Government - Page 2

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Water, water, everywhere: Board of Health meeting recap

October 25, 2025
The Acton Board of Health meeting on October 14 largely focused on wastewater disposal compliance at Gould’s Plaza, 250-270 Great Road. On October 7, the Acton Health Department issued a Notice of Noncompliance to East Acton Plaza, LLC, owners of Gould Plaza, for failure to mitigate two long-standing issues: 1) the need to have the two hair salons in the development connected to a wastewater holding tank (to collect wastewater contaminated with, for example, hair dyes); and 2) the need to upgrade the subsurface sewage disposal systems (SSDS) to include nitrogen reduction technology, given their location in Zone 2 and…

Acton police place police supervisor on leave

May 18, 2025
Acton Police Chief James A. Cogan reports that the Acton Police Department has charged a retired police official from another community, and placed an Acton police supervisor on administrative leave, amid questions about the handing of an OUI investigation. (In Massachusetts, OUI, or “Operating Under the Influence” refers…

Acton hailed as Climate Leader Community

May 18, 2025
Acton’s longtime commitment to sustainability was recognized on Friday as state officials designated the Town as a Climate Leader Community. The Town was one of 19 communities honored at a ceremony on Friday, May 2, at the construction site for Watertown’s new net-zero High School. To be recognized…

Another Town Meeting in the books

May 10, 2025
After a very long two nights on May 5 and 6, 2025, Acton has successfully wrapped up another Town Meeting. You can view Town Meeting recordings on the ActonTV YouTube channel: For an overview of Town Meeting outcomes, see the May 7 update section of UPDATED May 7,…
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Town Meeting Article 1: Choosing Town Officers

May 10, 2025
The following officers were nominated and elected: The nominations were voted as a group by voice, except for Trustee of the West Acton Citizens Library, which the Moderator held out for separate consideration, as she anticipated a possible additional nomination from the floor. Terra F. stated that the…
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Town Meeting Article 7: Select Board proposes, and voters approve, $150K for exploration of alternatives and public outreach on DPW building

May 10, 2025
Acton’s Department of Public Works (DPW), like the Fire and Police Departments, ensures essential but often overlooked services (snowplowing, stormwater management, rapid emergency services) that keep the town running. Operating from a facility on Forest Road behind the transfer station, the DPW maintains a fleet of vehicles and…
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Town Meeting Articles 37-41: Citizens Petitions

May 10, 2025
Acton’s Town Charter contains a provision for “Petitioner’s Warrant Articles.” These are articles brought forward by ordinary citizens, rather than by the Select Board or a department of Town government. The Charter requires ten signatures to place a petition on the warrant for Annual Town Meeting. Articles 37,…

Results and reflections on Town elections

May 3, 2025
Results Thirteen percent of Acton’s 16,243 registered voters (2164 people) cast a ballot in Tuesday’s Town elections, according to the preliminary results published at the Town’s website. In comparison, last November, 80% showed up for the presidential elections. In her uncontested race for Town Moderator, Jo-Ann Berry received…
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Select Board notes: April 7, 2025

April 19, 2025
Opening remarks: A resident (this reporter) addressed the Board regarding the proposed gas-powered leaf-blower ban. Town Manager John Mangiaratti noted a High School Volunteer Internship Program, and invited responses to a survey regarding the Fire Department two-location staffing experiment that will be ending soon. Ambulance fee increase: Acton…
A composite photo of two men. The man on the left wears a sport jacket and is perched on a table. The man on the right is just a headshot of a smiling man wearing a tie.

Q&A with candidates for AWD Commissioner

April 12, 2025
This year, there are two candidates running for the position of Commissioner of the Acton Water District (AWD): John Petersen and Barry Rosen. This post contains the candidates’ answers to questions prepared by the Green Acton Water Committee. The Acton Water District is an independent government entity, separate…

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