Acton Select Board outlines Article 5 capital and equipment requests ahead of town meeting

Dean Chatter, vice chair of the Town of Acton Select Board, outlined Article 5 — a multi-part appropriation for town capital projects and equipment — ahead of the upcoming town meeting. He said the article requires a majority vote of town meeting and that several items will be paid from proceeds of a Main Street property sale tied to an Acton Housing Authority project.

The proposal includes a mix of facility repairs, equipment replacement and program subsidies. “Article a1 is public safety improvements,” Chatter said, noting work on a public safety building across from the Main Street property and repairs to a sprinkler system and HVAC components. He said the first three items (a1, a2 and a3) will be funded from the sale proceeds and therefore “there will be no impact on the tax dollars, tax base because of these particular projects.”

Key items and amounts included in Chatter’s summary: - Article a2 — Acton Memorial Library improvements: $350,000 to replace worn carpeting and upgrade restrooms to meet handicap/ADA code. - Article b — Police cruiser replacement: $225,000 from free cash to replace three vehicles with hybrid cruisers. - Article c — Fire command vehicle: $100,000 for a new command vehicle used by shift commanders, retaining the replaced vehicle for reserve use. - Article d — Traffic calming and intersection improvements: $90,000 to continue townwide projects for traffic flow and pedestrian/bicycle safety. - Article e — Fire turnout gear replacement: $75,000 to begin replacing PFAS-coated coats, boots and gloves; Chatter said the existing gear “has PFAS, and it actually presents a carcinogen problem.” He said outfitting one firefighter costs almost $5,000. - Article f — Fire handheld radios: $60,000 to upgrade communications between command staff and firefighters at scenes. - Item g — Town facility roofs: $90,000 for inspection, prioritization and design work for roof replacements on multiple town buildings. - Article h — South Acton traffic signal replacement (School Street and Main Street): $50,000 to replace obsolete signal components affecting traffic flow. - Item i — Childcare and transfer station subsidy: $40,000 total, with $10,000 for a transfer-station subsidy for low-income residents (a citizen petition) and $30,000 for childcare subsidies; Chatter said ARPA funds previously covered childcare but those funds have expired. - Item j — July 4, 2026 fireworks: $40,000 to reserve and contract for the celebration, including contracting a year in advance for vendor availability. - Item k — Vegetation management program: amount not specified; described as a program to comply with state regulations for maintenance, removal and control of vegetation along rights of way, including streets, trails and bicycle paths.

Chatter also described Article a3 as funding roof replacement and interior customer-service area upgrades in the town hall’s Finance Wing to meet ADA requirements; he did not specify an amount for a1 or a3 during his remarks. He emphasized that many town roofs are 20–30 years old and require inspection and planning for replacement.

Chatter framed several items as replacements or upgrades tied to safety and regulatory compliance: hybrid cruisers for fleet maintenance, radios and command vehicle for fire and emergency response, ADA restroom and customer-service upgrades, and vegetation management to meet state rules. Several items were identified as funded from specific sources: the Main Street sale proceeds (a1–a3), free cash (police cruisers) and previously used American Rescue Plan Act funds (childcare subsidies), which Chatter said have expired.

No formal vote or motion on Article 5 was recorded in this transcript excerpt; Chatter said the appropriation will be presented to town meeting where it requires a majority vote.

The Select Board summary concluded with a request for support for the articles; timing and the date for the town meeting vote were not specified in the remarks.