[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6425568,"mediaKeyId","5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb","parentId",5888157,"title","Acton leaders discuss federal immigration enforcement at police station; board to review proposed policy updates","audioSeconds",5567,"startMs",2086000,"endMs",7653000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb&start=2086&end=7653","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb/thumbnail_2086000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6425568/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Acton-leaders-discuss-federal-immigration-enforcement-at-police-station-board-to-review-proposed-policy-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425568-0383a64f136b5f46518a2105d2c956dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775375337&Signature=lsUOaJMeQamHOJVEEOKx8LkqJr7jogkz2V85f-2fsW2d5S8~8ZGVzktP9bPmyk0q7bb~9z2EOlSlvw7Y6N7rpEgIqk6q0tOr9NnSyU8Nf448fk~GQCQpEsUJclLR3NAXmjx1mfMHIbznQuCU72x680t8Vc60xubqYau4WRtTK8oi8KuCd3H54BtrmEcsZvua0WUVn5nV1-pdJeYnnb74lUxgey-22VySHbiF~9j8WmfDNdgPPfAkh0l0gLsDLZiumTVCdx00CXYJyuDuhIZPhbWdIL5cjoTS6Fy2vzuQcDn-hbhZlJAoAhcWqQeTnMJ1s8OfrbyJUsJGQQoRmBKbCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Acton","date","2025-10-01T00:00:18Z","article","Acton Police Department leaders briefed the Select Board on Oct. 6 about how the department handles federal immigration-enforcement activity, and a lengthy public comment period followed in which residents described concerns about federal agents in the community and asked the town to strengthen local protections.

Chief Kogan (Acton Police Department) told the board that the department does not participate in routine civil immigration enforcement and described how custodial notifications reach ICE during the booking process. \"In that process, ICE is notified and they may contact us and let us know that they have a, detainer or some other type of, maybe a warrant for a person that they are interested in taking into custody,\" the chief said. He added the department follows state guidance and does not change booking procedures when ICE expresses interest: \"If we do a booking and the person's ready to be released within 30 minutes, we'll let that person be released as they would be, as anyone else would be.\"

Select Board members, town staff and many members of the public raised concerns about the visibility of federal agents around the Police Department and about family members being notified when someone is detained. Several residents said they have seen ICE vehicles near homes and asked the town to adopt measures to limit nonessential use of the area behind the public-safety building.

Select Board member David proposed three specific measures for the board to consider: (1) clearly designate the area behind the public-safety building as employees-only and enforce the restriction so outside officers do not use it as a concealed staging area; (2) when a person in APD custody is discharged and federal officers are present, ensure the discharged person is advised of legal rights and allowed to contact counsel before leaving; and (3) explicitly extend the department’s \"duty to intervene\" policy to include officers of all jurisdictions, including federal agents, i.e., require Acton officers to intervene if they witness the unlawful use of force by officers of any jurisdiction.

Chief Kogan responded that the department’s current practice aims to protect safety during transfers and that the facility’s rear area, including a sally port, was designed to allow safe transfers. He described past instances when ICE asked to use portions of the lot and said officers had asked them to move to a public portion of the lot when appropriate. He also said the department documents the name and phone number of the ICE supervisor who notifies the department and that individuals in booking are permitted to make multiple phone calls while in custody.

Board discussion and next steps: the Select Board did not adopt any immediate policy change at the meeting. The chair asked Select Board member David to submit his proposed modifications in writing to the town manager so they can be reviewed by town counsel and discussed again at a future meeting. The chair also said the town’s 2017 immigration-enforcement policy remains in effect and should be highlighted on the town website so residents can find it.

Public input: more than a dozen members of the public spoke. Some asked for a town declaration reaffirming the 2017 policy; others asked for more prescriptive changes, including limiting where federal agents may assemble on town property and explicitly requiring notification and access to counsel for people being released from custody.

The board directed staff to circulate David’s suggested language to counsel and the police chief and to bring a redlined version back to the board for further consideration.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Acton Select Board Meeting - October 6th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Acton Police Department leaders briefed the Select Board on Oct. 6 about how the department handles federal immigration-enforcement activity, and a lengthy public comment period followed in which residents described concerns about federal agents in the community and asked the town to strengthen local protections.","taxTitle","Town of Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",56888,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6425570,"Acton water officials set tentative PFAS treatment dates, warn of possible discoloration and water-use restrictions",602,1056000,1658000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb&start=1056&end=1658","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb/thumbnail_1056000.jpg","/articles/6425570/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Acton-water-officials-set-tentative-PFAS-treatment-dates-warn-of-possible-discoloration-and-water-use-restrictions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425570-1bb61898af85e3c5d11fd35f6398b030/orig.mp4?Expires=1775375337&Signature=Rtg9yDVdizB84d5zbhzKwgOaZ72hW3YaOL6xHs1lwTzcEjsq-OHkcpXUDvJWkn850f4v1ivjfkikslm8JYzOaLWwfAeA84KtOdctUJYl38T6AReFun2v2m~tc2O3whX5nKwVJ-CwYegty714pNk2XExYzK1Ek5ya0yrVakhkVPMwMsA6bEb-WFmVxVFlImvqR4OFx~tbuYcFPgnszzlnsNpzHmcJYnU6t-43Uh~PwDHxG8b3vNueRPyYveJEaEluKRWwNWzYpKyTj8YJIAWLnxPCCzoCXwhSgx7GNY3e1aJ8jLw4ryyDG4690SVvDt~6Xp1j70TvSBv61lkcvRNG4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Acton Water District leaders told the Acton Select Board on Oct. 6 that two large PFAS treatment systems are entering the final commissioning phase and that the town should expect short-term impacts to water quality and supply while the systems are tested and conditioned.

\"The PFAS levels in our water supply have not exceeded the Massachusetts drinking water standard since the 2023,\" Acton Water Commissioner Erica Lynn said at the meeting, adding that the district has taken steps since discovery to reduce exposure.

District Manager Matthew Mostoller said the South Acton plant — which typically supplies about 60 to 80% of the community’s water demand — and the Centre Acton plant will enter the final media-conditioning phase within weeks of each other. \"As of this afternoon ... we're anticipating our Centre Acton plant receiving media starting on October 27 and we anticipate receiving media at our South Acton plant beginning on November 5,\" Mostoller said.

Why it matters: the South Acton plant supplies a majority of Acton’s water, and both new systems must be taken offline for conditioning and proof testing before they can be declared operational. Conditioning the granular activated carbon (GAC) media and completing regulator-required startup testing can increase short-term PFAS concentrations and cause water discoloration, Mostoller said.

Mostoller listed the district’s planned steps to get both systems into service while protecting public health: increase pumping from other local treatment plants and bedrock wells; pause the town’s fall hydrant-flushing program (which uses several million gallons); ask customers to reduce discretionary outdoor water use; activate emergency interconnects with Littleton and Concord if needed; and push the state for expedited approval to bring two bedrock wells at 549 Main Street online. \"We are also reaching out to our neighbours in Littleton and Concord to activate emergency interconnects that we have,\" Mostoller said.

Officials warned residents that these actions may produce visible changes. \"We may see some discolored water throughout town and we may see our PFAS concentrations go higher than they've been over the past two years,\" Mostoller said. He added that customers who receive water almost directly from Concord or Littleton may notice different taste, odor or feel because that water will not have mixed with Acton water bound for other neighborhoods.

Timing and uncertainty: Mostoller told the board that conditioning times for the filter media are unpredictable. \"On the short end, we've done it in five days. On the long end, it's taken over a month,\" he said. He said the district was pushing state regulators to approve activation of the bedrock wells at the 549 Main Street property and that if regulators did not act, the district could declare a water-supply emergency to bring those wells online sooner. The district collected bacteria samples from the wells on Oct. 6, a step Mostoller said is \"one of the final steps before we get that approval.\"

Customer communications: Select Board members pressed the district on how residents would be notified if water discoloration or other changes occurred. Mostoller said the district will use multiple communication tools — email to bill addresses, the town website, social media and possibly the town’s reverse 911 system for widespread impacts — and will refine messaging as schedules firm up.

Costs and demand management: The district confirmed that purchasing water from neighboring systems will incur added cost: \"we will be paying for that water,\" Mostoller said. He also said that the district planned to impose a Level 4 water-use restriction if necessary; under the district’s definitions that level allows only public safety and critical food/fiber production uses.

Board reaction and next steps: Select Board members thanked the water officials and pressed for clear notification procedures for residents who may wish to delay laundry or otherwise prepare for temporary discoloration. The district emphasized the schedule remained fluid because construction projects frequently have multiple delays; it said the district’s optimistic target for completing both plants was by the end of calendar year 2025, with a more conservative expectation extending into late 2025 if setbacks occur.

The district asked residents to reduce discretionary water use and said it would provide further public updates as commissioning plans firm up and sampling results are returned to the state.

","Acton Water District leaders told the Acton Select Board on Oct. 6 that two large PFAS treatment systems are entering the final commissioning phase and that the town should expect short-term impacts to water quality and supply while the systems are tested and conditioned.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6425566,"Select Board continues Hawthorne Realty site-plan hearing after traffic, parking and housing-authority concerns",1036,2558000,3594000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb&start=2558&end=3594","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb/thumbnail_2558000.jpg","/articles/6425566/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-continues-Hawthorne-Realty-site-plan-hearing-after-traffic-parking-and-housing-authority-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425566-1e9e3148e7f765fb5f0d8b49e6819ecf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775375337&Signature=NQN4F81aAYYMALSWYio1Wiqt4~LYT8a1YvFnWYAn47RdgsF~YnWtwzBYnFjzXJn3Sb2L6CUsnGS4GbFyOq54b~hWj~WO9rpyZgBQ~a7~xjZ1XyPSPRZ7y8bXAlWxPquvX0Tu083SdM2SB7nauAiluPjsfy81kW4iRFqaGD5x2DOU6JaKFvE56fRLo2vlKk20zf4tMXX8ma4y1mXYzuJE8sJY-khOEzh~Oj9imExT540EVbWAkl~5asVSX8N9L0oy97AscPexPXFETqUvZZIep70sofls2EYupmtUG2zVI9wDVShhpCGIg68~QhfLbQ6ssCghn9GRK54OlMAjIQKAew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board continued a public hearing on Oct. 6 on a site-plan special permit application from Hawthorne Realty Company to combine 471 Great Road and 465-469 Great Road and construct two buildings for building-trade shops. The board voted to continue the hearing to Oct. 20 to allow members and staff to review peer-review comments and to seek additional input from MassDOT on access and the state right-of-way.

Applicant presentation and changes: Nathaniel of Stancy & McNary, representing the applicant, said the revised plans respond to previous staff and peer-review comments and noted the floor-area ratio and parking counts now meet the bylaw requirements. He said the project replaces on-site catch basins with deep-sump structures for improved sediment treatment, and that the applicant will submit a request for determination to MassDOT about access-permit requirements for changes adjacent to the state highway right-of-way.

Planning and peer-review concerns: Town planning staff and the town’s peer-review engineering consultant identified several outstanding items. The peer review noted two loading areas, but raised concerns that the eastern loading area creates a 20-foot turning aisle in front of Unit G — narrower than the zoning typical minimum of 24 feet — and asked the board to consider potential conflicts with dumpster pickup and tight turning radii. Planning staff recommended reducing the width of two nonconforming driveways \"to the extent practical,\" even if the narrowing must occur landward of the state right-of-way.

Housing authority and neighborhood concerns: The Acton Housing Authority submitted comments raising tenant concerns about business hours, noise (including garage/overhead door locations facing housing), traffic and the presence of a school-bus stop at Great Road and Sachem Way. The applicant said building bays are approximately 150 feet from the rear lot line and that the intended use is for building-trade shops consistent with zoning; he said the project does not propose noise-generating industrial activities beyond what is allowed in the zoning bylaw.

Stormwater/Chapter X request: The applicant submitted a letter requesting a waiver from some Chapter X design standards, arguing that the project reduces impervious area, adds dry wells, and does not increase discharge; the planning division noted staff would review the waiver with GCG and bring recommended conditions to the board.

Board discussion and action: Select Board members said public safety and pedestrian safety near the existing Route 2A bus stop were priorities. Several board members favored narrower driveway openings where practical to shorten vehicle crossings for pedestrians, but the board also discussed the difficulty of narrowing only the portion of the openings on the town's side while leaving state right-of-way elements unchanged and the potential for creating awkward transitions. The town manager said MassDOT is designing a separate complete-streets project for intersections on Great Road, including Harris Street, and that the state project may include tightened curb radii in coming years.

The board voted to continue the hearing to Oct. 20 at 7:10 p.m. in the Francis Faulkner Hearing Room so members could review the latest peer review comments and staff recommendations and seek any additional input from MassDOT.

","The Select Board continued a public hearing on Oct. 6 on a site-plan special permit application from Hawthorne Realty Company to combine 471 Great Road and 465-469 Great Road and construct two buildings for building-trade shops.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6425565,"Votes at a glance: Acton Select Board, Oct. 6, 2025",1461,1967000,3428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb&start=1967&end=3428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888157-1b457d7f8dd469a67897e185cbe937cb/thumbnail_1967000.jpg","/articles/6425565/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Acton-Select-Board-Oct-6-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425565-424135298a85190054b95d12a08781ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1775375337&Signature=l8fmLiNXnlHwqlF1Pbtise1qVOIt3yIACKYc3WP~lWsGhYYxKpKiuoLPIYvckPUjlyqjUgNp7rtnEZJ0jvVf7KFsXUEff9kk8aGcldRdd5Ifi7J~h-ymJsWCC8l3GaostiEqiilc4xP5BzjxqL3jF6VpInq3DxSTVMz59rkAZbQnwzf5YnJ~ZLjmouKi2SnyS6sVtOl8ylCys9TLhF2oiwlsICbd~yWc9eKhpVgm9FQT2gutAzFHpW~LKRc7LEQgIhwB2-T5QViZ5IkaSpKEUsBMJpr440n1gXSn70~JBUVFPLPH9XqGlqUHnx6VWGvY3sXOknmkqO1VGbKaNZ3grw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Acton Select Board took several formal actions on Oct. 6, 2025. Below are the motions, movers (where recorded), and outcomes as reflected in the meeting record.

Votes at a glance

- Approve historic sign for 17 Woodbury: Motion — \"I move to approve the historic signage on the 17 Woodbury House that says A. S. P. Parlin as recommended by the Historical Commission.\" Mover — Select Board member David (on record). Second — not specified in transcript. Outcome — Approved (voice vote: \"Aye\").

- Continue public hearing: 60 Powder Mill Road (Moran Cameron Group Inc., special-permit application O3/19/2025-495): Motion — \"Moved to continue the hearing until 11/03/2025 at 7:10 p.m.\" Mover — Select Board (motion recorded). Second — recorded. Outcome — Continued to Nov. 3, 2025 at 7:10 p.m.

- Continue site-plan special permit: Hawthorne Realty Company (471 Great Road / 465-469 Great Road): Motion — \"I move to continue this public hearing until October 20 at 7:10 p.m. in this room.\" Mover — Select Board member David (on record). Second — recorded. Outcome — Continued to Oct. 20, 2025 at 7:10 p.m.

- Approve 2026 Select Board meeting schedule: Motion — \"Move to approve the draft Select Board schedule for 2026 in the packet.\" Mover/Second — recorded. Outcome — Approved (voice vote).

- Declare Indigenous Peoples Day, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025: Motion — \"I move that the Acton Select Board declare Monday, 10/13/2025 Indigenous Peoples Day in the town of Acton.\" Mover — Select Board member Alyssa (on record). Second — recorded. Outcome — Approved (voice vote).

- Consent agenda approvals: The board approved multiple routine consent items, including accepting donations for veterans and the fire department, and appointments to town committees. Outcome — Approved (voice vote). A specific one-day liquor-license item was held for recusal; board approved remaining consent items.

- Adjourn: Motion to adjourn moved and seconded. Outcome — Approved.

Notes on procedure and records: The meeting minutes and packet materials contain more detail on each item. Where a mover or second was not identified by name in the transcript, the board record simply shows the motion and that it was seconded and approved by voice vote. The Select Board also recorded continuances for hearings with new hearing dates and times.

","The Select Board approved a historic sign, continued multiple hearings, approved the 2026 meeting schedule and declared Indigenous Peoples Day; the board also approved routine consent items. Key motions and outcomes are listed below for public record.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Acton leaders discuss federal immigration enforcement at police station; board to review proposed policy updates

Acton water officials set tentative PFAS treatment dates, warn of possible discoloration and water-use restrictions

Select Board continues Hawthorne Realty site-plan hearing after traffic, parking and housing-authority concerns

Votes at a glance: Acton Select Board, Oct. 6, 2025