A plea for regulating chicken-keeping opened the October 21 Select Board meeting. A resident described noise from a neighbors’ rooster and chickens, and he proposed regulations governing chicken numbers, chicken housing, and related issues.
Town manager John Mangiaratti noted additional operating hours for the Council on Aging shuttle, and the impending end of the temporary grant-funded taxi program, due to lack of funding. Mr. Mangiaratti reported that Veteran’s Field electric vehicle chargers were not yet functional (despite displaying “available”) but should be functional by the end of the month; and finally noted the current Acton Restaurant Week. Assistant Town manager Thom Begin recommended a visit to the Haunted Trail at Nara Park. Board member Alissa Nicol noted the joint meetings of the Boards of the West Acton Citizens’ Library and the Acton Memorial Library, saying that the charge of the Citizens Library Governance Advisory Committee was to publicize and discuss the libraries’ governance structure; to that end she announced a public forum on library governance at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 in the Faulkner Room (Room 204), Acton Town Hall.
The Board approved a Special Town Meeting on November 25, 2024 to consider the purchase of properties at 19 and 35 Wetherbee Street. This purchase has been the topic of many Select Board Executive Session discussions over the years. Town Manager Mangiaratti mentioned grant funding in relation to the purchase; that a Special Town Meeting to that purpose was required before the end of the calendar year; and that the details of the plan were not yet final.
Leasing of 19 and 21 Maple Street to the Acton Food Pantry was proposed at the March 4, 2024 Select Board meeting, and a detailed plan was presented at the April 29, 2024 Select Board meeting. At the present meeting the Board unanimously approved a lease agreement.
The Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) Chair, Mr. Joe Robb returned to the Board to pursue further details of matters that were discussed at the September 27, 2024 Select Board meeting. At that meeting the WRAC presented Stormwater Management in Acton, a document that asked, “Why Fund Stormwater Management?” before discussing fee types in other Massachusetts towns and listing “Potential Program Funding Sources” including property taxes, “bonds/loans”, and an Enterprise fund, among others. At the present meeting the Board and Mr. Robb mentioned the possible need for legal advice regarding Massachusetts enabling law as well as the need for public engagement, although there was no direct discussion of raising revenue (with the possible exception of an offhand comment – “… people see it as a rain tax …”). The discussion concluded without a vote but further consideration is anticipated.
The Board briefly returned to wayfinding signage (see a brief public opinion survey showing example signs). Board member Dean Charter, having considered the various designs, suggested the Town Seal featuring the Isaac Davis monument as a unified design motif.
Mr. Charter provided an update on the ongoing Department of Public Works Building project. The next public meeting of the building committee will be in the Town Hall Faulkner room on Thursday November 7, and Mr. Charter expects to have a first specific cost estimate by that date. Mr. Charter addressed points and questions raised at the last presentation of the Building Committee; considered issues of overall design and staffing levels, and underscored the necessity of a quick response to critical equipment failure at infrequent but high-impact events – such as a plow breakdown during a heavy snow.
At the April 1, 2024 Select Board meeting then-Chair Jim Snyder Grant noted the formal legal requirement for perambulation, the marking of certain town perimeter boundaries. The Acton Perambulation Plan, authored by Board members Charter and Synder-Grant, proposes a perambulation project plan; shows images of a perambulated boundary marker; and links to an online spreadsheet listing of perimeter locations. The Board appreciated and unanimously approved the initial draft plan.
Briefly noted:
- Board Chair Fran Arsenault and Board Member Nicol plan to attend an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, November 20, 2024 for Ari Shukla, Charlotte Duhamel, William Barker, Aditya Sundarapandiyan, and Soham Sudhakaran.
- The Board approved an Amended Economic Development Committee Charge that explicitly allows non-Acton-resident participation in Committee business.
- The originator of a request to hunt Canada geese on public lands was closely questioned by the Board before it granted unanimous approval.
- Consent calendar items approved with minimal discussion included a Menorah display and acceptance of a Conservation Restriction for 13 Arlington Street and 180 New Town Road.
Tom Beals is the Select Board beat reporter for the Acton Exchange.