TOWN TOWN ACTON OF TOWN OF ACTON 2019 ANNUAL TOWN REPORT 2019 ANNUAL TOWN REPORT TOWN ANNUAL 2019 Celebrating 20 Years of NARA Park Town of Acton Incorporated as a Town: July 3, 1735 Type of Government: Open Town Meeting - 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 18,144 2000 20,331 2010 21,936 2011 22,012 2012 21,650 2013 21,584 2014 21,597 2015 21,386 2016 22,204 2017 21,511 2018 21,463 2019 21,674 Front Cover: NARA Park Beach and Picnic Pavilion. Photo courtesy: Maura Haberman, Recreation Division 2019 Annual Reports Town of Acton, Massachusetts Two Hundred and Eighty Fourth Municipal Year For the year ending December 31, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Administrative Services Economic evelopment Committee 80 Board of Selectmen 7 K elley’s Corner Committee 81 Town Manager 8 Land Stewardship Committee 83 N atural esources ivision 84 2. Financial Management Services Open Space Committee 85 Board of Assessors 11 P lanning ivision 85 H ouse Sales 12 R ecreation epartment 86 Elia beth White und 18 Acton og ar Committee 97 F inance Committee 18 Town Accountant 19 8. Public Works D P W/ ighway 90 3. Human Services G reen Advisory Board 91 H ousing Authority 30 P ublic acilities 93 Acton ursing Services 31 Commission on isabilities 33 9. Community Safety Community ousing Corporation 34 Animal Control Officer 94 Community Services 36 Emergency Management Agency 94 Council on Aging 36 Explorer ost/Crew 7 Search and escue 94 Council on Aging Board 38 F ire epartment 95 H ealth I nsurance Trust 39 Auxiliary ire epartment 101 V eterans’ Services 39 P olice epartment 101 V olunteer Coordinating Committee 40 10. Legislative 4. Education and Libraries Annual Town Meeting, April 1, 2019 108 Acton Boxborough egional Special Town Meeting, ecember 3, 2019 136 Schools eport 41 Special Town Meeting, ecember 10, 2019.136 Minuteman egional ocational Technical School 60 11. Town Elections and Statistics Acton Memorial Library 62 Annual Town Election, March 26, 2019 140 West Acton Citie ns’ Library 66 Special Town Election, ecember 17, 2019..142 5. Cultural and Historical Activities 12. Other Information Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council 67 R egistered oter Statistics 144 H istoric istrict Commission 69 D og Statistics 144 H istorical Commission 70 V ital Statistics 144 6. Community Development 13. Acton Information Cable Advisory Committee 71 National, State, and County Officials 148 P ublic Ceremonies and Celebrations........... 72 Elected Town Officials 149 Transportation Advisory Committee 73 Board by Selectmen Appointments 150 Official Appointments by Moderator 155 7. Land Use and Economic Development Appointments by Town Manager 155 Land se epartment 74 Street/ recinct List 158 Board of ealth 74 Map of Acton 161 Building ivision 76 E-mail istribution roups 163 Cemetery Commission 77 V olunteer Application 165 Community reservation Committee 78 Town of Acton Official Website 167 D esign eview Board 79 At our Service 168 CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF NARA PARK The athaniel Allen R ecreation Area N A A is twenty years old this year. or some our spectacular par has always been there, but long-time residents, who voted the funds for its transformation, well remember the vacant quarry pit, a route to the Town’s honey-pots, a site once considered suitable for a landfill. The complete transformation of the abandoned area where N A A now stands is a tribute to those who saw an opportunity, who wore d for shared consensus to invest in Acton’s future, and who enlisted the volunteer force to mae it a reality. N A A represents the epitome of a cooperative effort between essential volunteers, Town staff and a future vision shared by the entire Amphitheater Hill community. P rior to A A Acton had no suitable place for outdoor swimming. n the early 1970s children were bussed to Walden ond for swim lessons, but the cold water caused many to drop out. The “ pond behind the Auto Auction was found to be fed by leachate from the Town dump. While the high school pool provided an indoor facility for children to learn to swim, residents still wanted a source of clean, fresh water not beholden to school hours and schedules. People knew the North Acton site was filled with gravel that could be applied for other purposes. Bruce Stamsi gathered information from consultants and developed a plan for removal of the gravel and mai ng of a par. Although there was frustration at the length of time it too to commence the pro ect, it culminated in a boon. G ravel mined from the N A A land was sold to Boston’s Big D ig --- a wonderful outlet for over 180,000 cubic yards and ma or offset to excavation costs. Bathhouse Site Under Construction However, there was still another problem: Fill was needed to finish the site. Several years prior, the Town had dredged the Ice House Pond, and under direction of DPW director, Dickie Howe, the fill was put in storage. This provided the necessary dirt at a huge savings. F inally, after nearly 20 years of planning, hoping, and diligent wor, the Town voted 1.6m for excavating the pond, building the bathhouse and paving the pari ng lots. A A ar was brought to fruition under the guidance of atural esources director, Tom Tidman. N A A is unique in other ways t is self-sustaining under a 53 revolving fund with fees from A A Beach, A A Summer Camp and the concert and special events series mai ng the whole a user-based enterprise. The R ecreation epartment obtains donations and sponsorships to cover expenses for N A A’s concerts and special events. Swimming Pond and Beach Under Construction 3 Summer Concert Event at the Amphitheater I n the intervening years, A A has grown through the F or Acton residents as well as people from all over the R ecreation epartment’s innovative programs and with MetroWest region, A A is the destination for outdoor assistance from C A grants. The icnic avilion has recreation and family fun. The addition of the Bruce become a popular site for private parties and weddings. F reeman R ail Trail has opened N A A to the cycling Concerts are held for every musical taste along with community. A A is more than a listing of its parts special events such as Winter Carnival. Wale rs and a compilation of the activities. A A is a beautiful frequent the one-mile perimeter trail. The extensive place. P erennial gardens surrounding the bathhouse fields are heavily employed for a variety of sports. The are stunning spring through fall; flowering trees and Town’s annual July 4th Celebration is held at A A wildflowers grace the grounds. Wetland areas provide hosting thousands of regional visitors. I t is home to homes for amphibians and turtles. egardless of the N A A Summer Camp for ages 4-15 and a place where season, there is always something to appreciate and families view the night sy , as well as being a haven en oy. Acton is lucy to have A A ar for birders. estivals celebrate Acton’s ethnic diversity and the accessible Joseph Lalli Miracle ield. N A A R espectfully submitted, serves a wide population of children and families with Ann Chang special needs. 4 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BOARD OF SELECTMEN • D evelop measurable goals in relation to the sustainability policy This year there were significant changes to the Board • Adopt a policy of Board communication with of Selectmen. Both atie reen and Janet Adachi did residents not see re-election. Both have served the Town for • I dentify suitable sites for solar including evaluating many years in various positions and we are grateful the proposal for the commuter lot for their many contributions. D ean Charter and avid • Wor with the Town Manager to implement Martin were elected to the Board March. There were participation improvements for the 2020 Annual staff changes as some left, and new personnel j oined Town Meeting us. Town Manager John S. Mangiaratti and Executive • Change the name of the Board of Selectmen to Assistant Lisa Tomyl supported the Board in many the Select Board ways.Town Meetings, the annual and two more Special Town Meetings in D ecember too up much of our Long term goals included attention. • Evaluate and support organia tion improvements for effectiveness and efficiency • I mprove intersections at Acton Center, H ayward and Main, and Central Street • I nitiate tree planting of 30 trees per year for F iscal Y ear 2021 • R eview the status of the W. G race property and plan for future re-use DECEMBER TOWN MEETINGS D ecember was the highlight of the year with a citie n petition Town Meeting held on ecember 3rd, a Special Town Meeting held on ecember 10th and an election Pictured L to R: Peter J. Berry, Dean A. Charter, Joan Gardner, on ecember 17th. At the ecember 10th Special Town Jon Benson, and David Martin Meeting there were three articles Acton-Boxborough R egional School D istrict School D esign & Construction BOARD MEMBERSHIP CHANGES ( Twin Schools , orth Acton ire Station esign & Construction, and Sewer istrict Expansion – West I n April, the Board of Selectmen reorganie d and Acton.