Acton wants to borrow $35,220,690 for a new DPW facility, with zero dollars budgeted for sidewalks. I have attended many Acton meetings regarding the proposed DPW project.
I seek a solution that is good for the DPW workers and for my Forest Road neighbors, namely a reasonable budget for sidewalks for the safety of pedestrians and pets. It remains inherently dangerous for people and pets to traverse Forest Road – without sidewalks – side-by-side with dump trucks, snowplows, fire engines, and other huge vehicles.
I have been a good neighbor to the DPW. I stored a snowplow on my property for a Venezuelan friend (who plows for the Town of Acton). I have given directions to lost drivers and dropped off DPW mail delivered to my house by mistake.
The Acton DPW workers deserve better. I recall the microburst that struck Acton on September 8, 2023, and how quickly the DPW worked to clear trees and other debris from the road (https://www.giantpeople.com/17538.html). From all of us who live in Robbins Park, thank you to the DPW workers for all that you do to keep all Actonians safe!
Unfortunately, the Acton Select Board is pushing forward with a lose-lose DPW design, one that includes no sidewalks for DPW neighbors, one that includes no workout room for blue-collar DPW workers, and one that costs way too much for overburdened taxpayers.
The Acton Select Board has ignored the recommendation of its own Finance Committee (which is 100% opposed to this DPW project) and has bought in to the “sunk cost” fallacy, namely that since it has already spent (wasted?) $1.2 million on the design, it should plow forward with the project. A better redesign could more than pay for itself.
Finally, lots of incomplete and misleading information is being spread about this project and about its organized opponents. Please check the facts and make your own decision. And please vote on April 29 (https://actonma.gov/598/Elections-Voting).
Best,
Erik Heels
