Opening remarks: A caller highlighted unreasonably long delays at traffic lights and questioned the rationale for left-turn lanes on Mass. Ave. at Kelley’s Corner. Select Board Chair Dean Charter responded that the project is ongoing and changes are planned for winter into spring.
Town Manager John Mangiaratti described further Fire Department staffing deployment changes due to construction at the West Acton fire station, scheduled to start in December. Board Vice-Chair Alissa Nicol recommended an upcoming Planning Board meeting where “Habitat for All” subdivision rules will be discussed. And Board Member Jim Synder-Grant announced that he would not be running for reelection and offered to advise potential Select Board candidates.
Marcus Lewis Racquet Club update: When the number of attendees at a Select Board (the Board) meeting is much larger than usual, it is often a sign of a contentious issue before the Board. At its meeting on Sept. 15, the Board approved three permits for a development at 45 Nagog Park. At the present meeting Mr. Mangiaratti said “within the last…week or or two…we became aware that there was a defect in the notice that we provided to abutters…” He explained that due to the clerical error, the notice to abutters (addresses within 300 feet of the project) was flawed; and due to that error, three steps had to be taken: issue a stop-work order for the project (done); ask the Select Board to rescind the approvals; and re-advertise and repeat the public hearing. Mr. Snyder-Grant further explained that the plans included the adjacent parcel 62 Nonset Path, and that the omission of that parcel resulted in lack of abutter notifications.
With a motion to rescind the permits made and seconded, the Board heard from residents. Ms. Elizabeth (Liz) Reinhardt introduced herself as President of the Nagog Woods Community Corporation, and spoke in support of rescinding the permits and of the stop-work order, and also invited a site visit from the town. One resident opposed the stop-work order on the grounds that it would delay construction. Other residents questioned limiting the notification to a subset of the residents, given that residents have collective ownership, and most commenters questioned the necessity of already-completed tree removals. The Board closed the discussion by approving rescindment of the permits, and noting that the Board will return to the issue on Nov. 17.
Finance, budgets, and guidance
Tax classification hearing: Each year, the Board is required to vote on four questions that determine how property taxes will be distributed among property classes. At the present meeting, Acton Town Assessor C.J. Carroll made the annual tax classification presentation to the Board. In introductory remarks, Mr. Carroll noted that the current average assessed value of a single family residence (SFR) is $938,000, up 7.8% from last year; and condominiums’ average value is $554,000, up 9%. The proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 tax rate (pending Department of Revenue approval) is $16.23 per $1,000 of assessed value, down from $17.15 in FY2025; however due to the higher assessed values, the average annual SFR tax bill increases from $14,918 to $15,520. The four questions, and the Board’s decisions, are as follows.
- Open Space discount: Because Acton has no properties classified as “Open Space” the discount does not apply and the Board voted not to adopt it.
- Small Commercial Exemption: The Board voted not to shift the burden of taxation from small businesses (not greater than 10 employees) to larger firms.
- Residential Factor: The Board voted not to shift a portion of the residential property tax to commercial, industrial, and personal property taxpayers.
- Residential Exemption: The Board voted not to adopt a split residential property tax that would result in higher tax rates for properties with greater assessed value.
Town Manager’s presentation: Preliminary Level Services Estimates and Capital Needs for FY2027. Mr. Mangiaratti recalled his August budget preview, then presented the FY2027 Budget Requests. In his introduction to the budget requests, he said that he asked Town departments for ways to deliver services without additional spending unless that spending was necessary; and he emphasized that these were requests for the Board and public review, and not a budget proposal. Projects were separated by likely funding sources, including:
- Projects Funded by Borrowing ($9.5 million), including Town Hall HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) replacement, fire engine replacement, DPW (Department of Public Works) facility design and more.
- Projects Funded from Free Cash or other non-borrowing sources ($1.1 million), including police cruiser replacements, information technology infrastructure, Town Hall bell tower structural work, and more.
- Additional Staff Hires for Health & Human Services, the Senior Center, Information Technology, Police and Fire personnel, and more.
Mr. Mangiaratti then reviewed health care cost history and projections, as well as debt service cost projections. Board members asked for details and (anticipating prioritization discussions) further explanation of many specific items. The next budget-related scheduled event is a Nov. 17 presentation of the FY2027-FY2036 Capital Improvement Plan.
Briefly noted: A request from firearms dealer Lets Roll LLC for a change in operating hours was held from the consent agenda and briefly discussed. (The Acton Exchange reported earlier on its operating hours and on its relations with neighboring businesses.) An accompanying letter from Economic Development Director Patricia Costa noted her contacts with neighboring businesses, all but one of which raised no objections. The one objection came from an out-of-state owner who acknowledged contact but did not follow up with Ms. Costa. During the Board’s discussion, the issue of the appearance of special scrutiny due to the nature of the business was raised; however, in the last vote before adjournment, the Board approved the request.
The Board approved a Letter of Support for Methods Machine Tools (976 Main Street, Acton) to establish a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) designation for their facility. Director Costa explained that this would allow the company to import and store inventory tax-free until products enter the U.S. market.
Hearings: After a brief discussion, the Board approved a Class II Auto Dealer’s License for Cars of Lebanon, for non-display, internet-only sales. A Site Plan Special Permit for 60 Powdermill Road was continued to December 1, and a Site Plan Special Permit for 465-469 and 471 Great Road was continued to December 15.
Tom Beals is the Select Board beat reporter for the Acton Exchange.
