Boxborough Annual Town Meeting passes school budget
The Town of Boxborough passed the Acton Boxborough Regional School District budget on May 13 at their Town Meeting. For more information, please see the Boxborough News coverage.
Town Meeting votes to require special permit for car dealerships on Great Road
Town Meeting Article 10
By Jeff Brown
Early on the second night of town meeting, Select Board Member David Martinexplained Article 10 as a proposed change in the bylaw concerning the location of car dealerships along Great Road. The current zoning map shows areas where dealerships are allowed and where they are not, due, in part, to concerns of water protection. Article 10, Mr. Martin said, “doesn’t change where car dealerships are allowed, but that car dealerships will now require a special permit instead of being allowed by right.” That special permit triggers the calling of a public hearing. Then feedback from residents could lead to adjustments in the proposed car dealership plan.
When the McGovern Group applied for a permit for a car dealership on land they recently purchased in the Nagog Mall, there were concerns raised by many residents about the number of dealerships already on Great Road. The town then surveyed the residents and the survey resulted in the proposed Article 10.
The Select Board voted unanimously in favor of the Article. A majority of the Finance Committee approved and the Economic Development Committee supported the Article.
A resident of Nagog Woods asked, if a second dealership were proposed for the Nagog Mall, whether it would fall under the newly amended by-law. Mr. Martin confirmed that it would.
Jason Cole of the Finance Committee did object to the Article since it would discriminate against one type of business. He said he did not want to put “handcuffs on people who want to invest in the town.”
After all comments were heard, attendees were reminded how to use their “clickers” and then they voted. Results: Yes 318 (74%), No 112 (26%) and so the Article passed.
Jeff Brown is a retired general contractor and a twenty five year resident of Acton.
Town Meeting Votes to Refer the Gas-powered Leaf Blower Bylaw Change to the Select Board for Future Action
Town Meeting article 16
By Ron Parenti
The final article under consideration on the second day of Town Meeting was Article 16, which was placed on the warrant through a citizen’s petition by Paul Kampas. The article asked Town Meeting members to amend the General Bylaws to require a phase out of gas-powered leaf blowers. The stated purpose of the proposed bylaw is “the reduction of noise pollution, air pollution, greenhouse gas emission, harm to wildlife, soil and plants, and general negative health outcomes from the use of gas powered leaf blowers.” This was a binding petition that required a majority vote to pass. As stated in the warrant, the Select Board had voted to recommend this article, but the Finance Committee’s recommendation was deferred.
Mr. Kampas’ presentation in support of the article emphasized that similar laws have been passed in California, Washington DC, and Miami Beach; locally the towns of Lexington, Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge have approved a phase out of gas-powered leaf blowers. Calculations performed by the presenter indicate that the use of a commercial gas-powered unit for one hour emits the same amount of smog-forming pollutants as a car driven a distance of 1,100 miles. It was further argued that powerful, long-duration, battery-powered leaf blowers are currently available at affordable prices. The article proposed that enforcement of the new bylaw would be performed by the Board of Health, and fines of up to $300 per incident could be levied against offenders. Mr. Kampas noted that Article 16 has received the support of Elders Climate Action of Massachusetts, Mothers Out Front, the Climate Task Force of the First Parish Church of Acton, the Congregation of Beth Elohim, and Green Acton.
Following the presentation several Town Meeting members were lined up to speak at both the pro and con microphones. The first person recognized by Town Meeting Moderator, Jo Ann Berry, was David Martin, who was first in line at the con microphone. Mr. Martin, who is a Select Board member but was speaking from the floor as a Town resident, moved that the article be referred to the Select Board for possible future action. He argued that as currently written, the proposed new bylaw is too punitive, too complicated, too aggressive, and contained numerous flaws that would need to be amended prior to a vote. The Select Board and Finance Committee caucused on Mr. Martin’s motion. The Select Board decided to make no recommendation on Mr. Martin’s motion, and the Finance Committee decided to recommend. After a brief discussion on the motion, Town Meeting members voted to send the proposed bylaw change to the Select Board.
When contacted after the meeting, Paul Kampas indicated that he will be moving forward with a ‘Plan B’ proposal for a future bylaw revision.
Dr. Parenti is a volunteer writer for the Acton Exchange and a member of the Town of Acton Water Resource Committee and the Acton Water District Finance Committee.
