Residents were quiescent, offering no concerns to the November 4, 2024 Select Board meeting. Board Chair Fran Arsenault echoed earlier announcements regarding assessors’ inspections and announced a November 13, 7:00 p.m. Housing Production Plan webinar. Board member Alissa Nicol noted higher water bills and recommended the Watersmart monitoring program; Ms. Nicol also mentioned that construction had begun at the South Acton PFAS mitigation project. Town Managers noted the red flag fire conditions and mentioned several completed projects including the surface-cleaned Isaac Davis Monument and the restored Woodlawn Cemetery gates – projects that had been supported by grants and Community Preservation Act funds.
(Note to readers: Select Board members and Town Managers often relay timely information at the beginning of Select Board meetings. In case of duplicated information – for example in the Acton Exchange’s Bulletin Board feature – those notices may not be reported here.)
Finance, budgets, and guidance
Finance Committee Point of View: Finance Committee (FinComm) Chair Jason Cole and Vice-Chair Scott Sullivan presented the FinComm’s Finance Committee FY26 Point of View document (dated August 2024). The FinComm recognized Acton’s financial and academic strengths, but called attention to upcoming challenges. Tax bills have increased faster than inflation, and the recent override passed by a very small vote margin, suggesting the possibility of a future override failing at the ballot box.
Mr. Cole commended Town Manager John Mangiaratti and former Manager Steven Ledoux for eliminating financial practices from simpler times (no more “puddles of money” in town finances), and the FinComm document listed “Transparent Accounting of Holdings” as part of its near-future recommendations. Mr. Cole noted that both the School Committee and the Finance Committee have initiated budget and spending review efforts. One of the FinComm’s points of view was “additional debt exclusions are unaffordable at this time”. An overall message from the presentation and subsequent discussion was that, although the recent override passed, rising tax rates in the face of Proposition 2 1/2 limits are an ongoing problem that may lead to further override requests.
DPW Building: Select Board member Dean Charter provided a brief update regarding the proposed Department of Public Works (DPW) building, saying that the present all-costs estimate for that project was $46.9 million. At a Thursday, November 7, 2024 DPW building committee meeting, that estimate was revised to $47.9 million, although Assistant Town Manager Thom Begin and others spoke of possible cost reductions through “value engineering” and revisions to the current plan. (ActonTV video of the meeting is now available.) At this time, it appears likely that funding for replacement of the DPW building will be brought before the town at the next regular Town Meeting.
Acton Leadership Group (ALG) updates are now a regular Select Board agenda item, providing the Board an opportunity to review longer-time-frame issues. The Board reiterated the necessity for budget discipline, briefly mentioned the Town-School district spending ratio, and mentioned that the property tax rate has not yet been set. The town manager and school superintendent will present their proposed budgets soon, providing better data for tax rate decisions.
Special Town Meeting: The Board approved the Warrant article “Authorize Acquisition of Property Located at 19 and 35 Wetherbee Street” for the upcoming Special Town Meeting. Board member David Martin noted that the Acton Conservation Trust has scheduled Wetherbee Woods trail walks, and are distributing an abundantly illustrated article, “Opportunity to Protect Wetherbee Woods“. Various donations to defray the costs of the acquisition were gratefully acknowledged. Town Manager John Mangiaratti updated the Board on the status of a formal Purchase and Sale document for the Wetherbee land that will come before a future Select Board meeting.
Briefly noted: The Board returned to its ongoing discussion of an updated Draft Sustainability Policy document. An annual report by the Town Manager and the Town staff efforts and resources that the report would require, as well as the scope of the report, were considered. The topic closed with an agreement for yet another revision and reconsideration.
A 2025 Select Board Meeting Schedule was held from the Consent Items; the Board changed some dates so the linked schedule should be regarded as preliminary. The “Town of Acton Select Board Fee Schedule” was also held from Consent items; the $2.00 fee for “To Tell Fortunes for Money License” remains unchanged.
Hearings: Two hearings were opened and continued to future meetings. A Livery License for Safe & Fast Service, LLC was granted after very brief discussion.
Tom Beals is the Select Board beat reporter for the Acton Exchange.