Opening remarks: Yet another plea for Forest Road sidewalks was heard at the opening of the February 24, 2025 Select Board meeting. The commenter noted a rise in the number of petition signatures. Two residents noted and praised a “peacemakers network”. Select Board member Jim Snyder-Grant spoke at some length regarding the town’s response to recent Federal policy changes, saying that the town’s policies continue to conform to state law.
Legislative updates: State Senator Jamie Eldridge and State Representatives Simon Cataldo and Dan Sena addressed the Board; much of their remarks concerned proposed legislation. Senator Eldridge noted a slight increase in unrestricted local aid in Governor Healey’s proposed budget, and mentioned the possibility of a further increase by the Legislature; as well as expressing hope for increased state aid to schools. He said that due to legislative processes, a change to Chapter 70 aid was unlikely for the current legislative session. In response to a question from the Board, Senator Eldridge mentioned the proposed statewide Safe Communities Act that would limit the involvement of local law enforcement and other local officials in Federal immigration enforcement.
At Representative Cataldo’s January 13 presentation to the Select Board, Mr. Snyder-Grant asked about increasing legislative transparency, noting the difficulty in tracking the progress of legislation. Returning to that question, both Representatives mentioned an upcoming vote on a “rules package”. Making current temporary authorization that allows remote participation in board and committee meetings a permanent option was mentioned, and legislative action on school funding, housing and transportation issues, and energy efficiency was also said to be pending.
Infrastructure 1 – Housing: The Planning Board joined the Select Board for an update on Acton’s next Housing Production Plan (HPP) that would replace the current 2020 plan. These optional plans, if approved by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), facilitate compliance with Chapter 40B regulations.
Planning Director Kristen Guichard introduced Noah Harper of Goldstone associates, a consultant group. Mr. Harper reviewed the community meetings that provided input to the planning process and presented a series of goals for the proposed plan. These goals included diversity and long-term affordability, and remaining above the 10% 40B affordability threshold while serving a diverse population. The plan recognized infrastructure challenges including wastewater management, climate adaptation restrictions, and clustering housing to preserve open space and natural resources; those residential clusters could be located near business, village districts, and near transit facilities.
In the following discussion, Select Board member Alissa Nicol emphasized maintenance and upgrading of existing housing as well as new construction. Planning Board member Pat Clifford asked whether the plan would provide strategies as well as goals; Ms. Guichard and Mr. Harper noted accomplished goals from the 2020 HPP and emphasized that the 2025 plan would be a tactical as well as a strategic document. Planning Board Member Ron Beck noted the zero-sum nature of subsidies; more subsidies could increase costs for other residents. He added that water supply as well as wastewater handling needs to be considered, and noted the greater ecological value of connected open space.
Continuing the housing theme, Planning Director Guichard presented a Habitat for All Update that continued the proposals that were presented to the Select Board in Dec. 2024, with slight modifications such as setback and vegetative buffer requirements.
Conservation Agent Olivia Barksdale presented a Proposal for Acton Tree Bylaws document that is intended to prohibit the clear-cutting of larger (greater than one acre) land parcels in the absence of immediate construction plans. The proposal was a response to the 2022 Town Meeting Warrant article 54, “Non-Binding Resolution – Land/Tree Clearing Limits Bylaw(s)” as well as responses to a recent Habitat for All survey, and was brought to the Board in the context of the Habitat for All open-space requirement. [Amend Zoning Bylaw: Habitat for All – Natural Resource Protection Zoning (two-thirds majority vote)” is on the draft Town Meeting Warrant articles.] As presented, the proposal would apply town-wide, including privately owned land; and would restrict tree-clearing, as defined, in the absence of a development permit.
Planning Board members questioned details of definitions, asking about forestry and agriculture. Select Board member Dean Charter, a certified arborist and consulting arborist, estimated that the proposed bylaw could add $2,000–$5,000 per unit; Mr. Charter noted that Newton’s similar ordinance with no added resources overwhelmed the responsible staff. [Approve New General Bylaw: Tree Clearing Delay (majority vote) also appears on the draft Town Meeting Warrant articles.]
Infrastructure 2 – Roads and planning
Complete Streets project proposal: Department of Public Works Director Corey York, with Nicole Rogers from consulting firm GPI, presented an update on the Townwide Complete Streets Prioritization Plan, for the Select Board’s approval to submit the plan to Massachusetts Department Of Transportation (MassDOT) as a competitive grant.
Complete Streets are loosely defined as streets that serve a variety of users and means of transportation; it is the “evolution of the street as a designed product.” MassDOT provides a funding information page for the statewide Complete Streets program.
The presentation includes a prioritized listing of projects (Great Road Complete Streets; Davis Road to Harris Street) is the top priority, and lists the prioritization criteria. The Board voted to authorize submission of the project proposal.
Complete Main Street: Director York introduced Toole Design consultant Carolyn Radisch, for a presentation of a Complete Streets-inspired redesign of Main Street, from Route 2 to the town center. The question before the Board was a choice of design options that would support walking, biking, and vehicles, including large trucks, over a 4,500-foot span that begins where a redesigned Route 2 interchange is planned, and includes McManus Manor and the dog park (both now under construction), the Public Safety facility, and the Acton Arboretum as well as the frequently-problematic intersection of Hayward Road and Main Street.
The presentation reviewed prior results from public responses to survey questions, and the discussion included comments from the Transportation Advisory Committee chair as well as public comment. Three options for the street layout were presented and described in detail; the chosen option, summarized as “10’ Side Path + Sidewalk”, was favored by virtually all participants, and the Board voted to approve moving on to a 25% design.
Finance, budgets, Department of Public Works, and Acton Leadership Group
Town Manager John Mangiaratti presented his FY 2026 Revised Budget Recommendation; he reviewed challenges to the budget including an unexpected 14.8% increase in health insurance costs that was absorbed by a budget cut of $160,000, and he detailed the proposed budget cuts. The budget request is a 3.81% increase over the previous year. In the Board’s discussion the Town: School budget ratio was again mentioned. Over many years the town has deferred spending to support the schools, and the Board discussed matching the School’s percentage increase vs. funding the Town based solely on Town priorities.
In preparation for another joint meeting with the Finance Committee to discuss the proposed Department of Public Works building, the Board reviewed proposals to slightly reduce the building size and other options. The latest informal “back-of-the-napkin” total project cost estimate is $37.6 million.
3 and 13 School Street properties: Finally, Mr. Mangiaratti reviewed the recent history and the possible disposition of Town properties at 3 and 13 School Street. Since the last project proposal for those properties was rejected by Town Meeting voters the South Acton Congregational Church has relocated, the church property is for sale, and Exchange Hall has new owners. Mr. Mangiaratti proposed that the time is right to issue another Request for Proposals (RFP) for the properties. The discussion closed without a vote, but the consensus appeared to favor issuance of an RFP.
Briefly noted:
- An architectural plan of the Food Pantry’s first and second floor accompanied Request for Waiver for the Acton Food Pantry. The Board appreciated the Food Pantry’s investment in the building, but was unwilling to waive the entire estimated fees, voting instead to cap building permit fees to $4,000.
- Discussion of a draft Town Meeting Warrant Articles list was deferred
- On the Consent items: The Board approved a License Agreement for the third annual Silver Unicorn Kids Graphic Novel Festival.
Hearings: A Site Plan Special Permit for 358 Great Road was granted (with conditions).
Tom Beals is the Acton Exchange Select Board beat reporter and is part of the paper’s Tech Team.
