Letters to the Exchange

If I were required only one word to sum up the salient quality of Alissa Nicol it would be thorough. She does her homework and in doing so, comes to meetings prepared. She was a key contributor to the successful melding of the boards of trustees of the Acton Memorial Library and the Citizens Library. Her persistence in “herding cats” has resulted in a working group to the betterment of the Acton community Library system. In her first year as a member of the ALG (Acton Leadership Group) she studied the financial model before each session and came with questions that moved the process forward. She understands the financial constraints facing the town and school district and recognizes the weakness in our current taxation system.  I think Alissa has become a thoughtful and effective member of the Acton Select Board and deserves to be re-elected.

Ann Chang

The Friends of the Acton Arboretum, Inc. and the Acton Conservation Trust are urging officials
and Town Meeting voters to support the purchase of a 5.8-acre parcel at 46 Taylor Road, citing
its ecological importance, public access value, and role in completing the Acton Arboretum.

The $1.4 million purchase will be paid for from the Community Preservation Act Open Space
Fund and community donations with the assistance of Acton Conservation Trust.

Town meeting will be held on May 4-5, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Acton Boxborough Regional
High School.

In a 2-11-2026 letter to the Acton Select Board, the Friends of the Acton Arboretum, Inc. asked
the town to exercise its right of first refusal under Chapter 61 to acquire the land, known as the
“Donald Land.” The Select Board voted to proceed on April 6, 2026.

46 Taylor Road has long been identified as a priority to protect by conservationists and the Open
Space Committee. It includes scenic features such as a historic double stone wall tied to the
area’s agricultural past. It is listed as a priority in the last two Open Space and Recreation Plans.

The land is connected to the Donald family, who previously donated 12 acres now protected
under conservation restrictions. For over 20 years, the family has allowed a public trail across the
parcel, linking the Arboretum to nearby conservation land. Losing that access could require
rerouting trails through sensitive areas.

Once an apple orchard, the site is transitioning to mixed forest and offers habitat for wildlife. It
buffers wetlands, and supports ecosystems, and nearby waterways. The Acton Conservation
Commission has endorsed the purchase.

The Arboretum spans 65 acres and is widely used for recreation, education, and community
programs. Town funding and private donations have supported its growth, with volunteers
contributing thousands of hours annually.

Acquisition could allow a small parking area and accessible trail connections—top requests from
community surveys. The purchase is a rare opportunity to protect valuable land, enhancing
public access, and “complete the Acton Arboretum.”

Bettina Dabney Abe
Vice President, Friends of the Acton Arboretum, Inc.

We are so grateful that Pam Nourse is running for Acton Select Board.    She will bring a wealth of hard won experience and useful knowledge to the Board, having just retired as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Federation of Children with Special Needs and also, for the last decade, serving as the Acton representative on the Minuteman Vocational Technical High School Committee.  Her priorities are sound and reflect the sound Acton values: fiscally responsible, putting children and families first, and making Acton affordable for all of us. She has a proven track record for listening to people’s concerns and opinions, working effectively with colleagues, and building trust.

We have seen firsthand Pam’s commitment to serving the Town and we know she will do the hard and thoughtful work needed to keep Acton the wonderful place it is.  Please vote for Pam on Tuesday, April 28.

Sincerely,
Deena and Bob Ferrara

I am a member of the Acton Finance Committee, but I am writing on my own behalf.

 A parent recently challenged anyone supportive of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District’s (ABRSD) restructuring to share actual data showing that Option 5v2 is necessary, especially in a compressed timeframe. It is a fair question and deserves a direct answer.

 The Acton Leadership Group's multi-year financial model projects a structural deficit that’s forecast to be $3.3 million in FY2028, $5.8 million in FY2029, $8.8 million in FY2030, and $11.7 million in FY2031. Pension costs are rising at 6.5% annually. Health insurance at 7.5%. The ABRSD operating assessment is forecast to grow roughly 31% over five years, while our Proposition 2½-capped tax revenue grows only about 18% over the same period. Waiting does not make this easier — it makes it more expensive.

 The School Committee's January vote for Option 5v2 was not made in isolation. It was the product of years of demographic analysis, enrollment modeling, and capacity planning. Option 5v2 saves us $17 million over the next 10 years, according to Superintendent of Schools Peter Light. It also gives us more flexibility to provide our kids with the best public schools and staff that we can afford going forward. No alternative studied avoids the core tradeoff between building utilization, class sizes, and demographic balance. The hard truth is that there is no painless path.

But the harder truth is that the restructuring decision is only the beginning. The fiscal pressures driving it will not ease. In the years ahead, the School Committee, Select Board, Finance Committees, and residents of both Acton and Boxborough will need to plan together, communicate honestly, and make disciplined choices — year after year.

Our schools are the primary reason people choose to live in these communities. Protecting that excellence is a shared responsibility. The School Committee deserves our support for making one of the hardest decisions a local board faces. And all of us share the obligation to see this through as well as possible.

 Greg Jarboe

I am writing to lift up the experience, commitment to public service and dedication of Pam Nourse, who is running for the Acton Select Board. Pam and her husband Bob raised their children in Acton and have lived in Acton for over thirty years. Many of her professional and volunteer leadership positions have not been as visible to Acton residents, despite their having a direct impact on Acton and its residents. 

These include representing Acton on the Minuteman School Committee, serving as the Executive Director of the Federation for Children with Special Needs and Vice President of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. As a legislator, I have worked with and interacted with Pam in each of these positions she has held, and Pam has done a tremendous, professional job, helping the organizations move forward and impact people positively. 

Sincerely,
Senator Jamie Eldridge

I’m a member of the Acton Finance Committee and the Public Works Facility Building Committee, but I’m writing this letter on my own behalf.

Before you vote in the Town Election on April 28 or attend Annual Town Meeting on May 4, I encourage you to read two articles in The Acton Exchange.

The first is “Town officials react to MMA report warning of mounting fiscal pressures” (October 18, 2025). The Massachusetts Municipal Association warned that municipalities face a “perfect storm” of rising costs, declining state aid, and Proposition 2½ revenue limits — pressures Acton officials say they are already feeling.

The second is “Navigating the fiscal storm: What new MMA recommendations mean for Acton and Boxborough” (January 10, 2026). It outlines MMA proposals — including a $351 million boost to state aid and expanded local revenue options — that local officials support as a path to stabilizing municipal finances.

All candidates on the ballot this spring will be navigating this fiscal storm over the next three years. An informed electorate will help them do it as well as possible.

I also encourage you to attend three upcoming events at the Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road (rear entrance), which are open to all residents:

DPW Building Update: Thursday, April 16, 11:00 a.m.

Select Board Chair Dean Charter presents revised plans for the proposed DPW building — information that affects every taxpayer in town.

Java with John: Friday, April 17, 9:45 a.m.

Town Manager John Mangiaratti gives updates and takes questions monthly. Acton TV streams it live; send questions to manager@actonma.gov if you can’t attend.

Finance Committee (FinCom) Presentation: Wednesday, April 22, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

FinCom Chair Scott Sullivan covers the committee’s positions on Town Meeting articles and answers public questions.

Finally, when the 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant arrives in the mail, read it carefully. With nearly 40 articles on the warrant — alongside contested races for the Select Board and School Committee — an informed vote matters more than ever.

Greg Jarboe

Note on the image attached above, which appeared in Navigating the fiscal storm: What new MMA recommendations mean for Acton and Boxborough: The cover of the Massachusetts Municipal Association recommendations on fiscal responsibility for Massachusetts cities and towns. Screenshot: Massachusetts Municipal Association (mma.org) website

I am writing to express my strong support for the re-election of Stephen Stuntz as Acton Water District Commissioner.

I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Stephen for a number of years, most recently in association with the district’s purchase of the 549 Main Street parcel.  As the then Chair of the Open Space Committee, I was impressed with Stephen’s and the Districts’ ability to see the value in preserving that property as a potential groundwater supply source, while also recognizing the Town’s interest in protecting open space for its natural resource value. Working together, the Town and the District developed a true win/win solution. Similarly, as Water District Commissioner, Stephen played a key role in the development of the district’s two solar power arrays, defraying longer-term costs of electricity for the district – and therefore us rate payers – and concurrently supporting efforts to battle climate warming.  As Commissioner Stephen was actively involved in the construction of the South Acton water treatment facility, and the quick and decisive construction of the PFAS treatment plants.  Finally, I appreciate that through each of these issues Stephen has brought a sensible and balanced approach with a positive and friendly attitude.  Stephen has always struck me as a man who wants to solve problems through reasoned deliberation and inclusivity.

The Water District Commissioner’s position is an important one that requires an open mind, a willingness to work hard, and proven experience.  For these reasons and those stated above, I would ask you to join me in voting for Stephen Stuntz for Water District Commissioner on Tuesday, April 28th.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Andrew D. Magee

I'm writing to express my support for Pam Nourse and to encourage readers to vote for Pam for the Acton Select Board later this month.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Pam and discuss her candidacy at a campaign event, and I believe that Pam will bring the right ideas and values to town governance.

I'm an educator and a parent in the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, and the most important thing to me as a voter is ensuring that our students and teachers have the funding, they need to be successful. In order to keep pace with the rising costs of education, we have to address Acton's revenue problem and increase our commercial tax base, so that funding our town and our schools does not continue to fall almost solely on homeowners.

Pam understands this, and she has identified several ways that the Select Board can steward economic development in Acton, including zoning and permitting improvements and surveying residents to better assess their wants and needs as consumers.

Pam also has a passion for public education and understands how vital our schools are to the community. For the past ten years, Pam has represented Acton as a member of the Minuteman Regional School Committee. Pam also recently retired as the executive director of the Federation for Children with Special Needs, an organization that supports the families of children with disabilities. Pam is a champion for education, and I trust that she’ll work as a Select Board member to make sure that the needs of our town are balanced with the needs of our schools.

I’m excited for Pam’s candidacy and I hope you’ll join me in voting for her on April 28.

Mike Balulescu

When the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, ownership took the trophy on a tour of all Massachusetts cities and towns, about one per day.  The tour took about a year, which is how I remember that there are about 350 cities/towns in Massachusetts.

Presumably some of these other cities/towns in Massachusetts have faced (or perhaps even solved) some of the problems facing Acton.  We should do more to borrow sound solutions from others before inventing our own solutions from scratch.

For example:
How many town employees does Acton need?  Do we have too many or too few?

How many fire and police stations?  Do other towns build a new fire station and then close two old ones?

What color should town hall be painted?  Are those with white town halls all wrong?

How many road snowplows should Acton have?  How many sidewalk snowplows?

Should Acton have centralized trash/recycling pickup?

What about a town-wide sewer system?

Is Acton the first town in Massachusetts to close an elementary school?

Massachusetts General Law (MGL chapter. 39 section 16) says that the Finance Committee "shall submit a budget at the annual town meeting," but Acton does not do this, and nothing in Acton's Charter says otherwise.  Are we doing Town Meeting right?

When one town has a fire emergency near the border of another town, the bordering town crosses town lines to provide "mutual aid," sending people and equipment to the emergency.  This is the best example that I can think of where one town helps another.  Let's apply this model to all that Acton does.

-Erik J. Heels

Pam Nourse has my vote for the Acton Select Board.  As a long-time Acton resident and parent, she has a deep understanding of and appreciation for our community, the quality of life that residents enjoy and the issues that are important to them.  Her career in the non-profit sector is a testament to the blend of compassion, thoughtful decision-making and organizational ability that she has used effectively to address people’s needs and change their lives for the better.

Pam and I share a strong belief in the mission of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School and the opportunity for technical education and training it offers students in Acton and other member-towns.  Since 2015, Pam has been Acton’s representative on the Minuteman School Committee, and at times has served as its chairman.  In 2016, when I was a member of the Acton Board of Selectman and was the BOS’s liaison to Minuteman, I had the pleasure of working with Pam on the capital campaign for a new Minuteman school building.  The campaign involved the then-16 member-towns and entailed significant work and collaboration among member-towns.  That collective effort was successful: the new building opened in 2019.

Pam will bring a valuable perspective and skillset to the Select Board.  Please join me in supporting her.

Janet K. Adachi

I wanted to share my enthusiasm about Pam Nourse’s candidacy for the Acton Select Board. For over 30 years, I have had the pleasure of knowing Pam as a neighbor, friend, and colleague. You will not find a person of greater integrity, having devoted her entire life to public service, community, and her loving family. As a community organizer, non-profit leader, and long-time member of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee, Pam has honed her impressive leadership skills, including listening closely, finding common ground, building trust, and fostering the leadership of others. I have experienced these qualities firsthand while serving with Pam on various committees, where I came to rely on her clear thinking, sound judgment, compassion, and problem-solving ability. 

In addition to high-level leadership skills, Pam has a commitment to finding solutions to the issues that matter to us in Acton, such as affordability, environment, and fiscal responsibility. At her recent campaign kick-off, she spoke to these issues with deep understanding and practical ideas as well as a desire to learn more about what concerns Acton residents. She is both passionate about her values and pragmatic in seeking ways to improve people’s lives now.

Acton is very fortunate to have the opportunity to elect someone of Pam’s character, experience, and leadership qualities to the Select Board.

Nancy Love

I am running for re-election as a Commissioner of the Acton Water District and would like to explain why.

Acton has been my home for more than fifty years. I came to the Boston area for college, attending MIT and later Harvard Business School, and eventually settled in Acton, where my wife, Lees, and I raised our five children in our yellow Victorian house on Central Street.

Our family benefited greatly from the town’s schools and the quality-of-life Acton provides, and one of my principles is to give back to the community that has given us so much.

That commitment led me to serve the Acton Water District, first on its Finance Committee and later as a Commissioner. Over the past decade, the District has undergone significant change and investment, including new treatment plants, new wells, solar installations, staffing transitions, and important land acquisitions. These improvements have strengthened the reliability, sustainability, and long‑term resilience of our water system.

I am running for reelection because I believe this is a critical moment for the District. The progress we have made needs continuity and careful stewardship to ensure those investments deliver their full value to Acton residents. My long‑term perspective and experience with the District place me in a strong position to help consolidate these gains and guide the Water District forward. I have maintained an excellent relationship with the staff of the District and remain in a position to continue to support them in their important work.

My goal remains the same as when I first began serving: to help ensure that the Acton Water District continues to be one of the most respected independent water districts in the Commonwealth, providing safe, reliable water while planning responsibly for the future.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Stephen Stuntz

Greg Jarboe's article about Robert Parrish's memoir brought back wonderful  memories. I was a big fan of the Celtics trio of Larry Bird, the Chief and Kevin McHale with Danny Ainge good for 3 pointers. Celtic games were thrilling.

Working in Boston at a much younger time of my life, I was hurrying along the sidewalk under the Steaming Kettle and literally bumped into Robert Parrish.  I couldn't immediately see who it was because I was staring at a chest, the top of my head barely up to his shoulder.  When I tilted my head back, back and back, I gasped.  Robert Parrish smiled down and in his gentle voice said 'Excuse Me' though the collision was equally my fault.  I was too stunned to say anything.  I think my mouth was hanging open.  All I could do was turn and watch that departing colossal stride.

Marion Maxwell

Note: Marion Maxwell is a member of the Acton Exchange Board of Directors

I am writing to call out the action by a DPW (Department of Public Works) worker at the town transfer station today around noon (Saturday the 21st) that was above the call of duty!

When recycling my paper boxes etc., into the bin, I accidentally knocked my prescription glasses off and into the recycling bin.  I called the attendant for help and he responded immediately.   He turned off the machine, directed others to use the other bin, while he made the machine safe by locking it before his climb down into the bin to retrieve my glasses. UNBELIEVABLE!

Although I have seen him at the transfer station and many other DPW projects over the years I am remiss in not asking the employee’s name. He cannot be much younger than myself but clearly in better shape as he leaped into the bin and easily climbed back out.

Again, thank you to him and to the Town for its committed service-oriented employees.

Bob Miller

Note: Bob Miller is the treasurer of the Acton Exchange and a member of the Board of Directors.

While the Acton Boxborough Regional School Committee (ABRSC) assures us that Acton and Boxborough are viewed as one Acton Boxborough (AB) community, decisions by the ABRSC seem to embrace the notion that “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.  When given a choice Acton tends to pick up the lion’s share, e.g.  the (circa 2021-2022) Boardwalk Campus debt exclusion, and the (circa 2024) $6.6 million operational override. The goal of the table is to capture most major recent ABRSC decisions in an unbiased way.  It is based on current research, and as such, is subject to change as new data and information come to light.  Please do your own research. 

Above all, the ABRSC has a responsibility to ensure that both towns move forward as one AB community: major impacts to one town MUST be reasonable so that they can be enacted in the given timeframe (Aug 31, 2026).  If Acton fails, so too, AB.

Sincerely,
Joan Luciani

Thanks for Greg Jarboe's terrific summary of Boston Magazine’s favorable article on Acton.  We came to Acton 50+ years ago migrating west from the pricier suburbs to a community where two teachers could afford to live. We are still here but also for additional reasons not mentioned in the article. Acton has been committed to caring for its own environment and enhancing the quality of our recreational and learning life.

Acton has had a history of land conservation with the town's regular purchases of key parcels to protect pieces of our almost rural heritage. During Covid, residents discovered some of these town conservation areas. Even as we have grown in population, we have kept Acton close to nature.

Our town has become a model for many “pricier” towns for environmental advocacy and protection. We have had real leadership from Acton Conservation Commission, Acton Conservation Trust as well as Green Acton, and Energize Acton. With the help of our Sustainability office and the coaches, our house now sports heat pumps and mini splits. 

There are two more special resources that add unique value to our community: NARA Park founded in 1999 and the Discovery Museum which makes Acton a play destination from miles around.

We are grateful to live in a very RICH town! 

Thank you,
Andy and Carolyn Platt

The Acton Water District (AWD) annual meeting budget is built on one policy for charges and a different policy for reimbursement. Low volume users will bear the brunt of this year’s increased water bills. Let me explain.

Water bills consist of a fixed fee (service charge plus debt fee) and a usage charge based on volume of water used. The FY26 budget raised 56% of revenue from usage. The FY27 proposed budget reduces the usage revenue to 51%. What changed?

In FY27, debt for the South and Central Acton plants will be issued and payments on the twenty-year bond will begin (principal only, interest rate is 0%). Consequently, debt service will increase by $774K (34%). The proposed budget increases everyone’s bill by $87, the additional debt service cost divided by the number of users and sets a precedent for the inequitable application of PFAS settlement funds to the budget.

Usage charges are unchanged. The commissioners voted no rate increase this year because PFAS settlement funds are being used to offset increased operating expenses including PFAS treatment at North Acton (Veolis lease) and media replacement. However, PFAS has increased both operating and capital expenses; providing budget relief only to operating costs is not fair.

The result? A user with an annual water bill of $4,000 in FY26 will see an increase of $87, 2.2%. And a user with a water bill of $400? That user will see an increase of 21.7%, also $87.

The voters at the annual meeting can address this inequity. Voting to use revenue in excess of expenses, $328,000, to pay a portion of debt service will reduce the increase in every water bill by $37. The $4,000 bill would increase 1.2% and the $400 bill would increase 12%. All users would receive some relief from the PFAS capital costs. Unfortunately, the commissioners have not found this argument persuasive and are proceeding with a budget that provides no relief for the debt created by PFAS treatment facilities.

Please attend the AWD annual meeting on March 18th to express your opinion on Article 4, the AWD budget.

https://www.actonwater.com/annualreport

John Petersen

Editors' Note: John Petersen is currently an appointed member of the Acton Water District Finance Committee, and is a candidate for the elected position of Acton Water District Commissioner in the April 28 town election. He confirmed to the Acton Exchange that he submitted this letter as an individual and not representing the AWD Finance Committee.

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