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TOWN OF ACTON 2016 ANNUAL TOWN REPORT "What's Old Is New" Town of Acton Incorporated as a Town: July 3, 1735 Type of Government: Town Meetings ~ Board of Selectmen/Town Manager Location: Eastern Massachusetts, Middlesex County, bordered on the east by Carlisle and Concord, on the west by Boxborough, on the north by Westford and Littleton, on the south by Sudbury, and on the southwest by Stow and Maynard. Elevation at Town Hall: 268’ above mean sea level Land Area: Approximately 20 square miles Population: Year Persons 1950 3,510 1960 7,238 1970 14,770 1980 19,000 1990 18,143 2000 20,331 2010 21,936 2011 22,012 2012 21,650 2013 21,584 2014 21,597 2015 21,386 2016 22,204 Front Cover Color Photo courtesy of Andrea Ristine, Municipal Properties Superintendent Black and White photo circa 1905 courtesy of Acton Historical Society 2016 Annual Reports Town of Acton, Massachusetts Two Hundred and Eighty First Municipal Year For the year ending December 31, 2016 Printed by Athol Press Inc., — Athol, MA 1 2 __________________TABLE OF CONTENTS _______________ 1. Administrative Services 7. Public Works and Environment Board of Selectmen ..................................................7 Building Department................................................87 Town Manager...........................................................9 Cemetery Commission ............................................87 Town Report Committee..........................................10 Community Preservation Committee ......................88 Engineering Department .........................................90 2. Financial Management Services Green Advisory Board .............................................91 Board of Assessors .................................................11 Highway Department...............................................93 House Sales ............................................................11 Land Stewardship Committee .................................94 Elizabeth White Fund ..............................................14 Municipal Properties................................................95 Finance Committee .................................................14 Natural Resources ..................................................97 Town Accountant .....................................................16 Open Space Committee ..........................................99 3. Human Services 8. Community Safety Commission on Disabilities .....................................26 Animal Control Officer ...........................................100 Community Housing Corporation ............................28 Animal Inspector ...................................................100 Community Services Coordinator ...........................30 Board of Health .....................................................100 Council on Aging .....................................................30 Emergency Management Agency .........................103 Health Insurance Trust ............................................33 Explorer Post/Crew 7 Search and Rescue............104 Housing Authority ....................................................33 Fire Department ....................................................104 Public Health Nursing Service.................................34 Auxiliary Fire Department .....................................109 Sealer of Weights & Measures ................................35 Police Department.................................................109 Veterans' Services ..................................................35 Sidewalk Committee .............................................116 Volunteer Coordinating Committee .........................37 9. Legislative 4. Education and Libraries Annual Town Meeting, April 4, 2016 ......................117 Acton and Acton-Boxborough Schools Report ........38 Special Town Meeting, February 2, 2016 ..............149 Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School ..59 Special Town Meeting, October 5, 2016 ...............150 Acton Memorial Library ...........................................63 West Acton Citizens' Library....................................68 10. Town Elections and Statistics Presidential Primary, March 1, 2016 .....................160 5. Cultural and Historical Activities Annual Town Election, March 29, 2016 .................164 Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council ........................69 State Primary, September 8, 2016 ........................166 Historic District Commission ...................................73 Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School Historical Commission .............................................74 Preliminary, September 20, 2016 ................170 State Election, November 8, 2016 ........................171 6. Community Development Acton 2020 Committee............................................75 11. Other Information Cable Advisory .......................................................75 Registered Voter Statistics ....................................173 Design Review Board..............................................76 Dog Statistics ........................................................173 Economic Development Committee ........................76 Vital Statistics ........................................................173 Kelley's Corner Committee .....................................78 Planning Department ..............................................78 12. Acton Information Public Ceremonies and Celebrations Committee ...79 National, State, and County Officials ....................175 Recreation Department ...........................................79 Elected Town Officials .............................................75 Senior and Disabled Tax Relief Committee .............82 Official Appointments by Moderator ........................76 Transportation Advisory Committee ........................83 Board by Selectmen Appointments .........................76 Appointments by Town Manager ...........................180 Street/Precinct List ................................................183 Map of Acton .........................................................192 E-mail Distribution Groups ....................................194 Volunteer Application.............................................196 Town of Acton Official Website ..............................200 At Your Service ..................................Inside Back Cover 3 THE 2016 TOWN REPORT IS DEDICATED TO: DON MACKENZIE, TOWN MODERATOR 1976 - 2016 Don Mackenzie served the Town of Acton as a member of the Personnel Board and Town Investment committee. Few remember him in these volunteer positions but many know him as Acton’s Town Moderator. In fact, many Town Meeting members have never known another moderator. There is no universal style for a Town Meeting. Each town has its own peculiarities, needs and voice. Voters come to the meeting expecting a familiar flow of procedures and debate and when asked, firmly defend their own as being the best and perhaps only way to properly conduct a meeting. In Acton we have been led by Moderator Don Mackenzie for 39 years. That’s a long time. It’s also enough time for the voters to become accustomed to his particular mode of operation. We have appreciated his avuncular style and the quips that dissipate any tension One of his major doctrines has been civility. Being civil during debate; being civil during votes and being civil after the meeting is over. This has allowed voters with different opinions to have their voice fairly heard. Another very important trait was Mr. Mackenzie’s determination to be even-handed and not advocate for any partisan position from the podium or in the Town. I don’t wish to imply that the conduct of our town meeting has been static because it has not. As the town has changed and grown so too have the procedures of the town meeting. Don has been open to everyone with ideas about improving the meeting and making the proceedings go more smoothly. Over the years he has tried to educate meeting members on the legal procedures that he must follow by printing the rules in the back of the warrant. Don has worked closely with the selectmen, finance committee, town clerk and the League of Women Voters and agreed to changes designed to make the meeting more efficient and voters can feel their time is well spent. Perhaps the most valuable change was the introduction of the Consent Calendar. By use of this calendar, time is saved by quickly going through routine articles so the meeting members can concentrate on the on the more important issues. Other recent changes have been the reconfiguration of the check-in area which makes the process faster and far more efficient. Don and the Town Clerk worked to make sure they knew and approved the information and back-up materials on specific articles that were distributed to members. The introduction of the question microphone and then the pro and con microphones have allowed the moderator to be more even handed during debates because he can see where the voters stand and ensure that both sides can be heard. One of the behind-the scenes change is the pre-Town Meeting meeting. This happens before the actual meeting where presenters discuss their pending presentations and discuss the time limits and whether an article is controversial and approximate how long the article will take for discussion. There has also been the introduction of a time clock to help those who are debating get to their point in a manageable time. The most recent change, worked out by the clerk at the request of the Commission of Disabilities, is the monitor screens were the words spoken are displayed for all to read. Don has recognized that the Town Meeting is always changing and he has been an advocate to protect the rights of the voters at the same time trying to make the meeting more efficient. Good job---a round of applause is in order and all our thanks for his years of volunteer service [oops forgot---he gets paid $20/session] Respectfully submitted, Peter K. Ashton Town Moderator 4 IN MEMORIAM RICHARD “DICK” CALLENDRELLA Economic Development Committee Acton Nursing Services Acton TV Sidewalk Committee THEODORE “TED” JARVIS Finance Committee Acton Water District Board Member, Acton Memorial Library Foundation WILLIAM C. SAWYER Board of Selectmen Board of Appeals Representative to Metropolitan Area Planning Council PAMELA COCHRANE Trustee, West Acton Citizen Library Sidewalk Committee 5 6 ______________ ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ____________ BOARD OF SELECTMEN Plan and Use Special Permits to allow an expanded water treatment plant and other improvements on Concord’s Each Spring the Selectmen adopt short and long property adjacent to Nagog Pond. A Special Act of 1884 term goals which set priorities for the Board’s work during has allowed Concord to draw drinking water from Nagog, the year and over the longer term. The goals represent which is a Great Pond under MA law, while at the same a consensus among Board members about how best to time reserving to Acton and Littleton rights to use the water improve the services the Town provides to its residents. source. The hearings continued throughout 2016, while A Selectman is assigned to each goal to oversee work Concord made several revisions to their plans. The hear- towards achieving the objective. Below is a review of the ing was closed in January, 2017, and the Selectmen are work done in 2016 towards achieving the Board’s goals, as deliberating their decision. well other significant events which occurred during the year. SELECTMEN’S SHORT-TERM GOALS BOARD MEMBERSHIP COMPLETE 348-364 MAIN STREET MASTER Selectmen Janet Adachi and Katie Green were PLAN – SELECTMAN GREEN reelected to the Board in 2016 for additional three year The Board created a Special Committee to consider terms. Board members elected Peter Berry Chair, Janet and propose a Master Plan for the property located at Adachi Vice-Chair and Franny Osman Clerk. Chingsung 348-364 Main Street, which the 2015 Fall Special Town Chang serves as the fifth Selectman. Meeting voted to acquire. The Committee is meeting to consider options for future use of the property and make MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL written recommendations to the Selectmen. DISTRICT CREATE WEST ACTON DEVELOPMENT COM- On February 2nd, a Special Town Meeting voted to MITTEE, INCLUDING SEWER – SELECTMAN OSMAN accept amendments to the Minuteman Regional School In November, an engineering firm presented a feasi- District Agreement. At the 2014 Annual Town Meeting, bility study for a West Acton Sewer District. A West Acton Acton was one of 10 member towns to approve amend- Sewer Committee has been formed to work with the engi- ments to the Regional Agreement. Those amendments neering firm and Town staff. The Committee will examine did not take effect because one other member town the physical and financial feasibility of sewering for property rejected them and five other member towns failed to vote owners within the identified West Acton Sewer District; take on them. Under the prior Regional Agreement, each of the into account the economic, environmental, historical and 16 member towns had to accept any amendments to the social factors that would be impacted by the construction Regional Agreement by a majority vote of its town meeting of sewers; recommend to the Selectmen any future Town before the amendments could take effect. This new version Meeting actions; and educate the public on the topic so of the amended Regional Agreement, approved by a vote of that they may make an informed decision. the Minuteman Regional School Committee on December 21, 2015, incorporates all of the amendments previously SOUTH ACTON TRAIN STATION PARKING AND proposed, plus additional changes proposed by a working COMMUTER SOLUTIONS/COMPLETE STREETS – group of Selectmen representing each of the current 16 SELECTMAN BERRY member towns. Among other changes, the new amended The Town received a $400,000 state grant to fund Regional Agreement uses a four-year rolling average of fourteen Complete Streets initiatives, including sheltered enrollment for assessing costs, streamlines the process for bike racks; bike lanes and signage/rail trail connection; withdrawal by member towns, eliminates the five-student pedestrian and traffic improvements; and accessibility. A minimum charged to member towns for capital costs, and bike lane was added to Main Street, from Kelley’s Corner requires out-of-district communities to pay an equitable to the train station. The Town also installed new meters at share of any capital costs associated with a Massachusetts the train station parking lot, which accommodate payment School Building Authority (MSBA) project. by smart phones and increased the parking fees to a level equivalent to other area lots in order to ensure a revenue CONCORD WATER DEPARTMENT SPECIAL stream adequate to maintain the Town’s lot. The Town PERMITS continues to seek more parking options, including acquir- ing appropriate land and contracting for space in satellite In January, the Selectmen opened a series of hear- parking lots served by the shuttle. ings on the Concord Water Department’s requests for Site 7 DEVELOP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR NEW level of medical care for emergencies, as well as to staff STORM WATER PERMITS – SELECTMAN ADACHI ambulance runs to the hospital as opposed to relying on The November, 2015 Special Town Meeting adopted a contracted service. Increased insurance payments are a new bylaw regulating Stormwater Management and expected to pay for the increased costs negotiated as part Erosion and Sediment Control. The bylaw is intended to of the contract settlement. The fire service is working to protect Acton’s waterbodies and groundwater, as well as obtain required licenses to run the ALS service and it is to comply with the “construction” and “post-construction” expected that ALS will be implemented in the summer of minimum control measures required by the EPA/MassDEP 2017. permit for discharges from Acton’s municipal stormwater system. The bylaw provides authority for permitting, inspec- BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING – SELECT- tion and monitoring of discharges to the Municipal Separate MAN GREEN Storm Sewer system (MS4). The Selectmen are consider- The Town acquired property on Cherry Ridge Road for ing regulations to implement the bylaw requirements. non-payment of taxes. The ACHC is testing the property for adequate septage and will be issuing a proposal seek- WORK WITH FINANCE COMMITTEE AND SCHOOL ing a private developer to build an affordable house on the COMMITTEE TO ENHANCE PUBLIC COMMUNICA- lot. The Fall 2016 Special Town Meeting voted to acquire TIONS – SELECTMAN CHANG property on River Street (Lazaro). The site is undergoing The Board, along with Acton Government TV, pro- environmental testing and a committee will be established duces a program during which the Town Manager and one to plan for its proper use. One proposal is to build a small of the Selectmen preview issues included on the agendas affordable housing development on the site, along with for upcoming Board meetings. Each Selectman rotates to other uses. The Master Plan Committee for 348-364 Main take part in The Acton Agenda programs, which are taped Street is also considering affordable housing as one of the for rebroadcast. The Board and Town Manager, along with options for that site. Town staff, also produce TV shows which explain various warrant articles prior to Town Meetings. The Selectmen, DEVELOPMENT OF TARGETED ECONOMIC School Committee and Finance Committee each appoint DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR BUSINESS DISTRICTS – members as liaisons to attend the other boards’ meetings SELECTMAN CHANG and to facilitate communication between the boards. In The Town’s recently hired Land Use & Economic November, the three boards meet together to present Development Director is tasked with working with the Eco- each other’s points of view and to review initiatives. The nomic Development Committee and Selectman Chang to Town Manager writes a blog on the Town website which advance this goal. has 166 followers. DEVELOP SEWER EXPANSION PLAN – SELECT- SELECTMEN’S LONG TERM GOALS MAN OSMAN Selectman Osman is Chair of the West Acton Sewer DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE CAPITAL PLAN ‐ Committee. SELECTMAN ADACHI The Selectmen established a Capitol Improvement NEW SENIOR CENTER Planning Committee to study proposals from the Town Man- ager and the Acton‐Boxborough Regional School District The Fall Special Town Meeting voted to authorize which involve major tangible items with a total project cost the Town to enter into a 10-year lease for a new Senior of more than $100,000 in a single year or over $100,000 in Center on Sudbury Road. After many years of effort, the multiple years and which would likely require an article at Council on Aging will be moving into this new facility which Town Meeting for the project’s authorization. The CIPC is provides much needed expanded space for their programs. charged with making a report and recommendations to the The new facility will also contain offices for Acton Nursing Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen on these Services, the Community Needs Coordinator and the Vet- proposals. –Fire Stations’ Renovations and Construction erans’ Services Agent. – Public Works Facility –Library Roof & HVAC Units. LAND PURCHASES ANALYZE FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) DELIVERY – SELECTMAN BERRY The 2016 Annual Town Meeting voted to acquire The Town negotiated changes to the collective land on Central Street, which connects with the Heath Hen bargaining agreement with the firefighters’ union which Meadow Conservation Land, as well as a parcel on Conant required the fire service to upgrade to Advanced Life Sup- Street which abuts the 40 acres of Acton Conservation Land port (ALS). Firefighter/EMTs will now become Firefighter/ known as the Steinman and McGloin Lands. The Conant Paramedics, which allows the Town to provide a higher St. parcel is primarily forested wetlands with significant wildlife habitat value. 8