Residents’ Concerns and Board Members notes: The June 3, 2024 Acton Select Board meeting opened with a resident’s inquiry regarding the recent murder-suicide in Acton; he requested the Board inquire as to how the suspect (who was reported to be out on bail, GPS-monitored, and subject to a restraining order) obtained a firearm and was in the vicinity of the victim, apparently undetected.
Board member Jim Snyder-Grant called attention to the Volunteer Opportunities section of the Town website (scroll down past Employment Opportunities to Volunteer Opportunities), where committee descriptions are listed. Board member Alissa Nicol noted updates to water rates and outdoor water use that can be seen at the Acton Water District website, as well as an upcoming meeting (see below) to see whether residents will approve an additional appropriation for PFAS remediation and bedrock well construction.
Select Board Calendar and update Items:
Chair Fran Arsenault: Road paving begins June 5; NARA Beach is now open;
Mr. Snyder-Grant: Climate Resilience Festival Saturday June 8th from 1 to 4 p.m. at Gardner field, and a webinar, “From Gas To Clean Heat” hosted by Senator Eldridge and Mothers Out Front Acton;
Mr. Martin: upcoming Juneteenth speaker Nikki Turpin, speaker. 2-3:30 pm on June 11, Town Hall Room 204, RSVP to wgachugi@actonma.gov.);
Mr. Charter: the Acton Lions Club Town Fair at the School Street Fields, June 13 through June 16;
Ms. Nicol: Acton Water District meeting (6:00 p.m., June 13, 2024 at 693 Massachusetts Avenue).
Infrastructure (1): McManus Manor sewer update: At the April 1, 2024 Select Board meeting Town Manager John Mangiaratti reported that bids to extend sewer lines for the proposed McManus Manor housing project had come in above the budgeted limit; the funding shortfall complicated the then-current plans for that project and for the adjacent dog park. At the present meeting, Mr. Mangiaratti announced that in “exciting breaking news” that the MassWorks 2022 $2,300,000 sewer extension grant would be increased by $250,000. Given the timing of the announcement, Mr. Mangiaratti could not be definitive, but he was optimistic that the contract for the sewer expansion could be finalized, and that the dog park committee now had the information they needed to proceed with their plans. Mr. Mangiaratti commended Economic Development director Julie Pierce and Town Engineer QinRui Pang for their contributions to the effort to obtain the supplemental MassWorks grant.
Infrastructure (2): The Board briefly discussed the status of a Massachusetts Department of Transportation proposal to reconstruct the Route 2 offramp onto Main Street (Route 27). Board members Charter and Martin spoke favorably of the preliminary plan. Mr. Mangiaratti said that the public would be made aware of future events concerning the proposal.
Financial matters: Funds that the Town received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) must be used or contracted by December 31, 2024. The Board discussed the remaining funds and voted on reallocation within projects. The Board voted to renew the Town’s annual agreement with the multi-town Regional Housing Services Office that handles a variety of accounting and administrative tasks, and approved an increase in reserved parking space fees.
Select Board Goals and Liaison assignments: The Board reviewed progress on its current goals and made plans to set goals for the current year. The Board discussed and updated liaison assignments to the various town committees; the updated liaison list will be posted on the Select Board page on the Town website.
Tom Beals is a volunteer reporter for the Acton Exchange.