Opening remarks
- Many residents addressed the Board concerning the open land at 46 Taylor Road, adjacent to the Acton Arboretum. Select Board clerk David Martin assured the residents that possible disposition of the land (including mention of Chapter 61, Massachusetts law governing land conservation) would be a long process.
- Acton resident Kim Kastens made a brief presentation advocating for attention to water quality in Coles Brook adjacent to the transfer station. She showed a photograph of the large snow-pack resulting from street cleaning — potentially containing road treatment salts — on the slope that drains into Coles Brook, and emphasized the need for including all contaminant sources in stormwater handling.
- Board Chair Dean Charter noted the passing of longtime 911 dispatcher Roger Wallace.
- Town Manager John Mangiaratti appreciated the heroic efforts of the Department of Public Works following the recent storm.
- Deputy Town Manager Thom Begin announced the recent hiring of Tim Michalski as director of Parks & Recreation
Fireworks over fireworks
At the December 15, 2025 Select Board meeting the Board voted not to expend the $40,000 that was authorized for July 4, 2026 fireworks at the May 2025 Town Meeting. Board members spoke of strong public reactions to the decision, including an allegation of an open meeting law violation due to insufficient specificity in the agenda description.
Mr. Charter reviewed the December 15 decision, and Board members followed with remarks that, in the main, reviewed claimed fireworks harms that were mentioned earlier; including ecological damage, wildlife and pet trauma, and costs to the town above the appropriated amount. Allowing town staff to have holiday time was repeatedly mentioned; staffing the fireworks event requires every staff member from multiple town departments, including Police, Fire, and Department of Public Works.
Residents’ reactions were mixed, including forceful pro-fireworks remarks emphasizing respect for tradition and the historical basis for fireworks. No strong opinions favoring the December vote were expressed, although doubts were raised in many resident’s remarks. As well, many alternatives to traditional fireworks were mentioned, including drone and laser light displays.
Mr. Charter acknowledged that he had presented the fireworks section at the 2025 Town Meeting, and made a motion to rescind the December vote and restore the fireworks. The motion was not passed by the Board, which then moved on to other business. At present, it appears that the December decision stands and that Town management will proceed with planning on that basis.
Acton Select Board Immigration Policy
In October 2017, the Acton Board of Selectmen (as the Select Board was known at the time) adopted an Immigration Policy that acknowledged that federal law limits the ability of local governments to restrict the sharing of immigration-status information. To avoid creating local records that might be subject to such sharing, town employees are directed not to inquire about or collect information on a person’s citizenship or immigration status, and are prohibited from holding an individual solely on suspicion of an immigration law violation. The 2017 policy allows town employees to comply with lawful requirements, but prohibits the use of town resources to assist in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws.
On October 6, 2025 the Select Board heard an Update from Police Chief Cogan that anticipated a reexamination and a possible update to Acton’s current policies. At the present meeting Mr. Martin presented a Draft update to the 2017 policy, adding items 6-10 as updates:
- 6. marking off a restricted area behind the Public Safety Facility, limiting access to Town of Acton employees with invitation-only access granted by the Acton Police;
- 7. requiring that a person released from police custody be given notice, be advised of rights, and be allowed, if subject to federal detention, to seek representation;
- 8. explicit extension of the Acton Police “Duty to intervene” policy to local, state and federal officers;
- 9. require the Acton Police to request and attempt to validate federal arrest warrants and to verify the identity of persons enforcing federal immigration law; and
- 10. avoid, where possible, taking unlicensed drivers into custody.
Chief Cogan, Town Counsel Nina Pickering-Cook, Select Board members and the public commented at length on the proposals. Of his proposal numbers 6-8, Mr. Martin said they were not strictly necessary, but that they expand on, and make more explicit, the existing policy and current practices. He went on to justify, at length, items 9 and 10.
Speaking generally, Chief Cogan said, “I do not agree with all of it…I’m optimistic that we can meet somewhere and … resolve issues…”. Town Counsel Pickering-Cook stated, “…nothing that is being proposed is unlawful…I don’t think all of it is … advisable…”. Speaking of items 9 and 10, she expressed concern over the practical details of implementation and mentioned prior discussion with Mr. Martin and Chief Cogan. Select Board Vice-chair Alissa Nicol declared that in the present novel situation, changes to policy are needed and she supported the entire new policy list. Mr. Charter noted, among other points, that the current situation resulted from lack of immigration law enforcement by previous administrations. As in the October 6, 2025 meeting, residents were highly critical of the current enforcement efforts. No vote was taken; Mr. Charter promised that the issue would return during his term as chair.
Acton Memorial Library Redesign
Acton Library Director Maria Palacio and Vice Chair of the Acton Memorial Library Board of Trustees Tina Stoval appeared before the Select Board and Town managers in response to requests for additional background on proposed funding for a Memorial Library interior renovation. An overview presentation introduced the project, showing how the building, last expanded in 1998, no longer aligns with current patterns of library use. Drawing on a comprehensive and detailed March 2025 feasibility study, they highlighted recurring challenges such as limited and inflexible public space, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility issues, and inefficient staff workflows. Specific examples included outdated book-return handling that creates safety and labor concerns, shelving and layouts that restrict sight lines and accessibility, and space constraints that limit programming for children and accessibility for seniors. The proposal focuses on reconfiguring existing interior space rather than expanding the building footprint.
Board members asked detailed questions about scope, design assumptions, funding sources, and timing. Discussion touched on the phased nature of the project, the $95,000 conceptual design request, and the role of grants and future fundraising in advancing the work. Board members underscored the importance of preserving the first floor meeting room, improving bathroom access, and addressing both public and staff accessibility beyond minimum ADA requirements. Town managers clarified that the current request is an early planning step intended to generate drawings, cost estimates, and code reviews, allowing the Town to make informed decisions. The discussion concluded with encouragement for continued coordination, public transparency, and early engagement with advisory boards and committees.
Town Meeting Participation
Increased participation in Town Meeting has been a recurrent Board discussion topic, most recently in October 2025, as well as being a Select Board short-term goal. Town Moderator JoAnn Berry joined the present meeting to discuss progress toward that goal. Working from a Goal Memo prepared by Mr. Martin, the discussion focused first on logistics, meaning accommodating limited-mobility residents with parking suggestions and a “roving check-in” to avoid long walks, as well as ensuring that ramps and entrances remain usable.
Town Meeting Warrant articles often involve complex issues that are not easily grasped when first heard on the Town Meeting floor. The Moderator and the Board reviewed a variety of approaches for sharing background information, including previewing key warrant articles in advance, recording and sharing presentations and Q&A segments on Acton TV, and producing short, accessible videos for social media to build familiarity and interest. There was also discussion of in-person options, such as drop-in information sessions at the library, modeled on a successful effort in Boxborough, where residents could review maps, plans, and charts and ask questions at their own pace. Several participants emphasized that complex articles, particularly those involving land use, zoning, or infrastructure, benefit from visual explanations and one-on-one discussion.
To memorialize progress on a Select Board goal, the Board voted to move forward with a subset of the goal memo: establishing a popularly-named “wiggle room,” where children can be accommodated; expanding and better publicizing roving check-in for easier access; and distributing a variety of short, 30–60 second informational or encouraging videos on social media. More involved ideas, such as expanded pre-meeting presentations or drop-in sessions, were acknowledged as valuable but deferred for further refinement.
Town Hall HVAC and Emergency Power Replacement
Deputy Town Manager Thom Begin presented a Project Update, the current proposal for renovations in the Town Hall. The existing gas-fired boiler (installed in 2008) and much of the piping, insulation, fan coil units, and building management system (installed in the late 1980s) are at or beyond end of life, with frequent failures, mold, and limited temperature control. The proposed project would replace the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system with an all-electric air-source heat pump system, fully replace the building management system, upgrade electrical service and distribution, install a new diesel-fueled emergency generator, remediate hazardous materials, and replace deteriorated piping and terminal units throughout the building. Air-source heat pumps were selected over geothermal due to substantially lower capital cost and fewer site constraints. The project also includes limited Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades in public areas, as well as weatherization improvements. The total project cost is estimated at $3.75 million, reflecting construction, remediation, contingencies, and professional services, with design currently at approximately the 40–90% level.
Discussion focused on cost comparisons between electric and gas systems, operating costs, incentives, and how information should be presented to Town Meeting. Mr. Martin explained that the heating and cooling equipment itself represents only a small portion of total project cost, and that while heat pumps have higher upfront equipment costs, available grants and incentives, estimated at approximately $1 million plus additional utility incentives, make the all-electric option less expensive overall than a gas system. Operating costs for the electric system were projected to be higher than gas under the Town’s favorable gas contract, but Mr. Martin noted that the increased operating cost would represent only a small fraction of the annual debt-service savings generated by the grant funding. Board members emphasized the need to clearly and simply present total project costs, financing impacts, and operating costs at Town Meeting, and to clarify that while the building’s HVAC would be all-electric, the emergency generator must remain diesel-fueled because Town Hall is a critical facility. Questions were also raised about mold prevention, incentive certainty, debt service duration, noise mitigation for the generator, and staff relocation during construction. Mr. Begin noted that these issues would be addressed in final design and Town Meeting materials.
Resident Participation in the Planning Process:
At four and one-half hours into the meeting, Board member and liaison to the Planning Board Jim Synder-Grant briefly presented a detailed document reviewing the various community plans that Acton creates, such as the Comprehensive Community Plan, the Housing Production Plan: and the Open Space And Recreation Plan. The document contains links to the various plans, and thoughtful evaluation of the methods by which the plans are constructed; unfortunately, time did not allow discussion of the document.
Briefly noted:
- The Board approved a Town of Acton PFAS-Free Policy.
- The Board approved the Town’s entry into one or more low income community shared solar agreements (for example Bluewave LICSS), subject to Town Meeting approval.
- The Board discussed a Draft Schedule for the 2026 Annual Town Election and Annual Town Meeting, and approved the opening of the Town Meeting Warrant on Monday, February 9, and the closing of the Warrant on Friday, March 20.
Hearings: A hearing for Hawthorn Realty Company for a Site Plan Special Permit under Zoning Bylaw Section 10.4 was continued to March 2, 2026.
The Board approved the application of Luna Mexican Cuisine, 20 Nagog Park,, for a change in hours to 11 a.m.-–12:00 midnight, seven days a week.
