- Mr. Derek Pinto, of Chadwick Street, made his third appearance before the Board, asking again about a traffic issue that, from his description, appears to be a clear and present hazard. He acknowledged prior contact with Board Chair Dean Charter and Town Manager John Mangiaratti, and with the town engineer. Mr. Pinto requested that the Board provide a response to a request for lower speed limits or traffic-calming measures. He also asked for the Department of Public Works (DPW) to provide dates and prioritization scoring criteria for projects 38 (River Street pedestrian and bicycle improvement + Traffic Calming) and 55 (Chadwick Street Pedestrian Improvement) listed in the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan.
- Board Chair Dean Charter noted the passing of former Acton resident Keith Karkane.
- Mr. Mangiaratti announced a $1 million grant for the Town Hall HVAC upgrade; Sustainability Director Andrea Beccera noted environmental analyst Lauren West’s contribution to the grant application.
- Select Board Clerk David Martin addressed ongoing issues at Kelley’s Corner, explaining that traffic signals are currently on a fixed timing schedule (sensors not yet activated), but will eventually respond dynamically to traffic volume. He added that the new double left-turn lanes on eastbound Mass. Ave. at Main Street are intended to reduce backups and that additional lane markings are planned.
Hearing: Marcus Lewis Racquet Club permits
It was standing room only in Town Hall’s Faulkner Room as the Board returned to the application of Marcus Lewis for permits to build racquet sports facilities at 45 Nagog Park and 62 Nonset Path. The Acton Exchange previously reported on the rescindment of approval of the permits due to an error of omission of notice to abutters. A representative for Mr. Lewis acknowledged residents’ concerns but emphasized that the organization had relied on previously issued permits and had begun work in good faith.
Board member Jim Snyder-Grant explained again how the abutter notification process went wrong, and how the Town addressed that error. Board discussion in advance of public comment addressed a variety of issues, with much attention to an emergency services road, which was addressed by Fire Chief Anita Arnum.
The Board’s discussion was typical of site-plan and use permits, addressing noise, lighting, parking spaces, requirements for landscaping, and the like. Public comment by residents of Nagog Woods, Nonset Path and adjacent areas was largely but not completely in support of Mr. Lewis and the project. This space cannot do justice to the variety of comments, but it seemed that the lack of notification, coupled with the sudden appearance of tree-cutting crews, was an understandably traumatic experience for many residents.
A motion to close the public hearing was made and seconded, then followed with further discussion among the Board and Town staff; the motion passed with three “Ayes” and two “Nays”. The matter is expected to return to the Board.
Finance, budgets, and guidance
FY2025-2034 Capital Improvement Plan: Mr. Mangiaratti and Assistant Town Manager Thom Begin presented an FY2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan. The plan lists $8.45 million General Fund Debt Projects, such as the Town Hall HVAC and Emergency power project, and others (DPW building, Complete Streets) that the Board and Board watchers have seen before. Lower cost items that are proposed to be funded from Free Cash (the Town’s spending account) include Police cruiser replacements, Information Technology (IT) spending, and more; totaling $1.215 million. The plan document describes many projects in detail, and an appendix lists capital assets, including buildings, facilities such as the NARA Park Amphitheater, the schools and grounds, parks and open space, roads, dams and bridges, the stormwater and sewer system, and vehicles.
Changes to Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Policy: At the Feb. 5, 2024 Select Board meeting the Board approved and, on May 5, 2025, Town Meeting approved, a transfer of funds from the OPEB trust fund, for payment of retiree health insurance costs. The Acton Exchange described the transfer as “like taking equity as cash out of an existing house mortgage; the town will extend its annual contributions to repay the withdrawal from the fund.” At the present meeting Mr. Mangiaratti stated that the present value of the OPEB trust was $13 million. Following the transition from the Health Insurance Trust to the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) as its health insurer the Town will receive a $290,000 refund, and Mr. Mangiaratti proposed transferring those funds to the OPEB trust. He proposed, for the Board’s consideration, a draft document (not included in the meeting materials), which gives the Town more flexibility in OPEB trust contributions while continuing to make the planned contributions to the fund. The Board made several suggestions; Mr. Mangiaratti said he would review the plan with the Finance committee, then return to the Board for further suggestions.
Discussion of FY27 Budget: The Board discussed the choices and tradeoffs to be made in choosing the percentage increase in the operating budget, discussing project choices and priority. No final decisions were made and no votes were taken.
Acton TV contract renewal: Acton TV records town government meetings including the Select Board, Finance and School Committee meetings, and Town Meeting; and provides a variety of other programming. At the present meeting the Board discussed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a contract that governs the Town’s relationship with Acton TV. The MOU includes a new requirement for Acton TV to provide up to an additional 10 hours per week of Acton-related programming; some aspects of the contract are subject to Town Meeting approval. The Board briefly discussed how the 10-hour figure was arrived at, and whether it adequately covers current programming. Acton TV is funded in part by cable franchise fees from Comcast and Verizon; that funding has decreased as cable television usage decreased, and concerns about Acton TV’s long-term financial viability were raised but not answered. Select Board clerk David Martin noted that a motion to explore a partnership that would return Acton TV to the Acton Boxborough Regional High School was approved at the Nov. 6 meeting of the School Committee. Despite the unresolved issues, the board voted unanimously to approve the renewal.
- The Board approved Town Clerk Leo Mercado’s request for increases in his offices’ Fee Schedule, attributing the necessity for the increase primarily to higher postage costs.
- The Board authorized the Town Manager to sign an Amendment to the Purchase & Sales Agreement for 3 School Street, extending the possible uses of the former fire house from “commercial use” to “any permitted use”.
Tom Beals is the Acton Exchange beat reporter covering the Select Board.
