jan-jun 2026 News

(25-Jun-26) At its meeting on Tuesday, June 23, Boxborough Housing Board (BHB) members discussed the previous effort to develop affordable housing at the 70 - 72 Stow Road property, which was purchased by the Town in 2010 to build an affordable housing project, but has remained undeveloped.  

BHB Chair Al Murphy presented a history of the work that was done by the Stow Road Concept Development Committee (SRCDC), an ad-hoc committee appointed by the Select Board in early 2012 that is no longer active. Murphy reported that the SRCDC developed a series of objectives and concluded that ownership housing was preferred to rental units, primarily because the Town did not have the capacity to manage a rental complex. 

The objective was to build reasonably priced starter homes for young families and/or homes for independent seniors with 25% of the units deed restricted as affordable to low-income households. The SRCDC determined that the Town of Boxborough should not be the developer of the property and worked to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) from developers. 

According to the 2017 Annual Town Report, the RFP was delayed for several years and never released because the BHB determined that the RFP was too complex “to be appealing to developers, while maintaining the openness and fairness demanded by the State’s procurement laws.” 

The BHB is continuing their work in determining the best housing options for the Stow Road property.  They have created a housing survey aimed at residents currently living in one of the town’s affordable rental or purchased units or those receiving assistance through the Boxborough Rental Assistance Program (BRAP). 

Although the survey is open to everyone, the BHB is especially interested in the feedback from “the people who are already in affordable housing” to get a better sense of their needs.

At their Fifer’s Day table, the BHB asked visitors what type of housing should be developed in Boxborough, charting the results on a colorful poster. The BHB discussed the Fifer’s Day results and determined that affordable starter homes were the most popular choice by those who visited the table. 

The table also gave kids an opportunity to weigh in on the housing issue by asking them to draw a picture of their dream house. BHB members discussed the possibility of running a contest where kids could submit their dream house drawings to be considered for the cover image on the Housing Production Plan report.

The BHB’s next meeting is Tuesday, July 28 in hybrid format.

(18-JUN-26) At its meeting on Tuesday, June 16 the Boxborough Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) conducted a public hearing to review the application from Barbara Shapokas Taglier for a Special Permit to install new signage at 25A Stow Road, the antique brick building at the corner of Stow Road and Route 111 (Mass Ave). The building is owned by Debra Jeanson and is in the Town Center zoning district. Shapokas is Jeanson’s tenant and owner of The Art Studio, which is on the second floor of the building.

Chair Mark Barbadoro opened the public hearing and invited Shapokas to present her application. Shapokas told the board that for the past 11 years, she placed a sandwich board outside when she was in the building and that the “sign” had a black background with her logo and phone number. Jeanson recently told Shapokas that she could use the sign structure that is currently in front of the building for her own (permanent) sign.

Since the building is in the Town Center zoning district, a detailed review of  “certain structures and new or modified signs” must be reviewed by the Design Review Board (DRB), which uses the Town’s DRB Design Guidelines to make advisory recommendations to the ZBA. 

Last week the DRB met twice to discuss Shapokas’ sign and sent their recommendations to the ZBA and Shapokas. (See related article: https://www.boxboroughnews.org/archives/jan-jun-2026-news#h.bix6aksulb8q)

Prior to the ZBA hearing, with the DRB’s recommendations in hand, Shapokas made some revisions to her sign plan, most notably muting the colors on her three-color logo and using a white background instead of a black one. ZBA members looked favorably upon the changes. 

However, there were two recommended changes that Shapokas had not made: she had not removed the phone number, and she did not change the proposed material from PVC to wood.

ZBA members spent considerable time discussing these two elements. The DRB’s Design Guidelines recommend that signs do not show phone numbers. Shapokas argued in favor of including the phone number, and ZBA Chair Mark Barbadoro empathized. But Barbadoro and all members weighed in and explained that although the DRB does not have approval authority, ZBA members respect the DRB’s recommendations per the Design Guidelines. 

The use of PVC for the sign elicited a robust conversation among board members because PVC is plastic. The Boxborough Zoning Bylaw (Section 6.5.12, Signs in the Town Center District) states, “Materials such as wood or stone shall be used. Plastic signs and internally lit signs are not appropriate in the Town Center and are expressly prohibited.”

In explaining the board’s decision to prohibit the use of PVC for the sign, ZBA Chair-Elect Shawn McCormack stated, “The prohibition on plastic is not a recommendation. That’s Town Meeting, and I agree that PVC can look great and that it’s probably a dated provision…It should be considered for an amendment, but I’m hard pressed to say that we have authority to authorize” its use. 

The board voted unanimously to grant the Special Permit to install the sign with a set of written conditions that include the Design Review Board's recommendations and adherence to the Boxborough Zoning Bylaw. 

The Board also conducted their annual reorganization. Shawn McCormack will replace Mark Barbadoro as Chair, and Nathaniel (Than) Stuntz will replace McCormack as ZBA Clerk.

(18-JUN-26) At their meeting on Monday, June 15, the Boxborough Planning Board met with Sue Carter of Places Associates, Inc., the Town’s engineering consulting firm, regarding ongoing safety and accessibility issues at the Enclave development on Stow Road.

At the request of Town Planner Alec Wade and Planning Board members, Carter has visited and inspected the development many times to ensure that the developer, Toll Brothers, has met the conditions set forth in the original site plan approval. Her most recent visit was in April of this year, and she issued a detailed report to the Planning Board in early May.

Carter identified numerous ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance and safety issues which have existed at the development for several years. Major concerns include excessive sidewalk slopes, inaccessible pedestrian routes, missing accessibility features, incomplete signage, and unresolved infrastructure issues.  

Representatives from the Enclave Homeowners Association (HOA) were present at the meeting. They informed the board that representatives from Toll Brothers have met with them and reportedly acknowledged that significant corrective work is needed. While the HOA members expressed some satisfaction that the issues will be addressed, they also expressed disappointment that the substantial reconstruction of sidewalks and driveways will not be completed until Spring 2027.

Planning Board members expressed frustration with the prolonged delays. “Let’s get this moving…this is an over 55 community…(and) cannot have ADA non-compliance,” member Mark White said during the discussion. Board members strongly urged Town Planner Alec Wade to seek legal counsel’s opinion.

In other business, the Planning Board conducted their annual reorganization. Rich Guzzardi will replace Rebecca Verner as chair, and Chris Dowdy will replace Guzzardi as clerk.

Boxborough News reached out to Guzzardi, who provided the following statement: “I am happy to serve as Chair of the Planning Board and thank Rebecca Verner for her service in that role over the past year. The Board has a great deal of important work ahead of it, and success will require collaboration, discipline, and focus on our priorities. I appreciate the trust and confidence the board has placed in me, and I look forward to working together to move important issues forward for our community.”

The meeting opened with a presentation on the Specialized Stretch Code from Becky Caruso, the Clean Energy & Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Municipal Fellow working with Boxborough's Sustainability Committee on outreach and education related to the Specialized Stretch Code. 

Caruso explained that the Specialized Stretch Code is an enhanced building energy standard that would mandate stricter energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric readiness for new construction. The Specialized Stretch Code, if adopted by the town, applies only to new construction; it does not require existing homes, additions, or renovations to be upgraded.

Noting that Boxborough already follows the Stretch Energy Code, Caruso told the board that the incentive for adopting the Specialized Stretch Code is that it could assist Boxborough in meeting state greenhouse gas reduction goals and make the town eligible for expanded state grant opportunities. 

(04-JUN-26) Almost 40 people gathered in the Grange Room at Town Hall on Thursday, June 4 to participate in the Fire Station Community Visioning Workshop, sponsored by the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) and run by Context Architecture (Context), the firm that the town has hired to design Boxborough’s new fire station. 

Attendees were greeted at the door by Context Project Manager Emily Mowbray, who handed each person a card and instructed them to write some words that describe Boxborough. Once everyone was seated, Mowbray asked the group to share their descriptive words, which included rural, leafy, historic, and community, among others. She then asked the group how some of the attributes might be associated with a fire station building.

Mowbray then passed the baton to Context President & Principal-in-Charge Jeff Shaw, who turned the group’s attention to the four posters in the front of the room depicting photos of buildings, each centered on a theme. 

One poster was devoted to Boxborough buildings and included photos of Town Hall, the library, some private residences, and the church. A second poster showed buildings with varied “shape and volume.” The third was devoted exclusively to fire station buildings, and the fourth focused on building materials, showing brick, shingle, and clapboard facades.

Shaw instructed attendees to place a sticker on any building photos that they found appealing. When the exercise was complete, the traditional, New England style buildings appeared to be favored by the participants.

Context Director of Projects Chris Logan closed out the workshop by telling the group about  future opportunities for input, including Fifer’s Day on June 20 (in the FSBC booth) and the Fire Station Community Design Review and Listening Session on July 23. “Keep engaging…keep showing up,” Logan said. 

After the workshop, FSBC Chair Mary Brolin provided the following statement to Boxborough News: “I am absolutely thrilled by the incredible turnout and energy at our community visioning session tonight. A fire station is more than just a building—it’s a cornerstone of our town, and seeing so many neighbors share their insight and vision ensures that the final design will reflect the heart and character of our community. We are deeply grateful for everyone who came out to help shape this exciting new chapter. Look for us at Fifer's Day to give more input.”

(04-JUN-26) At their meeting on June 4, the Acton-Boxborough School Committee voted to choose the Collins Center for Public Management as the district’s Superintendent search firm.

In February, Superintendent Peter Light announced that he has accepted a position as Superintendent at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi starting in July 2027. He expects to remain in his current position at Acton-Boxborough for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Last month, the School Committee held a workshop meeting to prepare for the superintendent search process. In late May, a subcommittee voted to move three firms forward to the full School Committee.

Those three firms, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), the New England School Development Council (NESDEC), and the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMASS Boston (Collins Center), all presented to the full School Committee and answered questions from members.

After the interviews, the Committee discussed the three firms – comparing cost, size, and experience. Several committee members appreciated the Collins Center’s experience working with highly engaged communities like Acton-Boxborough, while other members expressed concerns about the higher cost of that firm compared to the others. Committee members also shared varying perspectives on the Collins Center’s broad range of HR experience; some thought it was an advantage that they also work with municipalities and state agencies, while others thought it was a disadvantage that they do not focus solely on superintendents.

The Committee voted 9 to 2 to move forward with the Collins Center.

The Committee also heard a Spring Update presentation from the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and recognized teachers and staff retiring from the district. 

The Committee also conducted its annual election of officers. Current Chair and Acton member Tori Campbell was re-elected as Chair for the 2026-2027 year. Adam Klein was re-elected as the Vice Chair from Boxborough and Lisa Adil was elected as the Vice Chair from Acton.

This was the first School Committee meeting for the two newly elected members from Boxborough. Two days earlier, on June 2, Hilary Greven and Andrew Boncoddo won Boxborough’s contested race for School Committee.

(14-MAY-26) At their meeting on May 11, the Boxborough Select Board continued to examine municipal fees and consider ways to increase town revenue. 

The Board voted unanimously for two fee increases proposed by the Town Treasurer/Collector: increasing the demand fee for the nonpayment of taxes from $10 to $25 and increasing the Municipal Lien Certificate Fee from $25 to $50. 

Boxborough Treasurer/Collector Emily Roux presented to the Board on both proposed fee increases. She noted that Massachusetts allows towns to charge a demand fee of up to $30 for the nonpayment of taxes and suggested that Boxborough increase the fee from $10 to $25. 

With respect to the Municipal Lien Certificate Fee, Roux explained that these certificates are requested from the town when a property is being transferred or refinanced. She estimated that she receives several requests per week. She noted that most towns charge $50 and suggested that Boxborough increase the fee from $25 to $50.  

With acknowledgement from Chair Kristin Hilberg that fee increases can be challenging for residents in these “tough economic times,” the Board voted unanimously for both fee increases. 

The Board also approved several adjustments to a list of electrical, plumbing, and gas inspection fees in accordance with the Board’s vote at their last meeting to change the inspection fee structure. 

In other business, the Board voted to accept two grants awarded to the Boxborough Fire Department: a Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) grant and a Senior SAFE grant. The grants will allow the Fire Department to conduct fire safety education at Blanchard Memorial School and conduct home safety visits for senior citizens. Fire Chief John Kivlan noted that the grant applications are increasingly time-consuming and commended Captain Jason Malinowski for his work to obtain these grants for the town. 

The Board also voted to set the 2026 Fall Town Meeting for Monday, November 16 at Blanchard Memorial School and voted to appoint Channing Wagg to the Boxborough Housing Board for a one-year term (term length at Wagg’s request). At the end of the meeting, after an executive session, the Board returned to open session to approve a contract with the town’s new Principal Assessor, Lynda Cajka.

(14-MAY-26) On Thursday, May 7, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee held its first meeting since its April 9 vote on the district’s new elementary school enrollment system.

It was also the Committee’s first meeting since Acton’s April 28 town election. The voters of Acton elected incumbent and current Chair Tori Campbell and new members Dennis Burianek and Jacob Fay.

The Committee first heard a presentation from A-B Regional High School Principal Joanie Dean about the High School’s continued accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the multi-year process to receive accreditation.

The Committee also did a “first read” of proposed revisions to three district policies. The first policy was “Student Absences and Excuses,” the district’s attendance policy. The proposed revisions reflect the work of the district’s “Chronic Absenteeism Task Force” and update a formerly “barebones” document to a more detailed policy aimed at improving communication and collaboration between the district and families.

The second was the “Enrollment of Students” policy, revised to reflect the transition to geographic enrollment that the School Committee voted at its April 9 meeting. The Committee also reviewed the accompanying procedure document, “Elementary School Placement & Flex Zone Management Procedures.” Committee members offered several suggestions intended to clarify how the flex zones will operate in specific scenarios.

At their April 9 meeting, the Committee voted on the district’s new system for elementary school enrollment. The new system includes three geographic zones corresponding to the three elementary campuses; “flex zones” for balancing enrollment in future years; and “transition policies” for current students. The “flex zones” are four designated areas (one in Boxborough and three in Acton) that have a second alternate school assignment in addition to their primary geographic assignment. If the district needs to balance enrollment in future years, they can assign incoming students (and siblings) living in flex zones to the alternate school instead of the primary geographic assignment. In their motion to approve the flex zones, the School Committee asked that the district bring back for approval before the end of the school year the administrative procedure that will be written to implement the flex zone policies. 

The third revised policy reviewed by the Committee was the “Student Transportation Policy” and accompanying procedure, both updated to reflect the transition to geographic enrollment.  

The draft policy documents are available to the public at https://abschools.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=218. 

(7-MAY-26) Have you read the warrant for Boxborough's 2026 Annual Town Meeting (ATM)? Are you prepared to vote on this year's fifty articles? Whether you're a veteran of Annual Town Meeting or this will be your first time and you're not sure what to expect, the Town has put together several resources to help you prepare.

For a basic, eight-minute overview of ATM, the town has released the “2026 Annual Town Meeting Preview Show,” featuring Town Administrator Michael Johns and Town Moderator Dennis Reip. The video gives an overview of what to expect at Town Meeting and briefly walks through this year’s warrant articles. The video is available at https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/boxborough/video/69e12098d0222d0002bbb6a7?page=HOME.

The Boxborough Finance Committee has also created and shared a video specifically about the budget. The town’s FY27 operating budget is Article 5 on the ATM warrant.

The “FY 2027 Boxborough Budget Preview” video, featuring Finance Committee Chair Tony Newton and Select Board member Bob Stemple, walks through the town’s operating expenses and other elements of the budget. In the video, Newton also explains the town’s overall budget development approach and explains municipal finance vocabulary like “levy,” “levy limit,” and the different types of “overrides.” The video is available at https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/boxborough/video/69f36bd4a34a090002c7ab79?page=HOME.

On Thursday, May 14, the Town of Boxborough will again hold a Town Meeting “information session” at the Sargent Memorial Library from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Residents are invited to drop in and learn about topics and issues related to the ATM warrant articles. Tables will be set up around the library meeting room, and town staff and volunteers will be present to speak with residents and answer questions. The event will also include activities for kids – an effort to make it more accessible to caregivers.

“No registration, no commitment, and no more than 20 minutes of your time,” says Town Planner and event organizer Alec Wade. “Come and go as you please, and children are welcome!”

This year’s warrant articles include a citizen’s petition; two general bylaws proposed by the Planning Board regarding plastic reduction and rodenticides; four zoning bylaw amendments; and a multi-part consent agenda (non-financial consent, financial consent, capital consent, and Community Preservation Committee consent).

Town Meeting warrants were mailed to every residence last week. If you did not receive one, head over to Town Hall or the library to pick one up. Or, you can read it electronically at https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6343/2026-Annual-Town-Meeting-Warrant-FY27?bidId=.

The town is also offering ATM shuttle service from designated parking areas (and door-to-door services for seniors), as well as free childcare in the Blanchard cafeteria during ATM. Information about shuttles and childcare (and childcare registration) is available at https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/507/Town-Meeting.

Boxborough’s Annual Town Meeting begins Tuesday, May 19 at the Blanchard Memorial School, 493 Massachusetts Ave. Voter check-in begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. If necessary, ATM will continue on Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21.

(7-MAY-26) The Boxborough Public Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee (PCCC) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Golden Fife and Parade Marshal awards. This year, the PCCC has launched an online nominations form, available at https://forms.gle/ibS1KbGCbvrcJFBC7.

Paper nomination forms are also available at Boxborough Town Hall and Sargent Memorial Library. Nomination forms will be at Boxborough’s Annual Town Meeting on May 19, as well. Nomination forms must be submitted by Friday, May 22.  

The Golden Fife is awarded to a Boxborough resident who has demonstrated long-term volunteer service to the town. The Parade Marshal is someone who has done something exceptional for the town, but not necessarily long-term or as a volunteer, and does not have to be a resident. 

This year marks fifty years since the PCCC presented the first Golden Fife award in 1976. The first recipient of the Golden Fife was Ann Kirby (Steele) Atwood.

The PCCC’s entry in the 1976 Boxborough Town Report, submitted by PCCC Chair Dorris Mae Hilberg, states, “The ‘Golden Fife Award’ was initiated this year. This award will be presented annually at the Fifer’s Festival, to an outstanding citizen of Boxborough.”

Since then, the Golden Fife has been awarded each year except for 2020 and 2021 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Recipients in chronological order are Anne Kirby Steele Atwood, Grace Priest, Norm Gundersen, Al Cobleigh, Reggie Brown, Judge Tom Morse, Ruth Burroughs, George Robinson/Don Morse, Arthur Furbush, Officer James Staples, Virginia Richardson, Berda Treyz, Pat and Fred Hugel, Doris Custance, Charlene Golden, Lois Greene, Boxborough Minutemen, Warren Morse, Gary Morse, Harry Hilberg, Boxborough Grange, Fred Joyce, Eleanor Smith, Glen Schricker, John Fallon, Shirley Warren, Dorris Hilberg, Pat Fallon, Dick Golden, Elaine Garabedian, Don Wheeler, Cesar Garde, Alan Rohwer, Mary Larson, Ken and Laraine King, Simon Bunyard, Vic “Buzz” Tremblay, Anne Canfield, Rob and Anne McNeece, George Krusen, Jeanne Kangas, Francie Nolde & Hugh Fortmiller, Owen Neville, Bo Sokolowski and Larry Roche, Elizabeth Markiewicz, Les Fox, Rita Gibes Grossman, and John Markiewicz.

The PCCC will present this year’s awards at Fifer’s Day on Saturday, June 20.  

(7-MAY-26) During its meeting on Wednesday, April 29, the Boxborough Planning Board engaged in a discussion with Economic Development Committee (EDC) members regarding the proposed “Plastic Bag, Polystyrene and Disposable Plastic Reduction” general bylaw, which is Article 7 on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. 

As currently written, the bylaw bans plastic utensils, plastic bags, and other polystyrene-based plastics. If passed by Town Meeting, the regulations would take effect six months following approval from the Massachusetts Attorney General. 

EDC members asked the Planning Board to consider a phased approach rather than applying a six-month enforcement deadline for all of the prohibited items. Specifically, the EDC proposed retaining the six-month timeframe for plastic bags and disposable plastic utensils but allow between two and three years for businesses to comply with the other prohibited items.

Most Planning Board members were receptive to the phased approach, but wanted shorter timelines. They agreed to consider prohibition in two phases: first phase beginning January 1, 2027 and second phase beginning January 1, 2028. 

EDC Chair Abby Reip noted that the Planning Board has required extensive business outreach for previously proposed bylaw changes and asked whether affected businesses had been notified of this proposed bylaw and what feedback had been received. Town Planner Alec Wade explained that a survey had been sent to six businesses, but only two responded. He also indicated that there were two additional businesses that would be affected by the bylaw that had inadvertently been left off of the contact list. 

EDC member and owner of Two Friends Chocolate, Lavanya (Lala) Selvaraj spoke during the meeting and provided an example of how her business would be impacted if the proposed bylaw were to pass as currently written. Selvaraj had volunteered to serve as a “test case” for the proposed bylaw and submitted several packaging items for review by Boxborough Building Commissioner/Code Enforcement Officer Ed Cataldo. Cataldo found that one item contained polystyrene, and although the bylaw allows for exemptions, Cataldo indicated that he would not grant such an exemption in this case.

Planning Board members asked Wade to work with Cataldo to explore changes to Section 3 (regulations) and Section 4 (exemptions) before their next meeting, which is Monday, May 11 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.  

(7-MAY-26) “Thank you to the candidates who stepped up to run for office; we appreciate your willingness to stimulate important conversations and energize voters to come to the polls. After all, democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Acton-Area League of Women Voters (LWV) co-chair Susan Bak at the Boxborough Candidate Forum on Wednesday, May 6. 

The LWV hosted the Candidate Forum to allow Boxborough residents to hear from the candidates in the town’s three contested races for Select Board, Planning Board, and School Committee. 

In front of approximately 50 audience members, the candidates gave prepared remarks, answered questions, and gave yes/no responses to a series of “rapid-fire” questions. 

The evening began with the Select Board candidates. Incumbents Kristin Hilberg and Priya Sundaram and challenger Patrick Kyle are running for two seats on the Select Board. 

First, the forum moderator read a prepared statement from Hilberg, who was out of state on business. Sundaram and Kyle then answered a series of questions on economic development, town hall accessibility, budget challenges, and future challenges. 

Planning Board candidates were next up to the table. Incumbents Rich Guzzardi and Cindy Markowitz and challenger Gary Kushner are running for two open seats on the Planning Board. The candidates offered different perspectives on the pace and process of site plan review; strategies for revitalization of office parks; MBTA communities compliance; scenic road protections; and a “gateway” business district. 

Finally, the audience heard from the three candidates for School Committee. Andrew Boncoddo, Hilary Greven, and Felicia Knihtila are running for two open seats on the ABRSD School Committee. The candidates answered questions about their experience, the upcoming Superintendent search, the AB Forward elementary school reorganization, and budget challenges. 

The forum was moderated by Sue Flicop of the Wayland LWV. 

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that encourages informed and active participation in local, state, and national government. They do not support or oppose candidates or political parties.

A recording of the Candidate Forum is available at https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/boxborough/video/69fc13d973f3290002c8d2ac?page=HOME. 

The town election is Tuesday, June 2. Saturday, May 9 is the last day to register to vote in this election. Tuesday, May 26 is the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot. Monday, June 1 (by noon) is the last day to vote by absentee ballot, and the polls will be open at Town Hall on June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

(2-APR-26) At its meeting on March 30, the Boxborough Select Board voted on the final two warrant articles for the town’s 2026 Annual Town Meeting and closed the warrant.

The Board voted unanimously to recommend both articles. The first is the town’s FY2027 operating budget, which came in at $31,144,981. The second article, proposed by the Housing Board, asks for $15,000 in “grant matching funds” to bolster the town’s application for grant funding to develop a Housing Production Plan.

The Board then turned to a document provided by Town Administrator (TA) Mike Johns entitled “Select Board and Town Administrator Goals.” 

Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg explained the discussion was intended to be an opportunity for the TA to share updates on his goals and for the Board to offer input about priority areas. 

Board members first raised questions about the purpose of the exercise, given that the Board voted on Town Administrator goals last year. Board members asked whether the TA would be evaluated based on the goals document that was voted last year or this newer version. 

Chair Hilberg clarified that the TA is still accountable to the goals that the Board voted on in Fall 2025. However, she noted, “we said [when voting] that we weren’t going to set it and forget it…we said we were going to try to keep up with it and offer support.”

Town Administrator Johns indicated that he welcomed the opportunity to discuss the goals, saying that the criteria for his evaluation is “less important” and that “it’s more important to set town goals between the Board and administration about the future of the town…I want us to come up with an instrument that is strategic and moves the town forward.”

The Board then walked through the document, which was organized by category and by timing, i.e., “short-term goals (0-12 months)” and “long-term goals (3-5 years).” Board members asked questions about the status of particular projects and gave feedback about areas of  concern or priority. 

The wide-ranging discussion included updates about town website improvements; succession planning and cross-training; cybersecurity efforts; regional collaboration; and development of a survey about town services for residents and town employees.   

(2-APR-26) At their March 31 meeting, the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) was joined by members of the Boxborough Select Board and several members of Town administration and staff to discuss the results of the town’s FY2025 audit.

The FY2025 audit was a regularly scheduled annual audit that was completed several weeks ago. The town received the final signed audit results this week.

The town has also hired a consultant to do a “special audit” regarding the town’s cash reconciliation. The special audit was initiated by Town Administrator (TA) Mike Johns in late November 2025 based on preliminary findings and recommendations from the firm conducting the annual audit. The special audit is still in progress.

FinCom Chair Tony Newton opened the meeting by explaining that FinCom had “a number of concerns about what we’re seeing, particularly some things which have been recurring every year for the last few years....”

Newton told the town representatives present, including TA Johns, Finance Director Honghoa Le, and Treasurer/Collector Emily Roux, that FinCom wants to understand “what these issues really are… how they occurred, why they haven’t been resolved, and particularly what’s our plan going forward… what’s the accountability here for each of these items….”

The group then walked through seven issues identified in the FY25 audit, asking town administration to explain the issue, if/why the issue has occurred for more than one year, and what the plans are to resolve the issue. FinCom members also asked about the impact of some of the issues on the town’s free cash.

Johns agreed to provide further detail to FinCom on several of the unresolved issues and follow up on any potential impact on the town’s free cash. He also agreed to prepare an executive summary of the audit results and action plans moving forward.

For the remainder of their meeting, FinCom members discussed the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) warrant and other preparations for ATM. The FinCom’s next meeting will be Tuesday, April 14. 

(12-MAR-26) On Tuesday, March 10, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a fire at 49 Old Orchard Lane was reported through a 9-1-1 call to the regional dispatch center. 

The Boxborough Fire Department (BFD) was the first to arrive on the scene, but according to Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan, “based on the volume of fire and conditions observed from Middle Road prior to arrival, the Captain quickly requested a second alarm to bring additional personnel to the scene.”

(5-Mar-26) On Monday, March 9, Boxborough will hold a Special Town Meeting (STM) at Blanchard Memorial School to vote on warrant articles regarding the building of a new fire station at 984 Massachusetts Avenue. The STM will begin at 7 p.m., with voter check-in starting at 6:30 p.m. 

All three articles on the March 9 STM warrant are related to the construction of a new fire station. The first article asks voters to approve the town’s purchase of 984 Mass Ave for $2.4 million. The second article asks voters to approve $2.8 million in funding for the next step of the fire station project, the “design and bid” phase. The third article asks voters to approve “related costs” of $20,000 associated with the land acquisition identified in Article 1. 

This will be the town’s second attempt to get design funding for a fire station. At the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting, residents voted against design funding for a fire station located at 72 Stow Road. In January 2026, after months of additional study, the town’s Fire Station Building Committee voted to recommend 984 Mass Ave as the best location to build the town’s new fire station.

Free, on-site childcare will be provided at the Blanchard cafeteria for the duration of the STM. The childcare registration form is available at https://bit.ly/STM26ChildCare. 

The first two STM articles also require a separate ballot vote at a Special Election scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. The Special Election ballot asks voters whether they approve a Proposition 2 ½  “debt exclusion” in connection with fire station funding.

A “debt exclusion” is a temporary increase in the tax levy to finance a capital expenditure through borrowing. Proposition 2 ½, approved by Massachusetts voters in 1980, limits the amount of revenue a city or town may raise from local property taxes each year to fund municipal operations. A debt exclusion is not the same as an override. A debt exclusion is a temporary increase; an override is a permanent increase.

Ballot Question #1 asks if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to purchase 984 Massachusetts Avenue for public safety purposes. 

Ballot Question #2 asks if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to fund the “design and bid” phase of the fire station project.

The last day to register to vote in the Special Town Election is Saturday, March 7. The last day to apply to vote by mail for the Special Town Election is Tuesday, March 10. 

(5-Mar-26) At its meeting on Monday, March 2, the Boxborough Planning Board reopened the public hearing to consider five proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments for Annual Town Meeting in May 2026.  

The Board voted unanimously to recommend zoning bylaw amendments that would expand the maximum allowed size of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) from 900 to 1,000 square feet;  revise the Town’s parking calculations; and revise the Town’s definition of a Specialty Food Shop. 

During the first public hearing on February 23, Clerk Rich Guzzardi presented an amendment for the creation of a “gateway business district” (Business 2 or B2) for key parcels on Mass Ave. 

The new district would convert the targeted parcels currently in the Industrial Commercial (IC) district to the new B2 district to “lower the intensity” and restrict uses like warehouses and self-storage units, which are currently allowed by right on these parcels and allow other uses, like retail and specialty food shops, which current zoning prohibits.

At the March 2 public hearing, Guzzardi shared his vision for the gateway district and presented a table that outlined the types of uses that would be permitted and/or restricted.  The Board discussed each use and determined whether the use should be allowed by right, allowed by Special Permit, or prohibited. Some of the uses that elicited the most discussion were kennels, veterinary services, automobile repair shops, and gas stations. 

Board members were generally supportive of the proposed zoning but wanted to see refined language on parking and landscape screening, review the dimensional requirements, and hear feedback from the affected parcel owners before taking a vote to recommend. The hearing will continue on Monday, March 16 at 7:05 p.m.

The public hearing also covered a proposed amendment that would expand the purview of the Design Review Bylaw. Currently, the Design Review Bylaw applies to new construction; exterior alteration or expansion that is subject to site plan approval or special permit; and new or modified signs only in the Town Center zoning district. 

The proposed amendment expands the applicability of the bylaw to the Business (B), Business-1 (B1), and proposed Business-2 (B2) districts. Design review is conducted by the Design Review Board (DRB), which is appointed by the Select Board and currently has only advisory capabilities. 

Planning Board members discussed the feasibility of strengthening the Design Review Bylaw to include mandatory compliance with design guidelines and did not vote their recommendation. They will reopen their discussion when the public hearing continues on March 16.

The Planning Board also discussed proposals for the town’s General Bylaws, including a scenic road bylaw, a rodenticide/SGAR ban, and a plastic bag, polystyrene, and disposable plastic reduction bylaw. A public hearing has not been scheduled.

(12-FEB-26) The Select Board, Finance Committee (FinCom) and Capital Committee held a joint meeting on Saturday, February 7 to review and discuss warrant articles currently under consideration for Annual Town Meeting (ATM) scheduled for May 19, 20, and possibly 21 at Blanchard Memorial School.  

The six-hour meeting included presentations by the Fire Department, Department of Public Works (DPW), Police Department, Office of Land Use and Permitting, and the Recreation Commission.  

Fire Chief John Kivlan presented a warrant article for 33 self-contained breathing apparatuses, which have reached the end of their useful life, at a cost of $400,000. He also presented an article for the replacement of 11 mobile radios and an estimated 25 portable radios at a cost of $320,000. Kivlan said “the new radios will continue to operate on the existing fire frequencies, but are multi-band, allowing direct communication with the police department. This aligns with the Commonwealth’s ongoing push to improve interoperability during larger scale incidents.”  

There is also an article for the replacement of an estimated 25 automated external defibrillators (AED) at a cost of $160,000. According to Kivlan, the AEDs will continue to be located in fire apparatuses and police vehicles and will be “strategically placed in high use municipal buildings and locations where they can be immediately accessible and impactful.”  

DPW Director Ed Kukkula requested $300,000 for regular road maintenance, supplementing the Massachusetts Chapter 90 Program, which provides municipalities with an annual funding source for improvements to roadways. Kukkula said he expects the cost of Fiscal Year 2027 road repairs to be approximately $1 million. He plans to use Chapter 90 reserves from prior years as well as town-authorized funds to pay for those repairs.

Police Chief John Szewczyk requested funding for a command vehicle at a cost of $64,700 to replace a 2017 Ford Explorer with 136,024 miles and 14,803 engine hours. 

Szewczyk plans to ask Town Meeting to approve a limit for a revolving account for the police department, established earlier in the year. The revolving account is funded through revenues from private police details. Revenues from the account will be used to fund the cost of vehicle maintenance and, potentially, the replacement of future patrol vehicles.  

FinCom added a warrant article for $60,000 to cover the cost of sending two new police hires to the police academy.  

Alec Wade, Director of Land Use and Permitting, requested funding for a state-of-the-art online building permitting system currently used by 130 municipalities at a cost of $116,000. The new software will alert the assessor whenever permits are pulled for renovations. According to Wade, failure to capture building permits results in lost tax revenue. Wade is “very confident” that he will secure grant funding for 50% of the initial cost of the investment, or approximately $58,000. The annual cost of maintaining the system is $30,000.

Recreation Commission Chair Hilary Greven requested funding for the replacement of the main structure, swing set, and installation of ADA (Americans with Disability Act) compliant surfacing at Flerra playground at a cost of $300,000, using funding from the Community Preservation Act (CPA).   

CPA, adopted by Boxborough in May 2014, is a property tax surcharge used to fund local projects focused on open space, historic preservation, affordable housing and outdoor recreation.  

The total cost of all warrant articles currently stands at approximately $2.6 million. Warrant articles will be funded through “free cash,” bonding, or CPA funds. Free Cash is a fund built from unspent budget surpluses from previous years and is certified by the State. 

FinCom Chair Tony Newton said that capital items with a life of 10 or more years should be bonded to ensure that both current and future residents share in the cost over the life of the item.

In addition to the warrant articles discussed, Town Administrator Michael Johns said there may be a warrant article for temporary housing for firefighters at a cost of approximately $1 million and an article to potentially fund a new collective bargaining unit (CBU).  

The Select Board and FinCom deferred voting on the warrant articles until they are finalized.  

(12-FEB-26) The Acton-Boxborough School Committee tackled a packed agenda on Monday, February 9. Before turning to the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget, the Committee first heard a personal announcement from Superintendent Peter Light and a presentation from consultant Dillinger Research and Applied Design about the district’s transition to a new elementary enrollment model.

Superintendent Peter Light began the meeting by announcing that he has accepted a position, starting July 2027, as Superintendent at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi. Light emphasized that the position does not start for another 18 months, and he is “fully committed to doing the work we’re doing now in this district.” A discussion about next steps is planned for the School Committee’s next meeting on February 26.

The Committee then heard a presentation from Nick Stellitano of Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”), a consultant that the district has hired to help facilitate the transition from “open enrollment” to “geography-based enrollment” for elementary school students.

Dillinger is tasked with creating geographic boundaries to determine which schools Acton and Boxborough’s elementary students will attend, as well as planning the transition to the new geography-based system.

Stellitano presented a list of possible “guiding principles,” which he described as “assumptions that I feel need to be codified both by the community and by the School Committee.”   

One of the possible guiding principles relates to the placement of Boxborough students: whether “[t]he model should prioritize assigning Boxborough residents to the Blanchard Memorial School.”

Dillinger asked School Committee members to be prepared to share feedback on the guiding principles and other decision points at their next meeting on February 26. Dillinger also said they will soon launch a survey to gather feedback from the public.

Moving on to the FY27 budget, the School Committee heard budget-related presentations from Superintendent Light, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning Gabby Abrams, Director of Special Education Natalia Kierul, and Deputy Superintendent Andrew Shen. The primary cost drivers for the FY27 budget were identified as health insurance and special education costs. 

The Committee voted a preliminary budget of $122.6 million, a 4.75% increase from last year. This would result in an assessment to Acton of $82.8 million (a 3.75% increase from last year) and an assessment to Boxborough of $17.7 million (a 5.57% increase from last year). The percentage increase in the Boxborough assessment is larger because of enrollment shifts over the average of the past three years. There has been a slight increase in students from Boxborough and a decrease in students from Acton.

Before voting, the Committee decided to increase the Superintendent’s proposed budget by $243,850 based on anticipated “per pupil” state aid funds. The School Committee explained that if the district does not ultimately receive the additional state funding, they would reduce the budget.  

During their discussion, the Committee heard comments from members of the Acton and Boxborough Select Boards and Finance Committees. Several speakers from the boards and committees pushed back on the district’s proposal to add staff with savings realized from the elementary school reorganization process. Several also voiced frustration with the current levels of state funding for education and advocated for reform.

In response to a request for comment about the budget, School Committee Vice Chair for Boxborough Adam Klein said, “AB Forward allows us to redirect savings into what matters most, delivering the high-quality education our community expects. By using those efficiencies strategically, we’re protecting strong classroom experiences, supporting students, and ensuring our schools remain excellent and sustainable for the long term.”

The School Committee’s FY27 budget hearing will be March 5, and the School Committee is expected to vote the FY27 budget on March 19. 

(12-FEB-26) On Monday, February 23, the Town of Boxborough will host a “Special Town Meeting Info Night” from 2-8 p.m. at the Sargent Memorial Library.

Residents are invited to learn about the articles in the March 9 Special Town Meeting (STM) warrant, all of which are related to the town’s effort to build a new fire station. The warrant articles include funding to purchase land for a new fire station and funding for the “design and bid” phase of the project. 

Town staff, Fire Station Building Committee members, and other volunteers will be posted at tables around the library meeting room. There will not be one single presentation; visitors can arrive at any time within the six-hour window and move throughout the space to visit the tables of interest to them.   

Speaking to the Select Board at their meeting on February 9, Town Planner Alec Wade said that the event will begin at 2 p.m. because “we do want to be earlier in the day… [to] be more accommodating for the work-from-home community, the stay-at-home-parent community, and maybe even parents who are picking up from Blanchard….” 

The event will also include a dedicated space with games and activities for kids. Wade is hopeful that providing a safe place to keep kids occupied and within eyesight will make it more feasible for caregivers to attend and educate themselves on town issues. 

"It's a pleasure to bring this opportunity to the community. These Town Meeting info sessions offer convenient access to local government, and help people understand their opportunity to vote and affect policy,” said Wade in response to a request for comment. “Traditional engagement methods lack basic accommodation for child care, creating a direct hindrance to parental engagement. We're happy to break that cycle and provide an event that accommodates all ages and experience levels.” 

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about other town projects, as well. A number of town committees, including the Sustainability Committee, Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, and Housing Board, will also be present to discuss current and upcoming initiatives. The Boxborough Fire Chief will also be present with information about how to sign up for the town’s new “RAVE” emergency alert system that launched last month.

Special Town Meeting will be on Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Blanchard Memorial School. 

(12-FEB-26) At their meeting on February 9, the Boxborough Select Board unanimously approved the two questions that will appear on the ballot for the town’s March 17 Special Election.

The Special Election ballot asks voters whether they approve a Proposition 2 ½  “debt exclusion” in connection with financing the town’s fire station building project. 

A “debt exclusion” is a temporary increase in the tax levy to finance a capital expenditure through borrowing. Proposition 2 ½, approved by Massachusetts voters in 1980, limits the amount of revenue a city or town may raise from local property taxes each year to fund municipal operations. A debt exclusion is not the same as an override. A debt exclusion is a temporary increase; an override is a permanent increase.

Ballot Question #1 asks if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to purchase 984 Massachusetts Avenue for public safety purposes. Ballot Question #2 asks if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to fund the “design and bid” phase of the fire station project.

The Special Election is the second step of a two-step process that is required in order for the town’s fire station project to move forward. First, voters must decide whether to approve the fire station project funding by a two-thirds vote at the March 9 Special Town Meeting. Then, voters must decide whether to approve the “debt exclusion” by a majority at the March 17 Special Election.

The Board also voted to remove Special Town Meeting Article 4 from the warrant, on the advice of the town’s auditors. Article 4 asked the town to approve funding for the October 2025 Special Town Meeting. Town Administrator Michael Johns explained that the town’s auditors recommended that the town not hold a vote about funds already spent. Instead, the funds will be paid using a reserve fund transfer. 

Turning to other business, the Board discussed the “Special Town Meeting Info Night” which will be held Monday, February 23 from 2-8 p.m at the Sargent Memorial Library. Residents are invited to learn about the warrant articles for the upcoming March 9 Special Town Meeting and learn about other town projects, including the town’s new “RAVE” emergency alert system that launched last month.

(5-FEB-26) At its meeting on Tuesday, February 3, the Boxborough Zoning Board of Appeals conducted a public hearing to review an application for a Special Permit to erect signage for Papalia Home Services at 1220 Liberty Square Road.

In his written report to the board, Town Planner Alec Wade provided a description of the applicant’s request and his recommendations for granting the requested Special Permit. Although the application indicates that this is a new sign, Wade indicates that this is a replacement of an existing freestanding sign for which there was no special permit on file. 

According to the report, the proposed sign is designed to the “maximum allowed standards, at ten (10) feet tall and 32 square feet of sign face...will be further from the road than the existing sign, and should present less of a visual obstruction to motorists.”

Wade noted that no public comment had been received in opposition to the proposed sign, and the sign appears to comply with the bylaw. Board members asked the applicant about sign lighting and the exact placement of the sign. Their concerns centered on roadway sight lines, traffic safety, and property boundaries. 

Board members voted unanimously to grant the Special Permit based on findings that the sign will support the operation of a well-established business, providing greater convenience for customers of the business, does not obstruct sight lines on Liberty Square Road, and will not impact the neighborhood character or the natural environment.

In other business, Planner Wade spoke to the board about his initiative to make all land use board and committee meetings publicly available on BXB-TV’s on-demand service. Wade explained that the Town’s existing contract with BXB-TV allows for this service at no additional cost and opined that the on-demand recordings of board and committee meetings provide “convenience to the public and their ability to interact with the government as well as their ability to keep up with what’s going on.” 

ZBA members discussed the proposal and agreed that viewing of their meeting proceedings will boost transparency. ZBA Clerk Shawn McCormack expressed his opinion, “I think this is a good government proposal and relatively low risk of being problematic.” Other board members agreed. In his comments, member Mark White stated, “the public…wants to see us operate, how we operate, how we make decisions…this is the best thing that’s happened to town government in a long time…I’m all for it.” 

The board voted unanimously to authorize the broadcast of all future ZBA meetings and provide BXB-TV with a “backlog” of recordings to be made available on demand.

(5-FEB-26) The Boxborough Board of Health has announced a proposed change to the town’s Well Regulations and will hold a public hearing on the proposed change on Wednesday, February 11.

The proposed Well Regulations would require property owners to test private wells for certain water quality metrics at the time of construction and prior to a property sale/transfer. The current Well Regulations, last amended in March 2004, do not require property owners to test private wells prior to sale/transfer of their property. 

The regulation is available at https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6187/Well-Regulations---Amended-3-25-04--approved-011426-1. 

“Whereas the MassDEP regulated wells are tested regularly, the testing of private wells is the responsibility of the well owner,” explained Boxborough Board of Health Agent Jim Garreffi in response to a request for comment. “We hope to increase the awareness of potential water quality issues to encourage individuals to test their well water and at the very least, through the implementation of this regulation, provide new homeowners with information regarding their well water.”

The proposed revisions to the Well Regulations also address water quality testing requirements, water quantity and pump test requirements, irrigation wells, and geothermal wells. The language for the revisions comes from a model regulation for private wells developed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

The Board of Health is changing the regulations due to a growing awareness around potential groundwater contaminants.

According to Garreffi, “Groundwater in town, as in many towns, has been affected by contaminants such as salt, perchlorate, and PFAS to name a few. There are also naturally occurring materials in the bedrock these wells are drilled into which affect the potability of the water such as arsenic, uranium, iron, and manganese. In 2020-21 the MassDEP conducted PFAS testing for residents in town to determine its prevalence and found it was presen[t] in a number of wells.”

The public hearing on the proposed regulation will be held at 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11 at Town Hall. The Board will explain how the regulation will be implemented, answer resident questions, and hear feedback about any resident concerns.

The Boxborough Board of Health, composed of three elected individuals, handles the approval and regulation of wells and septic systems and oversees other public health matters, like aerial larvicide programs. 

The Board of Health Agent “conducts the day-to-day public health work in town, responds to complaints, conducts required inspections, interprets and enforces the State and local regulations as they apply to public health and serves as an advisor to the Board to help them in their decision making.” 

More information is available on the Boxborough Board of Health website, at https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/292/Board-of-Health. 

(29-Jan-26) At its meeting on Monday, January 26, the Boxborough Select Board discussed Police Department staffing and a proposed second lieutenant position. Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk presented to the Board the proposed staffing structure of two lieutenants, three sergeants, and seven patrol officers. The current structure is one lieutenant, three sergeants, and eight patrol officers.

(22-JAN-26) The Boxborough Strengthening Police Community Partnerships Council (SPCP) met on January 7, 2026 to review their plans to solicit input from the public at Winterfest. 

Over the past several months, the Council has been discussing ways to promote their activities and solicit feedback from the public. Council member Chris Brolin will be at Winterfest to speak with the public about SPCP’s work. The SPCP table will also have a suggestion drop box and a flyer with links to a new website for community members to submit their comments, inquiries, and suggestions for improving law enforcement in Boxborough. 

During the January 7 meeting, Council members discussed the lack of input they have received from the community in the past year, and they questioned if the mandate expressed at the March 2024 “Strengthening Police and Community Partnership” event is still urgent to the community. 

Council members noted the possibility that the “unrest” felt by the Boxborough community in 2024 has been displaced by Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk’s leadership and the community-building events and social media efforts he has introduced. The Council also surmised that Town Administrator Michael Johns’ effective leadership has played a role in the community’s improved relationship with the police department. The Council acknowledged that the improved relationship may necessitate a shift in their focus from the police department to that of a public information committee.

The SPCP would like to hear from you. If you have an inquiry about the Boxborough Police Department,  have any ideas that you would like to see implemented to strengthen the partnership between the community and the police, or if you would like to get involved with the SPCP, please reach out. Email inquiries to spcp.bxb@gmail.com and look for updates in Boxborough News.

(22-JAN-26) At its meeting on Tuesday, January 13 the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) approved a Special Permit to convert a single-family home at 555 Liberty Square Road to a two-family dwelling. 

Under the Boxborough Zoning Bylaw, converting a single-family to a two-family dwelling is a permitted use for dwellings constructed on or before May 5, 1965. Property records for 555 Liberty Square Road indicate the building was constructed and occupied prior to 1900, making the property eligible for consideration.

During the public hearing, ZBA members asked property owner Kathy Vorce questions regarding parking availability and the adequacy of septic and well capacity. Two members of the public spoke in favor of granting the special permit. After reviewing the Special Permit criteria, the ZBA voted unanimously to approve the Special Permit for the conversion. 

Vorce originally sought to create an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to her single-family home, but the proposed space exceeded 900 square feet, which is the maximum size of an ADU under the Boxborough Zoning Bylaw. Vorce’s proposed accessory unit measured 944 square feet.

When asked to comment about the ZBA’s approval for the conversion, and the ADU bylaw in general, Town Planner Alec Wade offered the following: “The applicant's insight and expertise into the Boxborough Zoning Bylaw was a pivotal part of this application process. Ultimately, our existing Accessory Dwelling Unit Bylaw did not meet her needs and unfortunately the bylaw has not met the needs of other applicants thus far. I'm encouraged by the Board's decision, but I anticipate working with the Planning Board on revisions to the ADU bylaw in the coming year. Our existing bylaw is a fantastic starting point, and now we have the opportunity to improve it for the needs of the community.” 

In the packet of materials for Vorce’s application, Wade’s Staff Report included a narrative outlining the limitations of the current ADU bylaw: “In at least five (5) cases, the building department has received inquiries from residents interested in establishing an Accessory Dwelling Unit on their property. In nearly every case, the prospective applicants have been unable to do so due to the size of the ADU being greater than 900 square feet of gross floor area or due to the burdensome cost of a septic upgrade.” 

Boxborough News also asked ZBA Chair Mark Barbadoro to comment on the ADU bylaw. He stated, “The Affordable Homes Act (AHA)... allows for standalone, ‘by right’ accessory dwellings in all districts where single-family dwellings are permitted. These units can also meet accessory structure setbacks. We updated our bylaws quickly to ensure compliance with the AHA’s effective date and to avoid litigation. The Planning Board now has the time available to craft a non-statutory accessory dwelling bylaw tailored to Boxborough. While the previous limit was 1,200 square feet, the current 900-square-foot restriction itself acts as a component of affordability. [I]ncreases to the 900 SF ‘by right’ limit should be considered carefully.” 

(22-JAN-26) Boxborough Town Planner Alec Wade has announced an initiative to make all “land use board and committee” meetings publicly available on BXB-TV.

“This will drastically boost transparency in our government process,” said Wade. “I strongly believe this is the way government should operate, and our existing contract with BXB-TV provides the service at no additional charge.”

BXB-TV is the local cable channel for the Town of Boxborough. BXB-TV is managed and operated by Littleton Community Television (LCTV) in accordance with an intermunicipal agreement between Boxborough and Littleton. BXB-TV content, including meeting recordings, are available on  https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/boxborough/?page=HOME.

The “land use” boards and committees subject to Wade’s initiative are: Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Economic Development Committee, Housing Board, Board of Health, Community Preservation Committee, Sustainability Committee, and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

Several of the “land use” boards and committees already record and publish their meetings, including Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Economic Development Committee. The Housing Board has also recently begun recording and publishing their meetings. Other bodies meet virtually but don’t yet record their meetings, meet virtually and record but don’t yet publish their meetings, or meet in person only.

Wade expects to implement this new system in February. First, Wade will upload a “backlog” of existing recordings; “we have 4-6 months of ZBA meetings that can be uploaded upon approval of the Board,” explains Wade. By mid-February, Wade would like to have all the “land use” boards and committees recording and publishing all meetings going forward.

When asked about other town boards and committees, Wade explained that his focus is on the boards and committees supported by the Land Use and Permitting office. “I'd love to see my colleagues and peers implement this town wide, but I leave that to their discretion. If another member of town staff, or a board/committee chair wants to implement the model, I'll happily throw my door open to help train them on implementation.” 

“I think it’s a terrific initiative and I support it 100%,” said Town Administrator Mike Johns. “I believe it’s a good example to follow, and in fact will be doing so myself, with moving the Capital Committee to recorded meetings in the coming months.” 

(22-JAN-26) At the Personnel Board’s meeting on January 20, Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson reported that Town Hall employees, including department heads, some of whom are currently under individual contracts, are discussing the possibility of unionizing. According to Hudson, Town Hall employees have already held two meetings. So far, there has been no notice to the Town that the group is moving forward with a vote to unionize.  

Town Administrator Michael Johns told Boxborough News that he believes it was a confluence of factors that led employees to consider unionizing.  

First, he explained, Town Hall employees were concerned about possible cuts to staff and the elimination of a COLA/salary adjustment if the town did not approve an “override” of Proposition 2 ½ for the next fiscal year.

The Finance Committee, in collaboration with the Select Board, Town Administrator and Finance team, recently concluded that no “override” was necessary for the upcoming budget year. While an override is not in the works for fiscal year 2027, Tony Newton, Finance Committee Chair said “financial trends make the need for an override for fiscal year 2028 highly likely.”

Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg told Boxborough News that she “understands why Town Hall employees, only one of two groups in town who are not protected by a 3-year contract, might consider taking this step. As the town faces financial difficulties, there are only so many levers to pull when the town faces an override.”  

According to Johns, a second factor that may have played a part in employees considering unionization was the internal announcement of a plan to reopen Town Hall on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. At a recent meeting of Town Hall employees, Johns explained, he told staff that Fridays would be covered by a skeleton staff on a rotational basis. All staff, including employees who worked reduced hours or part-time hours, even if not normally scheduled to work on Fridays, would be included in the rotation. Johns said that during the meeting, one of the employees said “we should unionize,” at which point Johns and Hudson excused themselves from the meeting.  

Johns said he hopes the management team can work this out with Town Hall employees. As of Wednesday, January 21, Johns had no further information about what the employees plan to do next.

Boxborough News reached out to two Town Hall employees, both of whom declined to comment on plans to unionize.  

(15-Jan-26) At its meeting on January 13, the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) voted unanimously in support of all Special Town Meeting (STM) warrant articles.  

Article 1 asks the town to fund the purchase of land identified as 984 Massachusetts Ave for a new fire station with a cost of $2,400,000. FinCom and Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) member Maria Neyland explained to fellow FinCom members why the FSBC chose 984 Mass Ave instead of 72 Stow Road.

While the cost of the 984 Mass Ave property is higher than the Stow Road property, Neyland said, there were other factors that weighed into the decision. According to Neyland, Fire Chief John Kivlan prefers 984 Mass Ave because of greater visibility and its proximity to a densely populated area of town and to Interstate 495, where emergency medical assistance is often required.

Additionally, Neyland said that the cost of potential litigation with Stow Road abutters and the delays caused by the potential litigation could increase the cost of building on the Stow Road property.    

Article 2 asks the town to fund the design, construction drawings, pre-qualification of contractors and bidding of the fire station project at a cost of $2,765,910. The Town plans to ask voters for a “Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion” for both articles. 

Unlike a  Proposition 2 ½ operational override, a debt exclusion is an authorization for a temporary increase in property taxes that does not permanently increase the levy limit. The tax ends when the debt is repaid.  A debt exclusion requires a two-thirds vote at STM, scheduled for March 9, and a simple majority vote at the ballot, scheduled for March 17.  

According to the draft Special Town Meeting warrant, the cost of the purchase of the land (if approved at STM and at the ballot) is $0.08 per $1,000 of the assessed value of a residential house, for a “tax per average house” of $76 per year. 

The cost of the design and bid article (if approved at STM and at the ballot) is $0.09 per $1,000 of the assessed value of a residential house for a “tax per average house” of $88 per year.  FinCom is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, January 20 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The meeting is hybrid.

(15-Jan-26) On Monday January 12, the Boxborough Planning Board unanimously approved the renewal of an Open Space Commercial Development (OSCD) Special Permit Application received from Campanelli-Trigate LLC for the buildout of The Park at Beaver Brook (former Cisco campus). 

Campanelli’s Special Permit application, which was submitted on January 28, 2025, outlines their “Master Plan” to construct five new buildings, totalling 667,500 square feet. According to the application, the development “will consist of Research & Development/Light Manufacturing/Office uses.” 

The proposal also includes the donation of approximately five acres (Lot 100) to the Town of Boxborough for open space and passive recreation purposes and puts an additional 94 acres into conservation/open space restriction.

The public hearing for the application first opened on June 2, 2025 and had been continued eight times. Throughout the hearings, Campanelli representatives addressed Planning Board members’ and the public’s questions on issues that included parking, wastewater, traffic, and the screening of buildings from the neighboring Trail Ridge Condominiums in Harvard.

Planning Board members and attorneys representing the town and Campanelli worked through a decision document with mutually agreed upon conditions, including traffic management measures, sustainable building practices, and the ban of chemical fertilizers.  

However, there was considerable disagreement between Campanelli representatives and some members of the Planning Board regarding the permit’s expiration date. Campanelli’s application requested that the commercial development period be extended from the original permit’s duration of fifteen years to twenty years, until January 1, 2045, to allow for the full build-out of the project as shown on their 2025 Master Plan. 

While Planning Board Clerk Rich Guzzardi and members Chris Dowdy and Mark White expressed their approval for Campanelli’s proposed twenty-year period, Planning Board Chair Rebecca Verner and member Cindy Markowitz voiced their support for a ten-year development period instead. 

Since the permit’s expiration date was the only area of disagreement, attorneys for both sides suggested a compromise and asked the Planning Board to consider allowing a 17 ½ year commercial development period. 

In a 3 - 2 vote, the Planning Board voted in favor of the 17 ½ year commercial development period as a condition of approval prior to their unanimous vote to approve the OSCD Special Permit.

When asked to comment on her opposition to the 17 ½ year time period, Chair Verner responded, “Though I had initially suggested a 10 year development period, I was in favor of a 15 year development period for this particular application, as it was the period that was originally granted and I wanted to minimize impacts on neighboring residents….this development promises to bring a fair amount of positive benefit to the town by way of amenities and positive economic growth. For these reasons, I ultimately supported the approval of the special permit application.” 

Member Markowitz also responded to Boxborough News’ inquiry and shared her concerns regarding the longer development period. “While the Applicant initially requested a 20-year development period, concerns about potential market changes, extended construction impacts, and the importance of giving the Planning Board an earlier opportunity to review the project in the event it no longer aligns with the goals of our upcoming new Town Master Plan led me to support a shorter duration.”

Member Guzzardi told Boxborough News why he supported the longer time period. “I voted to support the 17 1/2 year development period as a compromise, while still allowing sufficient time for the thoughtful development of the site. This is one of the most important long-term commercial economic development projects facing Boxborough, continuing what was envisioned over 20 years ago and aligned with our Master Plan. 

Given the long-term nature of this project, I believe it is important to give the developer the time needed to find the best tenants and uses. While there are no guarantees, a shorter time period might pressure the developer to secure a less desirable tenant in order to fully build out the Park under this special permit.”

Boxborough News also reached out to Russell Dion, Campanelli Partner in Charge for The Park at Beaver Brook. Dion offered the following statement: “Campanelli is very pleased with the recent action by the Boxborough Planning Board to grant approval for an amended and reinstated Open Space Commercial District Permit for The Park at Beaver Brook.  

Since the summer of 2021, we have worked diligently and in harmony with the town to rescue the former corporate campus from vacancy.  We are proud of our current tenants, Cisco, Medtronic, Intel, TUV and Craft Food Hall and we are excited to invite new tenants to the Park and the Town of Boxborough.”

Town Planner Alec Wade also expressed his satisfaction with the Planning Board’s decision. In response to a question for comment, Wade stated, “I am incredibly proud to have reached this milestone with the Boxborough Planning Board and the Campanelli team. Russell Dion and his permitting team worked hard with the Planning Board to design a project that will bring stable and much needed commercial growth to Boxborough over the next 2 decades. 

Their willingness to conserve an additional 94 acres of core habitat, agreement to an effective ban on harmful rodenticides, and their donation of land to the Town are all a testament to their role as a community partner and a good neighbor in Boxborough. Additional thanks should be given to the Sudbury Valley Trustees, the Boxborough Conservation Trust, and the Harvard Conservation Trust. I look forward to our continued collaboration for decades to come as we now transition to permitting the physical spaces Campanelli will propose.”

Rita Grossman, President of the Boxborough Conservation Trust, and Meredith Houghton, Senior Land Protection Specialist for the Sudbury Valley Trustees issued a joint statement in response to the decision. 

“The approval of the amendment to the OSCD Special Permit is an important step toward the protection of many acres of open space at The Park. These ecologically rich lands sit in an important corridor of open space, and their permanent protection has been a longtime priority for many conservation groups in the region, including Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) and the Boxborough Conservation Trust (BCTrust).”

(15-Jan-26) At their meeting on January 12, the Boxborough Select Board discussed improvements to the town’s tax collection and accounting systems in the wake of an error that led to incorrect third quarter (Q3) property tax bills for some residents.

Due to a failure by the Treasurer/Collector’s office to upload data reflecting certain tax payments made in October 2025, some residents’ Q3 property tax bills identified a “past due balance” for taxes that had in fact already been paid.  

Treasurer/Collector Emily Roux, who was hired by the town in December 2025 after the error occurred, explained to the Board how the error occurred, why the “missing” payments were not identified by the town’s accounting department, and what systems are now in place to prevent something similar from happening in the future.

Roux described a new system of daily “reconciliation” between the Treasurer/Collector and the Town Accountant “to increase overall efficiency and accuracy.” Town Administrator Mike Johns acknowledged that in the past the town has “struggled” with conducting this reconciliation “in a timely and accurate manner.”

Johns also reported that the town is in the middle of both an annual audit and a special audit of the town’s cash book. The results of those audits will be reported to the Select Board when completed. Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg requested that the town proactively contact all affected residents to let them know of the error.

In response to a request for comment, Town Administrator Johns told Boxborough News, “Boxborough is now finally in a position where both the Accounting and Treasurer/Collectors offices are fully staffed with qualified, experienced municipal finance professionals. 

Long-standing challenges related to succession planning within the financial team have been addressed. Under the leadership of the Finance Director, the Team is implementing municipal best practices to ensure long-term financial sustainability and operational consistency.” The Board then turned to the Special Town Meeting scheduled for March 9 and Special Town Election scheduled for March 17.

The Board reviewed and recommended the three articles on the special town meeting warrant: funding for land acquisition at 984 Mass Ave, funding for the “design and bid” phase of the fire station building project, and funding for costs associated with the October 2025 Fall Town Meeting. 

The Board also added a fourth article for closing costs related to the 984 Mass Ave land acquisition. The Board also reviewed and approved the Special Town Election calendar prepared by Town Clerk Becky Harris. 

On Tuesday, March 17, the town will hold a Special Town Election with one ballot question: whether to approve a Proposition 2 ½ “debt exclusion,” that is, a temporary increase in the tax levy to finance a capital expenditure through borrowing. The town is asking voters for a “debt exclusion” in connection with the fire station funding sought at Special Town Meeting. The Select Board’s next meeting will be Monday, January 26 at 7 p.m. 

(15-Jan-26) Winter/Spring 2026 will be a busy one for Boxborough voters. The town will hold a Special Town Meeting and Special Town Election in March, followed by the Annual Town Meeting in May and Annual Town Election in June.

On Monday, March 9, Boxborough will hold a Special Town Meeting at Blanchard Memorial School to vote on warrant articles regarding the building of a new fire station at 984 Massachusetts Avenue. Voters will be asked to approve the town’s acquisition of the property at 984 Mass Ave and to approve funding for the next step of the fire station project, the “design and bid” phase. The last day to register to vote at the March 9 Special Town Meeting is Friday, February 27.

On Tuesday, March 17, the town will hold a Special Town Election with one ballot question: whether to approve a “debt exclusion,” a temporary increase in the tax levy to finance a capital expenditure through borrowing. In order for the fire station project funding to move forward as planned, voters must approve the funding by two-thirds vote at the Special Town Meeting and by a majority at the ballot. 

The last day to register to vote in the Special Town Election is Saturday, March 7. The last day to apply to vote by mail for the Special Town Election is Tuesday, March 10. Boxborough’s 2026 Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at Blanchard Memorial School (starting on Tuesday due to a student event at Blanchard on Monday night) and continue on consecutive nights as needed. 

The last day to register to vote at Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, May 9. Boxborough’s 2026 Annual Town Election will be held Tuesday, June 2. This election is later than usual; the town election is typically held in May. 

The Annual Town Election will include races for the following elected town offices: Select Board, School Committee, Planning Board, Library Trustees, Board of Health, and Town Moderator. The last day to register to vote in the Annual Town Election is Saturday, May 9. The last day to apply to vote by mail for the Annual Town Election is Tuesday, May 26.

(15-Jan-26) On Thursday January 8 the Boxborough Community Preservation Committee (CPC) met and approved all of the six submitted projects for FY2027 Community Preservation Act funds. It also approved the annual administrative article.

The six articles are: 

1) The Recreation Commission: $300,000 for replacement of the main structure and installation of an ADA-compliant surface at the children’s playground at Flerra Field.

2) Select Board: $144,000 to replace the entire roof at Town Hall.

3) Housing Board: $69,000 for the Boxborough Rental Assistance Program (BRAP).

4) Conservation Commission: $25,000 as the CPC annual contribution to the Conservation Trust Fund. This includes funding of the town’s update of its Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) through the Trust Fund. The CPC also approved a $10,000 article which would be used if the OSRP is funded with a separate warrant article.   

5) A $20,093 article to replace the windows at the 1857 School House #2 at the corner of Picnic Street and Hill Road. This request is from the owners of the School House, Nancy Morrison and Jane Sawisch, who are the third generation of the Robinson family to own and maintain the school house as a museum.

6) Cemetery Commission: $9,500 for the continuing project of repairing, cleaning, restoring, and resetting of headstones, monuments, and other stone work in the town’s two cemeteries. 

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for March 5.

(15-Jan-26) The Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom), in collaboration with Town Administrator Michael Johns, the town finance team, and the Select Board, has concluded that the town will have an excess levy capacity estimated at $1.1 million and will not need an operational “override” of Proposition 2 ½ in the upcoming fiscal year.  

Proposition 2 ½, approved by Massachusetts voters in 1980, limits the amount of revenue a city or town may raise from local property taxes each year to fund municipal operations. This amount is known as the annual levy limit. An “override” increases the amount of the property tax revenue a community may raise and becomes part of the base for calculating future years’ levy limits. The result is a permanent increase in taxing authority.  

FinCom Chair Tony Newton said that in addition to efforts to control increases in the operating budget, there are several factors that led to this conclusion. First, revenues from Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) came in at almost $900,000 higher than budgeted due in large part to an increase in state aid and local receipts. 

Local receipts include motor vehicle excise taxes, investment income, hotel taxes, fees, licenses/permits, rentals, and charges. As a result, FinCom has asked the town finance team to adjust projections for revenues in line with actuals for FY2025.

Additionally, the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 (FY27) will not include funding for the “overlay reserve,” which is used to fund potential property tax abatements, exemptions, and uncollected taxes for the fiscal year. Newton said there are currently sufficient funds in the “overlay reserve” and additional funds are not necessary.  

Newton also pointed out that the town plans to use “free cash” and bonding (long term financing), rather than using taxation to fund warrant articles. “Free cash” is a term that refers to money that is left over at the end of a fiscal year. The use of “free cash” has no impact on the levy limit.  

“FinCom appreciated the efforts of Town management and departments as well as the Acton Boxborough Regional School District committee in working to reduce (the) operating budget items for FY27,” said Newton. 

“As a result, the Town has avoided the need for an override in FY27. However, financial trends make the need for an override for fiscal year 2028 highly likely.  Boxborough has not needed an override since 2006 and like many towns is now operating very close to the allowed levy limit.”  

(8-JAN-26) At their meeting on January 8, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) voted to recommend 984 Mass Ave as the best location to build the town’s new fire station.

The Committee voted unanimously to ask the Boxborough Select Board to place two articles on the March 9, 2026 Special Town Meeting warrant. The first article asks voters to approve the town’s purchase of 984 Mass Ave for $2.4 million. The second article asks voters to approve $2.8 million in funding for the next step of the fire station project, the “design and bid” phase. These two funding requests will also require a separate ballot vote, scheduled for March 17.

The FSBC met twice in one week, on January 5 and 8, to compare the three remaining sites under consideration: 984 Mass Ave, 1300 Mass Ave, and 72 Stow Road.

On January 5, the Committee received the final study reports that it had requested with respect to 984 Mass Ave and 1300 Mass Ave, which identified no significant concerns with either of those sites, and reviewed “conceptual cost estimates” for building a fire station at all three sites by the town’s Owner’s Project Manager team at Vertex. The Committee then completed their site selection matrix to compare the three properties. At the end of the January 5 meeting, the FSBC voted unanimously to remove 1300 Mass Ave from consideration.

On January 8, the Committee reconvened to decide between the remaining properties – 984 Mass Ave and 72 Stow Road. Although the conceptual cost of building a fire station at the 72 Stow Road property is estimated to be $2.6 million cheaper than building at 984 Mass Ave, all committee members were in favor of recommending 984 Mass Ave. The stated reasons for choosing 984 Mass Ave included the fact that it is closer to areas of town that are more densely populated; that it is the Fire Chief’s preferred site; and that it is located on Mass Ave and thus would be more “visible.”

 FSBC members also noted that many abutters of 72 Stow Road are “organized and adamantly opposed” to the town building a fire station at that location. Members expressed concern that if the committee again put forth 72 Stow Road, the funding requests might again fail at Town Meeting, or fail at the ballot, resulting in additional delays to the project.

“It’s the right compromise,” said FSBC member Maria Neyland, “to get the entire town on board.”

This will be the town’s second attempt to get design funding for a fire station, after residents voted against design funding for a fire station located at 72 Stow Road at the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

FSBC Chair Mary Brolin acknowledged that the committee’s evaluation of the “best” site has changed since last year, but she and Town Administrator Michael Johns noted that the 984 Mass Ave site was not available at the time the committee recommended 72 Stow Road in May 2025.

The 984 Mass Ave site was first brought to the FSBC’s attention by Town Administrator Johns in October 2025 after he was approached by the property owner with an offer to sell that parcel to the town for the fire station.  

Brolin ended the meeting with thanks to the town’s consultants at Context and Vertex for their work and support, as well as thanks to Town Administrator Mike Johns and Fire Chief John Kivlan. 

On Wednesday January 28, the FSBC will hold educational forums at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. in a hybrid format (Town Hall and Zoom).  

A  pre-Town Meeting information "fair" is scheduled for Monday, February 23 at the Sargent Memorial Library from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

(8-JAN-26) At its meeting on December 11, the Boxborough Sustainability Committee (BSC) discussed ongoing initiatives and their priorities for 2026.

BSC Chair Kate Davies updated the committee on the status of the Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Municipal Fellowship Initiative, which is a state-funded program that embeds university fellows within municipalities to assist with clean energy projects.

Last year, the BSC applied to host a fellow and was matched with a graduate student studying Environmental Science and Policy at Northeastern University. The student, Becky Caruso, will work part-time for approximately six months beginning on January 20; she will assist the Office of Land Use and Planning to develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Boxborough.

When asked to comment on the CAP, Davies wrote, “Developing and adopting a Climate Action Plan (CAP) in 2026 will position Boxborough to access critical funding opportunities, protect the community from growing risks like extreme weather and rising energy costs, and ensure that we meet state climate mandates. A CAP provides our community with a clear path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resilience, and ensure local control over priorities - while delivering economic, health, and quality-of-life benefits for residents. Acting now strengthens our grant competitiveness and ensures that climate solutions reflect Boxborough’s unique values and needs.”

Davies updated the committee on the weatherization work at Blanchard Memorial School, which is planned for January 2026. The weatherization is funded by Boxborough’s Green Communities Designation Grant and, according to Davies, is a top priority “because it saves us money on energy bills right away, especially on heating old buildings in winter.” Davies continued, “It (weatherization) is also required by the state - we have to weatherize buildings before we can invest in any other energy saving projects (such as electrification). The US Department of Energy’s Retrofit Guide (2019) emphasizes that energy-saving retrofit packages in K–12 schools…can consistently yield 15–30% energy reductions.”

The committee also discussed their 2026 priorities, which include developing, adopting, and implementing a Climate Action Plan; supporting efforts to build the new fire station as close as possible to net zero building standards; ensuring the smooth, ongoing operation of the Swap Shed; and working to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions and increase cost savings associated with waste management across the town.

The BSC’s next meeting is Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m. in hybrid format.

(8-JAN-26) At its meeting on Tuesday, January 6, the Boxborough Housing Board (BHB) spent considerable time discussing the ongoing challenges related to the sale of an affordable unit on Summer Road that the BHB monitors. 

The homeowner is deceased, and there are legal complications with the estate. BHB members want to ensure that the unit remains in Boxborough’s affordable housing inventory. 

In addition, neighbors have expressed concern to town officials about the water line during the winter months and about security, since there was a broken window and the unit appears to be unoccupied.