Good evening. I'd like to call this February 11th, 2026 meeting the act and select board to order. We have uh an executive session which we're going to start with uh to discuss uh purpose six discuss the
purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property located 46 Taylor Road. Um, I will uh entertain a motion. We expect that uh the executive session
will last about a half hour and then our plan is to open it back up to uh a public meeting, public hearing at 7:30. So, I know we've got some staff here. We've got council. Um, others I ask your
indulgence to find some place to find a cup of coffee for a half hour. I'll entertain a motion to enter executive session to a consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property at 46 Taylor Road under purchase purpose six.
>> So moved. >> Second. moved and seconded. Before the roll call vote to enter executive session, let me declare that in the executive session, the board will discuss or consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of
real property at 46 Taylor Road under purpose six as an open session may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body. Would the clerk please call the role? >> Mr. Charter, >> I. >> Miss Nickel,
>> I. and I also say I. So, we're unanimous for those present. >> Okay. So, there are a couple >> I got to do this. Get in trouble with council. At the conclusion of the executive session, the board will reconvene in
open session. Now, John, >> sorry, I just wanted to mention there are a couple folks in the virtual audience that we'd asked if you could come back at 7:30. Uh the meeting will be back on then, but because it's executive session, we need to have uh the virtual room cleared out. Um so if
you could please um step out uh and then come back in about a half hour at 7:30. One more John or Katherine Barry, we need you to disconnect. If we have to force you off, you won't be able to reconnect.
>> Okay, Mr. Anerati, >> thank you. Uh David's going to lock the webinar. We're locked. Doors closed. Executive session time. I'm gonna stop using the mic. Uh is that all right? >> I don't know. I don't think we usually
do. Okay. David. So, I I asked this afternoon uh about um any environmental testing, some of which I think can't be done while there's snow on the ground. Um and especially since uh That was Thank you for that. My
Good. Good evening. >> All right. Power. Uh good evening. Thanks for coming out. Uh we had uh we are now the select board is now in open session. We have one item business we're
going to discuss. Uh it's a public hearing considering the right of first completed an executive session discussed a few uh legal issues. Well, my intent tonight is we really
want to hear from the community. What uh first off, are folks in favor of purchasing land? Secondly, do you have any idea? I mean, it's it's the right of first refusal would be for
$1.4 million. Do you think and we can't negotiate that price? So, are you in favor of purchasing the land? Would you support it at town meeting? We if we purchase the land, we are going to need a twothirds vote at town
meeting. So, it's a and twothirds votes are not easy to get. So, we would certainly need folks to uh show up at subsequent town meeting. Uh and importantly, what we really want to hear is what your visions of the use
of the property would be. Uh certainly it's adjacent to the arboritum but there could be other purposes and then we should also think about the intensity of the use of the property going forward. So we'd like to
open it up. Uh it's going to be pretty much a listening session. Our intent is that we will discuss this as the entire select board, as you can see there's only three of us here tonight. Entire select board will meet and discuss this again at our regularly
scheduled meeting on March 2nd. We do have a meeting this coming Monday night, but uh we won't really have any more or not this coming Monday night, a week from Monday.
Um but we won't have a lot of new information by then. So we're pushing it off until March 2nd. Um, for folks that want to make comments, and I encourage you to do so,
please come up, use the mic, uh, so it can be recorded and for those of us that have poor hearing can understand you. The, uh, we're going to because we've got such a large crowd here, uh, we're going to use
a threeminut rule. Um, other than some town staff that might have to speak longer, but for the general public, if you can keep your, uh, remarks down to 3 minutes, uh, the clerk is going to be taking care of that. Uh, give you a twominute yellow warning and a
threem minute warning with a red sticker. Elizabeth, >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I'm just wondering if we might put up a diagram of the parcel so that everybody's really clear about which parcel we're discussing tonight
because we have received some correspondence that seems confused about whether or not there's a structure on the property. >> If we've got access to that, that would be a great idea. Get everybody centered on it.
>> Um, >> I thought it was in the packet. I don't know that it's in the packet. Um, it is. >> Maybe David has it. >> I thought it was in the packet. If it's not available, I will resend my suggestion.
>> I have a I have a map of it right here. >> I I I I can display a survey of the land. >> Okay, we'll try to put that together. just so folks can can look at it as well. Um
so without any further ado, um we don't have a lot to say right now. Uh this is the beginning of a long process. U ideally we could bring this thing to town meeting in May.
Um, but there is a there's some specific statutory time limits that we have to abide by. So, we're going to work those out and sort of all the technicalities that we were dealing with a few minutes ago during the executive session. So, we really want to hear what you have to
say. First up, thank you. Uh, thank you guys for having the meeting tonight um and not doing it during uh winter break week. appreciate that. Um, so thank you guys for listening to us. Thank you everyone for >> your name, your name,
>> Renee 26 Taylor. Um, so I'm here tonight to support the acquisition and preservation of 46 Taylor and expand the arboratum. Um, we asked our children what they love about the arboratum and they drew a whole bunch of drawings that I submitted
electronically. Hopefully you saw that. I have hard copies if you want to look at more detail. Um but our children is um my theme for tonight and preserving this land for the future generations. The act the actum is a beloved gem not
only for our town but the region. We are fortunate enough to live next door and so we see all the activity through the seasons. Daily folks from the neighborhood walk to the arburetum with their kids, their dogs or just by themselves for uh a bit of exercise and relaxation. On warm days, the arbatum
fills up with folks from everywhere. Uh, Stow, Littleton, Springfield, and beyond. I know this because I ask them. Um, especially if they have little kids, I'm like, "Oh, where are you guys from?" You know, looking for playdates. It's a great um socializing spot. Um, news of
our beautiful lands reaches far and wide. Right now, uh, the crosscountry skiers and sledders are taking advantage of the snow. In the fall, you'll see senior photos, wedding photos, photos galore, family photos. Everybody loves the spot. They know they're taking advantage of the natural beauty. Everyone knows that the arboretum is the
place to be to have a picnic or an outdoor meeting. We bought our house next to the arboretum because we value nature and open spaces. Purchasing 46 Taylor would add tremendous value to the arburetum for our town and for generations to come.
In terms of use for the land, I think that preserving it the way that it is, maybe extending the trails. I haven't thought too much about that, but just keeping it, you know, as my daughter wrote in one of the papers, keep it as it is for the nature, for the natural
habitat, for the animals. Um, I will let everyone else have a chance to speak. Um, thank you again. >> I've never seen the coercive technique before of sending child's artwork to us. Um that we got that from multiple people. So that's the first time from me
on the board. >> Hi uh Phoebe Conan uh Neog Hill Road. Um I'm actually here I'm currently the president of the Friends of the Actton Arboritum which um for those of you listening at home uh the arboritum is
town-owned property. It is conservation land. Um, it's a very unique conservation property in that it is dedicated to the growing of trees and we have specimen gardens there. Um, the friends of the arboritum was created to
support the town for the special needs of this parcel. Um and we have already submitted a letter to the select men and various boards saying that we are strongly in favor of uh acquiring this
parcel. This is something we've we've thought about for a long time. In fact, Mary Donald, who is the owner of the property, is uh was a longtime board member here, and she and her family actually gave 12 acres of back property back in the
day. So, um, we've always loved this property and the idea that it could someday be part of the arboritum. Uh, this is going to be the 40th anniversary of the arboritum. Um, it was in 1986 that my father and John Whittier
proposed that that land be turned into an arboritum and it has grown into something, you know, as we've heard that not only people in town love, but people come from other places to enjoy. Um, I think it is a special property. We've done a lot in recent years to develop
accessibility. Um, unlike a lot of our conservation properties which are lovely wooded parcels, you know, there are trails here that people with mobility issues can enjoy. Um, and so I think it is a a really important
part of the conservation lands here in Actton. Our job as the friends of the arboritum is to support the arboritum. And I particularly wanted to stand up here and just say that should the town agree to
go forward to try to to acquire this property that that we would be dedicating all of our efforts to helping create awareness, raise money toward that effort. And um in terms of how the property might be used, there
are other people from the board here who can speak um about how we might incorporate it into the arburetum, but just as a general statement, we wanted to say we are in favor and thank you for considering it. >> Thank you.
>> Hello, Betatina Abbe School. Um, I've worked for the town for 12 years in the conservation division and I serve on the open space committee and um, this parcel has long been very high on the list for
protection because it annex it is borders the arboritum and Mary Donald always took great pride in having her land publicly accessible. Um, if folks in this audience are not too sure what
we're looking at there, you can see three parcels. Taylor Road is the lowest line there, and you have um one parcel on the left, and then you have sort of a T a big T-shaped parcel in the middle, and then another little one on the
right. And um where Ms. Cook was pointing out is the 5.8 8 acre parcel that has no structures on it at this time and it's it's very beautiful. It's it's open space. It has a lot of
wetlands and um Tom Tidman has long um been um imploring me to implore Mary to please um sell it to the town. Um, and Tom's vision and the rest of us I think
would concur that and the public survey showed that some people feel there could be a little bit more parking that would help um at the main parking lot at certain busy times of year. So, we wouldn't want a large parking lot by any
means, but we think um right adjacent to Taylor Road, you could possibly have um definitely um at least one handicap accessible parking spot perhaps van size and then maybe, you know, four or five
additional regular parking spots up close there. and it could be planted with um native street trees um to provide shade over the parking lot. And um then we would like to have from there
a um ADA accessible trail that would head north. And then up in the sort of north um corner at the top of the map there, there's um a connection to the arboritum's wildflower trail. And so we
would want to hook it in there um to make sure that folks with any disabilities could access the whole rest of the wildflower loop. The rest of the parcel in the interior oops okay it has um a lot of shrubs and
we it would be a perfect um example to restore with native plantings and so mostly it would be for wildlife value and um peace and tranquility of the arbreedom. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Um, Betina, can I just ask a question? Um, is there any trail that's currently part of the arboritum that cuts over any portion of this parcel? I've heard reference to the Okay, >> there's um >> you have to be a microphone.
>> That's that's all I wanted to know because some of the um correspondence was confusing to me. >> Yep. Um Mary always um just verbally allowed the public to walk on this little corner right here.
Um but that is on private property, but she just gave verbal permission for folks to be able to access the this is the arboritum property on the side and then this is arboritum property up there
as well. So, so there is a trail that people follow across that top corner. >> Yep. >> Currently, it's just not officially part of the arboritum. >> It is not. That is correct. It's private. >> Hi. Um I'm Lauren Feld. I'm new to
Actton. So, I'm at 46 Taylor Road. Um and we moved here about a year and a half ago. Um, and so I I know that many of us talk about, you know, how and and I'm sure it's widely felt how um important the arburitum is to the town, how much people love nature, and like the fact that it brings so many other
people into the town and it's a big attraction. Um, the main downside to purchasing to me, it seems, how can we justify the cost? But I can say as someone who um very recently was in a very extensive home search and looking at what sort of you know what we thought
brought value and where we wanted to live, this was the main selling point. I remember we after we toured the house at the open house walking to the arboritum and walking the trails of the arboritum. I think it's it's really when we're thinking of sort of how do we justify the cost in addition to the importance of nature and sort of how important it
is to all the people who came out today. if we think of things that that support town property values um and that bring people from outside in and this was a real highlight of of moving there. So, I just wanted to add a perspective of sort of a a person who recently has finished
their home search and um and how important it was to have this sort of natural beauty and and drawing us into the town. Thanks. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm Jason Thrower, 30 Taylor Road. I live right in that little corner, the small text right there. Um, so, uh, you
just brought up something, Betina, that, um, got me thinking about handicap accessibility. Uh, also with all the small children in strollers, that's another part of the arburetum that's really accessible um, where the rest of it really truly isn't, except the baby backpack. Um, I walk in, if I sleep in
my bed, I walk the arboritum every single day. Um, I was thinking also about the um the drawings, the children's drawings. I I have probably um I don't know over a hundred um photos of the wildlife that lives right there because my backyard is is right there. I mean it's I can see it in my own eyes on
multiple occasions. The deer of course um owls, uh fox, fisher cat, um you you name it. If it's uh in this region of Massachusetts, it it lives out there. So there's no way that that wouldn't be impacted with uh construction in that area plus the wetland that flows
through. So of course I have a special bias being directly adjacent to what's going to happen here. Uh but of course I support all efforts to conserve as much as possible and that's it. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. Hi. I'm Alicia Palace. I'm at 62
Taylor Road. So on the opposite side of the Donald property from um where Jason lives. We moved here in the summer of 2020. We were lucky enough to be able to find a house and have an offer accepted during the chaos of the pandemic. We had
a 9-month-old at the time. And since then, we have another one. And I'm sorry, we have spent so much time in this property. We see the deer that come into our property. So, our kids have first access to all of the nature that's
around here. Um, for similar reasons to other people, we were drawn here by the property by having a forest in our backyard. And this is something that my husband, well, not so much my husband, I grew up with in central Wisconsin. So to be able to show that to my children has
been amazing. And also just post pandemic, we've lost third spaces. We don't have places to bring our children anymore. And this is somewhere that they can go. And right now I have a kindergartener and a prek. I'm hoping
that over the next, you know, 20 years, whatever, they're able to use this property as well to build out their communities and to take advantage of the neighborhood. You >> Thank you. >> Do I push this?
>> Okay. Hi, my name is Kate Depra and I live at 64 Woodlane um just lot one lot away from the arburitum. Um I moved here with my family uh over 10 years ago from Framingham in large part like many of the folks who have spoken uh because the
house was right next to the arboritum. Um, it's truly a magical place. This little corner of suburbia where you can just enter the forest or the orchard and walk on these amazing paths and be completely immersed in nature within minutes. I too grew up in a rural area
in New Hampshire and this was a way that I could bring uh my kids into nature. Our kids were nine and six at the time when we moved here and there was a month of summer left before school started. We spent every single day that August walking in the arburidum. They found frogs and streams, ferns and
blueberries, watched chipmunks and squirrels, and crawled on brick rocks. It helped them settle into our new home in a quiet and really meaningful way. The kids are older now. My son's in college, and my daughter is a junior in high school, but she's interested in studying environmental science and
conservation. And I think in part because of this relationship we have with the arburedom. These days, we walk our dog, Pepper, once or twice a day in the arburedom, and it's hard to express how much this
feels like a gift. We've met so many friends there, local folks, uh, who do the same thing. Go on daily walks or take breaks from work, get exercise, feed, and watch the birds, fix the pathways, watch the flowers broom, bloom throughout the season, and the leaves
fall in the fall. Um, and I think that one of the surprising things for me, and it's amazing how everyone's touching on this, um, has been how many folks that we meet who are coming to Actton in order to visit the arboritum because it's actually a destination for them, not just a walk outside of their house.
And that makes sense, of course, because it's accessible, again, like many people have said, um, to so many different, uh, people, people in strollers or in wheelchairs. Um, and this allows you to v to view animals and plants and the streams and both planned and unplanned
natural spaces. And I think that's really important. My daughter would be embarrassed uh that I can't list all of the birds. She's a burer now. Um, that we have seen and heard there, but I can tell you about a few. Bluebirds, the piated woodpeckers, and the owls. we've
seen and hurt so much other wildlife, foxes, stos, coyotes, and so many deer, rabbits, and even a fish or cat, which is quite scary. Um, one of my favorite places in Arburedum is actually on the lot, and I that is for sale. I It's this
path in at the corner of that private piece of land um where there's a sign that welcomes visitors, but it says you're crossing into private land. It's this magical place nestled a bit behind Taylor Road and Minote Avenue where you walk through a bunch of low thick bushes
and suddenly you emerge into this wide pine grove um where all the sounds are different but it feels so incredibly peaceful. There's an active stream here that has the first skunk cabbage of the season. The skunk cabbage is this really
weird plant um that uses chemical heat to bust up through ice. That's it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Sarah Parker. I'm at 11 Taylor. Um I have the great joy of living right
across from the driveway to the Arburedum parking lot. So, I get to see a lot of people coming and going from the arburitum every day. And, you know, like everyone else, I see all kinds of people there. And I see my neighbors
every day. We're there at least three times a day between my kids and my dog. And I see people who've never been to Actton before. I see friends who live in other suburbs who don't realize I lived there until we run into each other at the arburitum.
Everyone when I told them I was moving to Actton just before the pandemic, um really the first comment they would all give me is, "Oh, have you been to the arboritum there?" In fact, one of my uh team members at work got married in the arboritum without knowing it was across the street from my house. Um, you know,
it's it's really a place where I think our community comes together as a local community, but also reaches out into the broader community. And one of the things I particularly love, which Kate also just touched on, is, you know, not only
does it allow me to meet all my neighbors, in fact, I've met most of the people in this room by running into them at the Arboritum and saying hello because I've seen them several times and learning that they're a part of our local community and and becoming part of it myself. But also, you know, I really
think it's important that the arburitum is for everyone. There are parts of it that are these beautifully manicured and cared for spaces that are very friendly to children and where you can go and have a picnic. And there are other
spaces that are very friendly for people who want to get away from the children and have a little bit of solitude on a back trail or you know people who want to go walk their dog and maybe their dog like my dog doesn't like children but there's a
place for us there and there's a place for me whether I'm there with my kids or whether I'm there with my dog or whether I just need a minute and I'm going for a walk and you know I think this particular parcel is something that is unique at the arboritum because it is
one of the less touched spaces there and there's a lot of wildlife. You know, there are areas that um you know, I'm not an expert. I don't know if they're technically wetlands, but they feel like wetlands. You know, where you walk into the pine grove and you smell the pine needles and you know that you're in a
special place. And I agree that it's also one of my favorite spots. And it's a spot where my kids call it the backwoods. And I love that they are getting to experience the outdoors in different ways. So, you know, I I would feel like this is a really valuable
addition to our arburitum and I support it and I honestly everyone I know in our community values and loves this land and would love to support it becoming, you know, part of the arburedum officially. >> Thank you.
My name is Sally Bond and I live uh at 427 Main Street which is right next to the Arboritum sign on Main Street. I have lived there since before the arboritum was the Arboritum and was an early president of the Friends of the Act and Arboritum. I have
watched that uh property grow over the years, not physically, and I think this is such a blessing that we now have the opportunity to add to it a little bit and make it grow a little more. Uh that corner that is part of one of the plots
that has a house on it uh that Mary has for years let people walk through is a beautiful space, a particularly nice space because as people have mentioned it uh takes you into the pinewoods. That would be very sad to lose that stretch
there even though it's not a huge part of the arboritum. That whole back area there is one of my favorite parts of the arboritum in the spring. It is one of the noisiest places in Actton with the um tree frogs and the
peepers and watching it change through the season is absolutely terrific. Of course, not most of that would be lost if this was not acquired, but a way into it and a way to get there to enjoy it would be. There have been dozens if not
hundreds of volunteers who have worked in that space. I think they could probably do some wonderful things in there. Some of them Betina talked about um without uh enlarging parking too much without uh
um changing too much. I think some paths could be made or a path in uh for more accessibility and I think that would be great and I hope this goes to town meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Uh Scott Sullivan 8 Patriots Road. Um I'm kind of acting as the that for this question but as the chair of the act and finance committee um I have a lot of positives um about this property. Um I was hopeful to hear uh coming to this
meeting uh ways of supporting this um from the perspective of if this not was not done and something else was done with this property, what were the things that could be done with it so that we
have like a full understanding of of the scenario that's in front of us whether the select board or someone in the audience understands that in a better detail than I do. if they could just maybe higher level summary if this is
not done and another purpose is done there what's you know what that what does that look like thank you >> I think just as a point of general information I think that kind of discussion uh with a lot more detail
would be what I'm contemplating for that meeting select board meeting on March 2nd we'll have a chance to delve into this a little more deeply uh But good points. Thank you.
Anyone else? I'm Kathy Hatfield from 30 Mohawk Drive and I've been involved with the um friends of the act and arboritum for a very long time. I among I am among the cadre of past presidents um having held the role for about 19
years. Um uh I talked to Tom um today on another um project and he reminded me that um there are many people in this room who have been involved with the arboritum among them the chairman of the
board. You know Dean, you go way back and we appreciate the effort that you took in the late 80s to get things going. And um 1986 is when the um motion passed at town meeting and this year in
2026 the friends plan to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the operetum. I can think of no better reason to celebrate um to to to have as a part of the celebration the fact that on the 40th
anniversary we hopefully would be able to say that this parcel could be added to the arboritum. Um there are currently seven parcels that make up the arboritum. Eight is a good number for this, you
know. Um and um I really I can't begin to tell you um how many people have worked to help this make make this the place that everyone enjoys so much. Um, and you know, the friends
as as an organization are there to help um support the town um to provide um backup and support for the town staff at times when things are tight and given the way, you know, this town runs so
smoothly, it's always tight for getting stuff done. So, there's a large cadre of volunteers. Um, a few extra parking spaces might be really helpful on some of those busy days because we've had to park in Sally Bond's yard in order to be
able to leave, you know, do some serious projects sometime. Um, but other than that, um, when we just had a public survey, um, in preparation for, uh, uh, the strategic plan to support the
strategic plan we're developing. And it was surprising to us that as many people who enjoy the lawn area, um there are also as many respondents who enjoyed walking the trails in the
woods and appreciating nature and bringing their children to see all these all the different areas that require a little longer hike. And I think having um some different habitats um to explore would be really good. Thank you. Thank
you. >> My name's My name is Terry Maitelland uh 100 Martin Street and I chair the conservation commission although we did not take a vote of endorsement since we didn't have the information yet. Um open space people are here also from the open
space committee. I think this is a very important piece to to acquire. Um, not only, you know, would it add to uh the arburetum, but you've heard all this discussion about how important it is from a wildlife
standpoint, a recreational standpoint, and so forth. Um, it's also big, um, relatively. I took a four-year-old out there and it got lost. So, a little embarrassing, but saying, "Hey, this is
this is good." Um so another thing too during the discussions of the open space and recreation plan it was noted that the conservation lands that are available happen to be kind of at the edges of town more or less and it was said you
know for would could experience more diversity if if uh people could get to the center of town. Um, so I think it's important to have that as as as an anchor piece in the middle of town and
to let it go um would I think be tragic. So um please do all you can to bring it home. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I am My name is Bob Bettinson. I live at
45 Taylor Road, so that's pretty close. It's nice to see Dean Charter again. I haven't seen you in a long time, but been in town for 33 years. Watched all the activities and schools and libraries and police stations and fire departments and all the other things that we've done
along the way. Um, this is a wonderful area. It's a wonderful spot. And it would be awfully nice to uh to keep this land from being developed into multif family units or a large development of houses together which are just going to put more children in the schools and
maybe challenge the budget. I don't know. You know, uh be very happy to see it stay somewhat undeveloped. That would be great. But it's up to everybody else to decide if they want to put all that that money into it. But IN4 up for
having that saved forever. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Hi. Uh Ben Herurwitz Minav. Um I don't have three minutes worth of stuff to say, but you know, my wife and
I did come to support uh the town acquiring the land. So wanted to uh let you know how how we feel. Also for myself personally while expanding the arburetum certainly would be
I guess the most logical and obviously a good use of the land somewhat as the last speaker was saying. um you know the there are other good uses uh of the land that the town could make
uh that I I think I would trust the town the town's decision uh should we should we make this purchase and I kind of think for everyone here if this is only uh the only argument is like
expand the arburetum that's did maybe it's harder to get to, you know, twothirds of the town voting for that at town meeting. So, something to think about. >> Thank you.
>> Bruce McCully Jr. Main Street. Uh just a kind of question for you folks. Um would this be paid for or is it a mechanism to do it by the CPP funds or does it have to be a separate item out of the main budget?
So there obviously the uh there is an open space set aside fund that has been generated from CPC funds. Every year the open space committee comes in and asks for additional money to be put into that. um that's being discussed right
now uh with the community preservation committee. There'll certainly be some more money put into that open space. Um exactly how much that's yet to be determined, but I think it's
it's obvious to me that that's the place where we would go to get the majority of the funds. There are some legal technicalities about how much uh in the way of CPC funds can be used compared to the appraised value of the land as
compared to the offering price. Uh that will have to be worked out. We'll be able to discuss that a little more at our uh meeting in early March. Uh but I think you know this because of the amount of money in the
open space set aside and the likely amount that will be appropriated and the commitments we already have uh in the past made for other purchases of land. I think it's quite likely that
uh we might end up having to bond a certain portion of it and then one of the ways around that is obviously to commit future allocations into CPC right director to the bonding which we've done with uh Piper road property Morris property uh right hill
uh we're paying off a number of those right now okay so there there is a funding mechanism but it's question of choice cases. Okay. And um so thank you for that. Uh so I guess instead of the followup here says, do you think if there's you know there's so much support
for it here and we'd like to know if there's anything that the select board feels would be a um uh you know some kind of impediment or difficulty that we as a community who want to support this uh should be trying to pursue. Now, we've got 120 days since since the time
that that was uh purchase and sale was uh agreement was uh signed, I think. So, we're just trying to figure out hate to be in a situation where there's, you know, uh overall support for it, but then we're not fast enough to respond to, you know, get over whatever hurdle
there is. Is there anything that you can think of? >> Well, I think we're still in the early days on this process. So, again, I I point you towards that first select board meeting in March. I think we'll have a little more understanding of um
some of the technicalities involved in this purchase. We can probably speak with a little more understanding at that point. Uh right now we really just wanted to hear from the community and then we start working on the logistics. >> Okay. Thank you very much.
Hi, Kimberly Herurwitz. One-minded AV. I'm his better half. Um, we've been here for 27 years. I did not expect to say anything tonight, but just listening to everybody here and our property sort of backs up onto a trail
that connects to the arboritum. We're at the far end of Mine and off of Conquered Road. Um, I'm a nature geek, but one of the things that I realized hearing everybody is this is our town green.
The arburetum, we have a town green. It's over on Neog Road, but there's really no parking there. People don't use it the way they use the arboritum. The arboritum is this place in the center of town where we all kind of come together and for different purposes.
kids have their prom pictures taken there and of obviously there's weddings and school kids go and have picnics and it's used for a variety of town purposes. So to add to that space while
we can when we can seems a no-brainer to me. Thank you. Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Leen Ner's 64 Wood Lane. Um uh I'm I'm rapidly approaching the uh age
when my kids are going to go off to college and I'm reminded that the arburidum um much like the last speaker uh mentioned has been a place where I've met a number of like clo really people have become really close friends over the years and um it really does function
as a community for people who aren't getting uh finding their friends through uh kids soccer games and things things like that anymore. more um and I I think we shouldn't undervalue the amount of um of benefit it brings to a community um
where we want to make uh people of uh advancing age feel more comfortable um and have places to socialize and be friends as well. >> Thank you. I believe we have uh at least five
people waiting to uh contribute online. Uh, David, do you want to start letting some of them in? >> Oh, wait a minute. Good. >> Wait. Um Um, okay. >> Go ahead. >> Hi. Um, my daughter Sonia wanted to come
with me tonight and she is very nervous, so she wants me to read her submission. So, uh, Renee 26 Taylor, I love the arburetum because I like watching the animals and birds. I like to play with my friends and have picnics with them.
ways to keep nature safe. Do not disturb animal habitats. Do not litter. Keep all the trees for fresh air and leave it how it is. These are some um things that they learn in school about our environment. And she
wanted to share that with you tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you. Said it very well, David. Gil, you can unmute and speak. >> Um, thank you. Uh, Gil Watt, uh, Old
Barnway in Actton. Uh, I too have been here for about 33 years, and um, I I know, well, I I I'm just coming up to speed on this, but I am a little confused by some of the discussion that's gone on. I at one point I thought
we were discussing um raising the arboritum and putting in uh an Amazon warehouse. Um so I'm not quite sure the connection between 46 Taylor Road and the Arboritum. I don't think anyone's proposing to destroy the arboritum.
Um and so I I'm a little confused by how it's being presented by the commenters. But the other question I have is when I see this survey, it looks like the majority of this property is wetlands that is unbuildable. Um, and only the portion close to Taylor
Road is actually buildable by wetlands regulation. And I might be wrong about about this. And but if the only buildable section is close to Taylor Road, then that property, the buildable part looks exactly like all the other houses that contain all the where all
the abuters live. Um, and so it would just be one more house full of children and families who would really enjoy the arboritum and enjoy acting. And so I'm not quite sure how having more children
enjoy the arboritum and more families with whom we can interact is a threat to act. Um, but anyway, that that's what I'm observing. Um, but and thank you.
Thank you, >> John. >> John, you can unmute and talk. >> Great. Thank you very much. Um, and thanks to everyone for the great uh discussion and opportunity tonight. So, my name is John Barry. I live at 430
Main Street uh with my wife, uh two young kids, and our dog. Um, I really just want to echo the sentiments of everyone who spoke earlier in support of efforts to conserve uh the arboritum um and potentially increase, you know, our
ability to use it. Um, you know, we just feel it's an incredible resource. It's a unique resource. Um, we use it daily uh with our kids, with our dogs. It's a way for us to connect to the community,
connect to nature. Um, and we're just so grateful that this is a part of Actton. This was a big reason for us to move to Actton uh when we did. Um, and so really just um agree with a lot of the sentiments that were shared earlier by those that that are in favor of uh
conserving uh efforts to conserve uh the arboritum. So, thank you for the opportunity and uh have a good night everyone. >> Thank you. Laura, you can unmute and speak. >> Great. Thank you. Hi. Hi, my name is
Laura Prey. >> Sorry, Laura. Could you start again? Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm not I'm not sure where I cut off, so I'll just say I'm an acting resident here living right right across from the arboritum. Um, and my my family and I love spending
time in the arboritum for all the reasons you've heard here tonight. But I wanted to just focus a quick comment on the ecological importance and benefits of wetlands. Specifically, um, I took a course titled wetlands. Very exciting. and uh remember the textbook describing them as kidneys
of the landscape and as nature's supermarkets. The imagery sticks with me when I walk through the trails of the arboritum and I think of the ecological significance and wanted to highlight this incredible value that these lands provide to us here in Actton and hope that we can take
this opportunity to preserve and conserve these lands these these sort of additional parcel of lands very clearly from you know separate from our our existing um arburedom that we all love so much. Um, and I thought I had 30 seconds, so I'll just take one more
minute just to echo some of the things I I heard here tonight. And Sarah mentioned her kids calling it the backwoods. My my kids call it the deep woods. And nothing gets my kids away from screen time faster than than an offer to go walking in the deep woods. They really um just love that so much.
And somebody else mentioned the Pine Grove um which is a favorite spot of mine as well. and and a few years ago, I'm sure most of you on this call remember that micro burst that came through and took down a number of the the large pine trees and I bring my kids there and I show them the new
undergrowth below the trees and and how the hollowed out trees are creating new habitats. And I think it's um one of nature's great lessons in showing how um destruction can can bring new growth and new life. And um through this conversation tonight, I'm also just
struck by the the generosity of Mary in giving of her time and her energy and of her land to this town. And I think that um it would be such a gift to her legacy to purchase this land um and take this opportunity to do that. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Katherine, you can unmute and speak. Hi. Um, my name's Katherine. I live on Trillium Circle and I grew up on Ninetail Road. Um, I honestly wasn't planning on speaking tonight, but just going to kind of wing it. Um, so I grew
up I grew up on Naylor Road across from the Arboritum. Um, and my sister and I we called it our extended front yard and it was just the most beautiful, magical place to grow up nearby. Um, I remember,
you know, going there as a little kid. We would go, you know, bring our sleds, we'd go for walks, you know, my mother would, um, quiz us on the names of the different plants and flowers, and she still does. Um, and now that I have my
own daughter who I'm home rocking to sleep right now, I am so excited to be able to bring her to the arburetum so that she can have some of the same experience I did. Um, and I think that the town purchasing Dr. Donald's land in
order to grow the arburetum would be just the most beautiful thing that we could do for our town. Thank you. >> Thank you. That's all, Mr. here. Okay. Uh if anybody else has any
comments, if not, we think we've please come forward. Thank you. I'll be fast. Um my name is Pam Carr and I live on Taylor Road and I agree with everything that everybody has said. Um, but I've been thinking about what you asked us in the beginning, um,
as to whether we would go to town meeting to help support a twothirds vote, and I just wanted to say yes, I would, and I'm sure Renee will organize us all. Um, but I I also, you also asked um, how we would explain to the town
like what is the value of this? Uh, why is it worth spending this amount of money for the arboritum? And I I believe that the arboritum is a destination place. I think of it almost like the Discovery Museum. People come from all over to go to the Discovery Museum and then they go out to lunch or out to
dinner. And I think that people do the same for the Arboritum. I think it's a draw to our community. I think it brings money into our town um from the people who come to visit it. Um so anyway, I I also support purchasing the the land if
we can. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Um, any final comments from my colleagues, town manager? >> Yep. >> Uh, just a note that um with the plan to
continue the discussion on March 2nd, we think it makes sense for you to also continue the public hearing as a just as a formality. Lisa, would you have a time we should continue the public hearing to on March 2nd? Do you want to just say 7:30? I mean,
nothing's going to be scheduled at that time. uh I move to uh continue this hearing till 7:00 on March 2nd in this room. >> I second. >> Moved and seconded. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I.
>> I. >> Opposed extensions. Okay. So we will continue this on March 2nd 7 o'clock. I'm looking for one more motion. >> I move to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Moved and second to adjurnn. All in favor say I. I.
>> I. Opposed. Abstensions. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for coming out everyone.