Finance committee weighs Select Board—s push for DPW Option 4B, seeks staffing study before endorsement

The Finance Committee discussed the Select Board and DPW Building Committee recommendation to advance Option 4B for a new/renovated Department of Public Works facility, while cautioning against an unconditional endorsement without further design detail.

Greg (DPW Building Committee member) told the Finance Committee that the DPW committee narrowed options using three criteriaaffordability, functionality and longevityand that 4B emerged as a compromise combining some new construction with renovation. He said the committee anticipates a warrant article seeking design funds at the May 2026 annual town meeting and that the amount is still open, "a million, a million 2, a million 5," with a potential later debt-exclusion ballot anticipated in April 2027 if voters are asked to accept construction debt.

Why it matters: the DPW project would be major capital spending for the Town of Acton and could require a debt-exclusion ballot or earlier special town meeting approval for capital funds.…