Acton Town Manager John Mangiaratti provided a series of Town updates and engaged in a lively question-and-answer session with residents at the Acton Senior Center during his “Java with John” program on Friday morning, May 16, 2025. The event, broadcast live on local television, covered a wide range of topics from the recent Town Meeting outcomes and ongoing infrastructure projects to the recent ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] action on Great Road.
Mr. Mangiaratti began by expressing his pride in serving Acton, a community he described as a leader that “other communities look to,” largely due to its engaged citizenry who “care about the right things.”
A key topic was the recent Town Meeting, which Mr. Mangiaratti noted had lower attendance than in previous years, with about 375 participants. He interpreted this as a possible sign of public trust in current Town operations. Mr. Mangiaratti highlighted the direct democratic nature of Town Meeting, stating, “Town meeting is a special opportunity for residents to fulfill the duty of being legislators and be directly involved in major decisions.”
The future of the DPW building was a central point of discussion. Mr. Mangiaratti recounted the history of the project, including a 2021 Feasibility Study which led to a 2023 Town Meeting approval for a $1.225 million design for a new facility estimated to cost $30-$35 million. However, this larger project did not gain support from the Finance Committee or voters at the 2025 Annual election ballot.
Consequently, the Town sought and received $150,000 at the recent Town Meeting for further study and analysis. “We know we need to do this,” Mangiaratti affirmed, explaining the funds will be used, starting this summer, to determine changes for a future proposal. The Town will hire a peer-review consultant to offer an external perspective on the project. “This town isn’t going out of business, and 100 years from now we will still have roads, bridges, and sidewalks to build and maintain” he emphasized, underscoring the long-term need for a functional DPW facility.
Responding to residents’ concerns about the $35 million price tag and suggestions to buy an existing building or repurpose a fire station, Mangiaratti acknowledged the cost concerns. He noted the rising costs of public construction but also pointed out that taking commercial properties off the tax rolls for municipal use would increase the burden on residential taxpayers.
The Town Manager assured attendees that all options are on the table but highlighted the potential inefficiencies of a spread-out workforce. He also addressed concerns about air quality for employees in the current DPW building, stating that improvements and further assessment are underway.
Regarding the Fire Department, Mangiaratti discussed an ongoing pilot program to optimize staffing and resource deployment. Since February 10, the department has operated out of the two largest stations: the new North Acton station and the South Acton station. He reported positive outcomes, including more initial staffing responding to recent fires.
A second phase of the pilot will soon begin, reintroducing the West Acton station while keeping the Center station unstaffed, aiming to alleviate space constraints at the South Acton facility. A public survey is available at actonma.gov/fire. Results will be presented later this year.
The Town Manager also shared roadwork updates for projects all over town:
- The Kelley’s Corner project is visibly progressing, with Community Lane currently under reconstruction and Main Street widening underway. Mr. Mangiaratti anticipates the project will “really start to pop this summer” and be substantially completed by the end of the calendar year, with cosmetic work in spring 2026. In response to a question about vacant retail spaces at the old McDonald’s and the new Stop & Shop plaza, the Town Manager expressed optimism that new tenants, particularly a restaurateur, would be more likely to invest once the Kelley’s Corner construction concludes.
- Beginning after Memorial Day, a developer is installing a new sewer line on Rt. 62 (Powder Mill Road) from near the Ford dealership to Wendy’s restaurant, with work occurring “right down the middle of the road.” The new sewer line is for the large apartment complex. Mr. Mangiaratti explained it will be part of the municipal sewer system, but the private developer is required to build it as a condition of their permit.
Installing the new sewer line will cause significant daytime traffic disruptions (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for several months through the summer and into early fall. Mr. Mangiaratti asked for patience, noting that police details and a traffic management plan, coordinated with Maynard and Concord, will be in place.
While the immediate connection is for the 230-unit complex, he noted an opportunity for other businesses along that road to connect in the future. He described the new apartment development, which includes a five-story parking garage with direct-level access to apartments, as an “exciting new development that we’ve been working on for a long time.”
Addressing sewer system capacity, Mangiaratti confirmed, “Yes, it is reaching near capacity after this new apartment complex comes on board.” He mentioned that Town Meeting had approved funding to build a large tank next to the treatment plant to help manage effluent flow and create some capacity enhancements, though the system is “getting close to the end of the line.”
Other infrastructure news includes:
- The recent repaving of a trenched section of Route 27, with milling and paving of Sudbury Road, is planned for June.
- The state is working on a redesign of the complex Route 2 and Piper Road intersection, with a public hearing anticipated this summer.
- When asked about improvements at the Prospect Street and Route 27 intersection near Ace Hardware, Mangiaratti confirmed that funding for improvements at the Prospect Street and Rt 27 intersection (near Ace Hardware) has been secured and the design is complete. “The DPW Director, Cory York, went out to bid, I believe, and we’re going to start construction on that this year,” he stated. The redesign will change access to Prospect Street from Main Street from two ways to one, aiming for a safer configuration.
- Regarding a query about streetlights on Musket and Hayward Roads, Mangiaratti said he would investigate.
- Finally, Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel is getting a ramp to make the historic chapel accessible. A $250,000 state grant, supplemented by cemetery commission funds, is financing the construction. This project is underway and expected to be completed by the end of June.
Mangiaratti also highlighted upcoming community events, including the summer concert series at NARA Park and the Fourth of July festival, featuring the band, 36 Red, and fireworks. He noted that logistical improvements are planned for this year’s celebration, based on lessons learned from last year’s event, the first in five years.
The discussion then moved to the recent federal immigration enforcement (ICE) activity in Acton. Mr. Mangiaratti acknowledged an incident from the previous weekend that garnered public attention and led to a rally at Town Hall. “It’s a difficult issue for us because we’re the local government and we have a set charge for what we do,” he explained.
The Town Manager emphasized that the Acton Police Department’s role during such events is to ensure public safety. “We don’t know what the federal agencies are going to do,” Mr. Mangiaratti said, noting the town is not typically informed about the specifics of federal operations. He added that the town’s DEI officer has been in touch with families who expressed fear due to the activity and encouraged residents with concerns to reach out to the town.
In other news:
- The future of the old Stop & Shop at Powder Mill Plaza remains uncertain. When asked for an update, Mangiaratti said, “We haven’t heard anything yet.” He debunked a rumor about a new grocery store, stating, “They didn’t tell anyone in Town Hall that, if that’s the case.” He expressed hope for a “productive use” for the space, recognizing that an anchor store like a grocery often draws customers to other businesses in a plaza.
- The topic of commercial vacancy rates and the impact of infrastructure, particularly sewer access, was also raised. Mangiaratti confirmed that the lack of sewer in certain parts of town does affect the commercial vacancy rate. “When you’re trying to find a place to locate your business, you start with the foundation: do they have enough electricity, do they have water, and do they have wastewater?” he explained. “If one of those is a no, they keep moving.”
The Town Manager mentioned that wastewater capacity constraints, such as at Gould’s Plaza (where Donelan’s is located), can hinder new businesses, such as restaurants, requiring either significant private investment in septic systems or municipal sewer expansion, both of which are costly. He announced that an economic development strategic plan with detailed data, including vacancy rates, would be published on June 2.
- Mark Duci from Acton TV also spoke, reminding attendees that Town Meeting was recorded and is available for viewing on ActonTV.org and the ActonTV YouTube channel. He highlighted the importance of each vote, noting one article passed by only two votes.
- Regarding water quality, Mr. Mangiaratti confirmed that the construction behind the old Stop & Shop at Powder Mill Plaza is for a PFAS treatment facility being built by the Acton Water District, a separate town government entity.
- Finally, on the subject of summer water restrictions, Mangiaratti noted that despite community growth over the last decade, actual water consumption has decreased due to conservation efforts by residents and the Acton Water District. “I think there certainly is an end to the capacity of water that we have, but I don’t think we’re as much concerned about getting to that end as we may have once been,” he concluded.
For more details, you can watch the entire 44-minute long session, “Java with John – May 16th, 2025,” on Acton TV.
Greg Jarboe is the Acton Exchange beat reporter for the Council on Aging.