News

(29-OCT-26) At Fall Town Meeting (FTM) on November 16, voters will decide whether to authorize the Town of Boxborough to purchase 18.5 acres at 276 Middle Road for $1.8 million (Article 4). As FTM approaches, town officials have been working with several organizations to offset the cost of this proposed land purchase.

The property at 276 Middle Road, including a house, barn, and 18.5 acres of land, belongs to the Richardson family. The residence (ca. 1866) was the home of Clyde and Virginia (Ginny) Richardson. Ginny Richardson served as Boxborough Town Clerk for almost four decades. Together, the Richardsons farmed the land and sold a variety of fruits and vegetables, including Halloween pumpkins. Clyde died in 2015, and Ginny died in 2024. The property is now being offered for sale by their heirs and has an offer from a developer to purchase the land for $1.8 million.

According to the warrant, the town would like to purchase the property “for the purposes of active agriculture;” additionally, “the land will join contiguously to 93 acres of existing conservation and agricultural land.” Article 4 is sponsored by the Boxborough Agricultural Commission. Their vision for the property, explained in the warrant, is to lease the farmhouse, barn, and at least part of the property to a farmer for agricultural use.

The warrant article for the land purchase would authorize the town to borrow and spend the full $1.8 million. However, the town has been working to secure financial contributions to offset the cost. 

The three potential contributions named in the FTM warrant are: $300,000 from the Fiscal Year 2028 Community Preservation Fund, $100,000 (or more) from the Boxborough Conservation Trust, and $500,000 from the Sudbury Valley Trustees.

The Community Preservation Fund contribution of $300,000 is subject to a vote of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) after a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, November 5. 

At their October 1 meeting, the CPC voted that the request for funding towards acquisition of the Richardson property was eligible to receive FY2028 Community Preservation Act funds (for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2027). To allow the CPC to vote on the funding for the Richardson property before the November FTM, the CPC voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on this project on Thursday, November 5. 

The Boxborough Conservation Trust contribution of $100,000 was voted by the BCTrust Board on October 5. On October 20, the BCTrust also launched a fundraising campaign with a goal of raising an additional $200,000 towards the land acquisition. According to BCTrust board member Becky Harris, the campaign had raised about $31,000 in its first week. The campaign is expected to continue until December 31, 2026. Harris told Boxborough News, “This is probably the most money we've tried to raise in the shortest amount of time.”

The Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) contribution of $500,000 is subject to a vote of the Sudbury Valley Trustees Board of Directors that is expected to take place in December. At least part of the SVT’s contribution is also contingent on the negotiation of one or more “conservation restrictions” on the three adjacent parcels already owned by the town. 

According to the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services, a conservation restriction is “a legally enforceable agreement whose purpose is to ensure permanent protection of specific conservation values while permitting limited land uses consistent with the protection of said conservation values.”

Boxborough Land Use Director Alec Wade told Boxborough News that the town is actively working with SVT to figure out the “logistics” of their contribution, but that the town is “still working towards $500,000.” Wade said that the details of potential conservation restriction(s) continue to be discussed with SVT. According to Wade, the process to finalize a conservation restriction with the required state approval can take up to 12-18 months. Wade indicated that if the town did not agree to a conservation restriction on the adjacent (municipal) parcels, SVT’s contribution would be less than $500,000. 

If Article 4 passes at FTM, the town would enter a 90-day due diligence period and expect to complete the land acquisition in early 2027. 

The FTM warrant reflects a unanimous vote in favor of Article 4 from the Agricultural Commission (3-0-1) and split votes from the Select Board (3-1-1), Finance Committee (4-1-0), and Capital Committee (1-3-1). The warrant also reflects that the Community Preservation Committee, Conservation Commission, and Water Resources Committee have deferred their vote and recommendation to Town Meeting floor.

Article 4 requires a two-thirds majority to pass at FTM on November 16. 

(29-OCT-26) At their October 27 meeting, the Boxborough Recreation Commission (RecCom) discussed the status of the playground renovation at Flerra Meadows. The installation of the new playground equipment is complete, but the mulch surface is uneven and the installers must return to level the surface. 

The playground remains closed to the public pending resolution of the uneven surface as well as completion of ADA accessibility requirements, specifically a compliant pathway from the parking lot to the playground. The Commission is looking to install an accessible gravel pathway before winter so the playground can re-open. 

The town closed the playground at Flerra Meadows on September 1 to replace playground equipment and install rubber safety mats to bring the playground into compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). The funding for this project was approved at the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting. The renovated playground was expected to open in October.

RecCom members discussed an official opening ceremony or ribbon-cutting in the Spring.  Flerra fields remain open while the playground is closed. 

In other meeting business, the RecCom discussed preparations for Boxborough’s annual Winterfest. The RecCom proposed a Winterfest date of Saturday, January 30th, with Sunday, January 31 as the backup weather date. The RecCom expects to ask local vendors and businesses to participate in the event, and more details will be confirmed at future meetings. 

The Recreation Commission also discussed potential improvements to the Blanchard Running Club. The Running Club, held on Wednesday mornings, has approximately 70 registered participants – making it one of the largest and most popular recreation programs outside of Flerra Summer Playground. The program is expected to continue through most of November before ending for the season.

The RecCom also reviewed an updated draft of the town’s field use permit application and fee schedule and will continue discussing the fee schedule at their next meeting on Tuesday, November 17. 

(15-OCT-26) At their October 14 meeting, the Select Board held a spirited discussion of two warrant articles for Fall Town Meeting, scheduled for November 16: Article 4, the purchase of property at 276 Middle Road for $1.8 million, and Article 7, which asks for $25,000 for a “flow control system” at the Hager Bridge to address flooding caused by beaver activity.

Ultimately, the Board voted 3-1-1 in favor of the 276 Middle Road purchase and voted unanimously in favor of the Hager Bridge “flow control” funding.

Town Planner Alec Wade presented the status of the potential land purchase, explaining various alternative funding sources that are expected to bring the cost to taxpayers down to about $900,000. This includes Community Preservation Act funding, Boxborough Conservation Trust donations, and a Sudbury Valley Trust contribution. 

Wade and Agricultural Commission (AgCom) Vice Chair John Neyland also explained to the Board the AgCom’s vision for land: an arrangement where the town will lease out the land and existing farmhouse as a “working farmstead” to promote farming and create a revenue stream for the town.

Select Board Clerk Sam Anderson expressed his support for the land purchase and the possibility of a leasing arrangement, but asked Wade to confirm that the town would still have the option to sell off some of the land if the “farmstead” vision becomes “a money pit for the town.” Wade confirmed that the town will preserve that option.

Select Board member Priya Sundaram stated that she is opposed to the land purchase because “the timing is not right.” She voted against Article 4, saying “I personally cannot support this…because of the timing and the amount of money involved.”  

The land purchase will require a two-thirds vote at Fall Town Meeting. 

Board member Kristin Hilberg recused herself from the Article 4 discussion, as she represents the family that is selling the land.

Regarding the Hager Bridge, Select Board members discussed how the proposal in the warrant article had changed since they last reviewed it. Previously, the article asked for design-only funding to address a large 25-year-old beaver dam near Blanchard Memorial School. 

The current iteration of Article 7 limits the scope of the project to the Hager Bridge, downstream from the dam. Wade is now requesting funding for “design, engineering services, and construction” to address only the flooding of the Hager Bridge. Planner Wade explained why and how his proposal had changed, in part due to community pushback on the original scope of the project. 

Board members shared conflicting opinions about the change in scope, with at least one member preferring to tackle the larger dam project as contemplated by the original version of Article 7, and at least one member questioning the necessity of the revised project at Hager Bridge. Eventually all voted in favor of the current iteration of Article 7, the Hager Bridge project.

The Board also voted unanimously to recommend a Planning Board article to implement a temporary data center moratorium and voted unanimously to recommend an article changing inspector compensation that had been recently endorsed by the Personnel Board.

With their recommendations complete, the Board approved the final warrant and authorized printing and mailing. Fall Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16 at 7 p.m. in the Blanchard Memorial School Gymnasium.

(15-OCT-26) The Acton and Boxborough Select Boards, Finance Committees, and the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) Committee met on Tuesday, October 13 to discuss the financial challenges each town and the school district face in the upcoming budget year. 

Superintendent Peter Light presented the preliminary budget for ABRSD. Overall, the budget is projected at a 4.47% increase over last year. Light described the budget as a “maintenance services budget.” The budget drivers include increases in health insurance at 15-16% per year over the next three years, personnel costs, and costs associated with special education. The assessment to Boxborough is projected at $18.8M, a 5.96% increase over last year. Acton’s assessment is similarly projected at a 5.97% increase because of stabilizing student enrollment. Previously, Acton’s student enrollment was going down, while Boxborough’s enrollment was going up. That is no longer the case.  

The ABRSD budget does not include capital expenses, such as the HVAC units that need to be replaced at the high school, at a cost of approximately $8M. The district plans to use some portion of the “excess and deficiency” reserve funds to cover those expenses. The “excess and deficiency” fund functions similarly to “free cash.” 

Light said the biggest risk to the school district is meeting the state requirements to provide 990 hours of instructional time for high school students, which may necessitate hiring additional teachers. The administration is exploring other options that may avoid adding staff. 

State aid is also a concern for the district. ABRSD Committee Chair Tori Campbell explained that the district no longer receives automatic increases in state education aid through the Chapter 70 formula. Instead, the district receives “minimum aid,” described as a baseline level of state funding. Any increase above that baseline depends on the state budget each year. In the meantime, expenses like healthcare, salaries, and pensions continue to increase.

Campbell also addressed the school committee’s concern around Ballot Question 5, one of nine questions on this year’s statewide election ballot. If passed, Question 5 would change how Massachusetts calculates limits on state tax revenues. The new formula would include revenue from the “Fair Share Amendment,” which currently can only be used for education and transportation. When “Fair Share” revenue is included in the formula, state revenue limits would be reached sooner and would reduce discretionary state revenue available for education and other priorities. Less state revenue means greater pressure on local property owners to fund the same essential services.  

Turning to Boxborough, John Connor, Finance Committee (FinCom) Vice Chair, presented preliminary projections for the Town’s levy limit, but indicated that FinCom needed to firm up projections from the town administrator and finance team before the town can fully understand what the budget will look like. Connor said that “estimates will tighten up as the budget develops.”

Alissa Nicol, Acton Select Board Chair, presented the preliminary budget for the Town of Acton, where expenses exceed revenues by $3,067,643. Nicol said that health insurance, salaries, and pensions continue to be the budget drivers and that no decisions have been made yet on how to handle the $3M budget gap. Nicol explained that the only options are to cut budgets or use some portion of the “untaxed levy” of $1.2M. The untaxed levy was part of the override voted by tax payers in 2024, but was set aside for future use.  

Nicol said that over the years, the town side of the Acton budget has gone from 37% down to 33.7%, while the combined school budget (ABRSD and Minuteman Vocational school) has gone from 63.3% of the budget to 67%. To account for the reduced expenditures, the Town of Acton has deferred hiring, re-organized departments, reduced or eliminated programs, reduced spending on incidentals, and pursued grants to manage budget gaps. 

(8-OCT-26) On Thursday October 3, the Boxborough Community Preservation Committee (CPC) met and discussed four preliminary requests for FY2028 Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2027. 

The CPC voted unanimously that all four requests were eligible to receive CPA funding and could move forward to the final application stage of the process. 

The Agricultural Commission proposed the largest request, $300,000, for funds towards the acquisition of the Richardson property, including the historic house and barn, located at 276 Middle Road.  At the time of the CPC meeting there was an article on the draft November 16, 2026 Fall Town Meeting warrant to purchase this property for $1.8 million; the requested CPC funds would partially fund this amount. This was the only new request for CPC funds.

Three ongoing projects were also submitted. The Housing Board submitted the Boxborough Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) in the amount of $69,000, which is the same as last year. The Cemetery Commission proposed $9,500, the same amount as in past years, for funding the continuing project of repairing, cleaning, restoring, and resetting of headstones, monuments, and other stone work in the town’s two cemeteries. The Conservation Commission requested $10,000 as the annual CPC contribution to the Conservation Trust Fund, which would be used for expenses related to acquiring, improving, monitoring, and otherwise maintaining new and existing parcels in town. 

In order to allow the CPC to vote, and possibly approve, the Richardson property project before the November 16 Fall Town Meeting, the CPC voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on this project at its next meeting on Thursday, November 5.

The CPC will hold a second public hearing on the other CPA funding requests on Thursday, December 3.

(8-OCT-26) At its hybrid meeting on Tuesday, October 6, the Personnel Board heard a proposal from Alec Wade, Director of Land Use and Permitting, to make mid-cycle changes to the classification and compensation schedule at Fall Town Meeting scheduled for November 16.  The proposal would change the way wiring, plumbing, and gas inspectors are paid. If approved at town meeting, the changes become effective immediately.  

Currently, inspectors receive 90% of permit fees with the balance going to the town, generating annual revenues of approximately $12,000. According to the warrant article “The existing compensation model was common several decades ago. Since then, the majority of communities have moved toward an hourly or per inspection model of compensation.” Under the proposed plan, inspectors would receive a flat rate of $60 per visit which would generate annual revenues of approximately $30,000. According to Wade, the $60 per inspection rate is slightly above the average for communities who use this model.    

Wade explained that in fiscal year 2027, there are two projects that could generate additional revenue for the town. The Campanelli project at Beaver Brook Road could bring in an estimated $45,000 in permit fees and a second project with electrical and plumbing permits could bring an estimated  $70,000 in fees. Conservatively speaking, the combined revenue for these two projects is expected to yield over $100,000 for the town. 

After hearing about the additional revenue generated by the proposed changes, the Personnel Board voted 4-0 to recommend the warrant article.    

Previously, at their September 15 meeting, the Personnel Board had rejected the proposed change. See Boxborough News coverage of the prior meeting here. 

The next Personnel Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 27 at 5:30 pm at Town Hall.  

(1-OCT-26) On Monday, September 28, the town received notice from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) that the state had confirmed a spotted lanternfly infestation in Boxborough. The town posted a notice the same day, and Town Administrator Michael Johns informed the Select Board that evening.

(1-OCT-26) On September 1, 2026, the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) issued a Notice of Suspension (“Notice”) to Keymi Corp., doing business as Flamingo Market, at 104 Massachusetts Avenue, Boxborough.

The Notice states that the ABCC suspends Flamingo Market’s alcoholic beverages license for a period of two days, from Monday, October 19 to Tuesday, October 20.

The ABCC ordered the suspension after a hearing in March 2026 in which Flamingo Market was found to have “violated 204 CMR 2.05 (2) Permitting an illegality on the license premises, to wit: M.G.L. Ch. 138 sec. 34 – Sale of delivery of an alcoholic beverage to a person under twenty-one (21) years of age (2 Counts).”

According to the Notice, the violation occurred on October 24, 2025, when two underage individuals purchased alcohol at Flamingo Market using fraudulent licenses while the business was under surveillance by ABCC investigators. 

The Notice states that at the March 2026 hearing, the ABCC “was informed as to changes made by the Licensee to prevent future violations. The Licensee has invested in an identification scanner and intends to upgrade to a more sophisticated model.”

Boxborough Town Administrator Michael Johns announced the violation and suspension of Flamingo Market’s license at the September 14 meeting of the Boxborough Select Board. Johns stated, “The administration and the Select Board, as the oversight authority for the liquor licenses in town, take this very seriously….”

When contacted by Boxborough News, Flamingo Market owner Keyur Patel confirmed that he had received the Notice of Suspension and that Flamingo Market will be closed on October 19 and October 20. Patel declined to make any further comment.

(1-OCT-26) At their meeting on Sunday September 27, the Boxborough Minuteman Company voted unanimously to change the date of the 2027 Boxborough Fifer’s Day to June 12, the second Saturday of June.

For many years, Fifer’s Day has taken place on the third Saturday of June. In 2027, the third Saturday will be June 19, a federal holiday. 

“There are a few reasons for this change”, said Boxborough Minutemen captain Rich Grady.  “For one thing, Juneteenth is an official national holiday and we did not want to conflict with celebrations of this important anniversary. Also, by moving to June 12, we will avoid a conflict with the Acton Lion’s Club annual carnival. In addition, holding Fifer's Day on June 12 will fall within the Acton-Boxborough school year when more families are around town and able to come and enjoy a wonderful community event.”   

The Minutemen discussed only the 2027 Fifer’s Day date; they did not discuss a permanent change going forward. 

(24-Sep-26) At the Blanchard School Open House on September 14, two town employees greeted families outside the school doors to share information about the “Boxborough in the Know” project and encourage residents to take the “Boxborough in the Know” survey.

“Boxborough in the Know” is a town initiative to improve communications between the town and its residents. The survey is available at https://forms.gle/fxdZxnF9eS6Berkx9. 

The survey has been open since July, but the project team is trying to find more creative ways to reach additional residents to “provide a more complete picture of the community’s experiences and preferences regarding Town communications,” explained Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson.

The survey also allows respondents to provide their email address and indicate interest in participating in a focus group. The project team is planning several by-invitation focus groups for October, where residents will be able to provide more feedback about how they interact with the town.   

The project is led by a team of four town employees: Hudson, Director of Land Use and Permitting Alec Wade, Library Director Peishan Bartley, and Police Chief John Szewczyk, all of whom are participating in a professional development course by the Public Sector Consortium. 

The group has attended a series of training sessions and are working with the Public Sector Consortium to implement the project. While the team was set up outside Blanchard, a “good number” of parents stopped to learn about the initiative, Bartley told Boxborough News. As they followed their students into the school, many parents paused to use a QR code to access the survey.  

The goal of the “Boxborough in the Know” project, Hudson told Boxborough News back in April, is to “better coordinate town messaging in a unified and cohesive way” in order to “limit misinformation as much as we can.” 

“We embarked on this project because we believe it will improve how the town operates,” said Bartley in April. “I believe in the necessity of communication and the power of having information. I hope we will be able to set something up so that community members feel empowered and informed to actively engage in town activities.”

“Once the survey and focus-group process is complete, the feedback will be reviewed to identify common themes, communication gaps, and potential opportunities for improvement,” said Hudson. “The ultimate goal is to use the feedback we receive to help the Town develop communication practices that are clearer, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of the community.”

(24-Sep-26) At its meeting on September 16, the Boxborough Conservation Commission (ConsCom) met with Flamingo Market manager Keyur Patel regarding an Enforcement Order (EO) that was issued to Keymi Realty, LLC (owner of Flamingo Market) on September 2, 2026. 

The property referenced in the enforcement order, located at 104 Mass Ave, is within a 100-foot buffer to the adjacent wetlands. 

The EO was issued due to "significant tree clearing and removal within the buffer zone across the entire southern half of the property” and “conducted in an area subject to protection” under the Wetland Protection Act and the Boxborough Wetlands By-Law without approval” from the ConsCom.

Patel told ConsCom members that there was a willow tree on the east side of the building that was dropping branches close to the building. He was concerned for the safety of his building and second-floor tenants and considered the removal as “maintenance.” 

ConsCom Chair Liz Markiewicz told Boxborough News that a “property owner is allowed under our maintenance policy to remove such a tree without coming before the ConsCom, even if the tree is in the buffer zone. 

The problem was that the tree was so large and close to the house, that they had to remove other trees in the buffer zone in order to safely remove it. The owner should have filed with us before removing the other trees. They are not contesting the Enforcement Order and are coming before us at our next meeting (October 7) with a restoration plan.”

(24-SEP-26) At its meeting on September 15, the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) reviewed year-end results for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) and warrant articles for the upcoming Fall Town Meeting (November 16).

FinCom Chair Tony Newton reported that the town ended FY2026 with $1,464,056 under budget. Those funds will eventually flow into free cash, which can be used by the town to fund future warrant articles. As yet, free cash has not been certified by the Department of Local Services, a division of the Department of Revenue.

When reached for comment after the meeting, Town Administrator Michael Johns explained that the town underspent the budget by $852,245 due to unfilled positions in the Police and Fire departments and, to a lesser extent, at Town Hall. Additionally, health insurance benefits were $515,377 lower than budgeted because several employees opted out of the Town’s health insurance plan. On the revenue side, local receipts, which include motor vehicle excise taxes, investment income, hotel/motel taxes, fees, licenses/permits, rentals and charges, came in at 172% higher than projected due to continued growth in existing and new small businesses.   

Johns said he is “very confident” that the town will not need an operating budget override for the upcoming fiscal year if a number of factors align with his financial projections.  

In other matters, FinCom heard reports from Director of Land Use Alec Wade, Planning Board Chair Rich Guzzardi, and Agricultural Committee (Ag Com) Vice Chair John Neyland with respect to warrant articles for Fall Town Meeting. Those articles included: a correction to the MBTA Communities Overlay District; a temporary moratorium on data centers; revisions to the zoning bylaw; funds to design and engineer a “permanent flow control system” related to beaver activity; and a possible purchase of property at 276 Middle Road. FinCom did not take any votes on the warrant articles.

Much of the discussion centered around funding to design and engineer a “permanent control flow” system relative to beaver lodges at the Hager bridge and at a second 25-year-old bridge upstream. FinCom members expressed concern about undertaking a study at the cost of $25,000, when the ultimate cost of fixing the problem was unknown. Wade said he would work with engineers to get an estimate of a projected cost and update FinCom before they had to vote on the warrant article.

There was also considerable discussion around the purchase of 18.5 acres of land including a house, barn and garage at 276 Middle Road.  Wade explained that the land abuts Hager land and a “deep network of conservation trails.” Purchasing the property would allow the town to “restore the land to an active agricultural site.” Neyland said the property, currently appraised at $1,475,000, has always been a high priority for the town. To help offset the cost of the property, Ag Com reached out to the Boxborough Conservation Trust and the Sudbury Valley Trust and plans to submit an application to the Community Preservation Committee for a grant of $300,000.  

Neyland said, “as a town volunteer, our job is to be stewards for the town – not for one year or five years, but protecting the town for 500 years.” He added, “once the land is gone, it’s gone forever.” 

The next FinCom meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29 at 7 p.m.  The meeting is hybrid.

(24-SEP-26) At the Boxborough Personnel Board meeting on September 15, Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson presented a proposal on behalf of the Town Planner to make changes to the Classification and Compensation Schedule at Fall Town Meeting (November 16). The proposal would change the way wiring, plumbing, and gas inspectors are paid.  

Currently, inspectors receive 90% of the permit fees. Under the proposed change, the inspector would receive $60/visit.

The Personnel Board, which is responsible for proposed changes to the Personnel Plan, which includes the classification and compensation schedule, rejected the proposal primarily because they were not given sufficient time to review the merits of the proposal.  Board members said that making the change mid-cycle was not “imperative” and could wait until Annual Town Meeting in May 2027. The Personnel Plan runs on a fiscal year cycle (July 1 to June 30) and is typically voted at Annual Town Meeting each year. 

The board also discussed the labor market salary survey and agreed that current salary ranges were mostly in line with, and in some cases higher than, other communities. Hudson said that most communities use 2% between steps, while Boxborough uses 2.5% between steps.  Additionally, most communities have 12 steps, while Boxborough has 14 steps.

The next step is to complete something called a “dot plot” where individual employee wages are plotted on the classification and compensation schedule. The “dot plot” tool provides another data point in the analysis of employee compensation as a guide to recommend changes.  The board plans to reach out to the Collins Center, who completed the market survey, to determine the cost of developing the “dot plot” for the town.  

The next Personnel Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 27 at 5:30 p.m.

*This version reflects a correction as of October 2, 2026.

(17-SEP-26) On Wednesday, September 2, the Town of Boxborough posted a notice on social media saying that Steele Farm, town conservation land at 484 Middle Road, was experiencing “a large concentration of bees” and encouraging residents and visitors to stay off the property for 24 hours while the Department of Public Works (DPW) addressed the problem.

Christopher Hydak, chair of the Steele Farm Committee, said there was an infestation of bees in a corner of the farmhouse on the property, near the portable toilet.

DPW Director Ed Kukkula said crews treated the area with an over-the-counter bee spray. Hydak said DPW used the spray for several days without resolving the problem and was preparing to call an exterminator, but “the bees ended up leaving on their own, so no additional action was taken.”

Both Hydak and Kukkula said they were unaware of a previous problem of this kind at Steele Farm. The Town’s webpage for the property separately cautions visitors about underground yellowjacket nests.

“We do encourage bees to pollinate,” Hydak said. “They just ended up forming a nest in a bad spot for the community.”

(17-SEP-26) The playground at Flerra Meadows is currently closed to replace playground equipment and install rubber safety mats to bring the playground into compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).

The closure began on September 1 and the renovated playground is expected to open in early October.

The playground will have a new main play structure, a new swing set, and permeable rubber safety mats that will lead from the playground entry to each piece of equipment. The remainder of the ground surface will be wood chips. Boxborough Recreation Commission Chair Hilary Greven noted that “this meets ADA requirements while saving on overall cost.”

According to Greven, the installation, equipment, and surfacing costs are currently still below the expected total cost (including contingency) of $300,000. The funding for this project was approved at the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

After the playground closed on September 1, the Boxborough Department of Public Works (DPW) removed the old swing set, the large playground structure, and the asphalt ramp that led up to the structure.

On Thursday, September 17, Greven told Boxborough News that the new equipment has been delivered to Flerra. The installation will be completed by a contractor for the manufacturer, Kompan.

Flerra fields remain open while the playground is closed.

“Over the years, the current large structure has seen a lot of wear and tear,” Greven told Boxborough News last year. “So we are looking to install a new large structure to complete the improvements to the playground, providing a safe and exciting playground for residents and the hundreds of children who attend Flerra Summer Playground.”

(10-SEP-26) At its meeting on Tuesday, September 8, the Boxborough Agricultural Commission (AgCom) members voted in favor of asking the Boxborough Select Board to place two articles on the 2026 Fall Town Meeting warrant (November 16). Draft language of the first article asks voters to approve the town’s purchase of 276 Middle Road for $1,475,000 for agricultural and conservation purposes. The second article asks voters to approve $20,000 “for costs associated with and incidental to the acquisition of 276 Middle Road.”

Relatedly, AgCom voted in favor of submitting an application for $300,000 from Community Preservation Act funds, which would be used toward the Middle Road land purchase.

According to AgCom’s warrant article summary, the 18.57 acre property at 276 Middle Road (the Richardson Family land) has “a rich history of agricultural use, central to Boxborough’s rural and agricultural heritage. This land will join contiguously to 93 acres of existing conservation

and agricultural land.”

The residence (ca. 1866) was the home of Clyde and Virginia (Ginny) Richardson. Ginny Richardson served as Boxborough Town Clerk for almost four decades. Together, the Richardsons farmed the land and sold a variety of fruits and vegetables, including Halloween pumpkins. Clyde died in 2015, and Ginny died in 2024. The property is now being offered for sale by their heirs.

Clyde’s obituary: https://www.lowellsun.com/obituaries/clyde-l-richardson-boxborough-ma/

Ginny’s obituary: https://www.actonfuneralhome.com/memorials/virginia-richardson/5517738

In other business, AgCom resumed its discussion about the beaver dams blocking Beaver Brook. The dams have caused flooding of agricultural parcels while also impeding the flow of water into the fire pond that serves Paddock Estates.

As previously reported in Boxborough News, AgCom is a stakeholder (responsible for the management and maintenance of the affected parcels), but neither they nor the Board of Health have the authority to file a permit application to breach the dams or take any action; the decision lies with the property owner (Paddock Estates).

Boxborough News learned that Paddock Estates hired a contractor who breached the three dams last week. According to Town Planner Alec Wade, water flow in Beaver Brook has been restored. However, the beavers will likely attempt to rebuild their dams, so the contractor will make weekly visits to monitor the situation. 

Wade told Boxborough News that Paddock Estates is working toward a long term solution, such as a Beaver Deceiver™, which manages water levels in beaver-inhabited areas and prevents beavers from building dams. AgCom Vice-Chair John Neyland also advocated that AgCom explore electric fencing as a long-term solution to prevent beaver migration. The electric wire, installed close to the ground, would not kill the beavers. Neyland told Boxborough News that the goal is for the beavers to "decide it's not a good area to settle in" and locate elsewhere.

For background information, see August 21, 2026 Boxborough News article at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/news#h.1sbqjq8ffhgk.  

(10-SEP-26) The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) has launched its search for a new Superintendent of Schools and is looking for Boxborough residents to join the Superintendent Screening Committee.

Specifically, the School Committee is seeking (1) a Boxborough parent, and (2) a member of the Boxborough community who “may not be a parent/guardian of a current ABRSD student but who is actively engaged in the community through other roles, such as service on town boards, committees, or other community organizations.”

These two residents will join School Committee members, district leadership, staff members, and other parents and community members on the 18-member Screening Committee to “review applications, identify candidates to interview, and potentially advance finalists to the School Committee for its consideration.”

Boxborough residents interested in serving on the Screening Committee can submit an interest form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwYO51oZjOlbPmT8ArdvoA5mp5BKCv_8JbImGjQGcperfksw/viewform. 

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16. According to a notice sent out by the district, applicants should “review the schedule carefully before expressing interest. Applicants should only express interest if they can commit to attending all scheduled meetings, including the tentative interview dates.”

There are other opportunities to participate in the superintendent search process as well. A community survey is open now through Friday, September 18, inviting the public to provide “feedback about the priorities for our next superintendent and the qualities and characteristics we should seek in candidates.” The survey is available at https://my.thoughtexchange.com/participate/656634640.

There are also six community forums scheduled for September 14-16, both virtual and in-person. The details for the forums are available on a new Superintendent Search website:  https://www.abschools.org/superintendent-search.

The School Committee is working with the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston to conduct the search. The deadline for superintendent candidates to submit an application is October 13. Interviews are expected to take place in late October and early November. Finalists are expected to be announced in November, with finalist site visits shortly thereafter. The schedule indicates that finalist interviews and a “possible vote” by the School Committee will take place in December.

Back in February 2026, current ABRSD Superintendent Peter Light announced that he had accepted a position as Superintendent at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi starting in July 2027. In June, the School Committee voted to choose the Collins Center as the district’s superintendent search firm and voted to establish a Superintendent Search Subcommittee of three members: Boxborough member Adam Klein (Chair), Lisa Adil, and Jacob Fay.  

(3-Sept-26) A small but engaged group of residents attended the Boxborough Housing Board’s Housing Production Plan (HPP) Forum on Tuesday, August 25. Associate Town Planner Ian Gilson introduced members of the Housing Board and welcomed the public.

Gilson gave a brief introductory presentation explaining the Housing Production Plan process, its goals, and important housing concepts such as the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI), Chapter 40B, and Area Median Income (AMI). 

He emphasized that an HPP does not rezone parcels or approve any specific housing developments. What it does, he said, is “allow us to identify areas of town where we would like to see growth.” After answering questions from attendees, Gilson then invited them to participate in an interactive exercise using four posters, each focusing on a specific topic.

One poster asked “what types of housing could help meet Boxborough’s needs, and what would help new housing fit within the community?” Another poster depicted a map of Boxborough and asked participants to place stickers where additional housing may be appropriate, regardless of current zoning. 

The third poster was dedicated to the town-owned 72 Stow Road property and asked participants to identify their desired outcome for the property. The “Priorities Into Actions” poster asked participants what strategies and actions the town should explore to advance the housing priorities that were identified from data gathered at the Housing Board’s Fifer’s Day booth. 

After the forum, Boxborough News reached out to Gilson to obtain  a summary of the public’s feedback. Gilson responded that “the responses suggest several clear themes…including interest in smaller, more attainable homes (like) starter homes, duplexes, tiny homes, and small-scale senior rentals.”

Additionally, there was “support for shared or community-oriented models, such as cooperative housing, cohousing, and housing connected with agriculture.”   Gilson also said that the data showed “interest in reusing existing properties, including converting large single-family homes into cooperative housing and allowing multifamily housing in office parks.” The responses regarding the 72 Stow Road property indicated “a desire for focused housing opportunities.”

“I always appreciate the opportunity to engage with residents directly on issues like housing that affect both their lives today and the future of the community,” Gilson wrote. “Participants shared thoughtful ideas about smaller and more attainable homes, cooperative housing, senior rentals, and the reuse of existing properties. We plan to bring these poster exercises to future events so that more residents can participate and help shape the Housing Production Plan.” 

When reached for comment, Housing Board Chair Al Murphy told Boxborough News, “The HPP will serve as an important guide for developing housing for low- and moderate-income households. The Housing Board will continue to seek input from Boxborough residents about the housing the town needs.”

(3-Sept-26) At its August 26 meeting, the Boxborough Economic Development Committee (EDC) discussed plans for its second annual “Village for a Day,” scheduled for Saturday, October 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The “Village for a Day” event is intended to promote Boxborough businesses and help the community imagine what a walkable town center in Boxborough could look like.

Like last year, the event will take place along Mass Ave from its intersection with Middle and Stow roads to the Middlesex Bank Plaza. The EDC is inviting local businesses, artisans, and organizations to set up a booth in one of three designated locations adjacent to Mass Ave.

The public will be encouraged to walk along the route to visit various businesses. There will also be food vendors and live music. This year, the event will also include a 9-hole mini-golf course behind Town Hall, with each hole sponsored by a local business. 

The activity is free and open to the public, with prizes for kids. The mini-golf course will be open throughout the event, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The idea of developing a village center is something that the town has explored for a number of years. 

Most recently, the town hired consulting firm Tighe & Bond to conduct a Village Center Feasibility Assessment in Spring of 2024, funded by a community planning grant from the state. The Village Center project materials are available online at https://boxborough-ma.gov/698/Village-Center-Revitalization-Project. 

Local businesses or organizations interested in participating in “Village for a Day” or sponsoring one of the mini-golf putting greens can contact Boxborough Town Planner Alec Wade at awade@boxborough-ma.gov.

(3-SEP-26) At its meeting on August 24, the Boxborough Select Board heard three proposals for revised town financial policies from Finance Committee (FinCom) Chair Tony Newton.

Newton presented drafts of a Reserve Fund Transfer Policy, a Budget Transfer Policy, and an Audit Policy. Board members gave feedback, offered ideas for further revisions, and asked for more information. The Board did not vote on the policies.

Select Board Chair Bob Stemple presented the results of the annual Town Administrator Performance Evaluation. Town Administrator Mike Johns scored a 4.54 out of 5, with “recognized strengths” including his communication skills and his focus on professional development. “Delegation to others” was identified as an area for improvement.

The review, written by Stemple, states, “we believe that Mike is the Town Administrator that is helping this town become better and slow down the revolving door of town employees. He's friendly, kind, knowledgeable and is able to communicate well and problem solve with all ages and demographics.”

The Board also briefly acknowledged the recent beaver activity along Beaver Brook in western Boxborough that is causing changes to water levels on surrounding properties, including at Paddock Estates. See August 21, 2026 Boxborough News article at https://www.boxboroughnews.org/news#h.1sbqjq8ffhgk. 

The Board acknowledged the letters that it has received from community members on this topic and listened to a comment from a member of the public but emphasized that it does not believe it has any jurisdiction over the issue. Chair Stemple stated, “it is up to Paddock Estates to take care of the beaver situation.”

Town Administrator Johns emphasized the importance of having sufficient water levels for firefighting; “we just need to get water there so that if there ever is a fire emergency we can put the fire out… I think the community’s outreach and solution is a good way to start and hopefully that takes care of it.”

(3-SEP-26) At its hybrid meeting on August 25, the Personnel Board heard from Jennifer Romboldi of the Collins Center for Public Management, a consulting firm hired to conduct a labor market survey of both union and non-union employees. The funding for this project was approved at Annual Town Meeting in May 2026.

Romboldi explained that periodic market surveys are critical for the town to support fair, competitive and sustainable employee compensation that supports both the employees and the long-term success of the community. Competitive wages are essential in attracting and retaining qualified employees across all departments, she said. 

According to the report provided by the Collins Center, “The purpose of a market survey is to evaluate a town against other similarly situated towns within a market or region.  While none of the municipalities surveyed were exactly the same as Boxborough, there was sufficient common purpose, responsibilities and structure to make accurate assessments on matters of compensation.”  

That being said, the towns in the market survey were not strictly comparable municipalities with similar populations and economic indicators.  The municipalities selected for the Boxborough salary survey were municipalities in the same “labor” market.  The labor market includes towns that hired former Boxborough employees, towns where current employees live, and towns where employees might realistically commute from.   

According to Romboldi, the data shows that Boxborough’s current pay rates are aligned with the labor market.  Finance Committee Chair Tony Newton said that his review of the data indicates that Boxborough “appears to be paying above the market median.” Romboldi said that Boxborough is not so far above the market that we need to change the ranges. 

Personnel Board member Cheryl Mahoney asked why recruitment and retention are still problematic, if the town is in line with labor market communities.  Romboldi said if the minimum data point is lower than other communities, we may need to make adjustments to the pay range.  In other words, eliminate the current minimum and add to the top current maximum.  

Romboldi suggested that employees with 5-6 years of service to the town should be compensated above the mid-point; somewhere between steps 4 and 9.  She further recommended that the town use the data to plot wages/salaries on a graph showing where each employee lands on the salary range and make adjustments if needed.  

In conclusion, the Collins Center report says “The salary survey data is intended to serve as a guide to assist Boxborough in evaluating the competitiveness of its current wage schedules. The survey …. should be used as a reference benchmark not as the sole determining factor when considering wage adjustments.”  

In other matters, Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson reported two open positions in the Police department.  The position of detective has been posted both internally and externally.  There are also open positions for the Recreation Services Coordinator/Administrative Assistant, Local Transit Operator and Assistant Town Accountant.  All positions have been advertised.   The town is currently interviewing for the Assistant Town Accountant.  

The next Personnel Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday September 15 at Town Hall. 

(6-AUG-26) At its meeting on Tuesday, July 28, the Boxborough Housing Board heard a forty-minute presentation from Associate Town Planner Ian Gilson outlining six zoning and permitting options to consider for the the dispensation of the 70-72 Stow Road property, which was purchased by the Town in 2010 to build an affordable housing project, but has remained undeveloped.   

Before launching into his presentation, Gilson acknowledged the difference between what he was presenting and what the board heard in the May 2026 presentation by Housing Board member Joe Ferguson. Gilson described Ferguson’s presentation as “big idea options…of sell versus keep and develop,” whereas his (Gilson’s) presentation focused only on rezoning options and “trying to answer the technical questions that the board may have in regards to rezoning this lot.”

Zoning options presented ranged from a “site specific overlay district” to adding the parcel to the MBTA Communities overlay district to using one of the state’s programs under various sections of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, including Chapter 40A, 40B, 40R, and 40Y. 

Chapter 40A is the section of Massachusetts General Law that “gives cities and towns authority to adopt ordinances and bylaws to regulate the use of land, buildings and structures.”  Under this approach, the Stow Road parcel would be rezoned to permit multifamily housing (the current zoning is Ag-Res, which does not permit multifamily units). This would require a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting.

While Chapter 40A establishes standard local control over land use, Chapters 40B, 40R, and 40Y act as specific mechanisms designed to bypass or modify local zoning rules to increase the state's affordable housing supply.

Gilson noted how each program and zoning option works, what types of housing could be built, and what the “tradeoffs for Boxborough” would be under each option. 

Chapter 40B, sometimes referred to as the “Anti-Snob Zoning Act” or the “Comprehensive Permit Statute” deals with affordable housing. Under Chapter 40B, if a town’s housing stock is less than 10% affordable, developers can bypass local zoning bylaws—such as density limits or setbacks—to build large-scale housing, provided 20% to 25% of the units are affordable. However, since Boxborough’s affordable housing stock is greater than 10%, the zoning option Gilson presented was for a  “Friendly 40B,” which would allow the town to select a development partner and negotiate an affordable project without rezoning. This would require approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Chapter 40R, or “smart growth housing,” is a state program that encourages towns to adopt a “smart growth zoning overlay district,” to allow dense, multi-family, mixed-income housing by right. Projects must ensure that at least 20% of the units are affordable. Towns receive cash payments and building bonuses from the state. Gilson’s presentation indicated that the density requirement for this program “appears difficult under existing private water and wastewater conditions.”

Chapter 40Y is a relatively new, state-approved homeownership program that establishes a starter home zoning district. According to Gilson’s presentation, the zoning “permits starter homes by right at four or more homes per developable acre.” One of the tradeoffs for Boxborough may be that the number of bedrooms required may conflict with the wastewater capacity of the parcel. The program is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Living Communities (EOHLC) and provides financial incentives to towns who participate.

Following the presentation, Housing Board Chair Al Murphy mentioned the legal requirements and constraints on the property, noting that the deed requires that the property be used for low and moderate income housing. There was no further discussion or action following the presentation. 

To watch the presentation, visit https://tinyurl.com/BoxHousingBoard072826 (starting at 9:02).

(6-AUG-26) At its meeting on July 21, the Water Resources Committee (WRC) heard updates on the Littleton-Boxborough waterline project. 

The project brings clean, treated public water to properties located on Beaver Brook Road, Swanson Road, and Codman Hill Road through a new pipeline running from Littleton into western Boxborough. 

According to the Littleton Electric Light and Water Department (LELWD) website, “this project brings public water to about 1,100 residents living along the western edge of Boxborough, where drinking water wells are contaminated with PFAS and road salt.” 

According to WRC Chair Les Fox, the water main from the Whitcomb Avenue Water Treatment Plant to Boxborough is completed. The hydrants are fully operational, and the procedures to connect to the housing units are being established. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. 

The project is paid for in part by state funding and in part by Boxborough property owners along the waterline, who will be assessed a “betterment fee.”

At the July 27 Select Board meeting, Town Administrator Michael Johns reported that the condominium associations to be served by the waterline have received grants from the state that will cover all of the property owners’ “betterment fees,” with excess funding expected to be applied to service connection costs. 

Town Administrator Johns characterized this as a “huge win” and added that, “to say this is an enormously complicated process is an understatement.” The town finance team has been working with the state and the condo associations to work out the mechanics of the grant and the “betterment fee” payments. 

The Water Resources Committee continues to discuss follow-on studies of water resources in Boxborough. Boxborough water needs can be grouped into two categories: (1) water needed for drinking and other domestic uses, and (2) water needed to fight fires. 

Most of the suggested topics will require additional funding, which will have to be secured at a future Town Meeting. The topics include: 

1. Devise a contingency plan to secure water from other sources in the event of insufficient water quantity and quality from existing wells. 

2. Establish a system of monitoring wells to check water quality. Boxborough already has a number of monitoring wells. However, these wells are not uniformly placed across Boxborough, and many of the wells are too shallow to sample the deep rock fracture trace water sources for drinking water.

3. Determine the capacity of the Hager Well. The Hager Well currently supplies water to town buildings and the Blanchard school. Preliminary measurements have indicated that it is operating well below its DEP-permitted capacity. However, its maximum capacity has never been accurately measured because of the expense of doing so. For planning purposes, it would be useful to know the maximum available capacity if water needs to be supplied to homes and businesses in the area. 

4. Prepare an updated map of the fire ponds and cisterns in Boxborough. The study would also determine whether they have been well maintained and provide adequate coverage. The study would propose solutions to any identified problems. The Committee discussed inviting Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan to the next meeting to hear his views.

The next WRC meeting will be on August 18, at 7:30 p.m., via Zoom.

(23-JUL-26) In an effort to improve communication between the town and the community, the town of Boxborough has begun a new project called “Boxborough In the Know.”

So far, there are two components to the project: (1) a survey that asks respondents about how they currently receive town news, and (2) an opportunity to sign up for an email list to stay informed about the project.

According to the sign-up form, “the email list is for this project only; it will not be shared with other groups or used for other purposes. Once signed up, you will receive information about surveys, focus groups, and information sessions. Your input will help us understand what is working in town and what is lacking. You will also receive project updates as we progress.”

The survey is available at https://forms.gle/fxdZxnF9eS6Berkx9. The email list sign-up is available at https://tinyurl.com/BXEmailList.

The project is led by a team of four town employees: Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson, Director of Land Use and Permitting Alec Wade, Library Director Peishan Bartley, and Police Chief John Szewczyk.

This project is the team’s “Community Innovations Project” in connection with a “Leadership Matters” professional development course by the Public Sector Consortium. Between Fall 2025 and January 2026, the group attended four training sessions and will work with the Public Sector Consortium to implement the project.

The goal, Hudson told Boxborough News back in April, is to “better coordinate town messaging in a unified and cohesive way” in order to “limit misinformation as much as we can.”

In this first phase, the team will collect feedback from stakeholders and residents about the different ways they receive information from the town. In phase two, expected in late summer into fall, the team will design and implement a solution.

“We embarked on this project because we believe it will improve how the town operates,” said team member Bartley in April. “I believe in the necessity of communication and the power of having information. I hope we will be able to set something up so that community members feel empowered and informed to actively engage in town activities.”

(23-JUL-26) On Friday, July 17, six 100-foot Norway Spruce trees were removed from the Old Town Common at the intersection of Middle and Hill Roads, including the one that served as the town’s Christmas tree for the annual tree lighting ceremony until 2024.

At the Select Board meeting on Monday, July 13, Department of Public Works Director Ed Kukkula requested authorization and funds to remove the six trees from the Common, citing a report by arborist James MacArthur of Professional Environmental Services, LLC that indicated “evidence of extensive bark beetle infestation and woodpecker damage” in four trees. Kukkula recommended including the two additional trees for removal due to the safety risks associated with leaving them exposed to wind.

MacArthur’s report explains that although the four trees have “the appearance of a healthy crown, the bark damage and sounding, with a sounding hammer, indicates heart decay and an internal cavity.” The report deems the risk level of the four trees to be “high” and recommends  their removal “given the hazardous situation they present and the potential targets they could hit if a failure occurred.”

Homeowners Alex and Jessica Jordan, who live in the property adjacent to the Common and brought the matter to the attention of the Select Board a few months prior, attended the July 13 Select Board meeting. Alex Jordan noted that they had originally requested that the town conduct a risk assessment of the trees, as another tree in the cluster had uprooted earlier this year and scraped the side of their house when it fell. 

Jessica Jordan asked about the necessity of removing the Christmas tree and whether there was any way for it to be preserved. Kukkula responded that the Christmas tree was diseased, which is why it was included in the list of trees to be removed.

Select Board member Kristin Hilberg asked Kukkula if there were plans to replant the trees. Kukkula acknowledged the loss of the “wonderful Christmas tree” and indicated that a tree could be planted in its place. No decisions on replanting were made.

Boxborough News reached out to the Jordans, who commented that they are "sad to see all of the beautiful spruces gone." They added that when they learned that the town would be cutting all of the spruces, they “suggested that the town consider planting a northern red oak and/or other natives befitting a historic New England common." 

(9-JUL-26) The town of Boxborough continues to face recruiting challenges as it seeks to fill public safety and municipal finance positions.

Currently, the town has four open positions - two at the police department and two at Town Hall. The police department is seeking to fill a police officer position and an administrative assistant position. The town’s website indicates that the police officer position was posted on December 2, 2025 and indicated a need for more than one officer.

Boxborough News reached out to Police Chief John Szewczyk about the police department vacancies. Szewczyk told us that in December 2025, there were three police officer vacancies due to the retirement of one officer and the departure of two others. However, Officers Zachary Stillman and Christopher Lowney, who had left the Boxborough Police Department to go to other municipalities, recently returned to Boxborough. 

According to Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson, “Stillman and Lowney expressed interest in returning to Boxborough, went through the interview process, and were selected to rejoin the team. Both officers are currently back on duty with the Police Department.” The department is currently seeking to fill only one police officer position.

When reached for comment, Szewczyk stated, "Although a nationwide shortage of Police Officers exists, the Boxborough Police Department is very fortunate to be only one sworn position below its authorized strength at this time.  The continued community support and the department's positive culture have both been major selling points that help with the recruitment and retention of police officers in town.”

The open administrative assistant position at the police department, which was posted to the town’s website on June 12, 2026, is a union position and is full-time (40 hours). 

At Town Hall, Rajon Hudson is seeking to fill the assistant town accountant position and an administrative assistant position in the principal assessor’s office. The administrative assistant role was recently vacated, and Hudson told Boxborough News that they “have received a few applications for this position…At this point, we don’t anticipate challenges with filling this role.” 

However, filling the assistant town accountant role has been challenging. The position was first posted on April 6, 2026. When Boxborough News spoke with Hudson in June, he indicated that it is a tough position to fill because the applicant needs to have municipal finance experience. In a follow-up conversation in early July, Hudson told Boxborough News, “While municipal finance experience is certainly valuable, we are open to candidates with strong private sector finance experience. We are committed to providing the necessary training, resources, and support to help the right candidate succeed in the role. The position is a part-time role, working 19.5 hours per week, and it is a non-union position.”

While all of the town’s positions are advertised on the town’s website (boxborough-ma.gov/Jobs.aspx), the town also posts all positions through the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA). Hudson told us that MMA “has consistently been our most successful recruitment platform for attracting qualified municipal candidates.”

The town also advertises positions through professional associations and specialized job boards to broaden the outreach to qualified candidates. Hudson provided some examples: the Assistant Town Accountant position was posted through the Massachusetts Municipal Accountants Association (MMAA); the Administrative Assistant position in the Assessing Department was posted through the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO); and the police officer positions were advertised on law enforcement job boards. “Using both MMA and profession-specific recruitment channels helps us maximize our ability to reach qualified applicants for each position,” Hudson said.

When asked to comment on filling open positions, Hudson wrote, “Like many municipalities across the Commonwealth, the Town continues to face challenges recruiting for certain positions, particularly in public safety and municipal finance. These fields have experienced increased competition for qualified candidates, making recruitment more challenging than in previous years.

Despite these challenges, we remain committed to attracting and retaining employees who are the best fit for the Town’s needs. We continue to broaden our recruitment efforts through municipal and profession-specific job boards, while also providing the training, resources, and support necessary to help employees succeed. Our goal is not only to fill vacancies, but to build a strong, capable workforce that can continue providing high-quality services to the community.”

(9-JUL-26) At its meeting on Monday, July 6, the Planning Board began the process of correcting an error in the MBTA Communities Overlay District bylaw. As previously reported in Boxborough News (https://www.boxboroughnews.org/news#h.svr6lvva2xt), the MBTA Overlay District approved by Town Meeting in October 2025 does not meet the state’s required net density of 15 units per acre. The state compliance spreadsheet used by the town’s technical consultant was found to have miscalculated the district’s compliance by overstating the unit per acre density.

Town Planner Alec Wade informed the board that the Town remains in interim compliance and is not facing penalties so long as it continues working toward correction, and he presented two options, which he called ‘Alternative 1’ and ‘Alternative 2’, for the board’s consideration. Alternative 1 would not change the land area already approved by Town Meeting; it only changes the bylaw’s written maximum density from 13 units per acre to 17 units per acre.

Alternative 2 would revise the (district) map to include an additional single-family lot at 1178 Hill Road and would then set the bylaw maximum density at 15 units per acre instead of 17. Wade reminded the board that this parcel had been part of earlier advisory group discussions and is more readily developable than the existing district. He added that the owner of 1178 Hill Road had previously indicated no immediate interest in selling or developing the parcel.

Members discussed the pros and cons of both options. Member Mark White favored Alternative 1, framing it as a technical correction rather than a policy shift, noting that the district was already approved by Town Meeting and that simply changing the number from 13 to 17 units per acre would be the “prudent way forward for the time being.”  Member Gary Kushner also favored Alternative 1 as “easier and less confusing” for Town Meeting. Planning Board Clerk Chris Dowdy favored Alternative 2 because it adds some potentially developable land and responds to prior public feedback that the original district did not include enough realistic development opportunity. However, he agreed that just changing the units per acre density “kind of solves it…That is the simplest.”

When reached for comment after the meeting, Planning Board Chair Rich Guzzardi provided the following statement. “It is important that the Board address the calculation error at the next available Town Meeting date. Last fall, Town Meeting already approved the district, so now it is a question of what is the most effective way to address the net density within or adjacent to that district. There are ways the Town can address housing, however right now it is critical that we address compliance with the State’s MBTA Communities law.”

Wade also addressed the compliance issue. "I appreciate the Commonwealth's flexibility as we work to bring our district into full compliance. My departments alone administer more than $100,000 in state-funded programs, and the Board's prompt action to correct this issue will preserve our eligibility for these essential funds and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of critical services."   

At their next scheduled meeting on July 20, the Planning Board will continue their discussion of both alternatives and is encouraging the public to attend and comment. The official public hearing will be scheduled for August 3 at 7:10 p.m.