Uh, good evening everyone. This is Glen Cody. I'm your select board liaison for the act regional school committee. Um, it's good to see you all again. It's been a bit since I've been here, but happy to give you all a little bit of an update on what we've been up to on the school committee recently. To say we've
been busy is an understatement. So, I will do my best to provide some context for this board and the constituents in the community listening. So this will be brief. On March 19th, the school committee met to discuss geographic enrollment, flex zones, transition policy. Uh the final
scenarios of these proposals are and have been open for public comment for about two weeks now. Once again, the most reliable source of information is on our website, the official school committee website. I encourage members of the community to be to approach social media and Facebook with a healthy
dose of skepticism and a grain of salt. People The way these algorithms work is that the most inflammatory stuff rises to the top and nuance and depth is not exactly a businessfriendly model for that. So I get that people are seeing a
lot of stuff on Facebook. I really do encourage people to just go straight to the school committee's website to get the most accurate and up-to-date information about what exactly is happening and why. It's an emotional subject. We're doing our best to guide the community throughout this. We understand that
there's a significant amount of disagreement on this, but we're doing our best to move forward to in service of the kids and our excellent school system. So, the our final vote on geographic enrollment
uh is this Thursday, April 9th. Um the community is of course welcome to come. What I want to do, what I also just want to close with this and just stress what we believe at the school committee is that this this restructuring process and
the numbers have this laid out quite clearly. We save nearly $17 million over the following 10 years. I need people listening at home and watching to sort of sit with that number
for just a little bit because if that did not happen, the next place that comes is with staffing cuts. I was very I personally just speaking on just myself for just a moment. I can't
speak for the entirety of the committee on this following thing. Yep. 30 seconds. I was very clear when I sat at that chair a little bit during the previous year's League of Women Voters candidate forum that I feel we can afford to lose we can afford to lose a
physical building a physical space what needs to be protected is staffing and I feel I've been very consistent with that I understand that we have many strong opinions in the community um the part of the democratic process is being able to handle confict lict and
disagreement. I think $17 million over the next 10 years is nothing to sneeze at. We are the 16th best performing public school district in the state. I think we should keep that forward. Thank you so much. Um, and just wrapping up very quickly. Public comment is of course always welcome. Uh, the school committee's main
shell email is the best way to get us to all of our eyeballs. Um, please reach out with any questions. We support our kids. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Any other resident concerns?
Hello Pam nurse to Half Moon Hill. I am running for the the select board and as part of that I've been spending time going doortodoor to meet people in our community and I just wanted to share that in the process of doing that some
of the concerns that have been rising to the top you know really have been about affordability about the environment and of course about schools so just thought I'd take this to share that with all of you. Thank you.
Thank you. >> We will be commenting on warrant articles later on. Y the uh any other question, any other resident concerns? Oh, >> nobody online.
>> Okay, thank you. Uh we'll move ahead. Town manager update. >> Thank you. you. I have a quick couple quick transition announcements that I wanted to mention and then Tom has a couple other things. So, I wanted we posted a few jobs yesterday uh online and I just wanted to make sure that
people understood what was happening. Our building commissioner Ed Mullen has accepted a job as a town manager in a town in New Hampshire. So, we we congratulate him on that. Uh he's starting there later this month and our council on aging director Sharon Mccro has announced her retirement uh later
this summer or earlier this summer. So, uh, we have in addition to the police chief, which we were already starting the process for, we have some pretty big positions that we'll be filling, uh, this spring. So, and we'll recognize those folks, um, that are leaving when they leave. But, I just wanted to
mention that in case there was any questions from your from the public about why those jobs were posted. >> Uh, thank you, John. Um, two quick updates for the board and announcements for the community. Uh the sample ballot um as you heard from a person who's running for office. The sample ballot
can be found um it's been posted today. It's at the town clerk's website underneath the elections page option. So there's a banner on the lefth hand side. If you select elections, you'll be able to see what your ballot will look like uh come later on this month. Uh the second update and it's more of a
reminder for the community. Uh fourth quarter bills for your uh property taxes are due May 1st. uh a convenience option. Um if you do not have an opportunity to swing by town hall or would rather hand it or drop it someplace instead of in the mail, we do
have a dropbox on uh at the front of town hall. It's next to the ballot dropbox. Um it'll be real easy to see. It'll be the only one that's locked unlocked at night, so you can drop your ballots in there or uh your bill in there. And those are the two updates for the board. >> Okay. Um, can I ask you just
>> David? >> When does early voting start? >> If you don't know, we can get to it later. I've heard conflicting things and I just wanted to ask the question so the public could hear the answer. >> Sure. I'll have that in just a moment. >> Okay. Um, the only item that I have is
just a reminder for folks that the uh Francis Faulner awards will be given out uh Wednesday uh April 15th at 5:00 p.m. and we're going to be meeting down in the uh 17
Woodbury Lane location. So certainly these are very welldeserving volunteers that we are recognizing and certainly members of the public are encouraged to attend and I will open up to my colleagues.
David so perhaps we can start calling 17 Woodbury the Asoff pardon Parland house. I understand that some people objected to a subparland because although they were related because they reused names all the time. Um uh that uh that wasn't
as parland's house but after it took some discussion at the historical commission before they actually settled on what was really true. Um they they're getting the plaque that says the plaque has been made actually. I don't know if it's on the house uh as a a s
um parland house. So maybe we can start start calling it that. And I wanted to add one thing just of matter of interest to the public from what uh uh Glen Cody said is that um the school committee and the school district are looking to have the school assignments
based on the new geographical zones that the the school committee will be voting on on Thursday uh available for parents by the end of the month. Okay, Alicia, >> thank you. I just wanted to let the board know that last week the board of
health voted to recommend warrant article 11 and that warrant article is to establish an opioid settlement stabilization fund. I don't believe we typically print that in the warrant, but I think it'll be helpful for folks to know that the board of health does
recommend it. Um, also I think Jim's going to talk about one forum, but I wanted to mention another one. Um, on Thursday this week, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Actton TV studio on Craig Road, there will be a Meet the
Candidates event that's hosted by the Actton Democratic Town Committee. And also there will be a league event on election day um from 5 to 6:45 p.m. at the active memorial library.
It's a town meeting warrant drop in. Um so it's hosted by the league, but I believe that um warrant articles sponsor sponsors, excuse me, and possibly staff will be there to answer questions about warrant articles. >> Thank you, Jim.
A couple people wrote to me asking um about item three, approve proposed policy on natural gas pipeline replacement requests and they said they couldn't find the proposed policy and that's because there is no proposed policy. Um I'll use the time in that
agenda item to explain more about what we've been up to in that area. Um let's see. uh for the Commission on Disabilities. Um the main thing I've been working on with the Commission on Disabilities is
an updated handbook for members. Um working on that handbook raised uh an issue about some differences between the state enabling legislation for commissions on disability and the way the COOD is described in the town's bylaws. I'm meeting next week with town
council to sort this out and if any changes in the way Cood operates are called for, I'll make sure to brief whoever ends up being the next COOD liaison. Um, and another one about the future. Um, a
future without me on the board. Um the transportation advisory committee uh needs time after town meeting and probably after you reorganize to um needs to get time with the select board to get guidance on the relationship between the uh TACowned sidewalk
priority list, the town's complete streets prioritization process and uh a future pedestrian and bicycle plan if that gets funded. I know there's a a grant request for that. Um, so the t the the the advisory committee has been working on updating the old sidewalk
prioritization list under the assumption that it would provide useful input to the other processes, but they need to make sure this work is needed and wanted. They started by asking the town manager's office, but John correctly pointed out that the manager doesn't get to instruct a select board advisory
committee on what to do. That's up to us. So that may be coming back to you. Um and then um announcements uh forums. Um yes, there will be the traditional League of Women Voters candidate forum.
Um uh uh that's on the day before the Democratic Town Committees forum on the 8th of April at 700 p.m. right here in room 204. Um, and um, I guess also in addition to the uh,
the league having their drop in session, I I should remind us that on Thursday, April 16th, uh, town staff are sponsoring um, a session here at 6:30 on the two big capital items, the DPW
design and the town HVAC because those have, you know, they're they're complex topics that have had a lot of questions and we want to make sure people have chance to hear the information and ask questions uh in advance of town meeting. Um I think that's what I got. Thanks.
Thank you. And just to piggyback on that, um on Thursday, April 16th at 11:00 a.m. we'll be having a discussion specifically about the public works facility at the uh Council on Aging. So
that'll be a lots of opportunities to learn about the project uh on Thursday the 16th Fran. >> Okay. So item three, Jim.
>> Oh yeah. Um, so I've been working on a staff working group um that's working on parts of the long-term goal uh that's called research and develop a proactive strategy for gas line replacement repair
and non-pipeline alternatives. Um, and I wanted to update the board on some of what's been going on there because after you reorganize, you may want to assign a different select board member who actually is on the select board. Um, you may recall uh that the last time the
select board evaluated a replacement request, we almost didn't approve it because we had so many questions and there were not a lot of answers coming back. Um, the cost of doing replacements is quite high. Um, we've been looking at the records uh that the utilities have
to uh place on the record. Uh, it's more than $2 million per mile in Actton to do replacements. The gas company can roll those costs into a guaranteed return of investment by putting it into the gas rates via program mechanism called the
gas system enhancement plan or GEP. Um, last year the attorney general targeted this program as being one of the main drivers of increasingly high uh gas costs for customers. Um, repairs are cheaper than replacements, but the
utility avoids them when possible because they don't make as much money on them. And sometimes it's also cheaper to simply electrify the buildings along a segment. Electrification called in this case a non-pipeline alternative uh by the utilities and the department and the
department of public utilities will be key to our transition away from natural gas. We somehow have to undo this network of pipes. Um the department of public utilities has been making the gas utilities uh compare
any proposed replacements with non-pipeline alternatives. um but they haven't gotten very far on figuring out how those would be paid for. Newton, Lexington, Arlington and Actton have all started looking into this process to understand how it might help in a
transition away from gas. Um so there are as I said there are so many important policy questions left unsettled that this will be a slow process but we are starting. I had been thinking before this working group got going that we simply needed more time uh
when a replacement request came in. Um but an additional route is now open. Um, Boston gas representatives from a new non-pipeline alternatives group met with Andrea Bacera, our sustainability director, uh, and the convenor of this
working group to offer to help identify segments of the pipeline network in Actton that are at places in the network that could be safely removed if there was a transition strategy in place. In addition to that, staff are willing and able to take this
information and proactively interview people who live along those segments to see if they would be interested in electrification if the cost was zero or extremely low. The town has already gotten one grant and is applying for an additional grant to help work on this. The thought is that if we identify
segments where homeowners would be willing to be part of this change, that would be helpful information for the DPU as they deliberate on how such work would be paid for by by noting that, you know, here's a place where it could happen now. um so that they can sort out
what combination of gas company money, electric company money because they'd be getting new customers and state money because they have an interest because of the global warming solutions act and getting people away from gas. H which group would pay for this and how that might even end up end up being a
legislative decision as well. Um, so after the board reorganizes, I trust you will consider who might be a select board rep to this ongoing working group. >> Thank you. We've got uh three minutes until we get
to our our first public hearing. So, I'm going to jump over item four and go directly to item five, approve proposed day proclamation. Uh, I think that's all in your packets.
I don't know if you want to if you can pull that up on the screen or not. The uh the event will be held on Friday, April 14th. April 24th,
>> April 24th. So, I think this uh proclamation looks very similar to ones we've approved in the past. And I would like to see if I could get a uh
a motion. >> I I move to issue this proclamation. >> Second. moved and seconded. All in favor of of uh of this proclamation, please indicate by
saying I. >> I. >> Yes. I >> opposed. Okay. So approved. All right. And now start reading the uh legal notice for our first hearing.
The Act and Select Board will hold a public hearing April 6, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. continued from March 2nd, 2026 in the Francis Falner hearing room 204 at the town hall 172 Main Street, Actton
and virtually at acttonma ma.gov/meingb GV/meing SB on the application of Hawthon realy company for a site plan special permit under zoning bylaw section 10.4. Applicant proposes to combine the
properties at 471 Great Road and 465 to 469 Great Road and construct two buildings to be used as building trade shops. No hazardous materials or waste are to be generated on site.
Application materials and how to participate remotely are available online and at Actton Town Hall doc.acttonmma.gov/dweb/view/collection-19387. The applicant has requested a continuence to April 27th, 2026 at 6:45
p.m. David. >> Uh thank you, uh Mr. Chair. Um, I just want to let folks know this has been continued a few times here because this project has been waiting for a response from the state uh state DOT on the curb cuts onto uh Route 2A119. Uh that that
response just came today. >> So recently that I I'm assigned to this project so recently that I um did not have a chance to read it. Uh and and besides that, we already agreed with the applicant to um um continue this. So, I just wanted to know that I I think we'll be able to do
it next time. Um uh since the state has unless there's some problem with what the state said, um I I assume we'll be able to do it next time. So, in any case, I move that we uh continue this um uh public hearing to April 27th, 2026 at
6:45 p.m. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor, please say I. I I >> opposed abstensions. Okay, continued. We'll jump back to item four, approve
draft support letter for bill H 965 S 2721 and act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment. Alyssa, >> thank you. So, we received a request
from some residents um who are part of the Green Act and Biodiversity Committee uh to send in a letter of support for legislation that would restrict the use of second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides.
Um it has moved out of committee. It's been moved out of committee favorably. Um but there's a new proposal to have it incorporated into um the mass ready act. The governor's environmental bond bill
has a lot of support. Um in addition to myself and the folks um who brought this request, there are many act residents who have been engaged in learning and advocacy about um the dangers of these
pesticides. Um so for the most part the the language in this letter was taken from this the um drafts that were sent into the board um the letter that you see in the packet and I would like to invite Carolyn Davis up to just speak
about their efforts so far on this. >> Hi everybody. Thank you. Hi everybody and thank you Alyssa and rest of the board for considering this. Um I I prepared um this should should be
just three minutes. Um so last week, just last week, a family nearth found a sick red shouldered hawk in their yard. Um her mate was calling her from a nearby tree. They took her to the New England
Wildlife Center. The vets found severe anemia and delayed blood clotting time. These are both um indications. These are both symptoms of exposure to anticoagulant rodenocides. They gave her a blood transfusion, vitamin K to improve blood clotting and
pain meds to keep her com comfortable. Um, sadly she died the next morning. So these anti-coagulant rodenocides also known as escars kill rodents slowly over several days. When hawks, eagles, owls,
foxes, and other predators eat the poison rodents, the toxin bioaccumulates in the food chain. These animals suffer from internal bleeding, weakness, and ultimately a slow and painful death. Thankfully, the town of Actton stopped
using escars in town buildings in March 2025. The schools use them, but um they want to stop. Federal law prohibits the retail sale, so individuals like us can't can't buy them, but they c they
can be and are used by licensed pest control companies. I live in South Actton and I counted 59 59 black bait boxes in South Actton alone. There's a high probability that
they all contain escars. Per Massachusetts law, towns cannot regulate escar use on private property. So this bill, an act restricting the use of rodenocides in the environment, would ban their use unless there's a public
health emergency. Um, rodent control is necessary. No one is advocating for more rats, but there are are safer effective choices. Integrated pest management known as um or IPM
includes sealing entry points, eliminating food sources, and targeting remaining rodents with non-poison methods such as snap traps, rat x, dry ice, and contraceptives. As a last resort, vitamin D3 can be
used. Ironically, the hawk that died provided excellent rodent control. She probably ate a thousand rice, a thousand mice uh the prior year. Rob Kelly, uh Rick, sorry, Rick Kelly is president of Banner Pest Control in
Drake at Mass. He says IPM strategies are just as effective as ESCARS in real world applications. When implemented properly, they are also cost comparable. Notably, um Rick switched 35 schools from ESCARS to IPM.
Uh, no school incurred a cost increase and for some the cost went down. More proof of effectiveness can be seen in other towns. Arlington, Newton, Lowell, Conquer, Lexington, Brookline, Newberry, Somerville, and Waltham have all banned or restricted escars on
municipal property. The trend is clear. According to Mass Audabon, over a 100 communities in Massachusetts are working on reducing the use of escars. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Alicia motion. >> Is there anybody online? Nope. Okay. Um, so I move to approve the letter of support for bill H965
S2721, an act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion, Jim? >> I just want to appreciate Carolyn and the uh and the Green Act and
Biodiversity Committee, which is a a new committee for Green Act and in the careful work, careful research, uh all the outreach um and a a clear presentation of why this is important. >> Okay, call for a vote. All in favor of
the motion, please say I. I I opposed abstensions. Okay, it's passed. Our next hearing is going to be at 6:45. So
we'll jump ahead in the agenda to we'll try item seven discuss and vote on notification of the Massachusetts state lottery commission regarding an addition of a kino monitor to existing to go
agent at actton gulf located at 289 main street. Uh John, >> so one of the one of the responsibilities of the board is to uh approve or disapprove some questions like this. You do liquor licensing and
and and some types of lottery things. So this is a business that's looking to expand the offerings that they have uh at their establishment to provide this kino to go feature which is a relatively which is a newer type of kino. Um, if
there are any questions, I can do my best to answer them. Uh, Lisa is our licensing expert, so she can also help us out if anything comes up. >> Thank you. Do you have any questions? Alyssa. >> Um, I have a question about the expected
increase in sales. I see in the packet that the memo says there's an estimate of 500 people weekly traffic, but is that what exists now for the to- go keynote or is it an expected Okay,
nobody knows. Um, am I correct in understanding that if the board were not to just approve this that we would um file a request for a public hearing?
Is that the process that works? That's what the internet said. Um >> if we if we >> we can we we I didn't anticipate this question coming up or any any concerns over this, but we certainly could look into that and get back to you. >> Okay. Well, I was trying to understand
um there's a there's there was a change in the legislation and so Kino was offering or the state lottery was offering to existing to go um sellers this additional monitor for you know
on-site um looking at the sales and it sounded like if we had an objection that we would ask for a public hearing and I wanted to get the sense of the board about whether or not they thought that this was something that would be a good idea to have the
public weigh in or if this since it's notified on today's meeting that might be just sufficient. >> Jim, um if I'm reading this correctly, uh if we wanted to object, we wanted we
we would have done so in writing within 21 days of the receipt of this letter. The letter is dated March 13. Maybe we received it a day or two after that, but uh I think our time may have already run out on this.
>> Just add is it just it's just putting a monitor in there. It's not changing the way that it's played. It's just putting a monitor in the station, right? >> Yes. Right. Uh, right now if you didn't have this, you would go to the checkout,
buy the keynote tickets, and leave and go figure out what the numbers were that won some other way. In this way that they want to do it, they want to have a monitor that they can show in their store so people can see if they want or not. That's the difference between what
they have now and what they want to do. >> Well, seems sort of inconsequential to me. I can't see needing public hearing on it, but I could be convinced otherwise. >> No, I don't really have um a strong feeling about whether or not we have a
public hearing that's posted. The the only difference is that if there was a public hearing, it would be posted in the paper um rather than on, you know, the the lottery uh website. and and I do appreciate the additional information that was added to our packet today that
describes um the the need to show an ID to prevent underage purchase of these tickets. Um and that right now I I did not understand I thought that um currently you actually don't get pay out
on site and that this would change that but apparently it is a payout on site. So to answer your question, France, sounds like it's just playing the game but faster because you don't have to take the ticket home. You can learn whether or not you won on site. So I just wanted to check in with the board,
bring it up to make sure that folks didn't think that a public hearing was advisable, but I don't have a strong feeling about it. >> Okay. Um I'll accept a motion. David.
>> Uh, I move that we approve the request for a Kino monitor at the Gulf Station on Main Street. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any other discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Abstensions. >> I abstain. So, uh, it being 6:45, the Actton Select Board will hold a public hearing on April 6, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. at the Actton Town Hall room 204472
Main Street and remotely by video conference and call in on the application of NStar Electric Company DBA Eversource Energy for the installation of 16 poles on Corey Road easterly side approximately
2,420 plus or minus feet north of Main Street. For a computer, enter in the link ID actmma.gov/ /meb or from telephone dial 646876-9923 and enter the webinar ID number
503-918-785. Telephone users may dial star9 to request to speak after joining the meeting. Computer and app users may use the raise hand feature to request to speak. And is the applicant in the virtual
audience? >> Yeah, looks like someone's raising their hand. Um, we'll let them in. Jacqueline Duffy. >> Jacqueline Duffy, you've been unmuted. >> Hi. How are you tonight? >> We're doing well, thank you.
>> Excellent. We'd like to install 16 poles. Pole 91 over 20 through 91 over 35. This work is to provide electric service to the new development located at 123 Quarry Road. I'm filling in for Chris Cosby tonight.
Sorry, I should have said that first. Okay. Thank you. Um, we recently got in our packets dated um, today a memo from the engineering
department regarding this uh, poll petition. Have you received that yet? >> Um, I'm not sure. I would have to check with Chris. >> Okay. Um so I I think one of the engineering has
uh has reviewed the application and the uh the plans that you've submitted and they have some issues with a lack of clarity of some of the issues and the impact
uh that a series of polls might have on future development sites along the Quarry Road. Uh as far as potential sidewalks, um as you may be aware, Cory Road is heavily forested. Uh the impact
of uh depending on where these poles are going to end up, uh impact on trees, uh could be a lot of removal of of forest cover. So I I think that
some of us would have some questions about that. So, if you had that memo, that would be great. Um, I think there's quite a bit of information that probably engineer is going to want before we move ahead with
this, but >> Okay. I I I don't have it on me. I uh I would have to ask Chris tomorrow. I'd have to go to the division. Could we continue it till the next hearing? I I think that would be best uh just to
give everybody an opportunity to to uh digest all this. >> And when is the next hearing? >> I I'll tell you very shortly. >> Okay. Thank you. >> April 27th. >> April 27th. >> 7 o'clock.
>> 7 o'clock. >> Okay. All right. Um, so I will ask for a motion to continue this if someone would. Sir,
>> uh, I move to continue the hearing until April 27th at 7 p.m. right here. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded to continue. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Abstensions. Okay. Uh, we'll
see you in a couple of weeks. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> All right, I think we've got 10 minutes before our next hearing. show let's uh
let's let's take care of the consent items. It's very lengthy. It'll probably take take me the whole 10 minutes to read it. So consent item 15, appoint the following to the transportation advisory
committee. A Paula Walsh as an associate member with a term to end on June 30th, 2027. B. Robert Secula as a full member with a term to term to end on June 30th, 2028.
Item 16. Appoint the following to the green advisory board. Arash the Tacher as an associate member with a term to end on June 30th, 2027. And due as a full member with a term to
end on June 30th, 2028. Item 17, appoint Carol Phillips as a full member of the Council on Aging board with a term to end on June 30th, 2029. Item 18, appoint Paula Walsh as an associate member of the act and nursing
service advisory committee with a term to end on June 30th, 2028. >> 2029. >> 2029. Yep. Item 19, approve request to change of date for previously approved act and
exchange 1-day malt and wine license from April 15, 2026 to April 16, 2026. Item 20, approve minor amendment to the recreation commission charge. >> Item 21, approve membership change for
volunteer coordinating committee from five full members to three full members and two associate members. Item 22, accept disclosure of non-elected municipal employee David Shoemaker. >> And 23, approve farmers market winery
license applications for 2026 Actton Box for Farmers Market. A Bliss Point Metery, B. Salt Box Cider Shop LLC. 24. Approve multiple one-day all alcoholic beverages for theater 3 at 250
Central Street on May 2nd, 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2026. 25. Approve a 1-day maltton wine license. Danny's Place at 543 Massachusetts Avenue on April 11th, 2026.
Kirk Herbbit Farm at 32 Parker Street on April 26, 2026. Gabriel Handel at Narrow Park Picnic Pavilion, 25 Ledge Rock Way on June 6, 2026.
Andover Food Incorporated DBA Ragani Indian Beastro at Narrow Park, 25 Ledger Rock Way on June 20th, 2026. Family and Friends of Swiss Society at Narrow Park Picnic Pavilion on August 1st, 2026.
Item 26, approved meeting minutes for March 16, 2026. Item 27, approve executive session minutes for March 16, 2026. Move to approve consent items 15- 19
inclusive and 23- 27 inclusive. >> Second. Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Abstensions. All right. Uh Jim, you ought to hold on
the recreation commission charge. >> Yeah. Um I first put a hold on this. I wanted to put a hold on this just because I think we have had a habit, a practice of um always discussing charges uh in open session with uh you know not
on consent. Um, but as I read it, I also had a specific concern which was, if I'm reading this correctly, the change is a quorum will be satisfied with a majority of the members currently appointed. I think you might also want a minimum there. Um, I to me the risk is that if you're down to, you know, let's say
worst case, one member that that would be a valid uh meeting for making decisions uh that one person, which doesn't seem the way we'd want to do it. Um, so maybe a comma with a minimum of however many members
uh David thinks is the smallest reasonable recreation commission. >> David. >> Sure. Uh so this this um wording is already used in a number of charges and was selected and was provided by council
at at some point. Um so I just would if we want to attach a minimum I just want to make sure that the minimum applies to the the committee size and not to the quorum, >> right? Um uh uh
so may maybe the minimum committee size um belongs up above with the number of members >> um or do what's everybody else's feeling? Do we need the minimum committee size? I mean we do this for other committees without a minimum committee size. Um,
I would say that a minimum committee size might be two, but um I'm I'm happy to add the uh the minimum committee size is two to the previous paragraph. >> So if a minimum committee size is two, then a quorum would be two people.
>> Yeah, because that's a majority. majority. Okay. >> Okay. Any other thoughts? >> So, we can move ahead. >> I I move to approve the charge with the edit that David has suggested. >> Second.
Okay. Moved and seconded. Edited charge. Uh all in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed. Abstensions. Okay. Uh item 21, approve membership change
charge for volunteer coordinating community from five full members to three full members and two associates. Uh Jim, um I actually don't have any edits for this. I just was following up on the practice of having charges discussed rather than being on consent.
Um but yeah, it's as it says. There's there's there's one change which is to change uh change it from five members to three members and uh adding a second associate and the other change is that um the uh the charge used to say that
interviews had to be in person. uh the VCC and beginning to discuss how they could reorganize to be more efficient has been uh has been talking about um having telephone interviews with uh applicants uh and then discussing the interviews in a you know in a public
session. Um and that seemed like a you know a helpful uh way to make the VCC process go more uh quickly and smoothly. So, we crossed out proposed crossing out the word in person uh twice in that um
authorized activities paragraph. >> David, could we also change BOS to SB? >> Good catch. I'd love to change that. >> Or spell out select board. >> Mhm. >> Um >> okay. So I I I would move to approve the
uh uh BCC charge in the packet with the change of on the last paragraph changing BOS to select board >> and and >> select person. >> Oh >> and select board member. >> All right.
>> Second move. Moved and moved. Can we get a second? >> I moved. He seconded. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Moved and second. Alyssa. I just want to note that there's also a second board of selectmen and BOS at the bottom. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> So, I I I would I move for for all changes of BOS to select board and and uh all uh selectment to members of the select board. >> Okay. All in favor of the motion, please say I.
>> I opposed abstensions. Okay. We got that one. Item 22, Jim. >> Um, >> oh, yeah. So, this is the the recognition of a potential conflict of interest. Um, and um
the usual rules of the historic commi of the historic Is this the district commission? >> Historic district. >> Yeah. Oh, historic district commission. Yes. Um would have me would have him recused. Um and there's another member of the HDC is also too close to vote.
So and it's asking explicitly if permission can be given that one of us may vote uh which would mean that the application can be considered in the normal way. So I think that's an actual decision we have to make is to approve um um you know allowing uh one or both
uh members to uh participate in this in this decision process. Um, I personally know David Jimmaker. I'm totally confident he would be objective in his decision-making despite the um the closeness of of his house to this
applicant. So, I would recommend that we allow that. >> Alicia, >> I just have a question. We are accepting David's participation and Zach will be recusing from this hearing.
Okay. Just wanted to confirm that I understood that correctly. Can I just >> They've had to um you know invoke a Do you know the completion of that? Invoke some sort of rule of >> rule of necessity.
>> Yeah, exactly. just to have quorum and voting on on a project. It has been, you know, it would be great if one of them can vote. Yeah. So, I don't know if they would recuse or if they would invoke
that rule. Um, >> David, >> so that's that's my question. They've already determined which one of them will be voting by necessity and one of them will not be. Okay. So I have I have two questions. For
other permitting boards in um town, say for example the conservation commission, do they normally recuse them recuse themselves if a property is within the boundaries of um the abut boundaries which is several hundred feet usually.
That's I've certainly observed that to be the case for instance with conservation. >> Okay, that's great. And the and the my second question is what about this building? Haven't they already made and continue to make if there is like David
Schumaker took uh within the boundary for 468 Maine but not for 472 Maine. I would find that I know where his house is. I would find that odd that and he they have opined on 472 Main Street um
because for the HVAC project. So um I I would say that 472 is at least as important as 468. >> I I think you know we're really getting into the weeds. I'm not sure what the legal distance is. Um, but I know Mr.
Shoemaker. I know where he resides and he's literally almost directly across the street from 468 Main Street. So, I think this there might be more of a town hall is a little bit further away, but it's certainly close. And I think
the problem you run into with the HTC is we want to have people that live in the district >> to deal with these things. And the districts are quite small. Mhm. >> So I think you can run into this pretty easily >> and it also is a plea for more
volunteers and I know there are some in the wings for HDC. So yeah, >> Alicia, the distance is 100 ft. So it's not going to be I mean the the road itself is what 20 or so. So it's it's
not difficult for me to believe that um this building would be further away. Um but also did the did the HVAC project touch the exterior of the building? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> The lower level.
>> Um anyway, I I I for all the other reasons that people have said and that um I think it's you know knowing David Schumer also I think he can be unbiased for these things. Anyway, so I I move to uh accept the disclosure of the uh
municipal a non-elected municipal employee, David Schemacker on the HTC. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed extensions. Okay, we are done
with our consent agenda. And now we'll go to our 7 o'clock public hearing. The actton select board will hold a public hearing on April 6th, 2026 at 7
p.m. Continued from March 16th, 2026 in the Francis Falner Hearing Room 204 at the town hall 472 Main Street Actton and virtually at acttonma.gov/meingb. GV/meing SB on the application of
Primrose Schools franchising company for a site plan special permit under zoning bylaw section 10.4 at 457 Massav. The applicant proposes to construct a two-story 14,134
ft child care facility. Application materials and how to participate remotely are available online and at Actton Town Hall doc.acttonmma.govdeb/view/colctionolction-19896 and the applicant has requested a continuance to May 18th, 2026 at 6:30
p.m. I have a motion. David. >> Uh, I move to continue this public hearing uh to May 18th, 2026 at 6:30. >> Second. >> Move. Can I get a second? >> Second.
>> Seconds. All in favor of continuing. >> Oh, Frank. Yep. >> So, I was glad that David answered to the other public hearing because I was curious. Can projects just keep getting indefinitely? And is there a reason? Cuz
I was curious if they could just keep pushing it off. And >> so I've >> I was curious. >> Yeah. I've I've observed multiple continuences sometimes going more like 6 months. But
>> yeah. >> Um if the town manager has any guidance or if one of my colleagues has comments. Yeah, I think they they typically provide a reason and the board always has the opportunity to not continue it, but generally the in my experience the
board has continue it when it's reasonable. Alissa, >> I will say that I met with staff on Friday and learned the reason for continuing and I do not remember, but they are getting us some more
information, which I believe has to do with the um financials, the the business viability plan that we requested at the last hearing. And there's probably some other things as well. But the con the
conversation took another turn and we talked about other things. So that's why I don't remember. >> Wasn't there also some discussion about curb cut permit where that's a state highway? >> There will need to be mass DOT approval
for that. But we're not at the same place that the Great Road project is. >> All right. Um I believe we have a motion to continue. >> Is there opportunity for public comment on this at this meeting?
>> Um on >> on Primrose. >> Yes. >> I'll save the other stuff for later. >> Sure. Um, so I I looked at the materials from the last meeting and just kind of briefly overall it seems like a very
large facility with like 30 or 40 parking spots going on about an acre of land or so. It just seems a little um from a high level a little out of place and maybe not. I don't know. I know everyone's got a
right to build. I understand that. But I don't know how this project could better fit the area that that uh intersection is already very congested with uh the schools being right there. We've already put the traffic light there. Um and with
the other preschool right there, the two preschools, there's actually CBE and Mount Calvary. Um just that day when the hearing was supposed to happen, there was a car accident like right in front of Mount Calvary. So, I'm just a little concerned about how large this project would be on that spot and I don't know, just want to bring my concerns. I know
there were some other public comments that kind of echoed that and it being on a sloped lot and I'll be interested to see how this develops because it just seems a little out of place for that area. >> Thank you. >> Thank Thank you,
>> Renee. 26 Taylor. I think they're good issues to raise at their continued hearing on May 18th. Any other comments? All right. All in favor of the continuence, please say I. >> I.
>> I. >> I. >> Abstensions. Objections. Okay, they are continued. So item eight discuss tax increment finance agreement with insullet co-op for
project at 35 Nog Park. John >> uh thank you. So through the uh efforts of our economic development office uh and I think we mentioned it at a most at a at a recent meeting uh we've worked with a local company international company but who happens to have their headquarters locally insulate and
they're looking to grow uh somewhere and we're encouraging them to grow here in Actton. Uh they've identified a few places that they are considering uh but the one that we are focused on is 35 Negog Park which is an existing uh
partially occupied building. They are proposing to acquire it and invest substantially in it and are asking that the town consider uh a tax increment finance agreement which would provide for
a tiered uh program where the incremental taxes generated on that property uh which are more than there are today that they receive a discount on those for a period of time. Um, in some cases we've had tiff agreements that are 20 years, some
are 10 years. I would expect this one to be somewhere in the middle of that. And uh, we are still finalizing and negotiating that with them. But in order to implement a tiff agreement, the select board first or at some point needs authorization from town meetings.
So, uh, what we're proposing to do is to add an article to the warrant to have the board explain this to the town meeting voters and see if you we have authorization to finish this project. And then we'll work with our
partners at the state. Uh, we've already been working with the governor's office and the office of uh, business development uh, because they're they're working on this project too. And if successful, it would come into play uh after they make the investments.
And um you know, they they have to outline and we'll have in time for town meeting the amount of investment that they're making and the amount of discount that we would give them off the incremental uh new tax revenue.
And we we hope that I hope that it's something that people support because it's we're doing everything we can to to keep businesses active here and this is an opportunity for one that has grown a little bit uh to grow some more. I'm happy to answer any questions.
>> Thank you. Questions, David? >> So, we're just voting to put this on the warrant at this point right now, not knowing the the details that'll be in the motion. >> That's correct. I I'm I'm fine with that.
Other questions, comments? All right. Well, you said I'm fine with it. Would you like to phrase that as a motion? So, um I I move to to put the uh put a tiff agreement on this year's uh town meeting uh warrant uh with Insullet
Corp at 35 Nag Park Drive. >> Second. >> Okay. Moved and seconded. Other discussion anything any input from the audience? Okay,
we have Jim. Just to say out loud what I think I heard David say, there's a separate discussion at some future time where we decide whether we recommend this GIF or not and that would be after we get the details, right? >> Uh I would uh hope the board would
consider doing that under art number nine in this agenda item. Um just so that >> ultimately it's a select board that decide that would have to approve the tiff. So >> you would you'd be recommending that you authorize yourself to finish that
negotiation. >> Uh and you know with the commitment that you do it in the best interest of the community like the board has done with the last two tiffs that were agreed which both on all accounts have been pretty successful. >> Got it. Thanks.
>> Okay. I think we're ready to vote. All in favor of David's motion regarding tax financing warrant article, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed?
Abstensions. Okay. Passed. Um, John, how long do you think this discussion of the town meeting articles is going to take? I I think it's it's laid out pretty neatly so that you can break away from it anytime you need to.
>> Okay, let's do that. Item nine, um, assign, review, and take positions on town meeting articles. Article two, receive and accept reports. Jim, >> um I when I reviewed the time report, uh
I it triggered a conversation with the um chair of the transportation advisory committee about a small change to that section of the report. Um it we've agreed on new language. We've sent it in uh to the town manager's office. So if
the board is comfortable with uh that small edit, I am otherwise totally comfortable voting for the uh approving the town meeting the report. >> This is we're voting on a recommendation, right? So someone would one of us needs to move to uh recommend
>> Yep. >> Oh, I'd happily move to recommend uh that we recommend uh article two uh with the amended report. Second moved and seconded. Any discussion?
>> I have a question. >> Melissa, >> were there any additional items that we are waiting on to include in this >> or is am I thinking of the warrant? That's a great opportunity for me to
mention the hard work by Lisa Toml to get this report in front of you at a select board meeting in the packet which I don't think has ever happened. Uh I think you usually just get it in your hands at town meeting and so I want just want to mention Lisa and the town clerk's office and a few others worked pretty hard to get this together. I
think we have everything. There are a few little copy edits that we've received since this was published but uh I think it's it's ready to roll. Okay. I think Thank you, Lisa. I think I'm just thinking of the warrant. There isn't a big piece that's missing. So, I
love it. And thank you. >> Okay, we've got a motion. We've got a second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstensions. Okay. Do we need a select board member assigned to this?
>> We probably do. someone who knows the report inside and out. I think someone has their hand up. >> I would suggest that Alyssa would be a great select board person to be assigned to this. Okay.
Article three, budget transfer. Nothing proposed, but finance committee recommended it. So, I think it's worth considering. M >> Mr. Chair, David, I >> I would suggest that we not take any action on this, we just defer, right?
Because if a, you know, some transfer comes up for the snow and ice budget or something that we discuss in our pre-Town meeting, then uh then we can vote to do it a recommended or not. But I wouldn't prefer not to provide a
recommendation without knowing what the transfer is. I'd agree with that. Um, does anybody have any other feelings about it? >> I'm happy to be assigned to it if it's the
>> David, you've got it. >> Especially if it's ends up being a move to take no action. >> Okay. Item four, appropriations for municipal operating budget. Would you like a motion,
>> Alyssa? >> I move that we recommend article 4. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded or all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstensions.
>> Okay. Um I've got my name down here to be the select board member assigned if anybody else would like to do that. um and make the presentation.
I think Alyssa, we spoke about this at one point. >> We did. David, did you um volunteer at a previous meeting to make the presentation? >> I I didn't this year, but if people want me to, I will.
>> I I'd be happy to because I do not yet have a presentation. >> You You'd be happy to have me do it or you'd be >> I'd be happy to do it. That sounds good to me. >> Okay. >> Okay. Looks like Alyssa. Um,
article 8, Actton Boxville Regional School District Assessment. I I had thought we we voted on this last time, but maybe I'm >> Me, too. Uh I no it does. It says select board recommends in the draft warrant. Okay,
we're all taken care of and I'm already assigned. Okay. Article 10, appropriate community preservation funds that was sent out to you in your packet.
Um these I I would note that when we started the discussion of this on CPC u there was a wide range of opinions but in the end I believe that all of these numbers were voted unanimously
and I would be happy to do the presentation and be the select board member assigned to it since I'm the select boards liaison to this >> actually actually here you don't do the presentation do you you would just do the
>> I will be here there to help the chair or CPC in any way he might need it >> fine Alissa >> so can you remind me what the CPC will be discussing at the meeting on the 14th
and is there any potential for changes to this which would indicate we might want to wait on a vote Well, up until earlier tonight, I didn't think there was going to be any changes recommended on this. Um,
primarily, we're going to be doing a final read through of the uh town meeting presentation that the chair is putting together with the town staff. And depending on what gets voted uh in
regards to 46 Taylor Road, uh CPC might be uh voting a recommendation on the expenditure of open space funds. >> But that would be a different article, not be a different article.
>> All right. I move to recommend article 10. >> Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. I. >> Opposed. Abstensions.
Okay, we got a bunch of placeholders. So, we'll jump down. Let's see. Item 16, approved tax increment financing for insullet for investment in property located at 36. Is it 36 Nog Drive or is it? >> No, it should be 35 Nog Nagok Park.
Okay. Um, Alicia, >> um, I'll just note it's correct in the warrant. Um, I'm comfortable, um, moving ahead with this recommendation even though we don't have details yet. Um
it seems kind of bold for us to authorize ourselves to negotiate, but that's what we do and we will definitely have the community's best interest in mind. Um and I did learn today, which I did not know before, that the very first
tiff for insulate was um quite a generous um tiff where they did not pay taxes for a few years. So, I think that um this is going to be um better for the town than that original which which
turned out really really well for the town cuz now they are um one of our if not the largest employer in town and I think the town manager has something to add. >> Could I just clarify that they they did pay taxes. They just didn't pay taxes on the increment that they invested in the
property. >> Sorry. Thank you for that clarification. Okay. Uh, sounds like we have a motion. >> Can Can I ask one other question though? >> People in town will be uh curious about the details at town
meeting. Are there likely to be parameters like less than this, not more than that? You know, this we don't know yet because we're still negotiating. I mean, I I assume that there'll be a framework in
place that we can tell uh town meeting members about. >> Absolutely. We're going to we're we're doing our best to provide as much information as possible as soon as we know it's finalized. We have information now, but it's not finalized and sometimes it's not helpful to to mention
that. Um, you know, we're we're in a unique position as a town because a city, for example, could work with a big company like this and negotiate a tiff and then bring it to city council 2 weeks later. We have one shot at getting
authorization from our residents and from our legislative body to move forward on a tiff like this. So, timing isn't great. I mean, it would have been nice if we started working on this six or eight weeks ago, but we're doing the best we can within the time frame we have to be able to accomplish this. So,
we'll we'll get as much information to to the board, you know, certainly at the next meeting uh and and definitely uh to town meeting uh on May 4th. >> Thank you. I move that we recommend article 16. Fran was going to do that.
No, >> sorry. Moved and seconded. Any other discussion? I was going to raise my hand to be assigned to it as well if that's okay. >> Yep. >> Cool. Do you mind? >> No, it sounds great.
>> Me? camp. >> Yeah, I'll admit to feeling a little queasy about recommending it without knowing the details, but I'm I'm willing to just simply abstain um and you know, let let a recommendation move forward.
Alicia, is there going to be a presentation required? And you're on that. Okay. And the other question I had, which I just found the answer to, this is a majority, not a two-thirds. >> Okay. Uh, we've got a motion. It's been
seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstensions? >> I'm abstaining. >> Okay, got that approved. Um, let's see. Item 18, amend zoning bylaw to changes to promote economic
development. Sorry. The since since the printing of the agenda, we did add an article 17. Just so you know, uh it's the it's the Nag Park Overlay district that the planning
board um pushed forward at their meeting Thursday night. Just wanted to mention that before you get too far down the list. >> Well, let's let's go back. We didn't take any action on 18 yet. Let's go back to 17. >> And this it's in the warrant which is in the packet. Um, this is actually very
closely tied to what we just discussed, which is um allowing um certain types of businesses to um invest in the area of Nag Park, but that's already been built out for uh
commercial use and manufacturing use. And this proposed Nagok Park Innovation overlay district provides some more flexibility with um some of the F requirements and some of the other requirements that are in the underlying
zoning with with a focus on businesses like Insulate um that have sort of a scientific uh based um operation to try to attract more businesses like that to the area. And this is something that we worked with
them on also. Um it's part of a we're doing a lot of economic development work uh with them and this is something they really felt would help them be able to expand here in Actton and the planning board had a public hearing on it Thursday night and uh they
recommended this version that's before you that's in the packet. >> Okay, Jim. Um yeah, I was at both hearings and I was impressed in particular with how um staff reached out to residents of Nagok Village and
listened to their concerns uh and adjusted the uh the zoning to provide more of a buffer. Um I thought it was a it was it was well done and it was an important move. Um I I I I would
move that we uh recommend this article. >> Okay. Second. Moved and second to recommend the article. Any further discussion? All in favor recommending article 17, please say I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Abstensions. Um, just need to know who's going to be assigned to it. France listed currently. >> Yeah. Okay. No, I just I had talked to Dean about this one potentially, but I think we
could we could regroup on that and um have it be have the Fran do both. They're both similar, so that makes sense. All right, looking at the time, it's now 7:30, so we can
continue our discussion about considering right of first refusal pursuant to general law 61B for real property located at 46 Taylor Road. Let's see who would like to start off with this.
>> Is Is there a legal notice? >> Uh I do not have one. >> Uh Lisa says no. >> I think we're continued. So we Yeah, we're all set. >> Okay, David. Uh thank you. Um, you know, I'm I'm in favor of the the board exercising
our right of first refu refusal. I would um like to see um part of this land um purchased for recreation, which would probably mean dividing it into two parcels and allow a future act in, you
know, not putting a um a recre, you know, a recreation facility like a soccer field or something here. now. Um but um I don't believe that there is a um a lot of land in town that would accommodate um uh a recreation field
like this. Uh certainly not land that the town currently owns. You know, uh I think this land would accommodate uh just fine. a soccer field like the one um on Conquered Road, which has um a dirt parking lot that probably
holds 10 or 12 cars um and a field. That one on Conquered Road is actually cemetery property and could be taken by the CE taken back by the cemetery commission at any time to expand the cemetery. Um
um and you know again I wouldn't be looking to to build anything there now but if we deed restrict the property it could never be built there. Um and so I would like to see this land essentially
divided in half. Um the the back half that's the wooded half um um which looks like the wooded sections of the arburetum um you know would be uh deed restricted preserve and the front half by and by front I mean the part
towards the street would be um purchased in a way that it's not deed restricted um and uh um could be then used by a future act and you know you know decades down the
road for um active recreation. So that's my my preference. I think it you know this land you know the the the front portion of the land is not you know not of the quality of our
typical open space land. It's got invasives on it and other things that's not a pristine woodland or anything like that. Um, and it increases to me the value, you know, the the the land is expensive. Um, you know, over $200,000
an acre. Um, and to me it increases the value of a future act and um could use uh the land for recreation. Thank you. Comments from other board members. Jim.
>> Um, I'm still unsure if this is a good idea to exercise the right of first refusal, but I I recognize I'm in a minority on this, so I'm not going to press that point. Um, I will say a couple things
though, just in case they're helpful for the discussion later. um uh the the land of the arboritum except for the one strip um which was uh given to the town years ago by the Donald
family. That's the only strip of land that has an actual conservation restriction on it. The rest of it is zoned arc uh agricultural recreation and conservation. Uh it I I'm thinking in particular of the land uh at the end of
Wood Lane. There's um a twoacre uh lot there that is separated logically from the rest of the arboritum. A lot of people don't even know it's part of the arboritum. Um so I that might be a more
uh appropriate site for recreation. Um, what else about the about the uh protecting the land? I think it's really important that we uh protect the part of that site that's um that the trails go through and a reasonable buffer around
it. However, I think that um the price the 1.4 million is way more than um we should pay for that. So uh I would prefer that we uh not exercise our writer for first refusal and rely on a
couple of different possibilities. One is that um that the um you know we would come to some arrangement that would protect that back land uh that would involve a sum of money much smaller um or that um we go ahead with um you know
if the seller goes ahead and uh sells to someone that does a uh Habitat for all development there I'm confident although my fellow board members are not that that would not involve the uh the the back acreage the anchorage that has the trails. Um
yeah, or that some other mechanism would emerge to um uh you know provide a lower price and the lower net price for that for that land. Um the reason uh I I see a lot of things
that um the town of Actton is constrained on on its capital expenses. Um so things like uh repairing our uh weight uh storm water systems uh adding sidewalks. Um
there's a lot of things that we have been delaying for years and years that are important for uh the health and safety of the town. And um when I weigh those out in my mind, I I I'm I don't
want to lose that much money um uh to give up on those future uh urgent uh capital expenses. Thanks. Other comments? Alyssa?
>> Thank you. So, I'm in favor of um the town exercising its right of first refusal for this property. Uh I think that the key issue here is that the purchase by the town would protect a
significant investment that the town has made over the last 40 years in the arboritum. It's been um improved over time. There are plans for continuous improvement. It is um a regionally
popular uh amenity that we have right in the center of town. As one resident pointed out, it's um the only conservation area that is right in the center of town rather than in other areas. Um, I have to admit that this was
a difficult um proposition for me to to weigh because uh it it is a large enough parcel that it would be a candidate for the open space residential development zoning um
change that we made at town meeting last year um the subdivision control law. Uh, however, it's um on a on a very particular um roadway with in a very
particular neighborhood. It's a scenic road. It's winding. There are a lot of stone walls. There are plenty of um historic homes along that that roadway. So I think that um what we
could expect um if it was developed under that open space residential development um by right zoning also known as Habitat for all would not be a good fit for the neighborhood. So I'm hopeful that we'll have another property that comes along that we can use as a
test case um for that for that zoning. Um, and I think it's been very clearly communicated by residents, although some folks have suggested that we could um
use more housing um on that property, at least along the frontage and protect the back land. Some folks have um suggested that the arburedum is large enough as it is. Um I think that the overwhelming majority of the public sentiment has
indicated that um protection is desirable um protecting the the asset that we have invested in over over time. So um in terms of of economics, I know that we would get tax revenue for
residential development. Um, and some folks have have um suggested that we might get more tax revenue than is required in services um if we if we limited it to senior housing 55 plus, but that's not something that the town
can impose on on any developer that purchases that property. So, um there could actually be uh a higher um cost of services than we would get from any tax revenue that comes from from residential. And I also think that
there's an economic development um sorry, not an economic development, an economic benefit for the the community. Um protecting that that asset um protects property values nearby. Um there's certainly plenty of natural
services that land um provides and and certainly um indirect benefits from all of you know all of the health benefits from people uh recreating on that land. >> Thank you. Other comments
Fran? >> Just short and sweet. Um, I am in in favor of the town um having the right of first refusal. I do um I think it makes sense to it's the
perfect addition to the arboritum and I I have no um I I would like to see it preserved as open space and conservation land. So, >> thank you. And my comment is I think the town
should exercise right of first refusal and purchase the property in its entirety using uh CPC approved open space funds and keep it for passive recreation that
would be uh consistent with present use patterns of the existing act and arboritum. Uh I understand that there's a desire to provide some other recreational opportunities. I think there are other spots in town where that could be done.
For instance, uh we've still got the big field behind Morrison Farm. Um we've still got quite a bit of land around Woodlon Cemetery at the rear that could probably be developed before the existing soccer field at the front of
Woodlon Cemetery uh needed to be used. Uh I think from what I understand uh the rate of fill for the cemetery has slowed down considerably nationwide. I think we are certainly looking in the
foreseeable future uh there might be some more opportunities for development of recreational sites near the Conan school which may or may not be turned over to the town at some point in the future. Uh I just don't feel that that's an
appropriate location to build a soccer field. The uh when the arboritum was first established back in the 1980s, it was in response to a move on the part of the town to put active recreation in
the area that's now the arboritum. And that was defeated handily at town meeting in favor of a more passive development, which is what's gone on over the years. The other issue that I have, if we attempt to use
some of it for recreation, the situation of getting the funding for it, I know the community preservation committee has voted uh $850,000 for open space. There's was no discussion at that point of dedicating
some of it towards recreation, some of it towards passive. So, at this point, unless CPC changes course, uh we don't have access to the funding if we're going to use it for active recreation. So, I uh I think we should exercise our
right of first refusal and put into passive recreation conservation land CR on it, paid for um by the open space fund. With that, uh, we'd be delighted to hear
some comments from the public. If anybody'd like to come forward, can try to keep it down to 3 minutes. Please identify yourself by name and by street. Jason Thrower, 30 Taylor Road. Kind of been speaking off the cuff here the last few times, so I prepared some this time.
Um, I do live adjacent to this property, so I want to acknowledge that upfront. Um, speaking in support of this. It's a townwide investment. Uh, the arboritum is seemingly I'm a little new to the new kid on the block, only been here six years, but from what everybody's been saying, it feels to be true that one of
Actton's most unique and valuable assets. To your point, it draws visitors, supports local business, and provides something quite uncommon, even statewide, an actual arboritum. Like, by definition, a tree museum. I don't I I Googled them. there aren't a lot anywhere. Um, and uh, so yeah, rare
opportunity to expand. It's an already established, heavily used conservation area and a recreation area. I mean, my recreation is walking in the woods. I don't I don't play soccer. I know a lot of kids do. Um, but I see um, that parking lot packed when the weather's nice and I drive by the the fields a lot
and I see people use soccer fields, but not to the with the consistency that I see that arboritum parking lot filled. Um and um you know if it gets developed it's it's an uncertainty. Uh of course the outcomes can vary but the once the land's developed that decision is permanent. Um so to me conservation is
the only option that guarantees long-term protection uh from planning and investment standpoint. It's a clear opportunity to strengthen something the town already benefits from and of course I strongly support it uh moving forward. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Other comments. Hello. Uh Renee Sol 26 Taylor. Um I'm up here tonight, I guess, kind of representing the community. I think we've all had a chance to say our piece and you've all have listened very well and we really appreciate all the thoughtfulness that you guys have put into making this decision as it's such
an important one. It comes with a price tag and it comes with a long-term commitment and it comes with our future, our children's future. I think that um acquiring the land is important. Um to Jason's point, how many arboratums are
there in Massachusetts? I know Arnold arborum act arboratum and I think there's one in western mass. Everything else is like a botanical garden or um another I could be wrong. Um but I think it's important this is a gem and it's important to take this opportunity to
expand the footprint one last time um so that we can protect it for future generations. Our the future will thank us for this um for us having this discussion right now. So I I do support this and I you know I thank everyone and all the neighbors and all of you guys who have um brought
their attention to this and I hope that we will be able to um uh protect it and um have a good result with this. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm Kathy Hatfield. I live at 30
Mohawk Drive and I've been involved with the arburetum for over 20 years. And not only have I had that experience, but I set um spent some time with um one of
the old um open space and wreck plans pulling all the property deeds and all the plans for the any of the conservation land around town. and I looked at all the annual reports in the library and pulled out all the
information about conservation. So I we had had an accurate history of the properties. Not only did um you know Dean said town meeting um very very specifically said no active
recreation in Actton Center. But it was not only did they say that, but then town staff managed to trade off recreation rights with some parcels at the arboritum with parcels at Great
Hill. At one time they wanted to have a ski hill at Great Hill. So they did that. So that's on record and it happened over four years ago. And we talk about doing things for the future. I think we should
um respect what was done for this property in the past. There was a great um outcry at the thought of having more recreation fields in the center of town and you know full stop and then they
made the extra effort to make sure that there could be recreation fields in other areas. So I just wanted to to bring that forward. I mentioned it to someone after one of the last meetings and they said, "You should have said something. You should have said something." So, I'm saying it now
because I I know the need. We don't know yet what's going to happen with um the Conan school property. There may be opportunities there as well, but you know, who knows? So, thank you very much.
>> Thank you. Other other comments? All right. Hi everybody. My name is Alex Costadino. I live at 11 Taylor Road. Um, full disclosure, our property looks at the parking lot for the Arboritum. Uh, we've been here for about 6 years and I
can't even tell you how awesome it's been to be a part of the community that the Arburetum allows us to have. You know, we've met so many people in town, especially during COVID where you didn't really get the chance to know anybody since you met into a new town. It was an
awesome place for us to be able to do socially distant things and to actually build a community. And it really made uh what would have been an even more difficult time manageable with the social isolation that I'm sure all of us experienced during this time. And so
obviously I'm very biased, but I think the what the arburitum has done for us has been incredible. And I really think that by actually purchasing it and using our right of first refusal, we're going to be setting ourselves up to actually
pay the next generation forward so that we could have the same type of, you know, life-saving experience that my family had. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm Amy Green, 26 Captain Brown's
Lane. Um, I'm on the Conservation Commission and the Open Space, but I'm not here in that capacity right now. Uh, I just want to reiterate my support for the right of first refusal. Um, you've certainly heard enough about the arburedom. I'm not going to reiterate
that. Um, just a couple things. I the front part of the parcel does certainly have invasive species, but it has ecological value as well. Um, and invasive species, particularly what is out there, can be dealt with. Um, and I'd also say that the front part, I
would certainly want to see all of it in conservation um, and not potentially for active recreation. It's only about an acre um, of upland along the front line, so there's not a lot there. Um and just two other small items, a private
development reaching the upland in the back would be extremely difficult for permitting. Um recreation in the back active recreation in the back crossing the wetlands is a possibility because it would have the public interest, public p
purpose piece of it. Um which is why in particular I would just assume see the whole front part of that part of conservation. It could be parking. um anything that supports the conservation and open space use. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Hello. I'm Sandra Micah at 66 School Street. Um I'm a neighbor of Alyssa's and her property backs on to Great Hill. So I almost daily walk there. But I also have been volunteering for many years
with Betatina and Kathy Hatfield and Sue Whitcom were working on the work days at the arboritum and there are so many people that walk there and admire what we're doing and appreciate what we're doing. And the reason I started doing it
is because I wanted to learn plant material and um it's it's just a gem, you know, to work with these people and be able to um learn about gardening and plants. And also so many people walk
there um for exercise with their dogs on a leash um which is very respectful of all the plants. And the other thing is that before I started working there, my parents would come visit from Ohio and
that was one place I could take them to walk because part of it is paved. It's handicap accessible. Now, they weren't with walkers or anything, but they lived into their 90s, so it was a great place for they can't walk on School Street. We
had no sidewalks when we first moved there, but they were able to use those paved paths and we've always walked as a family and so it was a great thing to do with them with the kids, the little kids when they were visiting. So, I highly
support it. I think um as a worker at the arboritum, there's often not parking for me there because I'm always getting there too late. I've tried to reduce my hours because I'm not as physically able as I used to be. I'm a little bit on the
older side and um anyways, there's definite need for more parking and if that can be fit in off of Taylor Road there, that would be a great access. People are often parking on the grass areas. There's really no other place to
park unless they go over to the library or um town hall. So, please support this. Thank you. Okay, I think we got one caller online. you'd bring in.
>> Uh, phone number 206 calling user. >> Hi, can you hear me? >> We can. >> Wonderful. Um, this is Lauren Feld. I'm at um 41 Sailor Road. Um, and I'm sorry to not be there in person. I am um 38
weeks pregnant and so need to rest in the evenings and um have two small children that my husband is currently wrangling. So we really had hoped to be there in person. Um, but I think it's I wanted to point out that I wanted to say thank you to so many of our neighbors
who are there and point out that it sounds like there's a terrific showing and I also think that this is a real under representation of how much the community cares about this because a love for a lot of people with young kids this, you know, 7:30 time can be a tough
time to be out of the house and the fact that so many people came and there's emails about this and a lot of talk amongst our community of how much the community really values this this land and this conservation. So I think as others have said, you know, very
eloquently, it's such a gift to the next generation. It's also so impactful for people coming to the community, visiting the community, um businesses, interests in homes here. Um it's just it's such a
unique gem and the opportunity to expand that conservation area, expand access with parking um would be would be a really um a really smart uh move with with a lot of long-term foresight. And I know that there's always financial
considerations, but of all the things to spend money on, especially in this community, I think that this would be a very very wise choice. So, thank you so much for uh for everyone for coming out and for um hearing us speak to the council.
>> Thank you. >> Okay, any other questions, comments? All right. Um I think it's time for for a motion if someone care to make one. I move to close the public hearing.
>> Second. moved and seconded to close the public hearing. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstensions. Okay. >> Alyssa, >> I move that the board exercise its right
of first refusal pursuant to general law 61B for real property located at 46 Taylor Road. Second. Okay. Do I need anything else? >> It's okay enough. I have something from
council if you want to read it. >> I would like to. >> Okay, you should withdraw that motion. >> I withdraw that motion. >> And I withdraw my second. >> I move that the town acting through this board exercise its right of first
refusal for property owned by a Mary M. Donald consisting of 5.8 acres at 46 Taylor Road. Actton identified as assessors map F3, parcel 78, and further that the board delegate to the town manager the ability to negotiate a
purchase and sale agreement with the seller for such property on such terms and conditions as the board approves. >> Second. Moved and seconded. Any other discussion? Alicia, >> I would just like to um take the
opportunity to address the very high cost of this parcel. David mentioned more than 200,000 per acre and some other folks talked about different things that the town might spend its money on. We have a lot of needs
including infrastructure needs. Um, this purchase will most likely be um made with funds that cannot be spent on very many things other than open space, recreation, housing, or historic preservation. So, that is that's the
expectation. Um, and I want to acknowledge that it's a high cost. Um, but as many folks have mentioned, sort of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add that one more piece to the to the um investment that we've made over the last
40 years. And we also have a great friends of the Actton Arboritum who you heard contribute a lot of um time and um funding to to maintaining it. >> Okay, other comments. Fran,
>> are are we not voting on the classification tonight as well or >> Well, I not in this motion. >> Yeah, not in this motion. >> Let's get this taken care of first.
>> Right. All in favor exercising the right of first refusal on this parcel, please say I. >> I. >> I. opposed abstensions. >> I'll abstain. >> All right. So, we will be bringing it to town meeting
um with our recommendation. Sean, >> uh, since you just mentioned town meeting, uh, I just wanted to mention that we're going to be wrapping up this warrant after this meeting. So, what we're what I'm thinking is it would go as a in one of the placeholder spots
that have been left open. So, article 13, and it would be there, and it would say something to the effect of authorize the acquisition of 46 Taylor Road. And if the board I guess you can't take a position on it yet, but that'd be great
if you if you wanted to. So I I think that with all of that into consideration, um we probably should discuss
how we intend to pay for it. Um, and I think that's that would certainly be worthwhile because then that warrant article can be transmitted to the community preservation committee for their
decision. Uh, and that meeting will be on the 14th. So, it'll be that decision from them will be too late to get in the warrant, but at least we'll have it nailed down before town meeting. So,
Let's delve into this issue about um the use of the land as to whether it's we're going to be using um open space funds entirely and use it uh for passive recreation or some other
purpose. Alicia, >> I'm just wondering if this discussion can take place because the the agenda was um a discussion and a
vote. Sorry, hang on. Where is it? Um considering our right of first refusal. Well, >> you have a legal def a legal for us, John. >> I think anyone interested in the property has been notified that it's going to be discussed tonight and as part of discussing whether you're going
to exercise, you may and likely would discuss why you'd exercise it and why you would exercise it would be what you'd want to use it for. Alicia. >> So, I would just repeat um what I said during my comments that I think that it
would be um best in the best interest of the town to purchase with open space set aside. Um if there is not sufficient in the set aside account, then bonding the
remainder of the $ 1.4 $4 million purchase price and having it be conservation land. And I think Dean, you said consistent with the current use of the arborum. So I agree with that.
>> Thank you. Other comments? >> I echo what Alyssa said. Thank you. >> Other comments, David? Yeah, I think um uh our recreation facilities get used quite a lot in town and um people don't
speak for the recreation facilities very much, but I understand right here on this board, I am probably the only person on the board that would like to have us purchase the land and have half of it be um uh p purchased uh without a
um a con a conservation restriction, but with a restriction for for recreation, you know. Uh I don't think there's another member of the board who would vote with me. So I I think that's that that's just uh that's just the way it
is. Okay. Um, and as I stated earlier during the hearing, um, I'm in favor of purchasing it using open space funds, um, passive recreation for the entire
parcel, uh, consistent with the present use of the arboritum. So, unless anyone has any other um if we need a motion, David, >> I don't I don't think we need a motion on this unless someone else has. But I
would um uh like to make a motion that we recommend this to town meeting. Um if you'll take that motion, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. I I move that we uh recommend um this article which is maybe article 13 um uh to town meeting.
>> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any further discussion? Jim. >> Um I think now that we've voted to exercise our right or first refusal, it's totally appropriate for us to um recommend the article.
>> Thank you, Fran. >> I Okay. All right. Uh all in favor of recommending this town meeting, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> Um and we need a select board member
assigned. And I will grab that one. >> Thank you. Um and thank you to all the members of the public for your support. Um we're not over yet. We need twothirds vote at town meeting and those are not easy to
get. So be there. This will come up, I believe, the first night of town meeting. So it's it'll probably be the last article. Actually, I I I think what I was told,
article 10 might be the last article in the first night. >> Pardon me. I I was told that we might have article 10 as the last article on the first night because there's not many non um uh consent articles other than anyway
everybody should stay tuned to the the uh moderator's pre-Town meeting. >> We'll be we'll be speaking with the moderator shortly so we might have some clarity on that. All right. Thank you. Um, let's continue uh to town meeting
articles. Uh, we're looking at article 18. This is a an article that the board did uh hear about earlier on. Uh, the planning board recommended it. This is a collaboration between the planning office and the economic development office. There are several minor changes
to our existing zoning uh that are being proposed to reduce barriers to economic development, particularly for small business and in our existing commercial areas. making it easier for uh people to invest in their businesses and not get
caught up in um parts of our zoning that were created 30 or 40 years ago and didn't anticipate the very difficult economic climate that businesses face these days. Uh the planning board recommends this. I'm happy to address
any questions to the best of my ability. questions, David? Uh, >> no questions. I think this is a great article. Um, my only disappointment is that plaza signs were not addressed in this article. I wanted for years now to have plaza signs addressed, but other
than that, I think this is a great article. Okay. Um, any other discussion, comments from the public? I'm looking for a recommendation. A motion. Move to recommend uh article 18.
>> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Abstensions. Okay. Article 19 amends zoning. >> Excuse me, Mr. Chair. This just want to confirm this also that article 18 has
Fran currently assigned. >> Are we okay with that? >> Yes, but we that's why I'm asking the question. >> No, that's okay. I'm just Okay. >> Okay. Um, article 19, amend zoning bylaw related to non-conforming lots.
>> This is a change being proposed based on some work that the planning office did. You saw a presentation about this over the summer. Uh right now our zoning requires you go to the board of appeals if you're going to increase your residential property by uh more than 25%
if you're in a non-conforming lot. And that's been a very restrictive. Sorry. Uh, and this is changing the um I'll wait.
>> Are there any questions about this? It's in the packet. I'm happy to address any questions. Uh, no questions, but I'm uh happy to represent this at town meeting. >> Okay. Uh, could I have a motion? >> I move to recommend article 19
and a second. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. I. I. >> Opposed. Abstensions. Okay. Article 20, amend zoning bylaw to
increase affordability requirements in the MBTA overlay district. Um John, >> yeah, just to intro it. Um this is um another one that the planning board discussed last week. They ultimately did not uh put forward a recommendation uh
but they had a pretty good discussion about it. Many of you maybe were there. Uh this would create an additional uh condition to the MBTA overlay district that was created a few years ago by town meeting. If you recall uh the state law doesn't didn't allow you to add an
affordability component above a certain threshold unless you did a specific study of the economics around that question. the town um did did the planning office contracted with MAPC to do a study and this proposed bylaw
change is what was uh brought forward as a result of what they learned. So this would increase the affordability requirements in a development within the MBT overlay district and I'm happy to address any questions that you have and I know there's members of the public
that also have questions. >> Thanks. So, I don't want to preclude any of the board's discussion or or comments from the public. Um, but because the planning board has not um taken a vote to recommend or not recommend this
article, I think it would be advisable for this board to not take a vote sort of um in advance of hearing the position of the planning board should they come to one. They they could have
no recommendation, but I think that it might be a good idea for us to >> to hang back as well. Defer. Yes, >> David. >> Why? I mean, we don't wait for the finance committee to recommend first. They don't recommend for us to re first.
Finance committee doesn't re wait for the planning board. The planning board doesn't wait for the finance committee. The planning board doesn't wait for us. So, why do we have to wait for the planning board? I >> especially since they explicitly decided that they're not making a recommendation. >> Did they explicitly decide that or were
they going to come to it at a later meeting? >> Jim, >> um what they said was that they were not going to make a decision. However, they took no actual vote, so it's going to be represented in the
warrant as a defer. Um, a member did raise the possibility that, oh, I guess we could get more information later and make a recommendation. Um, but that was not a widely shared sentiment on the board. So, it's complicated, but
basically it seems unlikely that they're going to make a recommendation. There were some who were in favor of it and some who were not in favor of it and some who just wanted more information. Alyssa. >> Um, so to answer David's question, the
why I think we should hold off until such time as the planning board makes a decision about whether to rec whether to um take a position um is because this would not be on my understanding is this would not be on
the warrant were it not for their vote to put it on the warrant. I don't think that that the select board, unless I'm wrong, and somebody will tell me if I am, I don't think that the select board um
would put a zoning bylaw amendment on the warrant even though it's our warrant. And also because of what Jim said, it's complicated. That's why I think we should wait. David. >> So, I think zoning laws require or
zoning articles require both us and them to put them in there, but um um so they've put it on the warrant. I don't see any problem with us having an opinion about it. Um I don't understand why that would be the case. Um I mean, if they didn't put it on the warrant,
that's a different story, right? Then then it's not on the not for a town meeting. Um, frankly, this um zoning argument makes me um a little queasy because, you know, I I I
voted like most of us did to do the study um on housing, but we haven't had any applicants for MBTA developments in this zone. and now we're
making it harder. So to me, it's a choice between the possibility of some affordable units or no very affordable units and the the choice between some
affordable and no very affordable. I would choose some affordable, which is me leaving it the way it is. Uh I I understand the and I have read um uh the the MAPC report um I understand it. It
might be true in the general case for Actton. I don't think it's true for this area of South Actton. So, um I I I think we should recommend against um but you know, we we can we can move forward
here and see what everybody else thinks. >> Or no recommendation. Right. I think I'd favor the no recommendation at this point. Um, you know, that I think that's probably the safest move for us to make. And if anybody
individually wishes to get up at town meeting and make a statement, they certainly can. >> Alyssa. Um, so I think that that's another reason that I'm feeling it would be appropriate for us to wait for the planning board to take position because
it sounded to me and and there were three of us at that meeting and probably one or two watching from home. So we might have have heard different things. I heard that there is a possibility that between the hearing and town meeting they could have another meeting. In
fact, I think they talked about a date. So there there's a possibility that they could take a position. Um I definitely think that this board will have a variety of opinions on supporting or not supporting for sure. Um it's on the
warrant and I think that that's sufficient to solicit town meetings um decision on whether or not town meeting supports it. Um, but I would
the ma the moderator is here. Um, so I would maybe have us um entertain the possibility of a presentation, not only from the select board, but from the gentleman that's sitting right in
front of the moderator. I don't know if that's in alignment with past practices, but just wanted to raise that as a as a possibility because I think that town meeting members should hear from from
everyone from, you know, we they should hear, you know, we were presented with the MAPC MAPC feasibility study, the analysis. So that information should be presented to town meeting voters as well as um
information that contradicts that from a property owner in the district. I I think that that would be a reasonable um discussion at town meeting. >> David, can I just ask for clarity? You're at you're suggesting that we ask
the moderator for two of us to give presentations. Yeah. >> No, just to be open to the possibility that there could be um rather than just public comment that's limited to whatever we have as the limit. 2 minutes
is that typically town meeting um but just be open to sometimes there are um con presentations by members of the public. >> I see. So who among us would give a a presentation and what would that be? I'm not suggesting that,
>> but one of us would give a presentation. >> Um, I don't know who would give the presentation for the MBTA overlay district. I would think it would be somebody from the planning board, but >> So, the planning board has declined
always in the past and Fran has taken most of these other zoning articles. So, um, >> I don't I don't recall. I believe that there was a planning board member who presented MBTA
two years ago. Um yeah, Katherine >> John, barring any other arrangements made, typically the select board would provide input to town meeting with its recommendation or lack thereof uh for any article uh that the board isn't
sponsoring. So, just like the finance committee has a chance to either say the finance committee supports this and here's why or they could just get up and say we don't we didn't take a position and and maybe here's why. So, I think something from the board would would have to come that night or should would typically come that night and it would
be one one of you and you could either say a lot about the position that the board took or or say as much as you feel comfortable with saying. Jim, >> um, in case anybody knows, um,
does the law work, uh, in such a way that we, because we had a study done this year, we could approve this change in a future year or does the study only
cover a short period of time? Um the reason I ask is because it seems like um you know if if over the next year information was developed that either you know that convinced us that in fact this would be
doable um then we'd want to bring it back to town meeting. Um if if anyone knows if that's allowed. So my understanding is that because this process was laid out through the whole MBTA uh rules and regs, the study that
we produced had to be approved by um the state or the results had to be they had to look at and say, "Yeah, I guess that that makes sense or whatever." So I think if if it were to be deferred to a future town meeting, >> they may they may require the study to be updated and and for the state to have
another look at it before it moves forward. But I think the the state office for housing is pretty responsive because this is something they're working very hard to to promote. So I think we would we would be able to work with them on on any future needs in that regard.
>> Followup. Go ahead. Um, if we want to, if as I do, we'd like to consider this for a future town meeting, then um, um, a more appropriate recommendation might be a recommendation to take no action.
Um, so that we're not saying, "Oh, we're just going to keep bringing this thing back to town meeting year after year." That's not our practice. If something gets voted down, we don't bring it back right away. Um, but if we if the town meeting votes to take no action, then we
could bring it back. That's my thinking. >> Alicia, I I would be okay with having town meeting vote it down if that's the way the vote goes and not having an opportunity to bring it
back because this is an increase to the affordability requirements. So the the approved affordability requirements would still be in place. So if that's what town meeting says, the reason that we engaged MAPC to do the feasibility study was because there was an
overwhelming community um desire to look at whether or not Actton could increase its affordability requirements up to the maximum that um the MBTA communities act allowed.
Okay. So, we're back to it again. What's the recommendation that we're going to >> Maybe we can hear from the public. >> Yes. Uh any comment from the public? Good evening. My name is Ian Shankman. I'm one of the own Sorry.
All right. I'm one of the owners of 117 Central Street, which is the Dover Heights Apartments and the property's undeveloped land in the MBTA 2 overlay district. I'm also a resident of Actton. The question the board needs to ask itself tonight is simple. Will this
article help the town achieve its housing goals or prevent them? I'm here to tell you plainly, it will prevent them. First, 117 Central Street is the only property in the MBA MBTA overlay district that has a realistic opportunity to develop meaningful affordable housing. Second, the feas
feasibility study used to justify this article is flawed. It is worth noting that to date, no permits have been filed under the MBT overlay and yet this article before you is to add more requirements. It is hard to believe that making it more difficult will suddenly produce more projects. Separately, the
reality is no permits have been filed in Actton because there is likely only one viable site, ours, and moving the goalpost, as this article does, is detrimental to our efforts. Let me explain. As you know, this article only affects parcels greater than 1 acre. Many sites in the Overlay district are
simply not going to be redeveloped, such as the ITC, Infant Toddler Center, the Discovery Museum, the Train Parking Lot, and others. The opportunity doesn't get much better in the remainder of the district. Consider existing long-term home ownership, site conditions, septic requirements, a desire to build, and
importantly, land values. Most of the properties are just worth more as a single family home than they are as a multif family development site. As previously stated, we are likely the only viable site. Now, to the feasibility study, which conduct which concluded that the additional
affordability presented in this article will not impact detrimentally will not detrimentally impact development of scale. Unfortunately, the study does not reflect the realities on the ground and it wasn't intended to. It was a study on the town of Actton, not any specific site. And as I've outlined, there is
only one property to analyze. Our site has over 50 ft of elevation change. Our site would require a full on-site wastewater treatment plant. As such, construction and ongoing costs will s be significantly more than the average site. On top of that, the economic return metrics utilized in the study are
simply not realistic. returns needed to be higher, and if they were, the study would come to a different conclusion. Returns aren't just about profit. They're margins of safety. Without enough margin to absorb risk, geopolitical uncertainty, and rising material and labor costs, projects don't
get financed, and they don't get built. As such, no affordable housing will be produced. In closing, as the select board, you are in a position to evaluate not just the intent of this article, but its outcome. Voters supported zoning changes that would lead to affordable housing production. If this article
moves forward, it will not shape development. It will decide the fate of it. In practice, this article will only determine whether one project, our project, the only likely project, moves forward or doesn't. And I'm standing here sitting telling you clearly and directly, this article will likely make
our project unfeasible. This will not result in more affordable housing. It will result in no housing at all. I respectfully urge you to not recommend this article. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you,
>> Jim. I had a question for you if you would be willing to stay. Um, does this mean that you are planning if the law doesn't change to go ahead and apply for a permit under the the MBA MBTA 2
zoning? We have been working towards that. Uh we're doing engineering hydro geology. Uh there's a whole lot of steps before we can file a permit but we are working towards that effect. Thank you >> David. So I just want to uh point out
here that the motion usually comes from us, right? So if we don't decide whether we're for example, we could we could u move that we adopt the zoning changes in the bylaw, I mean in the art in the
article or we could move to take no action. Right? So, we need to decide what to put in the motion and it's based on our recommendation. If we uh defer,
we don't even know what um presentation to make for town meeting. Um you we need to So if if we if we decided tonight um that we wanted to um
uh take no action, we'd have to present have a presentation explaining why we wanted to take no action. If we decided tonight that we wanted to um adopt this bylaw, then we need to make a presentation telling town meeting members why they should vote for that. Um
I think we should recommend one way or the other and if the recommendation is from us is against I think we should um consider taking you know moving to take no action. Um and that and that's why
the planning board was queasy about it too, right? They were not gung-ho either way, right? Um and one other thing they they there is no time for them to take adv uh have another meeting. The only meeting that they discussed at their
last meeting was in a pre-Town meeting. Again, there's no time there to develop a presentation either for or against. So, um I think we kind of have to come up with with something. Um and usually we would present members of the board
have usually been the ones to present zoning articles. Katherine in that case was an EDC member. So, she w she she was not a planning board member, right? Um she just asked to do it and everybody thought she'd be a good person and so we all agreed. James
who was >> James Fioni probably from the planning board >> he presented as well >> right but but often it's been a member of the the select board who presents zoning articles um I presented one I think Alyssa's presented one in the past
Fran I think you've presented one in the past um and you might be presenting two other ones um um at this town meeting so um and Jim M's going to present one at this town meeting so I think we need to decide what we want to um and and and and move forward with
that in mind. So I would move that we move to take no action on article 20. Second. All right. Discussion. Alyssa. Um,
what does that do in effect? >> Well, it will appear in the warrant, >> but if if the town meeting approved taking no action or we would take no action and the town meeting wouldn't have an opportunity to
vote on it. That's what I'm asking. John, >> so the the article um is on the warrant. Well, it's on the draft warrant. Um
and if it goes to town meeting printed the way that it was in the packet, um at the bottom it would say recommendations. And I think it right now it says planning board did not take a position. Uh for the select board it would say
select board recommends taking no action and the finance committee will whatever they say tomorrow night. Um that's how I would do it from administrative standpoint. Perhaps the moderator could
provide some insight on how she would interpret something like that happening um at a meeting if if she's around. So if you recommend take no action and the planning board has no recommendation,
the town meeting can choose to say we agree. We will we won't take any action on this article. We'll pass over it. There could be a circumstance where somebody could get up and oppose that and persuade town meeting that we should
discuss it. I've never seen that happen. And particularly if planning board and select board would care to give a reason why we're not taking any action, people might agree,
be more likely to agree than, you know, disagree on that. Um there's been yeah plenty of articles over time. Well I don't want to say plenty but some articles over time where because of one reason or another which could probably
fall in the same bucket as these reasons it just makes sense. It made sense at one point but now upon further reflection does not make sense to bring to the town meeting unless somebody
decides otherwise. But I think that's what would happen is people would agree that it it's not appropriate at least at this time. It could come back later at as you say um and it could be adjusted.
There could be a new study. You could decide on different amount whatever it could be different but by not taking action it doesn't bind you to anything in the future. Alicia. >> So that was what I meant by in effect.
It doesn't prevent us from bringing it forward. It's not like postpone indefinitely where we can't ever take it up again in the future. >> Right. Well, >> whatever that motion, >> right? Postponing indefinitely, but then you could change the motion. >> We could change it. Okay. >> So that it would do whatever thing you
decided you wanted to do later. >> Um, so can I speak to the motion? >> Sure. Um, so I would not be in favor of moving to take no action um because
we don't have further analysis in front of us. We have testimony in front of us. And so taking no action, we would be asking town meeting members to agree with us that the consultants feasibility
analysis that the state approved is flawed based on testimony. Um, and I mentioned this at the planning board hearing. One of the costs of any project is land acquisition. any residential development is land acquisition, which
is not factored in in this particular case. So, I'm opposed to taking no action. Um, and I will vote as one member of this fivep person board. >> Okay. Well, I made a motion.
>> Could somebody second that? >> Okay. Moved and seconded. I think, you know, we've beaten this thing to death. So, I'm going to call for a vote. All in favor of the motion to move to take no action.
>> Go ahead. >> So, would this I'm just looking for a position to present and I think that taking no action gives us a position to present something
whatever it is. >> Okay. All right. All in favor of that motion, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> Nay. >> Abstensions.
Okay. And Fran, your name is still on it, so you can speak to it. Um, article 21 zoning bylaw related to accessory dwelling units. >> The
the ADU bylaw was modified slightly last year when the attorney general's office reviewed it like they do every um bylaw that we change. They identified one word that they didn't like. Uh, and so this is just striking that one word. I
believe it was the word permanent. So, uh, they they just didn't like that one word. So, all we're asking to do is take it out and then the AG will be happy with this what the town had already adopted. It's it's listed as a consent item. I I
don't know if that will fly. Um, but that's how we've listed it for now. Maybe the board could weigh in on that also while we're here. >> Okay. Comments? A motion? I I would um move that we recommend this
article. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Recommend the article. Uh any discussion? Alyssa? >> I I think it's acceptable to put it on or keep it on consent.
>> Okay. All in favor? I I >> I >> opposed abstensions. >> Okay. >> This is this is once again yours. Like if it ever if it gets pulled off consent, you would have a presentation
or or at least a comment like to say we like agreeing with the attorney general when they order us to do something. We think it's a good idea. >> Thank you. Article 40, Municipal Administrative Hearing Process. John,
>> uh, this is just something that, uh, we when when we issue fines, there are certain fines that we're not allowed to actually implement unless we have appointed a municipal hearing officer. And because of Mass General law, we're not allowed to appoint a municipal hearing officer unless we've accepted
this statute. So, we're just asking Tommy Ing to to do that. And an example would be a fire code violation. A fire code violation. Right now, we just ask for compliance. We ask a lot for compliance and we urge for compliance. If we ever
got to a point where we couldn't get that compliance, we wouldn't be able to issue a fine because we don't have this in place. >> Alicia, >> I move to recommend article 40. >> Second. Can I ask a question though
before we vote? Sure. Um, is this a annual thing or just a once? >> Once this is adopted, we're all set. You know, we can decide who that person is on on whatever basis we determine, but once we accept it from timing once, we don't have to do it again.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. >> We need to assign a member. I think it's got my name on it.
>> Okay. Okay. Uh, article 10, item 10, discuss town meeting presentations. John, Jim, anybody? >> Yes. So, thank you. I think every year uh as the warrant shapes, as we get the
warrant kind of in final shape, we work with the moderator to figure out what each night would look like or what a night would look like. Uh if we were going to hold town meeting uh in the way that makes the most sense and part of it
is this board also, it would be helpful to have some clarification on any actions that it wants to take. You know, in past years, we've had members record presentations at ACT Act ACT and TV. Uh, that hadn't really been discussed much this year, but if we were going to do
that, now would be the time to say it uh and and work on it. Uh, if we want to try some other methods, we certainly can do that. We mentioned already the public meeting we're having next week about the um a couple of the articles. Uh, we've had a ton of budget meetings that were
publicly televised. Uh, so those are some of the things that we wanted to cover in this conversation. and also have the moderator here to provide any input she has on on presentations and format and consent agenda and things like that.
>> Madame moderator, the floor is yours. >> Okay. Well, thank you. Um I think we've solidified quite a few or at least in my mind. Um, so first of all, it does look like two nights would uh be in order. And I was thinking at
one point of stopping after CPA, but I'm starting to feel like it might be better to start Tuesday with CPA. And I'm open I'm open to changing that. But then with putting uh the Taylor Road purchase
right after that, I feel like those should be together that you're going to have a the people who are interested are going to be um the same folks, I think. And it they do kind of go together. If the funding does in fact come from CPA,
that would make sense to have those tied together. And um ending with that I think would be kind of late, very late even. Um I based on experience I think we could finish up through um it's not
on the I don't know if it's on your document up there but up through um minute man tech assessment. So the town budgets, the capital items, the actin box assessment, the minute man assessment would take us up to close to
10:00 usually. And then if we begin with CPA on Tuesday, we'd probably finish close to 10:00. Again, I'm just based on what I'm hearing about these zoning articles that I think will involve some discussion
from the voters. um that that seems like a sensible dividing point unless other people have other thoughts. Um but to kind of get that that um in our minds, I think that seems like a good a
good uh idea. Um I agree. CPA and 46 Taylor Road have to be on the same night, so it's probably a good way to start Tuesday. get a crowd out there. >> Well, that's true. More more people might come and stick around for some of
the zoning things, which is a challenge often. And I saw John had his hand up. >> I would just mention that 11 is a new financial article that's never been there before. And 12 is a new financial article that we haven't really had before. Those those feel to me like
first night items, 11 and 12. Um, >> so are we locked in on the numbers on the can we >> Yeah, these numbers aren't changing. We That's why the placeholders are there. So I think 11 11 12 feel like first night to me because of
>> you know they're appropriating um reserves and things like that that a lot of people equate with the budget oped. >> Jim, we go ahead. Yeah, go Um, the good thing about 11 and 12 is that
there's no big constituency that's going to like come out to town meeting in order to make sure we either pass or don't pass these things. Um, so I know it's been wonderful in previous years, the last couple years where we've been able to say in advance, we're going to
stop at this article, but I'm okay with the notion of leaving this in the hands uh of the moderator about, you know, if it's really late, let's not do 11 and 12 until the next day. Um, you know, there's no law that says we
have to do all the financial stuff on the first night. There is also the option for the moderator or anyone else to move well I can move stuff without a vote. Um, but if somebody did move it, we could take a
vote or I could call it out of order depending. But that that could be a game day judgment call also cuz as you say there's not a it doesn't seem at least I've not heard of any huge constituency being concerned one way or the other.
And um it seems like a pretty standard article that folks will be fine with however it's presented and vote yes or no. But it's not like we're going to be tricking anybody by changing
it up a little bit. I don't think >> Alicia >> I I like the idea of taking the articles up out of order in order to keep the appropriations together. Um I think that that would
have the added benefit of having us go a little longer on night one. I I loathe adjourning at 9:30 or 10:00 on night one and then going until 11, 11:30, even midnight on the second night because
we've not taken up enough business on night one and pushed ourselves a little bit. >> I think that's probably a popular position. >> Other thoughts? I I I agree. Um 11 and 12 should be
short. I've I've already started to outline the presentation for 12. Probably take me a minute or two. I haven't timed it yet. It's not a long presentation. I don't think there'll be any controversy. Um >> um you know, uh I'm guessing that Alyssa
can explain 11 in a similarly compact period of time. So um I don't think either of those will take a long time. And like you said, you can move them out of order. I'm fine with them being flexed. The only The only thing is we need to set the public's expectation.
>> Sure. So, we either have to tell them >> that we, you know, we may go up to 12 on the first night um or we're going to go up to 12 on the first night and not do 10. You know, we should tell people what >> Absolutely. Yes.
>> Right. Um Yeah. I think that would and I think people will be okay with that. I'll hear if not now or later. Um, and I do want to encourage as ever brief
presentations with more picture have as many pictures as possible because that's what people need to understand see to understand especially on the zoning ones and anything related to land or whatever. Um
could I just take this opportunity to tell that there are a couple of So there's the meeting next week on a couple of the articles. Um April 28th the League of Women Voters is hosting a drop in from 5 to 6:30 at the library
um to hopefully if anybody has a question they can just come in and ask their question and be on their way or a couple of questions. Um, the pre-town meeting will be April 29th and now I forget. Is it here or the police? I can't remember now where it
is. It's in my calendar. I'll go there >> in the Okay. Um, and just a reminder to people that there will be child care the first night. Uh, some kind of child-friendly movie. um
and that people should be aware that they can request reasonable accommodations if they don't see an accommodation that will help them participate. Um and they would call town hall and John will take care of referring them to the correct person to
see what the accommodation might be. Um rides are available. The number is in the warrant. It's also on town website cross town connect. you do have to call the day before, just so that people know that. Um, and you get a ride home to and
from. Um, and that folks can park on the Hayward roadside if um, walking from the front of the building all the way through the school up to the check-in and then to the meeting itself is a difficulty.
people should park on the Haywood roadside and there will be um somebody there to check them into the meeting right there um in the lobby outside the auditorium. So folks should know that um there will be I think we're having the
wiggle room. Is that accurate in the gym area? So people can bring your own children and um keep track of them. it will be in the gym and if there is need of overflow obviously that would be in the gym as well. Um but you can bring
your kids and they can wiggle or whatever whatever they want to do but then the parents can also participate in the meeting um from there and I would just remind people that our clickers are actually like amongst
discussions I've heard in different online forums about clickers many people feel that if you're at town meeting your vote should be known and that's an impediment to some people but some people cannot say I or nay loud enough, cannot raise their hand, and cannot
stand. So, the clicker really is an accessibility issue. So, I just like to remind people of that. And we do of course have the talk to text um captions or whatever the correct word for that is just just as a reminder to
all of our viewing audience that yes we do try to make the meeting accessible though you do must must be present to vote except with rare ex rare exceptions. >> Thank you David. Um, madam moderator, do you happen to know for the League of Women Voters drop in? Is there anything
that a presenter like one of us might need to prepare? Do we need to have an easel? Do we need to What do we need? >> Well, so hope hopefully so one of the uh plans part of the plan was to have the town staff people who
are the experts on some of the articles. We're not actually asking people for every single article to um be there, but for the major ones and ones where people tend to have questions. Um but yes, having some
>> visual >> visual aids, yes, that's the word I'm looking for. Um and handouts if you had them. But the visual is definitely important. And I believe they will be anything that's generated will be on display in the library up until town
meeting. So a weekish, less than a week. And just a reminder to people that you can always call the number. I bet you guys don't get too many calls from voters with questions on the articles. Like it at the end of every article it
says contact this person. It's kind of like college professors waiting for kids to come to office hours. So, just throwing that out there, too, so people might take advantage of that. Okay. Are there questions for the
moderator? All right. So, have you discussed town meeting presentations or is that dealt with now or I just I just want to know if I'm staying a little bit longer or I'm not
staying a little bit longer. David, >> um I intend uh I I don't know exactly what the timing is. I'm going to produce an an article for what is it? Uh, sorry. Proves a presentation for article I'm
looking at the wrong thing. Article six. Um, the the HVAC C1. Um, I'm happy to record it um at Actton TV. Um, I think that that does help. Um, I'm a little concerned about the timing that I can
connect with you guys offline in that usually we do the recording before the middle of this month and the the uh the night for the DPW and HVAC is the 16th if I'm not mistaken. So, um, we'll need
to decide whether I produce my presentation first, have that second, you know, what what the order is there. Um um I was also going to produce a little short presentation for article 12 which is the uh uh transfers one. Um but
really short. I'm happy to record that too. Um um I might need a little help making sure everything is correct from the financial department on that one. But the um um and I don't think there's a a time impediment there. So, um, anyway, I'm
happy to record mine for for TV. >> Dean, >> I will, >> uh, just a quick comment on the night of the or the day of the League of Women Voters things. Our plan is to have somebody do quick videos like one minute
of the PE. So, why why are we doing this thing, whatever it is? So, that might help. It might be a rehearsal or it might be a refinement, but then it would go on league um social media >> pre-recorded video. >> No, somebody's coming up to you and
saying, "Oh, we should pay for this. How come?" Or, you know, something like that. Just a quick little one minute, two minute thing. Okay. As far as the presentations I see,
um I'll do the DPW project. Um, hope to get it recorded in advance at Actton TV. Um, and I think based on votes tonight, I'll do the same sort of thing for 46 Taylor Road.
I don't think I'm going to pre-record much else other than that. Um, I'm a I guess a question for Fran. Uh, the tax increment financing and everything else related to that. That
could be a very complex presentation. I don't know who you're going to need to meet with in advance. Um >> planning um but I was planning on doing yeah 16
17 and 18 >> and 20 and 21 >> according to my notes. >> Well, you know those might be quick. >> Anyway, I'm I'm If you want to give up one, I'm I only have one this year. I've
always had more than one. I I'm happy to do 16 if you want me to do 16. >> Oh, no. I want 16. I chose that one. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, Alissa,
>> so I volunteered for the budget, article 4, the municipal operating budget. So, I'm planning a presentation for that. Um, I was not planning to do a recording at ACT and TV because I thought that that was
something we weren't doing because we were doing all of these other things. Um, but I'm happy to hear from board members if you think that that's one that typically gets a lot of views on Actton TV. I think David, you recorded it in the past. Um, and the other
articles assigned to me, I was not planning presentations like the opioid settlement. I think that's just a motion up on the screen. >> I think the ones that get done at ACT and TV work best when you have more to explain
than is than um the five to seven minutes we like to have at town meeting. Like it's more complicated, we've got some more and then people can watch it at their own pace and stuff. But if it's a straightforward budget and there's nothing, you know, out of line, you
might not need that. >> Go ahead. I >> I do have a question though. Are folks who are attending the league's information session, have they already been alerted? And will there be a quorum
of any boards and committees that we need to post? Mo mostly people have been alerted and mostly they are not on boards or committees >> but David's going to be there. >> Oh, so I am not doing anything for that.
>> I do have to confer again with my co-conspirators but um maybe not. >> Okay, >> more action is going that way.
No, no, they're not my co-conspirators. If you think about it in a minute, you know who they are. >> Okay, other points, Jim. >> The only uh the only item I have that's not on consent is number 19, which I the
presentation will be short enough that I don't need to record something beforehand. So, I don't think I'll be using ACT and TV this year. >> Okay. Other questions, points? >> Oh, sure.
>> Jim, >> um, I'll confess I'm a little sad that I'm not doing another presentation. I'm I'm a ham. I like to stand up in front of people and say things. Um, but I appreciate that other people have have have are doing all these great things.
So, if anyone does feel uh like they're doing too many, I'm happy to help out. Um, but I'm also happy to just coast my way through my last town meeting as a select board member. Okay. Unless there's anything else, I
guess we'll move on to our next agenda item. Thank you. >> Thank you. Oh, one more thing. >> One more thing. You're doing capital, correct? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, there will be a presentation for capital. >> I will do a presentation with capital,
but it's going to be quick. I will not pre-record it. >> Okay. >> We just slides up on the screen and talk through them very quickly. >> Sounds good. All right. Thank you. All right. Um, update on DPW project.
Tom, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. So, uh, if you recall, we had mentioned as a team that we're anticipating on having uh, cost estimates back end of last week. And unfortunately, we were notified on
Friday that it would be a little delayed. So that's why you didn't receive something in your packet this a uh over the weekend. We were notified late this afternoon that they were in and um we uh being Dean and I and John were able to discuss it um individually
and as a group with uh PMA and Wesson and Samson. And while the numbers aren't ready to be released just yet because I still have to reconcile them and make sure that what's included on the cost estimate is what's included in the schematic design. Uh we do feel confident that we can bring the project
under $23 million at this point, which if you uh remember back to Arrow Street is a significant decrease for this phase of a project. So we're um we're in a pretty good spot. We anticipate in having a reconcile cost estimate in the next few days. uh we the project team
will loop back with PMA and Wesson and Samson and review that and then when it's in its final form and uh ready to be shared we'll make sure that we send that to the board as well >> and the uh that I'm sorry the $23 million project uh in less than 23
million I should note that that's total project cost so that includes construction uh soft cost contingencies owner project manager cost um continued design. And then now that we're starting to talk more about construction cost and the final project cost, that also
includes a uh commissioning agent who similar to what we had at the fire station uh North Fire Station will be on hand from uh design all the way through the end of construction for all the um mechanics and machines that are being installed um mechanical systems and
machines that are being installed at DPW. So, um, yeah, I think it's I think that's a really good number. Uh, it's taken a lot of work and, you know, I think both Arrow Street and, uh, and
Western Samson done a great job. PMA as well, um, to get it down there. And you know, I got to give credit to DPW types who uh you know, obviously to cut the the size of the project down that much, they've had
to make some significant compromises. So, and they've done it with a real spirit of cooperation. So, I'm very hopeful about this project at this point. And Alyssa
Thank you for that update. It's very good news. I just have two quick questions. Um, so you said that that was the total project cost including design which is the 900,000 in article 7 that's incorporated into that. >> That's one of the items that we're
working on reconciling right now and we'll have a confirmation later this week. >> Okay. But we're talking about including that in addition to all the other things that you listed. >> That's correct. That's a number that's been carried. And can you remind me um
what the original estimate from Aerost Street was for 4B? Was it 28 million? >> I believe it was nearly uh $30 million. I think it was 29 million9 something, but I I think 30 million would be a good number.
>> Okay. So, this is a big reduction. >> It is. It is. >> Awesome, >> David. But it's a big reduction, but it also doesn't include the renovation of Okay. But is so is this not apples for apples?
>> Yeah, the uh we did get some conceptual costs for what renovating the uh the existing building um which we're not proposing at this point, but um add those in. You you're about to that number.
>> Okay. >> But it's not something that we're going to undertake at this point. Any other questions on that? Okay. Update on acting leadership group.
John. Yeah. I'm pleased to report that the acting leadership group completed its task for the budget season. Um, it reached consensus on a plan for funding FY27 budget and it reached consensus on
the forecast for the future years going out to 2031 with the understanding that there's a lot of variables but that this is a good snapshot for how we are forecasting and planning for those future years. So, uh, another successful ALG process. Good communication between
the select board, the finance committee, and the regional school district. And, um, the writing, um, has gotten smaller because we've added a lot of detail to it. Uh, but the warrant is published as a PDF, so people can zoom in and look at
every little number that they need to. Um, but it is in the warrant now and um, yeah, we're we're excited to uh, to have that behind us. I think it it went pretty well overall. So, I don't if there's any other comments.
>> Great. Yeah. Thank you. It's there's good sense of collaboration between everyone. We got to that point finally. Um item 13, approve questionnaire to send out to board and committee members
regarding the appointment process. Jim, >> um yeah, so Alyssa and I have been working on this um and in consultation with the volunteer coordinating committee. This is all part of the um the select board goal, the long-term goal that says work with volunteer
coordinating committee to create a plan for the future of volunteer recruitment and onboarding that includes improved orientation and streamlined reappoint process. Um part of that achieving that goal um
seemed to us to understand where we're at now so that we can you know figure out where we want to get to. And the the what we're looking for from the board tonight is permission uh to send out a
questionnaire uh to um the committee the board committee and commission members that are appointed by the select board. um to explore the different aspects of um becoming a committee member from you know finding the application to waiting
to talk with the VCC to you know the all the steps. Um the questionnaire itself is in the packet. Um it's it's uh it maybe is not entirely final. We did get some great I thought good feedback from a VCC member a day or two ago about some
possible extra questions to add. So I guess I would be asking for um you know permission for us to send out a questionnaire and also permission for us to you know work on the final wording of
it. Now it could be that because of the the timing of things that it will will not make sense for us to send this out in the next uh four weeks um because of you know everyone's busy with town meeting. So um and in any case uh
looking at the results of the questionnaire is going to take some time. So, uh, as I did with my previous items, I just want to encourage the board to after they reorganize to consider, um, you know, seeing if there's maybe two, you know, two people
that want to work on it so it's not just sitting in Alyssa's hands. Um, so that's it. That's the basic um, that's the basic pitch. Um, so and there might be questions or comments.
I guess the question I've got is are you looking to approve the particular questionnaire or is this more of a conceptual discussion and maybe it'll be taken up later after town meeting? >> Um I guess it would be easiest for us to
to have the board um trust the little working group to make little tweaks to the questionnaire. Um but you know happy to get lots of any feedback on on the questionnaire. uh but I think it might be unwieldy to attempt to approve the
exact wording of the entire questionnaire uh as a board discussion if the board's willing to trust us. >> Thank you. Other comments? Um you know, I've I've read through it
and they seem like all reasonable questions and I think it's a great way to try to tease out some support. So, I'm supportive of uh of approving this um and the questionnaire can go out when
it's f finally edited and in the proper time. It's something we could carry over into, you know, the next reorganized board as well. So, but at least you'll get have the vote. So, I I would move to approve
that. Get anybody to second it? >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any other questions? >> Just to make sure I understand what what the motion you just made um and so that
it's correctly reflected in the in the minutes. Um I think you approved the notion of sending out a a questionnaire and you approved the notion that Alys and I would come up with the final wording. Is that is that what you said? Okay. Thank you.
>> That's what I said. All right. All in favor of that motion, please say I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. Abstensions. Okay. Drum roll. We've all been waiting for item 14, the town manager's
valuation. >> Um, yeah. Let me start off by first thanking Mary Beth Sebeck. did a great job of compiling all of this information. U and thank you to all the members of the
board who've provided great input and uh lots of feedback. Um and I believe that basically all comments that were made have been included in this particular document.
Um this is about my seventh time I think of going through this with in one form or another with various tal with with John. Um and let me say just upfront I think that
I did meet briefly with John about a week ago went over this. uh I expressed at that meeting that I thought that this was a very positive evaluation and I was pleased with the process.
Um, I've had the opportunity to work directly with six town managers and I've made this comment in the past that I think that of the six town managers that I've interacted with directly, I think John is probably the
strongest of the lot. Um, so I think that I think the evaluation that we've got here reflects that. It reflects my point of view. I think it certainly reflects the point of view I think of the of the board as
well. So I would ask all of you to make any comments that you'd like or John can react to it however we'd like to do this. >> John I'll react microscope. Sure. I'll react. I appreciate uh your comments,
Dean. Uh and members of the board. Uh it is it's an honor to be a town manager. It's something that I worked really hard to get to a point where I could be considered for a position like this and uh I was very excited to be in this room
um eight Aprils ago um with my interview um and uh getting selected here. I didn't know that I'd be here 8 years later, but I'm very happy that I am. Um, I think this community has a lot uh that makes being a town manager uh pretty
special. Uh, the staff that work here, uh, we we have experts and professionals that are pulling a lot more weight here in this organization than most communities have in their organization. So, uh, we're really lucky that we have such a strong team. Um, so being the
town manager is a lot easier in that in that scenario. and with the select board. Uh each of you bring a lot of different strengths and passions to your roles here and uh your interactions with me have been very helpful and I appreciate your support. I appreciate
your acknowledgement of the professionalism of the staffs and what we're trying to do and that um as even though you're all willing to work 30 40 several hours a week uh that you also make sure that you do that in a way that
is consistent with how the staff are are working on the same uh paths and I think it's worked out really well. So, I appreciate it's been really helpful with the continuity that we've had with the board. Um, I think I've been here 8
years and I think the last two or three or maybe more the board's been the same. Um, past Yeah. So, that's unique, right? That doesn't always happen. So, I appreciate all of your support and um your thoughtful comments in the in the review and and all just your support
throughout the year. So, thank you. Okay. Any of my colleagues have any comments? David? >> Well, um, thank you, John. I I agree with the the review. It's um, again, I I hope you take it as a very positive review. I I think we're lucky to have
you here. I happen to be talking with um, uh, someone else who's running for select board in another Middle Sex County community. I won't say who that this person described their town manager
and I'm oh dear you know I I I could hardly believe what the things that I I was hearing and um and uh so that the town manager that she was describing was all the way over here and you're you're all the way over on the other
side to me and I I feel very that we're very lucky here in actton to have you and I I appreciate that you push all of our uh different goals that we come up with every year and uh move those forward as well as you can. Thank you,
>> Jim. Um I'm so pleased you're our town manager. Um and um I struggle each year when writing the reviews because I know that you know this is your first town manager job. We
have a responsibility to help. I mean, you're like you're now you're a teenage town manager. You're not a baby town manager anymore, but there's still some, you know, we have this responsibility to give you, um, to find ways to help you
continue to grow. Um, luckily, um, you do a lot of that on your own and through your, um, your professional contacts and your work with MMA, um, and, um, you know, in consultation with other town managers. Um, so you know, you've
definitely continued to grow. Um, the thing that uh the some of the things that I notice are that um, well, I every so often I realize what a different positions a select board member is than a town manager. I mean that we uh, well,
me, I'll speak for myself. I can be relatively loose. I can be, you know, have opinions about things that are controversial and, you know, I'm a politician. I get away with it. It's okay. Um you you are uh excellent at um
finding a way finding ways to be either neutral or um fall back on oh well this is a select board goal so of course it's important um you don't interject um your own your own uh you know agendas into
things and I think at first um that came across as you know what's John really thinking you know he's he's not coming out with what he really thinks. Um, and now, um, I I feel like you've you've grown to the
point where you you know, there are situations where you can be more, uh, relaxed or more passionate about things that you care about. You're finding those those places where you can bring your unique perspective to things and that's really valuable. Um, and you you
know that wouldn't have happened right away. it's takes take some years to do that and I hope that continues to happen. Um um just you know best of luck um and I'm so glad you're you're pleased that you've
you've been here and that you you know will continue to be here. All right. Um now in the process uh what we'll do I presume at our next meeting is we will have an executive session
to uh look at the contract and uh hopefully we'll come to an agreement on that and we will be all done with that before town meeting. I will take one more motion.
>> Move to adjourn. Second. >> Moved and seconded to adjurnn. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Extensions. >> And we're done. Thank you.