Opening remarks
Faulkner Volunteer awardee Lori Cooney bid farewell to the Board, regretfully announcing that she and her husband Joe Cooney—himself a volunteer in a variety of roles—were departing Acton to rejoin her siblings and other family members.
Select Board Chair Alissa Nicol sadly recognized the passing of Ellie Anderson, briefly recounting Ms. Anderson’s career in Acton, rising from Finance Clerk to Budget Director.
Ms. Nicol noted that, due to drought conditions, the Acton Water District had declared Level 4 outdoor watering restrictions, and drew attention to the annual National Night Out.
Economic development Office update
Economic Development Director Patricia Costa presented an update on the Economic Development Office’s work during FY26, organized around the goals of Acton’s Strategic Economic Development Action Plan, unveiled in June 2025. She described efforts to promote local businesses, attract new businesses to vacant commercial properties, expand networking and regional partnerships, support small-scale industrial and advanced-manufacturing uses, assist with mixed-use and housing opportunities, and streamline information and assistance for local businesses.
Ms. Costa also described the office’s growing Business Boost newsletter (see the July 2026 edition, and subscribe here), which now reaches more than 3,800 recipients, as well as the office’s continuing work to collect data about Acton businesses and their needs. Looking ahead, she said the office would increasingly integrate economic development with the recently completed Cultural Arts Strategic Plan, including efforts to explore the designation of one or more cultural districts, promote collaboration between businesses and artists, and strengthen regional partnerships.
Select Board anticipates Acton Leadership Group (ALG) meeting
The Board discussed issues that members of the Select Board’s delegation would bring to the first Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) meeting of the Acton Leadership Group. The ALG brings together members of the Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee, along with Town and school management, to work toward consensus on budgets and planning before Town Meeting votes on Town and School appropriations.
Town Manager John Mangiaratti said that planning for FY28 had begun with an anticipated deficit of $3.4 million. Although the figure was substantial, he said, it was only somewhat higher than the deficits the Town typically faces at the beginning of the annual planning process and was something the Town could work toward resolving.
Mr. Mangiaratti also previewed an FY26 update that will be discussed at the ALG meeting. He said that the Town had exceeded its revenue projections by more than $1 million, primarily because of stronger-than-expected investment income and local receipts. The Town had also ended FY26 with an unspent balance, or “turnback,” expected to be in the range of 1 to 2 percent of the budget.
Mr. Mangiaratti cautioned, however, that the unusually strong investment income should not be assumed to recur in the following year. The additional revenue would nevertheless improve the Town’s financial position as it began planning for FY28.
Board Chair Alissa Nicol stated the need for a debt exclusion for the Department of Public Works (DPW) building. Board member Dean Charter said that a current estimate for the building was upcoming. Assistant Town Manager Thom Begin added that another estimate was likely to be available in late September or early October, when the project reached the design-development phase.
In more general remarks, Mr. Charter mentioned discussions about the possibility of an operating override at two recent Finance Committee meetings. He said, “I think it’s important that everybody … takes a breath and realizes [that] we’re only, what, three weeks into the new fiscal year.” Many things, he said, would become clearer over the next several months, and he believed it would be premature to decide that the Town would need an operating override before those issues had been sorted out.
Chair Nicol stated, “I will say that we are not asking for an operating override at this point.” She noted that the Town had $1.2 million remaining in unused levy capacity, and mentioned the importance of examining potential operational efficiencies.
Vice Chair David Martin said that he had heard concerns expressed on social media and in conversations around town that an operating override was a fait acompli. He emphasized that no decision had been made and that it was too early in the ALG process to say that the Town would definitely seek an override.
“No one up here is being cute saying it’s not decided,” he said. “We don’t know that it’s not. We don’t know that it is.” and noted further that the financial positions of Acton, Boxborough, and the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District would all affect the eventual decision.
Recommendation re: reserved parking rate for commuters
Acton Treasurer/Collector Patrick McIntyre reviewed reserved parking rates at South Acton MBTA Commuter parking lots. Noting a high vacancy rate at those reserved spaces, he proposed to leave current rates unchanged, and to review those rates in early 2027. He proposed an advertising campaign to publicize the existence of those spaces, and described a transition to pay-by-plate kiosks in place of the current pay-by-space system.
Board members briefly discussed, but did not propose, lowering fees given the low usage of those reserved spaces, and noted changes in post-pandemic lot usage before unanimously approving the proposal.
Briefly noted: The Board approved an Asaph Parlin House Facility Use and Rental Policy.
Tom Beals is the Select Board beat reporter for the Acton Exchange.
