Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board approves restaurant hour changes, opens town-meeting warrant and adopts updated sustainability policy — votes at a glance
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting the Acton Select Board voted to approve two restaurant change-of-hours applications, formally opened and closed dates for the 2025 Town Meeting warrant, and adopted a revised town environmental sustainability policy. The board also approved consent items on one-day licenses and several donations and agreements.
What the board voted on Monday evening:
Not Your Average Joe's (305 Main Street) Lede: The Select Board approved a change in business hours for Not Your Average Joe's, allowing the restaurant to open earlier on weekend mornings. Details: Applicant Sarah Murtaugh requested Saturday and Sunday opening at 10 a.m. (previously 11 a.m.) to support a brunch service. The board closed the public hearing and unanimously approved the change of hours under the Massachusetts liquor law notice process.
Velvet Vine Cafe (166 Great Road) Lede: The board also approved a broader change to Velvet Vine Cafe's hours, including later evening hours on certain days. Details: Velvet Vine asked to expand operating hours; the board approved a schedule that, as amended in the motion, permits Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. to midnight, Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (the application materials included a midnight closing on some schedules; the board specified the motioned hours and approved unanimously.)
Town Meeting warrant: opening and closing dates set Lede: The board voted to open the 2025 Annual Town Meeting warrant on Monday, Feb. 10 and to close submissions on March 21, 2025. Details: The board discussed calendar timing to enable planning-board hearings for zoning articles and to show meeting dates in the published schedule. The motion passed unanimously.
Sustainability policy adopted Lede: The Select Board approved an updated Acton Environmental Sustainability Policy that affirms the town's commitments to greenhouse-gas reductions, climate action planning and regular reporting. Details: The policy updates prior guidance to incorporate the town's climate-action plan, current emergency declaration language and a requirement for periodic reporting on primary sustainability priorities. The motion to adopt passed unanimously.
Consent items and other routine approvals Lede: The board approved several consent agenda items including one-day wine-and-malt licenses and acceptances of donations and grants. Details: Approved items included one-day licenses for St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Feb. 8, 2025), Neshoba Valley neighbors (March 22, 2025), Marielle Waters (Sept. 5, 2025); acceptance of a $250,000 Stanton Foundation grant toward a dog park; a light-pole maintenance license at 295 Main Street; and donations to the town's voluntary efforts fund. The board approved items 16 through 20 on the consent calendar and then approved item 15 (one-day license) as amended for the 2025 date.
How to read this: These actions were procedural approvals and do not, individually, create new bylaws or zoning changes. The board also continued more complex hearings and discussed items that will return for future votes (for example, the leaf-blower bylaw and the DPW facility budget).
