Opening remarks
Passings: Select Board Chair Dean Charter recognized the passing of Barbara Willson, and Board Member Fran Arsenault mourned the passing of Margaret Miley.
New Board Business
Town Assessor’s Exemption presentation: Acton Principal Assessor CJ Carroll reviewed Acton’s tax relief programs, and detailed qualifying conditions for current exemptions, after comparing dollar figures for Acton’s exemptions to deferred payments in neighbor towns. Exemption classes include seniors (over 65), disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and extreme hardship; Mr. Carroll encouraged residents to contact Ms. Marty Abbott at the Assessor’s office for eligibility questions.
Mr. Carroll then described a new (2024) exemption program that offers incentives for property owners to rent units at affordable rates to low-income tenants, with exemptions limited by the ratio of qualifying square footage to total property area. The Board was enthusiastic about the program but recognized the need to craft its implementation to avoid creating opportunistic incentives.
Real Estate Transfer Fee Proposal: Select Board Vice-Chair Alissa Nicol opened discussion of a proposed letter of support from the Acton Select Board for proposed legislation that would enable a local-option real estate transfer fee on higher-value transactions to fund affordable housing. Mr. Bob Van Meter, vice-chair of the Acton Community Housing Corporation, wrote in support of the legislation: “The legislation would allow a transfer tax between .05% and 2% of the value of a transaction above one million dollars.”
In response to a resident’s question Ms. Nicol added that the proposed legislation specifies that the fee would apply to the lesser of $1 million or the median county single family home sales price. The resident noted that at a Middlesex county median of about $850,000, the fee could apply to the majority of Acton’s home sales. Board members emphasized that a by-law would have to be approved at Town Meeting for Acton to enact that fee. The Board voted unanimously to sign the letter.
Let’s Roll LLC Use Special Permit: Due to customer demand, firearms dealer Let’s Roll LLC requested a change in operating hours for its location at 930 Main Street. Documentation for the issue consisted of a letter from Let’s Roll and original (2024) permit materials. From the Board’s discussion it appears that a neighboring business raised concerns about the impact of Let’s Roll on their operations, citing lost business and employee discomfort. The Board noted that Let’s Roll had previously operated outside permitted hours.
To address the conflict, the board suggested involving the location’s landlord and Economic Development Director Patricia Costa to mediate between the businesses. After discussion, the board approved temporary expanded hours for 60 days.
Briefly Noted
- The 2025 “Restaurant Week” is scheduled for October 19 to October 26.
- A review of the Department of Public Works (DPW) building proposal by consulting firm Arrowstreet is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m in the Acton Town Hall Faulkner room.
- A multi-board meeting with Acton Boxborough Regional School District and the Acton and Boxborough Select Boards and Finance committees, was tentatively (re)-scheduled for Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. at 15 Charter Road, Acton.
Hearings
Santa Fe Burrito Grill, LLC, 297 Main Street, Acton requested the Board’s approval for use of liquor licenses as collateral on a loan application. This request appeared to be a novelty to the Board, although a similar case was said to have been approved in 2023. (Massachusetts law explicitly allows license use as collateral; MGL Ch. 138 §23: “…Any license granted under the provisions of this chapter may be pledged by the licensee for a loan, provided approval of such loan and pledge is given by the local licensing authority and the commission.”) The Board discussed various scenarios such as the value of the collateral in case of license revocation for cause, before approving the request.
The Board approved a Common Victualler License for HDR Holdings, LLC doing business as Wonder at 145 Great Road, Acton MA. Wonder was described as a novel food service concept, with both eat-in and delivery options.
Tom Beals is the Acton Exchange Select Board beat reporter.