News

(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.

Boxborough Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg met with the BHB to hear their concerns and update them on the status of the unit. Hilberg informed the Board that Boxborough Building Commissioner Ed Cataldo visited the unit and determined that there was not an issue with the water line and that the unit had been secured. 

BHB members are eager for the legal issues associated with the unit to be resolved so that it can be sold to a family that meets the requirements for an affordable housing unit.  Hilberg acknowledged the Board’s frustration with the pace of the process. The unit is deed restricted, but it is not owned by the Town, she said.  “We don’t own it…it’s in probate, and at some point, somebody will get a license to sell the unit. It will go through the process.”

(8-JAN-26) At its meeting on January 6, the Finance Committee (FinCom) addressed a citizen’s concern regarding an error in the recent property tax bills showing past due balances from the second quarter.   

FinCom members asked Boxborough Finance Director Hoghoa Le to explain how the error could have occurred. Le said she believed that while property taxes were paid by residents, the Treasurer/Collector’s office failed to post payments in Vadar, a software program used by the town to track revenues and expenses. Digging deeper, FinCom members asked what methods are used to reconcile taxes collected in each quarter versus revenues recorded in Vadar and suggested that the town consider an audit of the Treasurer/Collector’s office to level set the department.  

Boxborough News followed up with the Treasurer/Collector’s office and learned that the only residents affected were those that mailed their property tax payments to the lockbox facility used by the town. 

The lockbox is a bank-operated facility that receives payments through the mail and deposits the funds in the town’s bank account. An electronic file is then sent to the town and uploaded into Vadar by town employees. The second quarter property taxes were not uploaded to the town’s software and, consequently, when the tax bills went out in December, it showed a balance due for the second quarter added into the third quarter tax bill.

After learning about the problem with the property tax bills, newly appointed Treasurer/Collector Emily Roux followed up with the lockbox facility, which sent duplicate electronic files to the town. The files have now been uploaded to Vadar, and the second quarter balances and interest charges have been removed from affected taxpayers’ bills.   

The next FinCom meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.  The meeting will be hybrid.