Government - Page 9

Java with John: Town manager lays out a balancing act

March 7, 2026

by Greg Jarboe

At the Acton Senior Center, Town Manager John S. Mangiaratti poured the coffee and got to the point on Friday morning, Feb. 27, 2026. His monthly “Java with John” session — one of his regular informal conversations with residents — covered a lot of ground: a tightly constrained FY27 (Fiscal Year 2027) municipal budget, a rethought plan for the Public Works facility on Forest Road, upgrades to Town Hall, and a piece of open land near the Acton Arboretum. The throughline, Mangiaratti told the seniors gathered around him, is sequencing — doing things in the right order so that Acton…

Deputy Chief Sammet in a fire station is pinned by his son, Jordan

Select Board Meeting of March 4, 2024: Taking Care of Business

March 23, 2024

by Tom Beals

Opening remarks: In the customary opening remarks to the March 4, 2024 Select Board meeting, Select Board Member David Martin noted the pinning ceremony for Deputy Fire Chief Chris Sammett, and mentioned that a planning meeting had been held for a natural meadow behind the “Red House” on…

Drawing of a hand holding a ballot

Primary Day in Acton

March 23, 2024

by Franny Osman

There are 15,612 registered voters in the Town of Acton. Thirty-three percent of those voters, or 5185, cast a ballot on “Super Tuesday,” March 5, when voters in 16 states and one territory headed to the polls in the largest contest so far in the 2024 presidential primary.”…

Pipe connected to water meter

Why Does the Acton Water District Want a Picture of Your Water Pipe?

March 14, 2024

by Ron Parenti

You may have recently received an email or letter from the Acton Water District that requested information about the service line that sends water from the District’s water main in the street into your home or business. These mailings ask the occupant to submit information and a picture…

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Board of Health Meeting of March 5, 2024: New Director, Battery Storage, and Wastewater Treatment

March 14, 2024

by D.K. Halley

The March 5 Board of Health Meeting convened at 7:30 PM in Room 9 of the Acton Town Hall. Present for the meeting were Chair Mark Conoby and Members Bill McInnis and Bill Taylor (by remote Zoom). Staff present for the meeting were Interim Health Director Matt Dow,…

A portion of the FEMA National Flood Hazard Map covering southern Acton, from Acton's Stormwater Management Asset Plan

NEWS BRIEF: Town of Acton kicks off Hazard Mitigation Planning Process

March 6, 2024

by Kim Kastens

The Town of Acton has begun the process of revising its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). A municipal HMP documents the types of natural hazards that may harm the community, and details actions the town has taken and is planning to take to mitigate potential damage from such hazards. Natural hazards…

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Select Board Meeting of February 26, 2024: More on Finances and Car Dealerships

March 6, 2024

by Tom Beals

he February 26, 2024 Select Board meeting opened as usual by hearing Resident Concerns. Those included the following: In Town Manager and Board Member updates: With an override vote pending, financial issues were again prominent at this meeting. The town continues to update fees for services. Assistant Town…

Acton-Boxborough School Committee Chair Adam Klein and Superintendent Peter LIght at the School’s “Budget Saturday” meeting.

Acton-Boxborough School Committee February News Update

February 28, 2024

by Diane Baum

After a day-long “Budget Saturday” workshop on February 10 and a subsequent budget discussion on February 15, the School Committee voted unanimously to set the 2024-25 recommended Acton-Boxborough Regional School District budget at $114,380,105. Both meetings were recorded and are available at Acton TV’s government channel. The budget…

Acton-Boxborough School Committee Chair Adam Klein and Superintendent Peter LIght at the School’s “Budget Saturday” meeting.

Acton-Boxborough School Committee February News Update

February 28, 2024

by Diane Baum

After a day-long “Budget Saturday” workshop on February 10 and a subsequent budget discussion on February 15, the School Committee voted unanimously to set the 2024-25 recommended Acton-Boxborough Regional School District budget at $114,380,105. Both meetings were recorded and are available at Acton TV’s government channel. The budget reflects…

Fire Chief Anita Arnum

Acton’s Fire Department to the Rescue

February 24, 2024

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Fire Chief Anita Arnum and recently appointed Deputy Chief Chris Sammet have amassed 60 years of experience serving the Acton Fire Department. Through those years, they have not only fought fires but have helped people facing a variety of crises, ranging from injuries from a car accident to…

Photo of D K Halley

An Interview with Acton’s New Assistant Town Manager

February 15, 2024

by D.K. Halley

On November 20, 2023, Thomas (Thom) Begin started his new job as Acton’s Assistant Town Manager. He had previously worked in the Framingham School system as Assistant Director of Buildings and Grounds. He achieved a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government in 2006 and a master’s degree…

Photo of an Acton Select Board meeting.

Select Board Meeting, February 5, 2024: Finance in a Time of Overrides

February 15, 2024

by Tom Beals

The February 5, 2024 Select Board meeting led off with finance and budget talk. Select Board chair Jim Snyder-Grant reported that the Acton Leadership Group had reached a consensus on a $6.6M override amount; he emphasized that the division of override funds between schools and town had not…

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Override Talks and Economic Development Plans: Finance Committee and Acton Leadership Group Meetings

February 7, 2024

by Tom Beals

The upcoming budget override, its amount, and how it would be split between the town and schools, were the primary topics of discussion at the January 23, 2024 Finance Committee and January 29, 2024 Acton Leadership Group meetings. Of note at the Finance Committee meeting was a presentation…

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January 22, 2024 Select Board Meeting Notes

February 1, 2024

by Tom Beals

Finances update At the January 8 Select Board meeting the Board asked Town Manager John Mangiaratti to prepare a budget that reduced the level services budget by $1 million. Before presenting the revised budget, Mr. Mangiaratti gave a brief update on health insurance, saying that a hiring freeze and other…

AWD Commissioners vote a 50% increase in water rates for FY25

February 1, 2024

by Kim Kastens

At a joint meeting of the Acton Water District (AWD) Commissioners and the AWD Finance Committee (FinCom) on January 22, the Commissioners voted for a 50% increase in water rates beginning in July 2024. The water rate increase will be applied evenly across residential, municipal, and commercial water…

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Acton-Boxborough School Committee January News Update

January 29, 2024

by Diane Baum

At their January 2024 business meetings, the School Committee voted on the following programs, policies and initiatives. IMAGE HERE Screen shot from video of January 18, 2024 School Committee meeting. New Policy on Student Use of Personal Electronic Communication Devices The Committee voted unanimously at their January 4…

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Acton Facing Prop 2 1/2 Operational Override Vote

January 17, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

The Acton Leadership Group, which is made up representatives of the Select Board, the Finance Committee, and the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee, has its own version of “hot stove season.” But instead of gathering around an antique wood stove at a general store to discuss their favorite baseball…

a group seated behind desks

January 8 Select Board Meeting: Concerns on Resident Concerns, Budget Issues, and Town Meeting Warrant

January 17, 2024

by Tom Beals

The January 8, 2024 Acton Select Board meeting opened as usual with “Resident Concerns”, a forum for brief remarks from residents to the Board. A resident spoke regarding the use of a “Point of Order” to interrupt residents’ remarks at previous meetings, reminding the Board of the Supreme…

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Backgrounder: Lessons from History: Acton’s 2005 Override

January 8, 2024

by Tom Beals

A tax limit override that, if approved by Acton voters, would raise property taxes beyond the Proposition 2½ statutory limits has recently been discussed at the Select Board, Finance Committee, and Acton Leadership Group meetings. It seems likely, following those discussions, that an override will be on the…

Entrance to Acton Water District office

Acton Water District Finance Committee Discusses Financial Policy and Fiscal Year ’25 Budget and Water Rates

January 8, 2024

by Kim Kastens

The Finance Committee (FinCom) of the Acton Water District (AWD), along with the District Treasurer and Manager, met on January 4 to continue crafting the District Financial Policy, review the draft Fiscal Year ‘25 (FY25) budget and Annual Meeting warrant articles, and discuss water rates for FY25. FY25…

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State Approves Acton’s Participation in Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project

January 3, 2024

by Jim Snyder-Grant

On December 22, 2023, the Town of Acton received approval from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) approving the Town’s participation in the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project. This approval means that beginning March 22, 2024, new buildings and major rehabilitation projects in…

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