The Acton Select Board has given Actonians few compelling reasons to support the DPW [Department of Public Works] project and MANY to oppose it:
10. FINCOM SAYS NO. Acton’s Finance Committee is unanimously opposed to the PROPOSED DPW building project and has been from the very beginning. If the Select Board has been unable to convince even the Finance Committee, then why should Acton voters be convinced?
9. BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. The PROPOSED DPW project excludes a wash bay (a car wash for large vehicles), which was supposed to protect the environment from salt and chemical runoff.
8. NO GYM FOR BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS. The PROPOSED DPW project building is too small for current/future personnel and does not include a gym.
7. TOO SMALL ON DAY ONE. The PROPOSED DPW project building is too small for current/future equipment, which is the exact same mistake that was made in 1969.
6. NO NEW TAXES. The PROPOSED DPW project would require yet another override, the year after an override that only passed by about 44 votes.
5. WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. The PROPOSED DPW project building is 20 to 25% more expensive, compared to similar DPW projects in Massachusetts, on a cost per square foot basis.
4. NOT IMMEDIATELY NECESSARY. The existing DPW facility is not falling down.
3. 100s OF VOTERS IGNORED. Acton’s Select Board has completely ignored over 500 supporters of a petition, asking for a reasonable budget for sidewalks in conjunction with the PROPOSED DPW project.
2. 100% OF DPW NEIGHBORHOOD IGNORED. The Select Board has completely ignored the concerns of the Robbins Park neighborhood and the DPW neighbors regarding pedestrian SAFETY.
1. FINCOM STILL SAYS NO. Acton’s Finance Committee is unanimously opposed to the PROPOSED DPW building project and has been from the very beginning. If the Select Board has been unable to convince even the Finance Committee, then why should Acton voters be convinced? Acton voters should NOT be convinced.
Vote “NO” on Acton’s DPW debacle.
Sincerely,
Erik J. Heels
Actonian since 1994
