finding ways to increase our commercial tax base. Through our Economic Development Office and Economic Development Committee we are engaged in supporting existing businesses and developing programs to attract new businesses. We recently updated our zoning bylaws to remove barriers to commercial investment and to better regulate car dealerships. Also, Town Meeting approved a tax incentive proposal to help keep a fast-growing international corporation headquartered here in Acton. Right now, a primary structural hurdle to growing our commercial tax base is limited wastewater capacity and limited access to public sewer. 

I welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone with questions about town services, projects, or budgets. Please reach out to me at manager@actonma.gov. Also, all are welcome to attend the next Java with John program at the Senior Center. 

Sincerely,

John S. Mangiaratti, Acton Town Manager

Concerns raised in a May 15th Letter to the Editor about municipal spending are understandable. I welcome the opportunity to discuss similar concerns when I meet with residents in the community and at the monthly events held at the Acton Senior Center.

Acton’s finances remain strong. The town proudly holds an AAA bond rating and receives awards for quality and transparency in financial reporting. Municipal budgets are presented publicly to the Select Board after careful line-item review and then are vetted by the Finance Committee and voted on by residents at Town Meeting. Even though our spending is closely managed, we face challenges from rapidly rising fixed costs (health insurance, pensions) and escalating costs of utilities and construction. In Acton, we provide municipal services more efficiently than most communities. According to FY25 data available from the Mass. Division of Local Services Acton ranks 90th in General Fund Budget Expenditures per Capita and 112th in Total Budget Spending Per Capita. Boston Magazine recently named Acton one of only five "Most Affordable Top Towns," and a relative bargain compared to some neighboring towns. 

One way we limit spending is aggressively pursuing grants. We have secured $25 million in external funding over the last seven years. This outside capital allows us to deliver on community priorities without relying on local property taxes. It is true that most external grant funding comes from taxpayers in some form. But that is why it is essential that we seek these funding opportunities to ensure we get at least our share. 

Town departments have successfully reduced costs by reorganizing operations, regionalizing services, and always looking for innovations and efficiencies. We also sell municipal property (362 Main Street property for $1M and we are finalizing sales of 3/13 School Street for $600k) to reduce our maintenance costs and generate revenue. I welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone about town services, projects, or budgets. Please reach out to me at manager@actonma.gov. 

Sincerely,
John S. Mangiaratti, Acton Town Manager

I'm writing in praise of the recent decision by the Select Board to officially name the new park at 53 River Street as "Shoddy Mill Park" (Select Board Notes: June 1, 2026). Residents who submitted their preferences into an online poll also favored this name. 

At the time that a mill was active on the River Street site, "shoddy" referred to a woolen textile or yarn made by shredding existing worn-out wool clothing and re-spinning the resulting fibers.  Doing so saved money and reduced the need for raw wool in manufacturing.

Manufacturing of shoddy was an early instance of industrial scale recycling. The term thus aligns with the modern ethic of "Reduce, reuse, recycle."  "Shoddy Mill Park" fits well with other Acton institutions dedicated to keeping used goods in productive use, including the Swap Shop and the Fix-it Clinic. 

The objections to the name "Shoddy Mill" centered on the association of the term "shoddy" with inferior quality. As we collectively try to figure out how to live sustainably on a finite planet, we'll have to learn to admire products and processes that minimize withdrawals from nature.  Redeeming the term "shoddy" is a small step in that direction. 

Note:  I am an Associate Editor and a director of the Acton Exchange, and a former Swap Shop volunteer, but this letter is submitted only on behalf of myself.  

Kim Kastens

After a few conversations with fellow Acton residents, I see an opportunity to explain our property tax bills in more detail.

Our property tax bills are the product of two numbers: assessed property values and tax rate. The assessed property values change based on statistical analyses that are regularly audited by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

The tax rate (a.k.a. millage rate) is the tax per $1,000 of property value and changes annually. This number is updated each year based on a simple calculation: the total annual Acton town budget divided by the total value of taxable property in Acton.

We approve the annual budget each year in town meeting. The Acton assessors office uses that approved budget to calculate our tax rate each year.

This means that if the town budget this year is the same as last year and your assessed property value change, either up or down, is similar to other Acton property owners, your tax bill will not change.

On the other hand, if an individual property’s assessed value is lower than equivalent properties in town, the owner of that property will pay a smaller portion of the town budget than other property owners. This is why considerable effort is made to ensure assessed values of properties in Acton are fair and equitable and are equivalent to the market value of each property.

Restating: General increases in our property assessments do not increase Acton property taxes. Increased property taxes are created by increased spending approved by town meeting.

There is a brief explanation of this on the Acton town website at: https://acton-ma.gov/m/faq?cat=16#question-64

Gill Watt

At the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) Committee meeting on Thursday, May 21, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Gabby Abrams and Director of Educational Technology Amy Bisiewicz presented the district's Phase 1 Generative AI [Artificial Intelligence] Guidelines and Guardrails. I was there, and what struck me most was how they balanced candor about the technology's real risks with a genuine commitment to getting this right for our kids.

Since September 2025, a working group of students, educators, administrators, and community advisors has been meeting to develop a first-phase framework for addressing the growing prevalence of generative AI in our schools. The result – a 16-page guidebook anchored in five principles – is thoughtful, practical, and honest about what we still don't know.

The principles themselves are worth knowing: Humans First, Adaptive Literacy, Responsible Stewardship, Rigorous Governance, and Intentional Use. Each one reflects real thinking rather than platitudes. Responsible Stewardship, for example, includes a commitment to teaching students about AI's environmental footprint – something most districts aren't even discussing yet. Rigorous Governance requires that all vendor contracts guarantee student and staff data are never used to train commercial AI models.

What I find most encouraging is the spirit behind the work. Abrams and Bisiewicz have been, in the best sense of the phrase, “nimble and humble” – moving quickly enough to keep pace with a technology that isn't waiting for anyone, while being clear-eyed that this is a first step, not a finished product. The guidebook itself says as much: it is designed to evolve alongside the technology and the changing needs of our students and staff.

A March 2026 survey of Acton Boxborough Regional High School students found that 79% understood when using generative AI would prevent them from doing the necessary hard work of learning. That kind of awareness doesn't happen by accident. It reflects the culture our educators are building.

Kudos to Gabby Abrams, Amy Bisiewicz, and everyone who contributed to this effort. Acton and Boxborough are lucky to have them.

Disclosure: I’m a member of the Acton Finance Committee, but I’m writing on behalf of myself, not representing that group.

Greg Jarboe

I am over 81 years old and have been living in Acton for over 50 years.  I understand that some people will say here he goes again but it needs to be said.  The town of Acton is the most missed managed town in the area.  We have the 30^th highest tax rate in the State yet the Town Manager spending is creating a financial disaster.   Let me also say that I can pay my taxes so the comments I am making are not related to my financial status.   We have seniors and some residents of Acton who are having difficulty keeping up with our excessive tax bills.

Also why does the TM [Town Manager] continue to say we need more commercial tax revenue when he makes it impossible for businesses to do business in Acton?  Just look at Kelly’s corner?  Several businesses have closed due to 5 years of construction on Kelly’s corner.  The other day I had to go to the VA [Veteran Affairs] in Bedford.  The drive through Concord, Carlisle, Lincoln and Bedford was very scenic.  No construction, open land, farms and barns.  Driving though Acton all you see is car dealerships, strip malls, parking lots and construction details.

Five years ago TM said we desperately needed another Fire Station on Harris St.  A few years later the TM said we had too many fire stations and had to close 2 stations. These are just a few examples.  We could talk about the 1.5 million dollar shed behind Town Hall or the vacant office at the Transfer Station, or the refueling station at the DPW [Department of Public Works] that looks like it belongs on the Mass Turnpike, or the purposed DPW building, or making Concord Rd a one way for over a million dollars when all you needed was ‘DO NOT ENTER’ signs.  The bottom line Acton is going BROKE due to our management team.  It is time to look into new management or our seniors, children and grandchildren will be priced out of Acton and the value of our homes will decline due to our tax burden.

Ken Henderson

At Monday night's Acton Town Meeting, Tori Campbell, chair of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee, delivered a presentation during the Article 8 discussion that every resident needed to hear. It was candid, frank, and sobering.

Campbell laid out the structural reality facing our schools: because the Commonwealth classifies Acton and Boxborough as wealthy towns, state aid covers only about one-sixth of the district's $122.6 million budget – and increases by less than inflation each year. Health insurance costs have risen by double digits. Class sizes at the junior high and high school are among the highest in the state. The school committee has already made painful cuts to administrators, teachers, and supplies, and this year took the historic step of closing the Conant School building to put the district on a sustainable path.

But as Campbell made clear, internal restructuring can only go so far. The underlying problem is systemic – a state funding formula that leaves communities like ours increasingly on their own. Her message to residents was direct: stay engaged, and advocate for fair state funding.

The very next morning, the Boston Globe reported that the Massachusetts Senate voted to increase unrestricted local aid to cities and towns by $53 million — described as the highest such investment in state history. I want to thank State Senator Jamie Eldridge for helping to advance that effort. He has long understood the fiscal bind that Proposition 2½ and inadequate state aid create for communities like Acton, and his advocacy helped make this happen.

That said, $53 million spread across 351 cities and towns is a start, not a solution. Local officials had sought $351 million. The work is far from done.

Although I serve on the Acton Finance Committee, I am writing on my own behalf to say simply: thank you, Tori Campbell, for telling us the truth. And thank you, Senator Eldridge, for listening.

Greg Jarboe

Last year, I wrote that raising the visibility of the Acton Water District (AWD) was a central goal of my campaign. This year's turnout — at both the AWD Annual Meeting and Special Meeting — shows we have made real progress. Thank you to everyone who participated in those meetings and came out to vote in the Town election. Contested elections are the lifeblood of healthy local government, and I'm grateful to the organizations and individuals who made that possible: Green Acton, The Acton Exchange, the League of Women Voters, Acton Democrats and Republicans, and the many neighbors who engaged online, through signs, and in conversations around town — including at Dunkin's.

I also thank Stephen Stuntz for his long and dedicated service as an AWD Commissioner. For four decades, Steve's experience and deep knowledge of Acton's history helped shape our water supply and distribution systems — a remarkable contribution to our community.

Looking ahead, sustaining this momentum will require citizens to engage more regularly with AWD — particularly during the budget discussions that lead up to the Annual Meeting. With the AWD budget approaching $10 million, thoughtful rate-setting has never been more important.

The next Special Meeting of the Water District will take up the appropriation of free cash to fund capital needs, including water main upgrades, and will be scheduled once free cash is certified. It's another opportunity to build on the progress we've made — keeping our customers informed and strengthening Acton's water supply and distribution for years to come.

John Petersen

One may think that one less gas fired building may be considered a small win but this win can also be measured in the momentum of the entire town to decarbonize. Acton has been recognized as a top Climate Leader Community in Massachusetts, and the state of Massachusetts is a climate leader across the country, with one example being Melissa Hoffer taking office in 2023 as the first state level Climate Chief in the nation.

Since last year a grant for 1 million dollars was obtained and the cost of the upgrade of the nearly 40-year-old town hall HVAC system should now be without great debate. Between the choice of a gas system or a heat pump, the ongoing operating costs are nearly equal. What needs to be emphasized also is that fossil fuel gas has an 86 times greater greenhouse gas impact than carbon dioxide. And this matters as we continue to live in a climate emergency. Electric heat pumps make a great choice for the taxpayers and for the environment.

The actions of Acton plus other towns and cities in our Commonwealth continues to demonstrate that climate leaders influence neighbors, towns, and other states across the country.

Please join Mothers Out Front Acton as we look forward to a YES vote on Article 6 at Town Meeting on May 4th.

The Acton Select Board and the Finance Committee all recommend this article.

Judith Aronstein
Coordinator of Mothers out Front Acton.

Please read about Article #6 on page 30 of the Acton Town Warrant.
Link to town warrant.

I will vote Yes on Article 13 in support of the acquisition of the 46 Taylor Road property for $1,400,000. But I have questions about our land assessments.

The cost is high enough to require borrowing and a two-thirds majority vote at town meeting and highlights a problem.

The property in question is currently registered under Massachusetts Chapter 61B, which allows for a 75% reduction in real estate taxes in exchange for public recreational use, e.g. a short walking path included in the Arboretum trails.

The current appraisal by the Acton Assessor’s office for this property (just land, no improvements) is $429,800. The corresponding tax assessment, due to the Chapter 61B discount, is $107,450.

The town’s purchase price of $1,400,000 is set by a Purchase and Sale agreement between Mary Donald (seller) and DECA Corp. (property developer). This price is not an appraisal; it is a legal purchase agreement that represents the market value of the property.

Massachusetts Chapter 61B provides no opportunity for the town to negotiate with the seller nor the buyer. We have the right of first refusal: we can buy it at this price or not. If the town does not purchase the property, DECA will, for $1.4 million.

I hope we make this purchase, but the million-dollar question is: do our land assessments reflect actual market values for land in Acton? The current valuation, approximately $430,000, is less than a third the actual market value.

And there appears to be another property with this problem: The land at 524 Main St. is for sale, asking $2.2 million on a property with a land assessment of $786,500. A listing isn't a sale, but Sotheby's isn't likely overpricing the property by 2.8x. We'll know more when that sale is complete.

I will be voting Yes on Article 13. I believe 46 Taylor Road belongs as part of the Arboretum and will willingly pay my portion of the cost.

However, the unexpectedly high cost of this purchase raises questions about our tax assessments on land. Questions that deserve further review.

Gill Watt

I am writing to express my strong support for the protection of the 5.8-acre forested parcel at 46 Taylor Road. 

The Acton Arboretum is a wonderful place.  As someone who is not from Acton but is nevertheless quite familiar with municipal efforts to protect and take care of open space throughout the Commonwealth, I have to tell you that very few communities have established their own Town arboretums.  What Acton has done is truly remarkable. And, as many people can attest, the Arboretum is very well-loved and appreciated by many people, both inside and outside the Town. The Town, assisted greatly by the hard-working volunteer crews coordinated by the Friends of the Acton Arboretum, have created and maintained a wonderful space filled with a great diversity of plant life, with a great network of trails (some of which are fully accessible).  I have led many walks at the Arboretum, plus have planted and tended edible native plant species there, and consider it to be a truly special resource to the Town and to the region.   

The protection of the 5.8-acre piece helps protect the integrity and serenity of the Arboretum from the intrusion of development and its associated disruptions (lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc.). 

Thank you for considering my remarks.

Russ Cohen

As Acton Town Meeting approaches, we are facing a pivotal decision about the future of our local economy. The proposed changes in zoning bylaws are not simply technical revisions, but a necessary step if Acton is to remain competitive, vibrant, and economically resilient.

The proposed changes to be voted for at Town Meeting, particularly those related to parcel use and business signage, offer a practical and forward-looking solution. They are grounded in the priorities set forth in the Strategic Economic Development Action Plan (SEDAP) 2025, which calls on us to expand opportunities for small-scale industrial, manufacturing, and medical-related uses, modernize zoning, and improve the design and vitality of our commercial and manufacturing districts.

These updates will not disrupt Acton’s character, but will instead strengthen it. By allowing greater flexibility within existing commercial and manufacturing areas, we can encourage a more diverse mix of businesses, support innovation, and make better use of the spaces already dedicated to economic activities. Just as importantly, these changes are designed to preserve the integrity of residential neighborhoods while enhancing our economic base.

We all know that businesses have choices. If Acton cannot offer a regulatory environment that is responsive and adaptable, we risk losing opportunities to neighboring communities that can. The proposals before us have been carefully developed to reflect the current economic reality, technological progress, and local needs. Now, they require your support.

I invite residents to engage with these proposals, consider their long-term value, and be part of shaping Acton’s next chapter as a town that honors its assets, values community wellbeing, and embraces the opportunities to build a brighter future.

Patricia Costa
Economic Development Director, Town of Acton