Tom Beals

Opening remarks: Select Board Goal Setting Listening Session: The Select Board renews its annual goals list after the Town election, and invites public suggestions for those goals. Letters to the Select Board, made available in the meeting materials, expanded on issues that were mentioned in person at the…

Opening remarks: Select Board Chair Alissa Nicol relayed Acton Water District updates: all three treatment plants have completed conditioning and, as of the end of April, are delivering water at PFAS “non-detect” levels. Outdoor watering restrictions are at “Level 3”, allowing outdoor watering 1 day per week. Independence…

Opening remarks: Select Board reorganization: Following the recent election, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Alissa Nicol as Chair; David Martin as Vice-chair; and Fran Arsenault as Clerk. Buy Recycled Policy update: Director of Public Works Cory York presented a proposed Environmentally Preferred Procurement Policy to replace the…

Opening remarks: Select Board (Board) Chair Dean Charter opened the April 27, 2026 Board meeting by introducing Interim Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo, who honored Officer Stephen McCarthy for his swift, life-saving response to a choking emergency earlier this month. With many uniformed officers in attendance, Chief Sturniolo praised…

Opening remarks: Natural gas pipeline replacement: At a lengthy May 19, 2025 Select Board hearing on gas line replacement, residents and some Board members objected to engineering details of the replacement plan, and questioned whether the system should be maintained at all. At the present meeting, departing Board…

Opening remarks: A resident marveled at the rapidity and effectiveness of the response to a request made to Department of Public Works Director Corey York. Recognition of Police Chief Cogan: The Board, town manager, and the audience applauded Chief Cogan as the Board recognized his service on the…

Opening remarks License plate readers and surveillance technology At the Dec. 1, 2025 Select Board (Board) meeting a resident had asked about use of automated license plate readers in Acton. At the present meeting, Ms. Nicol related residents’ requests for the Board to provide guidance for the use…

Opening remarks: Select Board Chair Dean Charter noted the passing of Ms. Carol Lake, recalling her role as the first director of the Acton Senior Center. Town Manager John Mangiaratti and Assistant Town Manager Thom Begin displayed two celebratory over-sized $25,000 checks, “earmarks” from the state legislature, for…

Opening remarks Zoning and housing MBTA Inclusionary Zoning: The Planning Board and the Acton Community Housing Corporation (ACHC) joined the Select Board to discuss possible next steps in the MBTA overlay zone that was adopted at the May 2024 Town Meeting. Planning Director Kaila Sauer opened the discussion…

Opening remarks: Resident Derek Price again appealed to the Board regarding traffic at the intersection of Chadwick and River Street. He noted the ongoing absence of official response to concerns expressed by his neighbors and himself, and raised broader questions regarding the advancement of projects past the initial…

Opening remarks: Acton-Boxborough School Committee member Glen Cote introduced himself as the School Committee liaison to the Acton Select Board, and mentioned results from consultants District Management Group’s presentation at the Sept. 4 School Committee meeting. Town manager John Mangiaratti recommended an Office of Economic Development newsletter. Transitions:…

Opening remarks Passings: Select Board Chair Dean Charter recognized the passing of Barbara Willson, and Board Member Fran Arsenault mourned the passing of Margaret Miley. New Board Business Town Assessor’s Exemption presentation: Acton Principal Assessor CJ Carroll reviewed Acton’s tax relief programs, and detailed qualifying conditions for current…