Acton Select Board approves administrative policies and debates agenda, public‑comment rules

The Select Board on March 11 approved two administrative policies and engaged in extended discussion about changes to how the town will manage agendas and public comment.

The Town Administrator recapped several policies. The board approved the Town of Acton Abatement Policy (motion by David Winchell Jr.; seconded by Ed Walsh) without changes and approved an updated Acceptance of Payment Policy after the administrator reviewed edits. The Abuse and Molestation Prevention policy was left for further review after the administrator and the Rec Director provided suggested changes.

Administrator Jennifer Roux presented a draft Access to Public Meeting policy, which she said had been reviewed by the town attorney because it referenced multiple statutes. The board also reviewed a proposed Agenda Policy that would set a Wednesday 10 a.m. deadline for submitting items to the Town Administrator (instead of the current Tuesday schedule) and would remove language that automatically tables items requiring a vote until the following week. Members discussed adding a clause that public comment be heard before the board decides to table an item so the public’s views are considered prior to a tabling decision.

Resident Joyce Bakshi urged consistency and preparation for return appearances when items are tabled, saying once the board sets a matter aside, the usual practice is for the originator and respondents to appear the following week. The board agreed the administrator would draft new language for the Agenda Policy and the Access to Public Meeting policy and present it at a subsequent meeting.

Why this matters: changes to agenda deadlines and public-comment procedures affect how and when residents can raise concerns and how quickly the board can act on items.