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Water, water, everywhere: Board of Health meeting recap

October 25, 2025

by Patricia McTiernan

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…

Map of South Acton Village showing new zoning overlays.

Acton Town Meeting: Zoning articles pass by a wide margin

May 7, 2024

Kim KastensandPeter J. Berry

The Acton Exchange covers three of the four Town Meeting zoning articles this week. The Planning Division’s presentation of the zoning articles to the Planning Board on March 19 as well as an open house on the Powder Mill Corridor project (related to Article 11) were previously reported…

A man and a woman holding award plaques at Town Meeting.

Hawthorne and Hutchings receive Joseph A. Lalli Merit Awards

May 7, 2024

by Tom Beals

The second evening of the Acton Town meeting on May 7, 2024 opened with recognition of the Joseph A. Lalli Merit awardees. Town manager John Mangiaratti, briefly described Joseph A. Lalli and the Steinberg-Lalli Charitable Foundation, and said that this award is given each year to a public…

Other Town Meeting articles

May 7, 2024

Franny OsmanandMiriam LezakandTom Beals

Article 1 – Choose town officers On the first night of Town Meeting, the Town Moderator split choosing town officers into two parts, to ensure that the budget articles were discussed and voted on in a timely manner. Part one included all of the uncontested positions, which was…

Red, white, and blue sign that says Town Meeting starts Monday. The sign is on a grassy area so it can be seen from the road.

Town Manager appreciates contributors to Town Meeting

May 7, 2024

by John Mangiaratti

Editor: Town Manager John Mangiaratti responded to questions from the Acton Exchange about Town Meeting 2024 with the following letter: The 2024 Annual Town Meeting had the highest attendance in Acton’s history. The voters approved an operating budget and school assessments supported by additional revenue from an operational…

Acton Water District Prepares for New Federal Limits on PFAS

May 7, 2024

by Ron Parenti

On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced the first federal enforceable drinking water regulations for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and placed concentration limits on some of these chemicals at 4 parts-per-trillion (ppt). The EPA predicts that significant health benefits will result from this action; however, managers of…

A group of 5 people smiling and holding political signs both for and against the override, Andrew Schwartz is also there, holding an Andrew Schwartz for School Committee sign.

Town Election Results and Upcoming Town Meeting

April 30, 2024

by Franny Osman

Acton Town Elections were held Tuesday, April 30. A total of 6,390 voters cast ballots, 40.65% of the town’s 15,721 registered voters, according to the official results on the Town’s website. “The high voter turnout at the polls energized the workers, and the Clerk office’s delivery of a…

A woman with black hair, big pink glasses, and wearing a purple dress holds an award (the Black Excellence on the Hill Award).

Julie Pierce promotes a vibrant Acton

April 30, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Julie Pierce, Acton’s Economic and Community Development Director, was completely surprised and honored when she recently won a “Black Excellence on the Hill” award from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. Unbeknownst to her, State Representative Simon Cataldo, who represents parts of Acton, had nominated her for…

Graph of spending projects from FinCom for the next several years. The projected shortfall goes from 0 in the FY 2025 to $3.38M in FY 2029 (projected).

April 29, 2024 Select Board meeting: Longer than a marathon

April 30, 2024

by Tom Beals

At the November 6, 2023 Select Board meeting, the Board approved a reorganization that created a Health and Human Services Department. At the April 29, 2024 Board meeting, Town Manager John Mangiaratti introduced Penny (Penelope) Funaiole, Director of Health and Human Services. Ms. Funaiole, who assumed her role…

Woman with blond hair and glasses.

Interview with Acton’s new Health Director

April 30, 2024

by D.K. Halley

Penelope (Penny) Funaiole has been appointed as Acton’s new Health and Family Services Director, replacing the recently retired Sheryl Ball. Her most recent experience was as the Prevention and Outreach Manager for the City of Medford for eight plus years. Prior to that position, she held the position…

Man wearing gray suit stands in front of a door labeled House of Representatives. He is smiling and holding a copy of the MA 2025 budget in his hands.

Massachusetts House of Representatives passes 2025 budget, including several items for the Middlesex 37th

April 30, 2024

by The Acton Exchange Team

This article was adapted from a press release from the office of State Representative Dan Sena. Representative Danillo Sena (37th Middlesex- Acton)announced this week the passage of three amendments filed to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, bringing specific funding to the communities of Acton,…

Red, white, and blue Vote Tuesday sign to remind people to vote.

Updated Again, Important Dates for Town Election and Town Meetings

April 27, 2024

Miriam LezakandFranny Osman

The town election is coming up on April 30, followed by the Annual Town Meeting, which begins on Monday, May 6 and continues on Tuesday, May 7. At the Annual Town Meeting, the town will vote on town and school budgets, zoning changes, and other important issues. If…

Concord Town Meeting Warrant Requests Funding for Nagog Pond Treatment Plant

April 27, 2024

by Kim Kastens

Concord Town Meeting Warrant Article 17 requests $50 million debt authorization for “Nagog Pond Improvements and PFAS Mitigation.” This article has three potential impacts for Acton: the possibility that a new water main would be installed under Great Road across the full width of Acton, the possibility that…

Erika Amir-Lin

Q&A with candidate for Acton Water District Commissioner

April 19, 2024

by Kim Kastens

This article is adapted from the website of Green Acton. This year, there is one candidate running for the position of Commissioner of the Acton Water District (AWD): Erika Amir-Lin. This post contains Ms. Amir-Lin’s answers to questions prepared by the Green Acton Water Committee, with the goal…

photo of town moderator Jo-Ann Berry

April 17 Special Town Meeting Rejects Call for Impact Studies

April 19, 2024

by Tom Beals

A special town meeting, called in response to a citizen petition, was held on April 17, 2024, to discuss and vote on a single non-binding resolution: “We urge Town leaders, before recommending any major zoning proposal, to perform [and release for public review] detailed impact studies, which examine…

Ballot boxes at Acton Town Hall.

Updated, Important Dates for Town Election and Town Meetings

April 19, 2024

Franny OsmanandMiriam Lezak

This year, in addition to the town election at the end of April, there are two Town Meetings. The first meeting, on Wednesday, April 17, was a Special Town Meeting called by a citizen petition. The second is the Annual Town Meeting. It begins on Monday, May 6…

Ballot boxes at Acton Town Hall.

Acton Will Vote on a $6.6M Tax Override at Local Election on April 30

April 12, 2024

Diane BaumandMarion Maxwell

On April 30, Acton voters will go to the polls to decide if the town will move forward with a $6.6M permanent increase in taxation over and above the 2 ½ percent plus new growth of about ½%, currently permitted under state law. The last time Acton voters…

Acton-Boxborough School Committee Meeting

School Committee April 4 Meeting Update

April 12, 2024

by Diane Baum

Minimal disruption to school day despite two power outages The Acton-Boxborough Regional High School briefly lost power just prior to the start of the school day on April 4 due to a transformer failure. The power failure occurred just as high school students were stepping off the bus.…

Photo of an Acton Select Board meeting.

Select Board Notes, April 1, 2024: Sewer Setback Distresses Dog Park

April 12, 2024

by Tom Beals

Residents’ concerns with pedestrian safety and traffic issues led off the April 1, 2024 Select Board meeting. Mr. James Walter, Board Chair of the Infant Toddler Children’s Center on Central Street, described potentially hazardous conditions at pedestrian crosswalks adjacent to the Center, detailing those conditions in a handout.…

Man wearing gray suit stands in front of a door labeled House of Representatives. He is smiling and holding a copy of the MA 2025 budget in his hands.

Massachusetts House of Representatives passes 2025 budget, including several items for the Middlesex 37th

April 3, 2024

by The Acton Exchange Team

This article was adapted from a press release from the office of State Representative Dan Sena. Representative Danillo Sena (37th Middlesex- Acton)announced this week the passage of three amendments filed to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, bringing specific funding to the communities of Acton,…

Ballot boxes at Acton Town Hall.

Important Dates for Town Election and Town Meetings

April 1, 2024

Miriam LezakandFranny Osman

This year, in addition to the town election at the end of April, there are two Town Meetings. The first meeting, on Wednesday, April 17 is Special Town Meeting. More details are below. The second is the Annual Town Meeting. It begins on Monday, May 6 and will…

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