Tom Beals

Opening remarks:  Town Hall Renovation Planning Update: Mr. Mangiaratti noted that, due to the size and to constraints on the location of a planned generator unit, the oak tree between the Town Hall and Woodbury Lane would have to be removed. Board members suggested various alternate locations for…

Opening remarks 13 School Street Hearing Following a brief review of updates to the project plan, primarily concerning changes to the parking arrangement, and after receiving approvals from the Conservation Commission and Historic District commission, the Board unanimously approved the Site Plan Special Permit. An excerpt from the…

Opening remarks: 46 Taylor Road acquisition update:  Acton Conservation Trust President Susan Mitchell-Hardt and Treasurer Hart Millett presented a ceremonial oversize check to the Town as a contribution for the purchase of 46 Taylor Road. 103 donors contributed a total of $116,620. The Board voted to accept the…

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: Glenn Cote, School Committee liaison to the Select Board, called attention to the School Committee’s January 8 meeting and its discussion of district restructuring. The final vote on elementary school reorganization is scheduled for January 22, and public comments will continue to be reviewed until that…

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…