Members and managers opening remarks:
Board member Alissa Nicol commented on the Acton Water District’s letter regarding lead pipes, noting that the (perhaps alarming) wording of the letter was mandated; she recommended contacting the Acton Water District if further information was wanted.
Finance, budgets, and guidance
Town Assessor’s Exemption presentation: Each year, the Assessor comes before the Select Board for review and a vote on four tax classification policies that affect the tax rate. In advance of that appearance, at the present meeting Acton Town Assessor C.J. Carroll’s presentation to the Board addressed several tax-related issues, outlining how seniors, disabled veterans, and others may be eligible (depending on the resident’s income and other factors) for reductions in their property taxes and surcharges. Mr. Carroll particularly noted the Senior Circuit Breaker based tax credit, saying the number of potentially eligible residents may be significantly larger than the number of residents that apply for and receive that credit.
Mr. Carroll described in detail the “Residential Exemption”, as provided for in State law but not applied in Acton. That exemption shifts the property tax burden to higher-assessed-value properties irrespective of the property owners income; because rental properties may have a higher assessed value, the imposition of a Residential Exemption on Acton would have the potential to raise rental prices. In response to a question, Mr. Carroll clarified that the Residential Exemption was not currently being proposed for Acton, but (in advance of the annual Classification Hearing) “…it’s always a topical conversation this time of year…”. (The Classification Hearing was scheduled to follow the Special Town meeting.)
Town Manager’s preliminary budget estimates: Within the past year, both the town and the Acton-Boxborough school district were consumed by preparation of multiple budget versions, with one to be chosen depending on the results of the April 2024 override vote. At that time, one of the budget versions was called the “Level Services budge” – that is, the dollar amount that would allow the town or school district to provide the same level of services that had been provided in the previous fiscal year. At the present meeting, Town Manager John Mangiaratti presented a review of Select Board goals, and a wide-ranging overview of factors that will affect the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget. The town faces the same price increases as the general public – for example a 10% increase in health insurance costs. Mr. Mangiaratti reviewed capital projects to be funded by borrowing and other less costly projects to be funded from free cash, as well as increased staffing requests from several town departments. Select Board members were generally appreciative but requested specific details for some cases and a more general plan to contextualize other costs.
DPW Building: Select Board member Dean Charter summarized several topics that were discussed at the November 7 Department of Public Works (DPW) building committee meeting. While detailed plans for a replacement building exist, the logistics of maintaining DPW services while their base of operations is rebuilt remains an open question. On that note the time-losses due to current inadequate space were again mentioned. The next public meeting of the DPW Building committee will be on December 12 at 7 p.m.
Finance notes: The Board authorized the Town Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale document for the Wetherbee land purchase contingent on approval at the November 25 Special Town Meeting [it was approved]. An additional $50,000 in fee waivers for inspections by Town staff was granted for the McManus Manor senior housing project.
Briefly noted:
Stormwater: In a continuation of a series of appearances and presentations, members of the Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) spoke briefly to the Board and presented a one-page document regarding a feasibility study that had been discussed earlier. The aim of the feasibility study is given in the first sentence of the document: “Why are we proposing that Acton seek a solution to manage and maintain the stormwater infrastructure?” The Board agreed to support the WRAC in accordance with earlier discussions.
Hearings: A Site Plan Special Permit for 358 Great Road was deferred to December 16. Two hearings relating to a change in the ownership structure of Roche Bros. supermarket were held; both were approved by the Board. A Use Special Permit hearing for a Country Canine Dogs change of address was granted after a brief discussion.
Tom Beals is the Select Board beat reporter for the Acton Exchange.