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Acton Select Board reviews draft warrants, endorses Bluestar accounting engagement and schedules zoning public hearing
Summary
The Select Board reviewed draft warrants including a $200,000 roads article, approved an accounting engagement with Bluestar Accounting, and the Town Administrator reminded residents of a Feb. 19 public hearing on zoning articles; Planning Board projects on RT 109 and Apple Valley were also discussed.
At the Feb. 4 Select Board meeting, the Town Administrator presented draft warrant articles for the upcoming town meeting and the board reviewed several administrative and planning items.
Warrants and budget: The Administrator said draft changes include consolidating road maintenance into a $200,000 article, listing Flat Ground separately, adding language for sanders (two units) and an article to liquidate the Town Hall Parking Lot fund. Warrant & Finance will meet Feb. 17 to review final language; the board requested any Fire Department funding requests be tightened by next Wednesday to meet warrant timelines.
Bluestar Accounting engagement: Tom McGurty recommended the updated engagement letter from Bluestar Accounting & Advising Services to review internal controls and financial checks and balances. Winchell moved to accept the agreement and Denekamp seconded; the motion carried unanimously.
Planning and zoning: Christopher Whitman, Planning Board chair, reported a DOT sign-off and approval for a Fair Grounds Variety project on RT 109 and ongoing review of Mapes Storage, residential units, and the Apple Valley (Iron Tails) development. Northstar is assisting with a multi-chapter reorganization of the zoning ordinance; the town plans a presentation from Northstar and a review with the new Code Officer before public rollout. The Town Administrator reminded the board that zoning warrant articles will be on the warrant and a public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2026.
Other business: The Town Administrator reported the town completed a migration to a web-based Trio software platform, with some minor printer and remote-access issues to be resolved by IT; telecom vendor quotes are being gathered and Spectrum will meet later in the week. The Jan. sheriff’s log was read aloud and noted a higher number of two-officer responses in some cases.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the agenda and Jan. 28 minutes, authorized the Bluestar Accounting engagement, and adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
Next steps: staff to finalize warrant language with Warrant & Finance, the Code Officer to proof zoning articles before posting, and the Feb. 19 public hearing for zoning articles to proceed as scheduled.
