Letters to the Exchange

Most of us remember September 8, 2023 — the day a microburst tore through Acton in seconds, snapping trees, blocking roads, and cutting power across town. It was sudden, intense, and left little time to react. What many of us didn’t see was what happened next: the quiet, coordinated response of the people who work every day to keep our community safe.

I’m proud to share that The Acton Microburst - Onset of Chaos - Episode 1 of Our Tax Dollars at Work is now available. This five-part series, created by Greg Jarboe, John Petersen, and me, explores how Acton’s town services handle emergencies and how our tax dollars are put to work.

In this first episode, you’ll hear directly from Select Board member Dean Charter, Acton resident Sharon Tchon Gruet, Sergeant Keith Campbell of the Acton Police Department, Dispatch Supervisor Brendan Gray, Assistant Highway Superintendent Jason Kidder, and Tree Warden Ryan Hunt. Together, they walk us through how calls came in, how information flowed, and how crews made split-second decisions that protected residents and restored safety.

What struck me most was not the scale of the damage, but the calm determination behind every decision. These are our neighbors- people who show up, often invisibly, to turn chaos into safety. Watching this episode, I felt genuine pride and gratitude for those who serve our town.

I encourage every Acton resident to take a few minutes to watch Episode 1. Four more episodes are on the way. This series is a reminder that strong communities are built on preparation, teamwork, and dedicated public servants.

Sincerely,
Sahana Purohit

There is currently a petition circulating online asking residents to vote “no” on the school budget at Acton and Boxborough Town Meetings this spring, in order to persuade the School Committee to delay its reorganization decision by one year. On behalf of our educators, the ABEA asks the organizers to rescind their petition, and we ask all residents to support our teachers and students by voting “yes” on the school budget at both Town Meetings in May. Our educators work hard enough already, and we can’t afford to risk any further cuts to staffing or resources.

We understand that the recent AB Forward decision has generated strong feelings throughout Acton and Boxborough. Families are mourning the loss of beloved elementary school communities. Teachers are grieving, too; many of our veteran staff have worked in the same schools for their entire careers.

Nevertheless, attempting to force a delay or revision to AB Forward by voting down the school budget will help neither our educators nor our students. If one or both towns reject the proposed school budget, the resulting municipal process could drag on into the summer and put even more staff at risk. In the meantime, without guaranteed funding for many district positions, teachers in vulnerable roles will simply leave and take their talents elsewhere.

Moreover, a delay in the reorganization process will not absolve the School Committee of closing the coming fiscal year’s budget gap. If the petitioners get what they want and push the planned AB Forward reductions into a future budget, the district will then be forced to make additional unplanned cuts this spring, further eroding our already inadequate staffing levels.

Over the past four years, our community has repeatedly asked teachers to do more with less. More fiscal uncertainty will only make our jobs harder when we all need to be focused on making the AB Forward transition as effective as possible. Please, support our students by supporting the school budget at Acton and Boxborough Town Meetings this spring.

Mike Balulescu
President, Acton Boxborough Education Association
(our district's teachers union)

ACTON SELECT BOARD
NOTICE of PUBLIC HEARING

The Acton Select Board will hold a public hearing on February 23, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Francis Faulkner Hearing Room 204 at the Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton and virtually (actonma.gov/meeting/sb) on the application of Primrose Schools Franchising Company for a Site Plan Special Permit under Zoning Bylaw Section 10.4 at 457 Mass Ave. The Applicant proposes to construct a 2 story 14,134 square foot childcare facility. Application materials and how to participate remotely are available online and at Acton Town Hall: https://doc.actonma.gov/dsweb/View/Collection-19896.

457 Mass Ave is the red house and barn opposite Prospect Street.

Last summer I attended a meeting of the Acton Historical Society at the Acton Town Hall.

A presentation was made on behalf of Primrose Schools regarding the childcare facilities referenced above. During the meeting it was stated that the building would accommodate 177 children plus staff.

If the project is approved this means that every morning and afternoon well over 200 additional vehicles will be arriving and departing from the school at this very busy intersection.

Only 27 abutters received this notice sent out by the town.

Please attend the meeting on Monday, February 23, get involved and prevent this from happening.

David Winders

Applause to the Acton Boxborough Regional High School students standing out against ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) using their constitutional rights.  This highly organized action will enhance all students’ learning about the Constitution and will surely be worth a missed class or two. We need to not only talk about democracy but practice it as well.  Thanks to our youth for this lesson.

Andy Platt

ICE's (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) violent actions are happening across the country, including in Massachusetts. We do not want to see this happen in Acton or anywhere. These operations make our entire communities less safe.

The Department of Homeland Security is systematically abusing its authority with unlawful raids while spreading propaganda and lies to justify its actions. This climate of aggression undermines public safety and trust in all law enforcement, including our own Acton Police Department.

Passing Acton's recently proposed updated immigration policy is a step forward, but we need state-level protections too.

Thank you to our state legislators who are supporting the Safe Communities Act, PROTECT Act, and the Dignity Not Deportations Bill.

These bills would:

• Truly separate local police from ICE
• End all 287(g) agreements (Massachusetts is the only blue state with one)
• Protect courthouse and school access
• Keep Acton Police Department focused on community safety
• As Paul Wellstone said, we all do better when we all do better.

Strong communities protect everyone.

Respectfully,

Stella Ko

The article on icicles along rooflines and how they can indicate the need for better insulation was incredibly detailed and informative (Do you have icicles? Maybe you need better insulation). It has spurred me to action to improve my home's insulation -- not only to save on heating costs but also to improve the safety of family members and others who walk along the roofline outside our home. Acton is fortunate to have many local experts to draw upon for articles such as this. And Acton is fortunate to have the Acton Exchange as our local news source, providing interesting, useful, relevant information for all of us who call Acton home! 

As some of you know, I am a volunteer with the Acton Exchange. However, I am not directly involved with the editorial side of the newspaper at this time and have no vested interest in the icicle article! 

John Kendrick 

Following up on Erik J. Heels’ satirical letter about sidewalk plowing last week, I would suggest a serious inquiry to the Highway Department about the town’s dismal performance in getting the sidewalks plowed after the January snowstorm.  Granted, it was a huge amount of snow, but we’ve had similar storms and worse in the past without waiting more than a week for the sidewalk plow to come along.  

The situation was made worse by the complete lack of communication from the town—either proactive or reactive.  My husband emailed the highway department last week and received no reply.  Nothing to explain the complete lack of sidewalk plowing (equipment breakdown?  staff shortage?).  Nothing to give us any sense of when it might finally be done.  No outreach to the public, even to beg our patience.  

The Boston Globe had a few stories about pedestrian deaths in other towns during and following the snowstorm.  Notwithstanding Mr. Heels’ letter, it’s not a laughing matter.  Overall, the town earns an F for maintaining pedestrian safety.  

Renee Robins

When my children were in elementary school, we had to switch schools to receive services. It was sad for us to leave our school, where our kids had been successful, but they continued to receive an excellent education. Our family made new friends at the new school, and we didn't lose our old friends. I empathize with parents, feeling the loss of practices at our current schools by the recent ABforward decision for geographical enrollment, but I'm optimistic that this fall kids will be excited for new friends and experiences.

The more critical issue is continued funding for our excellent schools. One criterion of the School Committee's choice was that it's more financially sustainable. Some say that it "only" saves about $1M/year long-term. Hearing the word "only" makes me fall over backwards out of my chair in disbelief. They must not realize how hard it is to come up with $1M, when we're trying to balance budgets every year. Does $1M/year solve the whole problem? No, but it's significant. Plus, it shows our Towns, which continue to fund the schools above Proposition 2 1/2 limits, that the School District is doing what it can to be efficient.

To protest the decision on geographical enrollment, some are proposing that we vote down the school budget at our Town Meetings. If either town votes down their school assessment, the School Committee would have a one-time chance to submit a revised (likely lower) budget for special Town Meetings. If either second assessment was voted down, there would be a joint Town Meeting with voters from both towns together to make a final decision. The whole process would likely result in lower funding for the district. If we can't maintain school funding, my nightmare is more cuts to educators. Also, it is not possible for Town Meeting to force a change to abandon geographical placement.

I appreciate the work of the ABforward Committee and School Committee. Doing what they felt was right for the district was difficult, especially knowing that they were upsetting so many. There was no path that would have satisfied most families and staff.

David Martin
Member of the Acton Select Board, speaking on my own behalf

I was recently trying to drive to the nearest strip mall when I noticed that the sidewalks were completely plowed and the roads were hardly plowed at all.  People were walking their dogs, pushing baby carriages, and even using wheelchairs on the sidewalks.

What about the poor cars?  We are all drivers when we get into our cars.  Shouldn't we put cars first and pedestrians second?  Or at least put them on equal footing?

Acton has 146.1 miles of roads and 54.0 miles of sidewalks and should need about 4-6 sidewalk plows and 10-15 road plows to clear everything.  Yet the DPW (Department of Public Works) numbers are exactly backwards: 10-15 sidewalks plows and 4-6 road plows!

Cars pay excise taxes, wheelchairs do not.  What's more important?  Some handicapped person going to the grocery store?  Or me in my car driving wherever/whenever I want in my private car on public roads?  Let the handicapped order DoorDash, I say.

Acton has historically overspent on sidewalks and underspent on roads.  Do we seriously need to do a citizens' petition to fund roads?

Every Actonian knows that roads make everything better!  Just look at Kelley’s Corner!  I can't wait until we have our first car parade through the wonderfully wide fields of asphalt.  I hope that there's traffic control to keep the pedestrians away.

As I was struggling through the snow in my car, a pedestrian pointed at me and laughed, saying: "See ya, sucker!"

In short, sidewalks suck.  And roads rule!

-Erik J. Heels

P.S. "A Modest Proposal" is a 1729 satirical essay by Jonathan Swift.  In case it was not obvious, this is also satire.  Everything is exactly the opposite of what I stated.

I just watched the January 22 school committee debate and vote on the school reorganization.  I was impressed with the committee's well-informed debate on the issues and impact of the different options.  While there was not unanimous agreement among the committee, it was clear that all the members put great thought into their position and want to do what is best for the students in our towns.  I am grateful that we have people in town who step up to make the tough, and sometimes unpopular, decisions.  

Let's acknowledge that families will be mourning the loss of their elementary school's identity.  And there are many valid concerns about the disruption to our students' education.  But let's also acknowledge that our current structure is not financially sustainable and, although the schools perform well historically, we are struggling, and would continue to struggle, to meet the needs of many students in the current model.  The new model offers hope for efficiency and ultimately enhanced student success.

Our students experience changes every school year - new teachers, new classrooms, new classmates, new bus routes and sometimes new buildings.  With the reorganization, staff and families will also feel these changes.  Let's support our school staff and school families to embrace this sense of excitement and opportunity that comes with every new school year.

(Disclosure - I have no students currently in the district.)

Tom Wolf

I want to thank the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee for making one of the hardest decisions faced by a town board or committee in a generation. On Thursday evening, January 22, 2026, the Committee voted for Option 5v2, a system-wide reorganization that reflects leadership, foresight, and a commitment to the long-term health of our regional school district.

Option 5v2 reconfigures grade bands to K–3 and 4–6, creating larger cohorts that can better support heterogeneity, instructional consistency, and more efficient use of resources. It also enables specialized “hubs” for special education programs, such as co-locating Connections and Pathways, strengthening services for students who need them most. This is not simply a cost-containment measure; it is a structural investment in educational quality.

I serve on the Acton Finance Committee, but I am writing here on my own behalf as a resident. From both perspectives, the stakes are clear. High-performing elementary schools are the primary driver of housing decisions in suburban communities like ours, often commanding a 10% to 30% price premium. Because foundational learning happens at the elementary level, any perceived decline in quality directly threatens not only student outcomes, but also our community’s long-term economic vitality.

 People do not choose to live in Acton or Boxborough to be closer to their jobs in Boston or Cambridge. And as local realtor Ann Cohen recently told me, “No one moves to Acton or Boxborough to be closer to Trader Joe’s. They move here for the schools.”

 That reality places a shared responsibility on all of us to ensure that every school – from elementary through high school – maintains the excellence residents expect and have invested in.

The School Committee’s vote for Option 5v2 acknowledges that responsibility. It is the path that protects the long-term excellence of our regional school district, and for that, the Committee deserves our thanks.

Greg Jarboe

Do you like to be in the know about the town and school budgets? The Acton Finance Committee (FinCom) is seeking an associate member eager to make a difference. As a crucial part of our community, the FinCom plays a vital role in analyzing financial information to inform and advise voters, seeking a transparent and financially sound future for all. 

The FinCom is responsible for “the review of and recommendations concerning the budget for the annual [Town] meeting, the review of and recommendations concerning any other matter of a financial nature arising at the annual town meeting or at any special meeting, and the preparation of long range fiscal plans for the town.” [Town bylaws] In other words, the Finance Committee looks out for the voters' interests as budgets are developed and plays an important role to help ensure that the voters’ interests are prominently featured in town and school budget deliberations.

Qualifications of Finance Committee members:

• Think both critically and flexibly, and ask questions that contribute to the quality of FinCom deliberations
• Work as a member of a team and be able to “disagree without being disagreeable”
• Be literate (or at least conversant) in budgeting principles, finance, and/or economics, whether through professional background or general experience and interest
• Understand how spreadsheets work
• Commit to attending regular committee meetings

Please contact Town Moderator Jo-Ann Berry at joannberry@acton-ma.gov to learn more.

Jo-Ann Berry

In my service as a Select Board member, I closely follow news shared by the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA), but I submit the following to Acton Exchange readers on my own behalf.

As previously reported in this paper, the MMA published policy recommendations in December to address serious challenges outlined in an analysis of fiscal pressures faced by MA cities and towns that was circulated in October. These fiscal pressures, recent high inflation, shrinking federal aid, and limited tools to raise needed revenue,  increasingly threaten the essential services local governments provide to their residents. 

I urge readers to call or email their state legislators to demand a timely response to the MMA recommendations, especially the ask for an $351 million Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) increase, a nod to the number of MA cities and towns, to restore the state partnership to pre-recession levels. The MMA notes that this is “the most direct and immediate way to strengthen the foundation of municipal government.”

The report compared state aid as a share of local revenue, and placed MA below the national average, with only 13 states providing a lower percentage of revenue available to cities and towns. UGGA has just returned to fiscal 2008 levels in the most recent (fiscal 2026) state budget, NOT adjusting for inflation. The decline has coincided with an increase in the percentage of property taxes that make up local budgets, putting ever-increasing pressure on residents.

The  MMA report also advocates for all other local aid programs to be fully funded going forward: Chapter 70, the special education “circuit breaker,” other school-related accounts, payments to cities and towns for non-taxable state property within their borders, and more.

For there to be a chance for relief, the state must act on these recommendations - our delegation’s emails are provided here for your convenience - Simon.Cataldo@mahouse.gov, Danillo.Sena@mahouse.gov, James.Eldridge@masenate.gov. Governor Healey can be reached by using this form. 

Thank you for taking a few minutes today to reach out to your state leaders on Beacon Hill!

Alissa Nicol

I’m a member of the Acton Finance Committee, but I’m writing on my own behalf. Kudos to the AB Forward Steering Committee for tackling the hardest part of school district reorganization first.

Based on my analysis of the “Supplemental Information for School District Reorganization Discussion,” the Steering Committee has reduced the elementary school footprint from four buildings to three and eliminated 11 K–6 classroom sections to ensure long-term financial sustainability. Every remaining option assumes closure of the Conant building (but not necessarily the Conant school), larger class sizes at the upper end of School Committee guidelines, and annual savings of roughly $1.87 million.

Now that the Steering Committee has identified a path to improving our C+ grade for Cost of Living in the Niche rankings, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee can focus on which option best maintains our A+ grade for Public Schools. Parents will understandably focus on that. As an empty nester, so will I.

I recently asked Ann Cohen of Barrett Sotheby, a veteran of the Greater Boston real estate market, why people move to Acton and Boxborough. She said buyers typically compare our towns with Concord, Carlisle, Lincoln, and Sudbury – for one reason: the schools. As she put it, “No one moves to Acton or Boxborough to be closer to Trader Joe’s. They move here for the schools.”

That’s why investing in our schools – teachers, facilities, and extracurriculars – is not merely an expense. It’s an investment in the long-term value of our homes and the economic vitality of both towns. A recent Realtor.com study found there’s a strong, direct correlation between the quality of local public schools and residential property values. Data from other sources also shows that properties located in highly-rated school districts command a substantial price premium, often selling 10% to 30% higher than comparable homes in neighboring areas with lower school ratings.

With the cost side addressed, the School Committee can now focus on the benefits: pursuing a broader reset that strengthens school communities over time while minimizing disruption for families.

Greg Jarboe

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) grant to Acton for a heat pump heating and cooling system at Town Hall makes this clean energy project very doable. Concerns about the cost of electrifying all Town buildings (Letter: “Regarding that $1M grant” by Corinne Hogseth, Nov. 21, 2025) may lead us to miss a golden opportunity.

• Cold weather heat pumps have a proven track record around the world.
• This equipment can be 2-3 times as efficient as any fossil fuel system. In extreme conditions (-22 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit), cold weather heat pumps are still 40% more efficient than a gas boiler.
• Although upfront and long-term costs vary, cold weather heat pumps are competitive, as Maine is showing.
• Acton knows a LOT about successful clean energy implementation with the Boardwalk Campus School outperforming its energy estimates.
• The proposed heat pump HVAC system (covered by the $1 million grant) is only 10% of the total Town Hall project. Other parts of the project are mold remediation, accessibility requirements, and other code upgrades.

Much is uncertain about the future. Unfortunately, climate warming is certain. Bill Gates states that people will “live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future.” Many would argue that ecological realities are absent from his tech-centered calculus, but even Gates’ outlook assumes continued clean energy adoption.

Can we at least make a commitment to the positive change that is possible now? The DOER grant makes a heat pump system an efficient, affordable choice for Town Hall.  

We are all in this together—ecologically, morally, and economically. Our state taxes fund positive DOER grants, making the upfront costs of clean energy affordable so that the Town can benefit from long term cost savings. The same can be said for Mass Save and for our Sustainability Office. These efforts save money in the long run. 

Finally, to the 400 people who sat in the high school parking lot in September 2020 and voted almost unanimously for the Climate Emergency Declaration, bravo! A quiet climate majority continues to stand by every arm raised in the affirmative that night.

Karen Root Watkins
The writer is a volunteer with EnergizeActon.org (Writing on her own behalf).

I am continually—and happily—amazed by the generosity of our community.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, I joined members of the Acton Lions Club at the Acton Food Pantry as we distributed turkeys the Lions donated for local families. While helping to hand out the holiday meals, I asked one of the pantry employees whether the days leading up to Thanksgiving were their busiest time of year. I expected the answer to be an enthusiastic yes.

Instead, she told me that the pantry had been far busier during the recent government shutdown. I asked if that increase in demand was connected to delays in SNAP benefits. She nodded but added something that surprised me: it wasn’t just that more people needed food, it was that more people were stepping up to help.

I returned to the pantry the next day and spoke with Brandon Crocker, the pantry’s director. He confirmed what I’d heard. Donations this fall reached record levels, not only in food but in cash contributions as well. In fact, the outpouring of support was so overwhelming that the pantry began running out of space to store all the donated food.

In a world where negative headlines often dominate the news, this reminder of our community’s compassion was uplifting. When our neighbors faced uncertainty, the people of Acton and surrounding towns responded instinctively—with kindness, generosity, and remarkable goodwill.

We should all be proud of what this says about who we are. Our community doesn’t just come together during the holidays—we come together whenever someone needs help. And that is something truly worth celebrating.

Leo Fochtman

In response to your November 15 article  about the $1M grant to decarbonize Town Hall, I hope to provide additional information for residents. 

At the 2025 Town Meeting, the Finance Committee voted to not recommend $3.75M to replace the HVAC system in Town Hall, the first step toward full electrification of the building. The reason was that no life cycle cost analysis had been provided to compare the cost of heat pumps against natural gas (business as usual, or BAU).  

Other than the award of this $1M grant (also taxpayer money), nothing has changed. Yet the Select Board seems prepared to include this same project on the 2026 Town Meeting warrant.  

Within the article is a link to the Acton Decarbonization Roadmap. Within that document is a link to the Electrification Roadmap. A summary table (page 62) shows full electrification of Town properties would cost 2.4 times as much as BAU, or $5.5M over the course 30 years. For the schools (page 66), the cost of electrification is 1.9 times that of BAU, or $14.9 million.  

All of this came about due to passage of a resolution to declare a “climate emergency” during the last 10 minutes of the 2020 Special Town Meeting. It is unclear how many people were still present when the vote was held, but it’s safe to say fewer than 300 people passed this non-binding resolution. 

That led to the creation of the Sustainability Office, which now employs two people, plus a study estimating it will cost $63M to electrify all Town buildings. This doesn't include schools. Shouldn’t we have known this before the vote?  

Bill Gates recently admitted that climate change “will not lead to humanity’s demise.” This all-green-at-all-cost agenda is causing us to misallocate resources away from more pressing concerns. 

The fact that one must dig for linked articles within linked articles demonstrates how hard it is for anyone to find cost information. It’s almost like someone doesn’t want us to know, because we MUST pursue net-zero emissions regardless of cost. Nonetheless, it is crucial that taxpayers have necessary information to cast informed votes. 

Corinne Hogseth
Member of Acton Finance Committee (writing on my own behalf)

I am a lifelong resident of Prospect Street and am increasingly concerned about the recent reconstruction of the intersection of Prospect and Main.   Over the years with increased traffic and many accidents, the need to reconfigure it was addressed.    Just last Saturday evening, there was quite a bad accident at the same intersection just remodeled!!  

One of my main concerns is if there was a fire on Prospect, the fire trucks probably wouldn't be able to turn from Main to Prospect at the Acton Gas station.    That really should be the first concern when trying to update a nasty situation.

I hope the Town can come up with a better solution.

Peggy Hebert

Last month, I was out for my morning walk with my dog and came up on an unusual sight: two SUVs were parked at an unbuilt wetlands lot in my neighborhood, engines idling, windows completely tinted out.    This unbuilt lot is one of my dog’s favorite spots to check for information about other dogs and leave her own markings, and she doesn’t care about strange SUVs, so we continued our walk, even right up to the vehicles to sniff the tires.

No one got out.  Both vehicles had dark tinted glass all around, including their windshields so I could not see in.  They were idling, so there were occupants inside that I couldn’t see.  Both vehicles had Texas license plates only on the back. 

I took pictures of the vehicles and their license plates.  Then I called the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA (LUCE) hotline (617-370-5023) to report suspicious vehicles.  Within minutes, LUCE had people on site to verify that these were ICE vehicles.  The LUCE responders stayed on site monitoring the vehicles until they left the neighborhood.  On that day at least, they did not detain any of our neighbors.

I am confident that there are no members of Tren de Aragua or MS-13 active in our quiet suburban neighborhood.   I don’t support random detention and extradition of people in the USA (possibly to prison camps), especially with no access to due process.   I am incensed that our federal government has prioritized terrorizing us over continuing to provide healthcare and other services to people that need our help.

If you agree with me, please put the LUCE hotline (617-370-5023) in your phone so if you encounter ICE, you can alert LUCE to their presence.  If you’re interested in doing more, check out https://www.lucemass.org/ for ways to get more involved.

Sincerely,
Jim Carey