News

(13-MAR-25) Over the last several months, the Personnel Board has been working with Assistant Town Administrator, Rajon Hudson on proposed changes to the Personnel Plan (the Plan), which will be voted at Annual Town Meeting (ATM) in May.

The major changes in the Plan include: front loading sick leave, so that employees receive sick days at the beginning of the fiscal year rather than accrual based on hours worked; converting unused personal day(s) to sick day(s) during the following fiscal year; a stipend of $2,400 for any employee who opts-out of the town’s medical insurance plan; and clarification of the timing for “step” increases.  The Personnel Board voted unanimously on all proposed changes to the Plan.  

The Board also voted to add the title of Assistant Treasurer/Collector to the Compensation and Classification schedule and title changes for the Town Planner to the Director of Land Use and Permitting and the Town Accountant to Finance Director/Town Accountant.  

As previously reported by Boxborough News, the cost of the 2.7% wage adjustment is $37,300.  All eligible employees will also receive a 2.5% “step” increase.  

The Personnel Board meets in person on the second Tuesday of month at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

(13-MAR-25) At its meeting on March 10, the Boxborough Select Board reviewed and voted on a number of warrant articles for Annual Town Meeting, scheduled to begin on May 12.

The Board voted articles regarding the Constable’s salary, the town’s “tailings” (abandoned funds) policy, additional hours for the Treasurer-Collector, and a “swap shed” at the Transfer Station, among others. The Board delayed votes on a handful of remaining articles, including the article to fund the next phase of the fire station project and an article with amendments to the town’s Personnel Plan. The Board expects to vote the remaining articles, as well as finalize their written recommendations, at their next meeting on March 24.

The Board also heard a number of updates from Town Administrator Michael Johns, including that the town has submitted a proposal to UMass Medical to potentially bring a regional emergency services facility to Boxborough. Johns explained that the town’s proposal does not recommend one specific piece of land for the facility, and that the town does not own any of the land potentially under consideration, but he believes that “this would be a great opportunity for the town and we think [Boxborough] would be a great location for this facility.”

Johns also noted that a barricade has been erected at Flerra Meadows to prevent vehicles from driving on the majority of the property. Johns explained that due to the recent cycle of freezing and thawing, it is in the best interest of the property to prevent vehicle access at this time. However, the property is not closed to individuals; there is a small area off Stow Road that allows for some parking, and individuals are welcome to walk the remainder of the driveway to access the property. 

(12-Mar-25) At its meeting on February 20, Steele Farm Committee Chair Christopher Hydak reported that Steele Farm will be Boxborough’s “Hidden Treasure” this year. 

Each May, the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area (“Freedom’s Way”) sponsors a “Hidden Treasures” month. Freedom’s Way is a consortium of cities and towns that were involved in the events of April 1775, including Boxborough. During Hidden Treasures month, an organization in each participating town chooses a “treasure” to showcase to the public. In Boxborough, the Boxborough Historical Society (BHS) identifies the town’s Hidden Treasure each year. 

The Steele Farm Committee will be inviting the public to visit the Steele Farm property during the week of May 12 through May 18. Members of the committee and the BHS will open the barn and ice house for displays of farm equipment on Sunday, May 18 between 2 and 4 p.m. 

In other Steele Farm Committee business, Phase III of the effort to preserve the envelope of the 1784 Levi Wetherbee farmhouse at Steele Farm will restart in March. The contractor has ordered windows and other needed items, and the work is expected to be completed in two or three months. During this time, volunteers will apply a second coat of paint to the newly restored ice house. 

The next meeting of the Committee will take place in the Steele Farm Barn on Thursday April 10 at 7 p.m.

(12-Mar-25) At their meeting on March 6, the Recreation Commission (Rec Com) discussed preparations for Flerra Summer Playground, a half day program run by the Rec Com that offers a “summer fun experience for elementary school students.” This year, the program will run Monday through Friday for five weeks, from Monday, June 30 through Friday, August 1.

The program directors have all been hired. Counselor and CIT applications are now available at the Rec Com’s “MyRec” website, https://bit.ly/4if7z1I, and the town will be setting up interviews for counselors soon. Camper registration is expected to begin on April 1. 

Rec Com members also discussed the possibility of offering various activities in the afternoons after the Flerra Summer Playground program, which ends at noon each day. Questions arose regarding which programs might take place, the feasibility of transportation to those programs, and the number of potential participants. The Rec Com expects to discuss further at their next meeting. 

The RunBXB 5K race, sponsored by the Rec Com, is set for April 27 at the Craft Food Halls, located at 500 Beaver Brook Rd. Check-in will begin at 11:30 AM, and the race will start at noon. The registration fee is $25 per runner, which includes a race number and a T-shirt. Yankee Timing will provide chips for accurate recording of race times. 

The race route has yet to be determined, and the registration website is not yet active. Once the registration is active, participants can also raise funds for breast cancer research through a separate link on the registration website. The Rec Com is sponsoring the race; however, the fundraising efforts are independent. 

The signage for the newly acquired Erickson/Landry Field was also discussed. A temporary sign will be installed until the field's usage is determined. Due to the wetlands and ledge, the land is unsuitable for many sports activities. The Rec Com will work with Town Planner Alec Wade to determine whether construction of walking paths or volleyball courts might be possible.

The Recreation Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for April 3 at 7:15 p.m., in a hybrid format.

(6-MAR-25) At its meeting on March 3, the Boxborough Well-Being Committee hosted Jacquelin Apsler, Executive Director of Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN), for a one-hour conversation around domestic violence.

Apsler shared with the Committee that domestic violence victims often believe they are totally alone, unseen, unheard, and would never be believed. Many internalize the belief that the abuse is their fault, and, if they just did something different or better or more thoughtful, their abusive partner would not need to control, demean or hurt them.  

DVSN worked with 38 domestic violence victims from Boxborough in Fiscal Year 2024 and have 21 domestic violence cases so far in Fiscal Year 2025. Aspler said, “that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” as victims don’t always report domestic violence as it occurs.  

Wendy Trinks, Boxborough Community Services Coordinator, said that the victims she’s worked with “appreciate having someone who listens and validates their feelings.”  

Well-Being Committee Chair Mary Pavlik asked what the committee could do to support DVSN. Apsler said that DVSN trains all volunteer advocates and is always looking to add to their volunteer base. She asked that the committee spread the word about upcoming trainings and promote DVSN events, like the annual vigil.  

DVSN was established in 1998 in collaboration with the Concord and Acton police departments. Boxborough joined DVSN in 2007 and is one of 12 member communities, plus Hanscom Air Force Base, that works to end domestic violence.  

In other matters, the Well-Being Committee discussed a warrant article that would increase the Community Services Coordinator position from 25 to 35 hours per week. With the elimination of a department assistant position at $13,268, the net increase to the budget is $6,992. The committee voted unanimously to support the article.  

The Well-Being Committee meets in person on the first Monday of the month at 10 a.m. in the Morse-Hilberg room at Town Hall.  

(6-MAR-25) At their meeting on February 27, Boxborough’s MBTA Communities “3A” Advisory Group declined to vote a recommendation to the Boxborough Planning Board about where Boxborough’s MBTA Communities district should be located. 

Instead, the Advisory Group decided to present all eight potential locations to the Planning Board as a “draft recommendation” and ask the Planning Board whether they should continue their investigation. 

Boxborough Town Planner Alec Wade flagged that continued investigation by the Advisory Group may mean that the town will not be ready to bring MBTA Communities zoning to Annual Town Meeting in May and may instead have to wait until a Special Town Meeting in the fall.  

During the meeting, the majority of the Advisory Group expressed that they did not have enough information to choose between the eight locations and vote a recommendation. Members had questions about the “suitability” and “buildability” metrics presented by Town Planner Wade and asked for more information about the conditions on the ground at each location.

Advisory Group members also grappled with the fundamental question of whether the town should place its MBTA Communities district over existing housing or place the district in a location where it would be possible to develop new housing units. Members disagreed on which approach to take, and public opinion has also been mixed.

The MBTA Communities Act requires communities with access to MBTA amenities (and neighboring communities like Boxborough) to change zoning regulations to allow a certain amount of multifamily housing by-right. This program does not guarantee that housing will be produced, but creates the opportunity for future housing growth. Boxborough is required to adopt the required zoning change no later than December 2025.

The Advisory Group’s charge is to provide location recommendations to the Planning Board that meet the multi-family zoning requirements. To accomplish its task, the Advisory Group, led by Town Planner Wade, has held seven meetings over the past five months, conducted an in-person mapping workshop, designed and circulated an online survey, and worked with Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) consultant John Cruz, eventually coming up with eight possible MBTA Communities districts located throughout town.

(27-Feb-25) At a three-hour meeting on February 24, the Select Board walked through all articles on the draft Annual Town Meeting warrant, which includes a Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting. After seven new warrant articles were added, the Board voted unanimously to close the warrant. 

The Board then reviewed and discussed one article at a time, and either voted their recommendation on the article or “held” the article for a vote at their next meeting on March 10. 

The Select Board decided to “hold” articles concerning the Taylor Farm Road parcel acceptance, the Constable’s salary, the town’s “tailings” (abandoned funds) policy, additional hours for the Treasurer-Collector, the town’s “employer of choice” goal, and a Department of Public Works pickup truck, among others.

The Select Board also discussed the date and agenda for the first meeting of the recently reinstated Boxborough Leadership Forum (BLF). The BLF will hold its first meeting on March 5 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall and via Zoom. Participation by the Select Board, Finance Committee, School Committee, Library Trustees, and Planning Board is expected, but members of other town boards and committees are also welcome to join. The goal of the BLF is to facilitate communication between town boards.

Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg explained that the BLF agenda is expected to include a budget update from members of the Finance Committee, a school budget update from members of the School Committee, and a discussion of Annual Town Meeting Warrant articles. She invited other boards and committees to submit agenda items.

(20-Feb-25) At its meeting on February 13, the Boxborough Sustainability Committee (BSC) engaged with Tufts University students to review the Climate Action Plan survey and discussed plans for a swap shed. 

Students from the Tufts University Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (UEP) presented a draft survey for the Climate Action Plan to the committee. The Climate Action Plan is a guiding framework that would delineate specific, measurable climate action goals for the town to track toward. 

As an initial step, the UEP students designed a survey to gather feedback from Boxborough residents, with a focus on areas of interest the BSC had already identified: education and engagement, transportation and mobility, energy efficiency, and management of water resources. 

Several members of the committee emphasized the importance of understanding specific actions town residents would be willing to take in support of combating climate change. The Climate Action Plan would then be developed based on the town’s feedback. The survey is estimated to take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be open for a 4-week period.  Link to the Boxborough Climate Action Plan survey 

In other news, the committee voted to submit a warrant article to implement a swap shed at the Boxborough transfer station. A swap shed is a small building intended to facilitate the exchange of gently used items among town residents. Fran Spayne, a member of the public leading the effort behind the swap shed, noted that while there has been long-standing interest in implementing a swap shed for the town, an important tipping point was achieving alignment with the Department of Public Works. 

One of the Department of Public Works’ many responsibilities is managing the transfer station. Spayne and committee chair Kate Davies shared insights from touring swap sheds in the neighboring communities of Carlisle and Littleton. 

The committee discussed costs and logistics for building the swap shed and acknowledged the need to develop a detailed management plan, including traffic flow coordination for residents visiting the swap shed. 

Because the swap shed would not be sizable enough to store furniture or larger items, there is an additional plan to establish a biannual drop-off event at a convenient location in town. The Sustainability Committee will partner with Household Goods, a Massachusetts nonprofit organization that accepts donations and provides used furniture to local families in need, to ensure that items in good condition will get a second life.

Chair Kate Davies summarized the committee’s sentiment, “It’s going to be a couple of busy months at the Sustainability Committee, but I am really excited to start making some changes at the transfer station.” The next Sustainability Committee meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2025, at 7 pm. 

(20-Feb-25) At its meeting on February 18, the Boxborough Water Resources Committee (WRC) reviewed progress on the Littleton Waterline project. This project is being conducted by the Littleton Electric Light and Water Departments (LELWD) to bring clean, treated drinking water to properties located in Boxborough on Beaver Brook Road, Swanson Road, and Codman Hill Road. An update on the project has been posted at www.lelwd.com/boxborough-water-main. 

The committee discussed the I-495 Mass Ave bridge repairs as they relate to the possibility of the waterline crossing I-495 and supplying water for firefighting purposes to the east side of the bridge. This is not part of the current plan due to budgetary limitations, but the bridge design includes a “bay" that could accommodate such a line in the future. 

Turning their attention to the financial impact of the waterline to property owners along the route, the committee discussed betterment fees. Those fees will be assessed to individual homeowners, but an implementation plan has not yet been determined. 

The housing complexes that will be serviced by the waterline typically have only one water meter for each multifamily building. It is anticipated that LELWD will conduct meetings with owners in the various complexes to devise an equitable method of apportioning the fee for the building among the owners within the building.

The committee also discussed progress on the townwide water resource plan that is being developed by Weston & Sampson, the consulting firm hired by the Town to complete the plan. A report, including maps and a preliminary assessment of water sources, will be presented at the March WRC meeting.

The WRC’s next meeting will be on March 18 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. At this meeting, Chief Kivlan will provide an update on the town’s firefighting resources and capabilities.

(18-Feb-25) At its meeting on Thursday, February 13, the Boxborough Economic Development Committee (EDC) voted unanimously in favor of sending a “letter of support” for a potential “standalone emergency facility” in Boxborough. Town Planner Alec Wade explained to the Committee that, in the wake of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center shutdown, UMASS Memorial Health Alliance is looking to construct a new “standalone emergency facility” in the region.

Boxborough, along with many other nearby communities, are “throwing their hat in the ring” to be the location of the new emergency facility. The facility, Wade said, would not be a full hospital, but would provide emergency services with “low-level imaging services” as well.

According to Wade, he and Town Administrator Michael Johns, as well as Fire Chief John Kivlan, have been looking into whether it would be feasible to bring such a facility to Boxborough.

Wade noted that Boxborough has the advantage of being located roughly halfway between UMASS Memorial Health’s Leominster campus and Emerson Hospital, and also has access from I-495, making it a potentially ideal location for an emergency facility. 

Wade clarified that the town is not proposing specific sites for the facility but is instead hoping to engage UMASS Memorial Health and connect them to Boxborough property owners who might be interested in putting a potential site forward.

EDC members discussed advantages of such a facility in Boxborough and agreed to authorize EDC Chair Abby Reip to submit a letter of support for a standalone emergency facility in Boxborough, on behalf of the Committee.

The EDC also heard a presentation from representatives of Campanelli-Trigate LLC, who has submitted an application to the Boxborough Planning Board to amend the existing, but now lapsed, open space commercial development special permit for the Park at Beaver Brook. 

The EDC plans to discuss and compile feedback for the Planning Board about Campanelli’s development proposals at their next meeting on March 20.

(11-Feb-25) At its meeting on February 10, the Boxborough Select Board voted to approve a comprehensive review of town fees and licenses in order to consider whether fee adjustments may be appropriate. 

The Board agreed with Town Administrator Mike Johns’ proposal to compare the town’s current fee structures with those of surrounding communities and also compare them against costs associated with the relevant town services. 

The review would include fees associated with field use and recreation, the transfer station, and various permits and licenses. TA Johns expects to have an intern help with the project over the summer and bring a report back to the Board in early fall.

The Board also voted to reconvene the “Boxborough Leadership Forum” (BLF), a group that previously existed and was discontinued. The Board’s motion contemplated participation by the Select Board, Finance Committee, School Committee, Library Trustees, and Planning Board.

Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg emphasized that anyone who would like to join BLF meetings – from these or other town boards and committees, as well as from town departments – is welcome to join. The Board’s motion also noted that BLF proceedings will be conducted in accordance with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. 

Chair Hilberg explained that the goal of the BLF is to facilitate communication between town boards. The next step will be for the Select Board to set a date for the BLF’s first meeting. The Board also considered but declined to take action on a potential “Safe Communities” warrant article that has been recommended by some Boxborough residents.

At its meeting on January 27, the Select Board heard from Police Chief John Szewczyk about the Boxborough police department’s current policy “not to voluntarily comply with ICE detainer requests absent a judicial warrant” and the Board indicated that they would consider a potential Annual Town Meeting (ATM) warrant article memorializing this policy.

Town Administrator Johns reported to the Board that, according to town counsel, the policy of the Boxborough police department is aligned with Massachusetts state law. The Board discussed the current “fluidity” of federal immigration enforcement policies and the potential unintended consequences of pursuing a warrant article on this topic. 

The Board decided not to pursue a warrant article and instead wait and see what happens at the federal level in the coming months. The Board also reopened the ATM warrant until February 24 and presented the Executive Summary of the Town Administrator’s Annual Performance Review. 

The Board rated Town Administrator Johns as “outstanding” in nine out of ten categories and “highly effective” in the tenth category. Board members praised Johns for his continued hard work and professionalism. 

(11-Feb-25) At a four-and-a-half-hour budget workshop on Saturday, February 8, the Acton-Boxborough School Committee voted unanimously to set the FY26 Preliminary Budget at $116,791,164 with a preliminary assessment to Boxborough of $16,824,370. This represents a 5.41% increase to Boxborough’s assessment from last year. 

The Preliminary Budget and assessment numbers voted on Saturday are higher than the numbers presented at the School Committee’s prior meeting on January 30, when Superintendent Peter Light recommended a $116,135,080 preliminary budget.

This is due in part to the School Committee’s decision on Saturday to increase the budget based on the expectation that the district is likely to receive additional per-pupil funding from the state. 

In their motion to approve the increased budget, the School Committee stated that the assessments to Acton and Boxborough will be reduced if and when the district does receive the expected additional funding.

Typically, explained School Committee Chair Adam Klein, additional revenue received from the state each year goes directly to the “Excess & Deficiency” fund and not to the operating budget, “so we can’t actually take advantage of it.”

By increasing the budget in anticipation of receiving these funds, the district can use the revenue coming from the state to potentially avoid some of the proposed staffing cuts.

Since there is no guarantee that the district will get the expected funding from the state, the town assessments must be increased to support the increased budget. However, the School Committee expects to be able to decrease the assessments to the towns once the district receives revenue information from the state. 

The School Committee also held a discussion about longer-term “reorganization” to address the ongoing budget challenges. Superintendent Light introduced the discussion by explaining that continued “efficiency” cuts year after year are becoming increasingly detrimental to students and educators and that the district might be better served by exploring potential long-term “reorganization.” 

The Committee discussed timing, public engagement, and potential format for exploring “reorganization.” The Committee plans to hold a workshop on April 3 to further discuss these ideas. 

(5-FEB-25) On Tuesday, January 28, the Boxborough Housing Board (BHB) assembled for their first monthly meeting of the year. BHB members were joined by two town employees who came to speak about ongoing projects being supported by BHB. 

Associate Town Planner Rafi Nizam provided an overview of the pilot Homeowner Opportunity for Preservation and Equity (HOPE) Program and HOPE’s first project, replacing the roofs at the Boxborough Meadows. Boxborough Meadows is a 48-unit Chapter-40B ownership development, which is located off Mass Ave and contains 12 affordable units. BHB previously voted to use funds from their Affordable Housing Trust to replace the Boxborough Meadows roofs. BHB members discussed a timeline for paying the contractor hired to do the roof replacements and the need for an external construction expert to oversee the day-to-day management of future HOPE projects. 

The Board also discussed the MBTA Communities Act and the 70-72 Stow Road parcel, which is currently under the control of the BHB and being considered as a site for a new fire station.

The MBTA Communities Act requires communities with access to MBTA amenities to change zoning regulations to allow multifamily housing by-right. Boxborough’s requirement equates to 118 units of housing at a minimum density of 15 units per acre – resulting in the need to identify approximately 8 acres to be zoned for multifamily housing. 

The Board agreed that the 70-72 Stow Road parcel, if not selected as the fire station building site, could be considered for the MBTA Communities multifamily zoning.

Town Community Services Coordinator Wendy Trinks also consulted the Board with some policy questions regarding Boxborough’s Rental Assistance Program (BRAP). BHB members and Trinks discussed whether BRAP’s policies addressed how to proceed in the event that a participant may need to delay their annual eligibility recertification due to unforeseen circumstances as it relates to their program enrollment.

As a final order of business, BHB members discussed the persistent need for more members and evaluated the pros and cons of adopting hybrid virtual-in-person meetings going forward. Residents interested in getting involved should visit the BHB page on the town website, available at https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/338/Housing-Board. 

(5-FEB-25) At their meeting on January 30, the Acton-Boxborough School Committee heard a presentation from Superintendent Peter Light on the FY26 Preliminary Budget.

The FY26 Preliminary Budget is currently $116.1 million. This represents a 3% increase from the FY25 budget, based on the School Committee’s budget guidelines requesting “an overall budget increase of no greater than 3%.”

This Preliminary Budget would mean a $16.8 million assessment to Boxborough, an increase of 5.25% from last year.

Superintendent Light explained that a “maintenance of services” from FY25 to FY26 would require a total budget of $118.1 million, leaving a gap of roughly $2 million. He emphasized that the district is “running out of options” to balance the budget and walked through the strategies and priorities that guided the development of the Preliminary Budget. The Preliminary Budget includes a net reduction of 18.64 full time employees.

Superintendent Light noted that revenue numbers are expected to change. The School Committee agreed that if revenues increase from current estimates, the assessments to the towns should remain unchanged and the additional revenues should be used to increase the budget.

During their discussion, School Committee members acknowledged the burdens that the budget cuts place on educators and expressed frustration with state funding models. Some members encouraged the public to contact their state representatives and advocate for more education funding from the state.

On Saturday, February 8, the School Committee will hold a budget workshop beginning at 8:30 a.m. to review the Preliminary Budget in greater detail. The district is expected to present a “Recommended Budget” on March 13, and the School Committee is scheduled to conduct a final budget vote on March 20.

The School Committee also voted to approve the 2025-2026 school calendar presented at their January 16 meeting. The first days of school (depending on grade level) will be August 27 and 28. The last day of school is scheduled for June 18 (pending snow days). The calendar is available at https://bit.ly/42GJFHI. 

During discussion before the vote, School Committee members expressed differing perspectives about the district’s recognition of holidays. This year, there are 32 days off for holidays, vacation days, and staff professional development days. Some members advocated for recognizing all holidays, while others expressed concern about the hardship that school holidays can create for families. The Committee did not change the number of recognized holidays but noted that they may revisit the issue next year. 

(28-Jan-25) At their meeting on Thursday, the Boxborough Economic Development Committee (EDC) discussed the January 21 Village Center Focus Group, a by-invitation-only session for residents, businesses, and property owners in the “village center” district. The focus group session was conducted by Sharon Rooney of Tighe & Bond, the consulting firm hired to conduct the Village Center Feasibility Assessment in Spring of 2024.

EDC members present at the focus group reported that participant feedback included the importance of sidewalks and walkability on Massachusetts Avenue and Stow Road; support for potential connections between the “four corners” area (Mass Ave, Stow Road, and Middle Road intersection) and the Middlesex Bank Plaza; concern about a perceived lack of town support for small businesses; and some opposition to “commercialization” of the village center area.

Participants also expressed concern about the “finality” of the language in Tighe & Bond’s Village Center report. Overall, said EDC member Rich Guzzardi, “a preponderance of the group was interested and wanted to continue the conversation,” and there was consensus around the need for walkability and gathering spaces, as well as support for small businesses.

The EDC decided to ask Tighe & Bond to revise their Village Center report in response to the feedback about the “finality” of the language and include a summary of the focus group.The EDC’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. 

 (28-Jan-25) At a three-hour meeting on January 23, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) decided to postpone their selection of a site for the new fire station. Instead, they voted to request a revision to the FSBC Charter that would allow them to consider a “public safety building” (that is, a combined facility for the police and fire departments) at 502 Mass Ave.

FSBC Chair Mary Brolin opened the meeting by explaining that although they had originally planned to choose a site that night, the committee felt it did not have enough information to complete that task at this time. 

She also read aloud a letter to the FSBC from Building Inspector Ed Cataldo expressing his opinion that Boxborough’s zoning bylaws do not specifically allow a firehouse to be built anywhere in town and that a zoning bylaw amendment would be required to correct this apparent error.

Brolin stated that this issue, as well as others identified in recent letters to the committee from Boxborough residents, was undergoing further investigation by the Town Administrator and Town Planner, as well as town counsel. 

The Committee then turned to the possibility of constructing a “public safety building” at 502 Mass Ave and voted to request that the Boxborough Select Board revise the FSBC charter to allow the committee to pursue the possibility of a public safety building at that location. The current FSBC charter currently only allows the FSBC to pursue a “fire station.”

FSBC members noted that constructing a combined public safety building closer to or partially on the police station property may be a better use of space given the wetlands constraints at 502 Mass Ave. Committee members also discussed how pursuing a public safety building instead of a standalone fire station would increase the cost of the project.   

Moving on, Context Architecture (“Context”) presented a revised site plan for the 72 Stow Road site and three new site plans for the 502 Mass Ave site. All three plans for 502 Mass Ave were designed with an eye toward a “future connection” with the police station.

Context also presented the results of traffic analyses and response time analyses for 72 Stow Road and 502 Mass Ave. They also reported back on the 502 Mass Ave wetlands delineation hearing at the Boxborough Conservation Committee meeting on January 22, noting that the hearing was continued to Wednesday, February 5. 

While the Conservation Commission is likely to approve the proposed wetlands delineation, they are not expected to comment further on the feasibility of building a fire station at that site. The FSBC also decided that they will not be in a position to seek funding at the March Special Town Meeting. 

They are expected to pull their article from the Special Town Meeting warrant. They did not decide when they would seek further funding.  The next FSBC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 13.

(22-Jan-25) At its meeting on January 16, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee did a “first read” (an initial review without voting) of the proposed 2025-2026 school calendar. The draft calendar is available to view at https://bit.ly/4al1YUB.

According to the draft calendar, the first days of school for students would be August 27, 2025 (kindergarten through 7th grade, and 9th grade) and August 28 (8th grade and 10th through 12th grade). The last day of school would be June 18, 2026. There are 32 days off for holidays, vacation days, and full-day staff professional development days.

Superintendent Peter Light noted that “this is the first time where…. every observance that we have chosen to recognize falls on a weekday, so… it definitely does stress the system….”

School Committee members expressed differing perspectives about the number of school holidays on the calendar. Some committee members felt strongly that it is important to recognize all holidays. Other committee members felt strongly that the number of holidays currently on the calendar creates hardship for families. 

Committee Chair Adam Klein recognized that “we can hold both of those truths at the same time… we need to represent and celebrate all of the diversity in our community but we also have to represent and understand the changing demographics in our community… we are more and more a community of people who have greater needs ….”

The Committee discussed past community surveys on this issue and a potential community engagement process. Superintendent Light recommended forming a subcommittee to tackle the issue. The Committee is expected to vote on the calendar at its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, January 30.

The Committee also heard a presentation from MaryAnn Young, the Coordinator of Multilingual Education, about the district’s Multilingual Education Program. According to the presentation, multilingual student enrollment has nearly doubled since 2015.

There are currently 430 students in the multilingual program, with 80% of these students at the elementary level. The district recently conducted a program review by an independent consultant which concluded in November. 

The consultant’s recommendations included hiring and scheduling suggestions, as well as recommendations concerning curriculum materials and professional learning. 

The Committee unanimously voted in favor of updates to “Policy ADG,” the district’s Sustainability Policy. The policy can be found https://bit.ly/3PL8g6g. 

The School Committee will be holding a “Budget Saturday” on February 8, beginning at 8:15 a.m. in the Administration Building. Says Chair Klein, “We will be presenting our detailed budget and discussing major budget drivers for FY26. I also expect to have a discussion of the future budget trajectory for the district as we are unable to keep cutting budgets and services. The public is welcome to attend!”

(22-Jan-25) At its hybrid meeting on January 16, the Boxborough Recreation Commission finalized the details of Winterfest, voted to extend Flerra Summer Playground by one week, discussed possible uses for the Landry parcel, and set a date for the third annual RunBXB road race.

The commission worked through several details for Winterfest, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 25 from 1 to 4 p.m.at Steele Farm. Issues surrounding food service, vendor payments, and the exact location of the bonfire were discussed at length. Due to circumstances beyond their control, the Rec Com found themselves without the food truck that they had originally secured.

To ensure that there would be hot food available for purchase, a last-minute request was made to the Nashoba Board of Health to allow a local boy scout troop to sell burgers and hot dogs.

Pivoting to summer programming, commission members discussed the Flerra Summer Playground schedule. Summer Playground is a half day program run by the Rec Com that offers a “summer fun experience for elementary school students.” It is an extremely popular program amongst Boxborough families; in recent years, children from other towns have also enrolled. 

Historically, Summer Playground runs Monday through Friday for four weeks in July. Since the program revenue exceeds its operating cost and the 2025 calendar “allows,” Rec Com members voted unanimously to run a five week program this year. The program will run from Monday, June 30 through Friday, August 1.

Commission members discussed possible uses for Landry Field, located at 144 Summer Road. The 7.5 acre parcel was gifted to the town in 2022 by Ruth Landry  “with a restriction that it be used for recreational purposes, and that it never be developed or put into conservation use.” Landry knew that there was a need for a softball field in Boxborough and was hopeful that her donation could be used for that purpose. 

When asked to comment, Rec Com member Megan Connor stated, “unfortunately, there is so much wetlands on the property and a small stream running though, a softball field would be impossible to develop there.” A community garden and a pathway with exercise stations were two of the ideas that Rec Com discussed as potential uses for the property.

After a brief discussion of possible dates for the third annual RunBXB road race, Rec Com members decided to hold the event on April 27. The course will start and end at Craft Food Halls on Beaver Brook Road. This year, Rec Com plans to use the event to fundraise for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Details for the event and fundraiser are forthcoming. The next meeting of the Rec Com is scheduled for February 6 at 7:15 in a hybrid format.

(16-JAN-25) At its meeting on January 9, Steele Farm Committee Chair Christopher Hydak reported that Phase III of the effort to preserve the envelope of the 1784 Levi Wetherbee farmhouse at Steele Farm has started. The contractor has ordered the windows, and a work plan is in place. Exterior work is expected to begin in the spring, or as weather allows. Spring is also when the newly restored ice house will receive its second coat of paint.   

Committee members discussed ongoing maintenance of the landscape, including continued mowing, tree removal, eradication of invasive species, and maintenance of the holiday tree farm. A volunteer “work party” will be scheduled in the coming months.

The committee also heard a report from the Agricultural Commission that a multi-year contract with a local farmer for haying of the property is moving forward. Committee members expressed support for the contract, which would take into account protection of bobolink nesting season.  

The next meeting of the committee will take place in the Boxborough Museum at 575 Middle Road on Thursday February 6 at 7 p.m.

(16-JAN-25) At its meeting on Tuesday, January 14, the Personnel Board discussed potential changes to the Personnel Plan (the Plan).

The proposed changes to the Plan provide non-union and contract employees a maximum stipend of $2,400 when they opt out of the town’s medical insurance plan. Employees may opt back into the plan, either during open enrollment or if they experience a qualifying event or hardship. The proposed changes also allow employees to convert unused personal days into sick days to be used the following year. Employees currently receive 3 personal days each year.

The Board previously voted a 2.7% wage adjustment for non-contract and non-union employees effective July 1, 2025 for a total increase in salaries of $37,300. In addition to the wage adjustment, the Plan also provides a 2.5% step increase for all eligible employees. All changes to the Personnel Plan must be approved at Annual Town Meeting (ATM), which is scheduled for May 2025.

In other matters, Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson updated the Board about a training program entitled “Leadership Matters” sponsored by the Public Sector Consortium. The program includes formal classroom work, mentored practice in the workplace, the completion of an innovations project, and a forum of shared best practices. Program topics include systems thinking, negotiation, and aligning systems for high performance outcomes.

Town Administrator Mike Johns reported that the cost of the program is $25,000; $10,000 for the classroom session and $15,000 for the innovation project. As a former graduate of the program, Johns has secured a $5,000 scholarship and has applied for an additional $5,000 grant through the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), which would leave a balance of $15,000 to be funded through a warrant article at ATM.

The Personnel Board meets in person at Town Hall on the second Tuesday of the month. Their next meeting is scheduled for February 11 at 5:30 p.m.

(14-Jan-25) New to town? Have a new neighbor just getting settled in? The Town of Boxborough has published a “New Residents Quick Reference Guide” with links to a number of resources that may be useful to new residents – or even longtime residents who could use a refresher. 

The guide includes links to information about voter registration, building permits, transfer station stickers, and other certificates and licenses. A list of “social support services” as well as child care and pet care services are also included. Local recreation, celebrations, civic groups, and news sources are also covered, and Boxborough restaurants are listed at the end. The guide is available at https://bit.ly/40xVzlH.

Select Board member Dave McKiernan created the guide. The idea for a quick reference document, he explains, “came about as a result of discussions with residents” during his monthly office hours at Town Hall. “Boxborough strives to be known as a ‘welcoming community’ and having a quick reference guide that welcomes new residents can be a good first step,” says McKiernan. 

“We believe that this information would be helpful to many residents, but especially to those who recently moved to Boxborough from out of town.” McKiernan notes that this is a “first version” and that the document will be updated periodically. 

He hopes that the guide will evolve into a professional brochure about Boxborough that would be available at Town Hall and from local real estate brokers. "It’s a great new tool for the Town,” said Town Administrator Mike Johns, crediting McKiernan for “both the idea and work.” McKiernan holds office hours in the Morse-Hilberg room at Town Hall on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

(14-Jan-25) On the wintry evening of January 9, the Boxborough Sustainability Committee (BSC) met to discuss progress on waste reduction efforts and the Climate Action Plan.  In anticipation of receiving a municipal technical assistance grant from MassDEP, BSC chair Kate Davies shared that a working group composed of representatives from the BSC, the Select Board, the Finance Committee, and an at-large member has been organized to guide waste reduction efforts associated with the award. 

If awarded, the working group would begin collaborating with Julia Greene, the MassDEP Municipal Assistance Coordinator assigned to Boxborough, on a waste reduction or recycling project. A few members of the public participated in a productive discussion around implementing a swap shed at the Boxborough transfer station. 

A swap shed would allow residents to drop off and take gently used items at no charge, promoting sustainability by giving items a second life. Currently, limited space at the transfer station requires employees to clear the area of large items every day. Fran Spayne, a member of the public and a volunteer leading the effort to establish the swap shed, shared that Household Goods would be open to a partnership to support pickup for potential unclaimed items at the swap shed. 

Household Goods is a Massachusetts nonprofit organization that accepts donations and provides used furniture for local families in need. In other business, the committee discussed progress on the Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan is a strategic framework that outlines actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and can function as the Sustainability Committee’s voice in guiding local policies. 

Many towns in Massachusetts have already adopted a municipal Climate Action Plan, including neighboring Acton, Stow, and Harvard. As an initial step towards developing a Climate Action Plan for Boxborough, a group of masters degree students from the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University will research example plans, review existing data on Boxborough, and conduct some public outreach to develop a suite of preliminary ideas.

Planner Wade shared examples from other towns of different areas of focus, and the committee identified six areas of interest for Boxborough: waste, education, transportation, energy and built environments, resilience, and natural resources. The BSC also voted to begin work on the Specialized Stretch code. The Specialized Stretch code is a building energy code designed to help Massachusetts achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals by 2050.

Committee member Jay Krishnasamy shared challenges with maintaining the Energize Boxborough website. Energize Boxborough is part of a series of websites hosted by MassEnergize, intended to support communities in encouraging climate actions at the local and household level. The committee explored ideas to better utilize and promote traffic to the website. 

Krishnasamy will meet with a MassEnergize representative to discuss ways to make improvements. The Energize Boxborough website is available at https://community.massenergize.org/BoxboroughMA.  

The next Sustainability Committee meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2025, at 7 p.m. 

(7-JAN-25)  At its meeting on December 19, the A-B School Committee heard the findings from the Elementary Budget Task Force (“Task Force”) presented by Tori Campbell, School Committee member and Task Force Chairperson, and Nate Levenson of consulting firm New Solutions K12.

The Task Force was created to involve the community in an exploration of potential cost-saving measures in the wake of last year’s challenging FY2025 budget process. The charge of the Task Force was to “review, endorse, and validate” the data gathered by the consultant, and then recommend options for cost-saving strategies.

In his presentation on the Task Force’s findings, Levenson was clear that none of the findings are “recommendations” for the district to implement; instead, they are meant to be potential “opportunities” for cost savings to consider only if necessary.  

These “opportunities” include (1) adjust staffing of non-classroom roles from a one-per-school approach to an equity formula that more closely matches student needs; (2) expand group sizes for interventionists, counselors, and coaches; (3) examine the need for classroom assistants; and (4) consider staffing specials teachers more closely to class size guidelines. The consultant also found that the elementary open enrollment system is cost beneficial, not costly, to the district.

The Committee discussed the Task Force’s findings and heard public comment but did not, and are not expected to, conduct any vote on the findings. The district is expected to consider and potentially incorporate the findings into their preliminary budget, which they are scheduled to present to the School Committee on January 30.

The district has identified a $2.5 million budget deficit for FY2026. The School Committee’s FY2026 budget guidelines direct the district to increase the budget no more than 3%.  The School Committee also heard a presentation on the district’s Capital Improvement Program for FY2025 and beyond, presented by Brendan Hearn, the district’s Capital Infrastructure Project Manager, and Facilities Coordinator Marc Hamel.

(7-JAN-25) The Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) and Select Board kicked off the Town’s annual budget process at its joint meeting on Saturday January 4.  Town Administrator Michael Johns opened the meeting by outlining the budget goals, namely to “deliver high quality public services, attract and retain high quality staff…and maintain a desirable place to live and do business.”

Preliminary projections showed a 6% increase in the Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget. This does not include the Acton Boxborough Regional School District assessment or collective bargaining agreements for Police, Fire and DPW.  However, there were some discrepancies between the “adjusted budget” for Fiscal Year 2025 and what was voted at the May 2024 Annual Town Meeting (ATM). 

An “adjusted budget” includes some payroll items from warrant articles that were voted at ATM but were not included in the operating budget (which is voted separately). Those discrepancies need to be resolved before the town has a clear picture of what the budget will look like for Fiscal Year 2026.  The budget process was somewhat hampered with the rollout of ClearGov, a new software program designed to make it easy to report and view town financial data. 

According to FinCom Chair Antony Newton, the “data is uploaded by the town accountant and then made available in ClearGov for reporting.”  At the meeting, FinCom members noted that they were not given access to ClearGov until the day before the meeting and did not receive any training on how to produce the needed reports. The town plans to provide training for both the Finance team and FinCom during the next few weeks.  

Saturday’s meeting was the first step in the budget review process. Budgets will shift and change over the next few months until finalized by FinCom and voted by both the Select Board and FinCom before a final vote at ATM in May 2025. FinCom has hybrid meetings scheduled for the next several Tuesdays starting at 7 p.m.