News

School Committee Works Toward April 9 Decision on New Geographic Boundaries for Elementary Enrollment

(20-MAR-26) At its meeting on March 19, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee continued to discuss the drawing of new geographic zones to determine how students will be assigned to the district’s newly reorganized elementary schools.

The district’s consultant Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”) asked the School Committee to provide feedback and guidance on three key issues: the “Blanchard expansion zone” in Acton, “transition policies,” and “flex zones.”

The “Blanchard expansion zone” generated the most discussion among School Committee members. As the consultant has explained to the School Committee, there is not enough space in the Acton elementary schools to fit all current Acton students; some students from Acton will have to attend Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough. The geographic zones will determine which area(s) of Acton will be assigned to Blanchard in order to have reasonable “utilization” rates across all the elementary schools.

After many questions and comments from members, the School Committee came to a general consensus that they should move forward with the consultant’s recommended “expansion zone” that includes two areas described in the consultant’s materials as the “Ethan Allen neighborhood” and “North of Route 2.” According to the consultant, this area is “connected via Central Street (west of Indian Village)” and “creates one cohesive Blanchard zone with no satellite boundaries.” This area also “offers the most sustainable enrollment pace for Blanchard” and “is the most efficient busing route.”

Two School Committee members, including Boxborough member Vikram Parikh, asked the consultant for additional data about the expansion zone options in a heated exchange, leading School Committee Chair Tori Campbell to cut Parikh off, saying “enough, enough… take a breath, we’re getting heated here….”

When reached for comment on Friday morning, Parikh told Boxborough News: “This is a particularly arduous time for the School Committee, and we are trying to do the best we can by our kids in the very short time we have remaining. These momentous decisions will affect thousands of children in our district. Grade schoolers are facing tremendous stress over what will be happening to them going into next year, and I want to mitigate any further negative elements, in this particular case, excessively long bus rides. At times discussions may have the appearance of being somewhat heated. At these junctures it is Tori's job as the School Committee Chair to monitor and guide discussions so we can progress, this is what occurred last night.”

With respect to “transition policies,” (which would apply only to current students), School Committee members agreed that their priority is to allow Acton residents in the “Blanchard expansion zone” to finish their elementary education at their “current campus.”

The School Committee had previously expressed interest in having a transition policy that would also allow all rising sixth-graders to stay at their current campus. However, the consultant explained that it is “highly unlikely” that all sixth-graders could be “grandfathered” unless the district chooses to stop providing bus transportation to all “walker” students within one mile of a school. School Committee members indicated that they would like to prioritize providing bus transportation to all students, including “walkers,” even if it means that rising sixth-graders cannot stay at their current campus.

Finally, the School Committee gave the consultant feedback on the governing rules for “flex zones.” Flex zones are designated regions that allow the district flexibility to shift incoming students to an elementary school other than their original geographically-assigned school in order to address imbalances across the schools.

Dillinger is expected to bring a final plan for a School Committee vote at their next meeting on April 9.

In other business, the School Committee voted to adopt the FY2027 school budget in the amount of $122,593,238. The Superintendent did not make a presentation and indicated that there have been no changes since the School Committee last reviewed the budget. The assessment to Boxborough is $17,734,103.

The School Committee also voted unanimously for the district to move forward with contracts for four solar installations – two parking canopies on the main campus and rooftop arrays on the main campus and the Boardwalk campus – and also agreed (without voting) to direct the Superintendent to negotiate an agreement with the Town of Acton for the town’s temporary use of the Conant building during upcoming Acton Town Hall renovations.

Boxborough Voters Approve Fire Station Debt Exclusion in Special Election

(19-Mar-26) On March 17, Boxborough voters went to the polls for a Special Election and passed two debt exclusion questions related to the building of a new fire station on Massachusetts Avenue. With the passage of these ballot questions, the funding that the town approved at the March 9 Special Town Meeting for the fire station building project can move forward.

Ballot Question #1 asked if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to purchase 984 Massachusetts Avenue for public safety purposes. Ballot Question #1 passed 470 to 52.

Ballot Question #2 asked if the town should be allowed to exempt from Proposition 2 ½ the amount required to pay for the bond to fund the “design and bid” phase of the fire station project. Ballot Question #2 passed 462 to 60.

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

At the March 9 Special Town Meeting, more than 330 voters in attendance passed by overwhelming margins the three articles on the warrant – all related to the construction of the new firehouse.

A few days after the Special Town Meeting, the town’s Fire Station Building Committee met and began preparing to hire a design firm, subject to the outcome of the Special Election. The town is expected to post a Request for Qualifications this week, with proposals due April 1 and interviews mid-April. Once a firm is hired, the town aims to conduct a designer kickoff meeting in May.

Planning Board Withdraws Mass Ave Zoning Article for ATM

(19-MAR-26) At its meeting on Monday, March 16, the Boxborough Planning Board spent four hours discussing and voting their recommendations on amendments to the Boxborough Zoning Bylaw and proposed General Bylaws.

Acting as chair in the absence of Planning Board Chair Rebecca Verner, Planning Board Clerk Rich Guzzardi reopened the public hearing for the proposed zoning bylaw amendments for approval by Annual Town Meeting. Guzzardi walked the Board through some revisions he had made to the proposed Mass Ave gateway district since the previous hearing on February 23. Guzzardi’s changes were informed by feedback he had received from landowners and occupants in the proposed district during a meeting held on March 11.

Guzzardi’s proposal would create a new zoning district along Mass Ave: Business-2 (B2). This district would convert targeted parcels currently in the Industrial Commercial (IC) district to the new B2 district to “lower the intensity” and restrict uses like warehouses and self-storage units, which are currently allowed by right on these parcels, and allow other uses, like retail and specialty food shops, which current zoning prohibits.

Members of the public and many of the affected landowners and occupants in the proposed district attended the public hearing and spoke. Some business owners expressed concern that the revised zoning might restrict their ability to remain responsive and adaptable to future market conditions because the new zone may restrict industrial uses of their property.

While Planning Board members expressed general support for the proposed zoning and exchanged ideas for further modifications to the proposal, they voted to withdraw the article for Annual Town Meeting (ATM) because there was not enough time to revise the language and continue the public hearing prior to ATM.

The public hearing continued with discussion of revisions to the Town’s Design Review Bylaw. Currently, the Design Review Bylaw applies to new construction, exterior alteration, or expansion of buildings (except for pre-existing single-family dwellings) and new or modified signs only in the Town Center District. The proposed amendment would apply Design Review to the Business and Business-1 Districts. The Board voted unanimously to advance the article to ATM.

Before closing the public hearing for the zoning bylaw amendments, Planning Board members discussed and voted unanimously to approve the amended definition of a specialty food shop to include the sale of alcohol.

Previously, the Planning Board voted to bring two other zoning bylaw amendments to ATM (expanding the maximum square footage of accessory dwelling units and revising parking calculations under site plan review), bringing the total number of zoning bylaw amendment articles for ATM 2026 to four.

The Planning Board also discussed proposals for the Town’s General Bylaws, including a scenic road bylaw, a rodenticide ban, and a plastic bag, polystyrene, and disposable plastic reduction bylaw.

General Bylaws do not require a public hearing. However, Acting Chair Guzzardi did take feedback from members of the public on the proposed Scenic Road Bylaw, which would impose penalties (fines) for the removal of trees and stone walls in the right of way along town roads designated as “scenic roadways.” There are twelve roads in Boxborough that are listed as scenic roads. Comments from the public focused on the lack of awareness and education about this bylaw with one saying, “How many of these people even know that they are part of a scenic road?” In a unanimous vote, Planning Board members voted to withdraw the scenic roadways bylaw article for 2026 ATM and work to educate the public before bringing the article to a future Town Meeting.

Discussing other General Bylaws, the Board voted unanimously to bring a plastic bag, polystyrene, and disposable plastic reduction bylaw to ATM, and worked through language on the rodenticide ban bylaw.

Town Planner Alec Wade informed the Board that Town Counsel advised the Board to move forward in two steps on the rodenticide ban bylaw because a home rule petition is required. A home rule petition is when the town asks the state for permission to regulate something (e.g., a specific pesticide) at a higher level than what is written into state law. According to information Wade received from counsel, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has stricken home rule petition attempts when the bylaw is “attached.” Therefore, the article will ask voters at ATM to authorize the home rule petition for the bylaw. If the state grants a home rule petition, the rodenticide ban bylaw will come to a future Town Meeting for a vote.

In other business, Planner Wade informed the board that the Select Board will vote their recommendation and appoint the Associate Planning Board Member at their March 23 meeting. The Select Board and Planning Board votes will be tallied and combined to determine who will serve as the Associate Member. As previously reported by Boxborough News, the Planning Board voted unanimously at its February 27 meeting to recommend Than Stuntz as their Associate Member. In a straw poll leading up to that vote, Chair Verner and member Cindy Markowitz expressed their preference for Mark Barbadoro, the only other candidate. Markowitz asked that the straw poll votes be forwarded to the Select Board for consideration rather than the previously recorded (unanimous) vote taken at the February 27 meeting.

Boxborough Emergency Assistance Program Grant Funding Available

(19-Mar-26) The Town of Boxborough’s “Modified Boxborough Emergency Assistance Program” (MBEAP) is a one-time grant available for residents with emergency needs. The MBEAP program is overseen by the Town of Boxborough’s Community Services Coordinator Wendy Trinks.

Residents in need of emergency financial assistance can apply for a one-time grant of $500. Residents must meet certain income and asset limits to be eligible. Subject to criteria set forth in the application, grant funds may be used towards emergency expenses related to housing and utility payments, as well as emergency car repairs or child care that enables residents to continue employment. The funds are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Current funding for the MBEAP program was approved by voters at Boxborough’s last Annual Town Meeting in May 2025. The MBEAP warrant article for $20,000, initiated by Trinks, was passed with overwhelming support. “The generosity to earmark funds to help those with emergency needs such as rent, mortgage, and utility payments is a testament to Boxborough neighbors helping neighbors,” said Trinks.

Current funds remaining in the MBEAP program must be used by June 30, 2026, the end of the current fiscal year. Trinks has included MBEAP funding in the town’s Community Services budget for the next fiscal year, which will come before voters at the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

For more information on how to apply for MBEAP, visit https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/617/Modified-Boxborough-Emergency-Assistance or contact Community Services Coordinator Trinks at (978) 264-1735 or wtrinks@boxborough-ma.gov. Information about the program is available in multiple languages, and Trinks is available to help residents complete the application.

Fire Station Building Committee Prepares for Designer Selection Process

(13-MAR-26) On March 12, three days after Boxborough voters approved funding for the “design and bid” phase of the fire station construction project, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) reconvened to sketch out the process for hiring a design firm.

Steve Kirby of Vertex, the town’s owner’s project manager (OPM), has prepared a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that will be posted next week. Proposals will be due April 1 and will be reviewed and scored to establish a “short list” by April 9. Kirby originally proposed interviews to take place on April 23, but revised this to April 16 after FSBC members urged him to “tighten” the timeline as much as possible to minimize the overall delay to the fire station project. After a firm is selected, a contract will be negotiated and signed. The town would aim to conduct a designer kickoff meeting by late May.

Town Administrator Michael Johns explained that the Boxborough Select Board has the authority to establish the committee that will rank the designers, conduct interviews, and negotiate a contract with their top choice. Johns stated that he will recommend to the Select Board that the FSBC members should serve as that designer selection committee. FSBC Mary Brolin agreed that it will be most “efficient” for the FSBC to undertake this design selection task. The Select Board is expected to take this up at its March 23 meeting.

For the past several years, the town has worked with design firm Context Architecture (Context). Context was originally hired after the town put out an RFQ in August 2022 and Context was the only applicant.

Town Administrator Johns reported to the FSBC that there was a complaint filed with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General in February 2026 regarding that selection process. Johns explained that he consulted with counsel about the complaint and believes that it is in the best interest of the town to put out another RFQ and conduct another designer selection process. Johns acknowledged that the designer selection process will delay the fire station project by about 8-10 weeks, but he believes that “it’s more efficient to put it out again” than to go through the process of rebutting the complaint. Johns also noted that conducting a new designer selection process appears to be “important to the community” since multiple voters asked about it at Special Town Meeting.

At the end of the meeting, Town Administrator Johns commended Fire Chief John Kivlan for “top level professionalism” at the Old Orchard Lane house fire on Tuesday morning. Chief Kivlan expressed his appreciation for his team and the many mutual aid departments that assisted on Tuesday.

photo credit: WCVB.com

Fire Consumes Old Orchard Lane Home

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

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

“When Boxborough firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy fire showing from the structure…The fire extended within the structure and had spread beyond a single room. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack to try to limit extension.”

Chief Kivlan told Boxborough News that “mutual aid companies were requested primarily to increase available firefighting personnel and staffing, which is critical during extended operations…(Other fire) departments also assisted with water supply and provided station coverage for Boxborough while crews were committed to the scene.”

Approximately 50 firefighters from all communities involved operated on the scene, and there were no reported firefighter injuries. The BFD was on the scene for approximately six hours.

Late Tuesday afternoon, BFD issued a press release indicating that a third alarm had been requested to bring “additional personnel to the scene and to provide firefighter rehabilitation services.”

Chief Kivlan explained to Boxborough News that firefighter rehabilitation is a standard safety practice at larger incidents in which a “dedicated rehabilitation vehicle/area is established where firefighters can rest, hydrate, cool down, and be medically evaluated by EMS personnel after working in strenuous conditions. This helps ensure firefighters are medically stable before returning to operations. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services provided a rehab vehicle, and Pro EMS provided medical evaluation.”

According to Kivlan, several factors made this fire more challenging. “The fire was deep-seated, requiring extensive overhaul on the interior and exterior to reach burning materials. Additionally, the unseasonably warm weather increased physical stress on firefighters operating in protective gear, which contributed to the decision to strike a third alarm to rotate crews and maintain safe operations.”

Kivlan continued, “Another factor was initial staffing levels. At the time of the call, the Boxborough Fire Department had three firefighters on duty, which is well below national staffing standards for structure fire response. Because of this, the department relies heavily on the regional mutual aid system to bring sufficient personnel to the scene quickly to safely conduct firefighting operations.”

Kivlan noted that “water was supplied through tanker shuttle operations, where water is transported to the scene by tanker apparatus from surrounding communities and transferred to engines operating at the fire. Water was taken from the fire pond at Mass Ave and Middle Road.”

“The Boxborough Fire Department appreciates the rapid response and assistance from our regional mutual aid partners. Fires of this scale require a coordinated effort, and the collaboration between departments helped bring the incident under control while ensuring the safety of both firefighters and residents,” stated Kivlan.

The home sustained significant fire, smoke, and water damage, and no cause has been determined. Residents of the home were evaluated on the scene for minor injuries, but did not require transport to the hospital.

Boxborough Community Services Coordinator Wendy Trinks has been assisting the residents of the home. Trinks told Boxborough News, “At this time, they really aren’t looking for donations…They’ve been in town over 40 years. They have a wonderful community of support…(and) they thank all the first responders for helping them and all who have reached out.”

School Committee Continues to Discuss New Geographic Boundaries for Elementary Enrollment

(12-MAR-26) At its meeting on March 5, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee continued to discuss AB Forward implementation, including the drawing of new geographic zones to determine how students will be assigned to the district’s newly reorganized elementary schools.

One of the key decision points is which areas(s) of Acton will be assigned to Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough in order to have reasonable “utilization” rates across all the elementary schools.

The consultant explained that there is not enough space in the Acton elementary schools to fit all current Acton students; some students from Acton will have to attend Blanchard. The consultant noted that even if all Acton students currently attending Blanchard were allowed to stay there, additional Acton students would also need to move to Blanchard.

The School Committee grappled with the idea that Boxborough students will not be “forced” to attend an elementary school in a different town, but some Acton students will need to attend school in Boxborough. The Committee looked at several different options for Blanchard “extension” zones in Acton.

Superintendent Peter Light shared his own idea for “how [to] make a consistent policy for both towns.” Light’s suggestion, which he called a “controlled flex zone,” would allow for some “open enrollment on a cross-town basis.” Several School Committee members agreed that the Superintendent’s idea was worth exploring.

Later, in an “AB Forward Family Webinar” on March 10, Superintendent Light clarified that, “what we are trying to do is think of any nuanced solutions that we can put in place to try and solve…some of the smaller transitional problems, and stay in line with the overall School Committee goal….”

At their next meeting on March 19, the School Committee is expected to discuss the “Blanchard zone” in Acton, “flex zones,”and “grandfathering/legacy” policies so that consultant Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”) has the guidance it needs to bring a final plan to the School Committee meeting on April 9. The School Committee is expected to vote at the April 9 meeting.

Dillinger also announced the launch of an “interactive map” where members of the public can continue to provide feedback on draft geographic boundaries. The map is available here: https://dillingerrad.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/reporter/index.html?appid=ee774c476a814370b3aaf5b9ca985aba.

Moving on to other business, the School Committee appointed Boxborough member Liz Fowlks and Acton member Andrew Schwartz as co-chairs of the “AB Forward Transition and Engagement Task Force.” The task force is intended to “support community connection, engagement, and shared culture as the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District moves forward into its next chapter.”

The Committee also agreed that Superintendent Light should use the “temporary placeholder” names of “Blanchard Memorial, Boardwalk Upper, Boardwalk Lower, Parker-Damon Upper, and Parker-Damon Lower” for the new schools. Superintendent Light assured Committee members that this is a “holding pattern” for administrative purposes that does “not remov[e] the opportunity to make the names whatever we want to make them.”

The School Committee’s next two meetings are March 19 and April 9.

Potential Candidates Pull Nomination Papers for June 2026 Boxborough Town Election

(12-MAR-26) Nomination papers for the June 2, 2026 town election are now available from the Boxborough town clerk. The following individuals have “pulled” nomination papers as of Tuesday, March 10. The deadline to obtain nomination papers is Friday, April 10 at 5 p.m.

To be listed on the ballot, nomination papers must be returned to the clerk, or “filed.” Those who have pulled nomination papers may choose not to file them. The deadline to file nomination papers with the town clerk is Tuesday, April 14 at 5 p.m. A minimum of 25 signatures is required.

Voters who wish to vote in the town election on June 2 must register to vote by Saturday, May 9.

A “Candidate’s Check List”, with information about getting on the ballot and campaign finance law requirements, is available at https://bit.ly/3TfHKDA.

Boxborough Dog License Renewals Due April 1

(12-MAR-26) The deadline to renew dog licenses is April 1. Residents can come in person to the town clerk’s office, apply online via the Online Payment Portal at https://bit.ly/3DqB01S, or download and mail in a Dog License Application available at http://bit.ly/47dODNB.

After April 1, a $25 per-dog late fee will be imposed. After May 1, the late fee rises to $50 per dog. Anyone who has not re-licensed their dog(s) by June 1 will be subject to a $100 late fee per dog and may have their names turned over to Ayer District Court by the Animal Control Officer.

photo credit: LCTV

All Three Firehouse Articles Pass at Boxborough Special Town Meeting, Funding Contingent on March 17 Special Election

(12-MAR-26) The Boxborough March 2026 Special Town Meeting was called to order by Town Moderator Dennis Reip at 7 p.m. on Monday March 9 in the Blanchard School gymnasium with about 335 voters and 20 nonvoters in attendance. The three articles on the warrant, all related to the construction of a new firehouse on Massachusetts Avenue, passed by overwhelming margins.

Article 1 proposed borrowing $2.4 million to purchase 4.2 acres of land at 984 Massachusetts Avenue. In her presentation on Article 1, Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) Chair Mary Brolin summarized the deficiencies of the current firehouse, the site selection process, and tax ramifications. After 40 minutes of presentation and debate, Article 1 (which required a two-thirds vote) was passed by an overwhelming margin in a hand count vote called by the moderator.

Article 2 proposed borrowing slightly under $2.8 million for the “design and bid” phase of the project. The town will use the funds to design, prepare construction drawings, pre-qualify contractors, bid the construction, and determine the lowest responsible general bid for the new firehouse. After 30 minutes of presentation and debate, Article 2 (which also required a two-thirds vote) also passed by an overwhelming margin in a hand vote called by the moderator.

Article 3 was a vote to transfer $20,000 of free cash to pay the acquisition costs for the land at 984 Massachusetts Avenue. This article, which required only a majority vote, quickly passed by an overwhelming hand count vote called by the moderator. The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.

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

Reached for comment after STM, FSBC Chair Brolin stated, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the voters for taking the time to stay informed and for participating in the Special Town Meeting. We are grateful for the decisive vote of support as we move into this next phase.”

“Boxborough took an important step forward Monday night, allowing the Town to move ahead with designing a new firehouse,” Town Administrator Michael Johns told Boxborough News. “The success at Town Meeting reflects the thoughtful work of the Fire Station Building Committee, which carefully listened to the needs and concerns of the Town, while residents in turn recognized the operational and safety needs of the Fire Department. This demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting the community and supporting the Firefighter/EMTs who serve us. Moving forward with a modern facility will go a long way toward improving Firefighter/EMT safety while also helping the Town retain our highly trained and dedicated team who respond whenever our community needs them most.”

Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan commented, “On behalf of the Boxborough Fire Department, I would like to thank the residents of Boxborough for their overwhelming support at the Special Town Meeting for Articles 1 and 2. Approving the land purchase and design funding for a new fire station represents an important step forward in ensuring that our firefighters have the facilities necessary to safely and effectively serve the community. This vote reflects the community’s commitment to public safety and to providing the resources our department needs to meet Boxborough's current and future needs. We are grateful for the trust and confidence shown in the department and in this project.”

Articles 1 and 2 are contingent on a separate ballot vote at a Special Election scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. The Special Election ballot asks voters whether they approve a Proposition 2 ½ “debt exclusion” in connection with fire station funding.

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

The Special Election will take place at the Boxborough Town Hall on Tuesday, March 17. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Boxborough Will (Again) Vote on Fire Station at Special Town Meeting on March 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Planning Board Votes to Recommend Three Zoning Bylaw Amendments for Annual Town Meeting, Continues Public Hearing on Others

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finance Committee Hears Budget Presentation from ABRSD Superintendent, Votes Boxborough Police and DPW Budgets

(5-Mar-26) Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) Superintendent Peter Light and Finance Director Sheri Matthews met with the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) on March 3 to present the ABRSD preliminary budget of $122,593,238, which represents a 4.75% increase over fiscal year 2026 (FY26).

Boxborough’s assessment is $17.7 million, an increase of $935,899 (5.57%) over the current fiscal year, while Acton’s assessment is $82.8 million, an increase of $2,995,247 (3.75%). The assessment is a 3-year rolling average based on enrollment. In recent years, Acton’s enrollment has declined, while Boxborough’s enrollment has increased.

State aid is estimated at $20.3 million, which is a 1.96% increase from last year. The district will utilize an additional $1.3 million in revenue from its “excess and deficiency” reserve fund, most of which will be used to cover an estimated $1 million in one-time expenses related to the elementary school reorganization.

Salaries, the largest budget driver for the district, are budgeted at $75.7 million, which represents a 2.96% increase over FY26. Light reported that the budget figure includes a placeholder for salaries as the district continues to negotiate new employment contracts with its three unions. All three contracts expire on June 30, 2026.

The FY27 budget reduces 21.03 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, largely related to elementary school reorganization, and adds 17.55 FTE staff for a net reduction of 4.48 FTE positions.

FinCom member Maria Neyland asked what the district saves through the reorganization of elementary schools. Matthews estimated the savings at $2.2 million, noting that some of the savings was used to add and reallocate positions based on the needs of the district.

Non-discretionary budget drivers include an increase of 12% in the cost of health insurance and an increase of 16% for out-of-district tuition for Special Education.

FinCom Chair Tony Newton told Boxborough News that “FinCom recognizes the challenges faced by the School Committee for this budget. We appreciate the constructive dialog between School and Town. Although FinCom are disappointed in the extent of savings achieved with school restructuring they recognize that the school committee has been able to keep close to the target for the school assessment set at the start of budgeting.“ FinCom deferred their vote on the budget until after the final vote from the School Committee.

Following the ABRSD budget discussion, FinCom turned their attention to voting Boxborough department budgets for Police and Public Works, both resulting in a split vote of 3 in favor and 3 against. Those who voted against the Police and Department of Public Works (DPW) budgets were concerned about the $20,000 salary adjustments for the Chief of Police and the DPW Director, both negotiated in November 2025, at a time when the town was considering an override.

Member Neyland said that in the past, if a salary adjustment was warranted, it was spread out over the life of the 3-year contract and not paid out in year one. FinCom members were not made aware of the contractual salary increases until they became public in January 2026. The votes against those budgets were largely symbolic as the town is required to honor the contracts signed by the Select Board.

The next FinCom meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The meeting is hybrid.

Select Board Members Disagree About Decision to Open Town Hall on Fridays

(5-Mar-26) At their meeting on March 3, the Boxborough Select Board discussed the January 2026 decision to open Town Hall on Friday mornings. After discussion and disagreement among members, the Board agreed to consult with town counsel before taking any further action regarding Town Hall hours of operation. Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg began the discussion by acknowledging public feedback about the Friday hours but told the Board that “at this point… I’m uncomfortable addressing it because we are now entering union negotiations, so, I don’t think it’s appropriate for the Select Board at this point to take this up as a discussion point…we need to move forward with the process of unionizing.”

Town employees decided to unionize earlier this year. In February, the Select Board voted to voluntarily recognize the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) as the exclusive representative for the purpose of collective bargaining for most town hall and library employees, as well as the administrative assistants for the police and fire departments. Board member Sam Anderson asked whether town management could make any changes to the hours of operation before union negotiations are completed. “Is it a Board decision or a management decision?” he asked. “I want to understand whose call this is. Are we locked into this policy…because we are part of the bargaining body? …There is no clarity here for who is making this call.”

On January 9, the Town Hall changed its hours of operation to include Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., in addition to Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Select Board had discussed expanding Town Hall hours in a meeting last September. At that time, several board members spoke in favor of expanding Town Hall hours, either by opening on Fridays or by opening later in the evening, but the Board did not take a vote.

Board members expressed disagreement about whether they had discussed Friday hours at any time other than the September meeting; about whether the decision to open on Fridays caused town hall employees to unionize; and about the merits of opening Town Hall on Fridays. Hilberg explained that she and member Priya Sundaram had further conversations with Town Administrator Mike Johns about expanding Town Hall hours because she “was under the impression that the Board was in favor of this.”

“I wish we had discussed it more as a board and I wish that we had a vote on it…” said Anderson. “And now that union negotiations have started, I’m disappointed to find out that we’re not going to have a vote on it.” Sundaram spoke in favor of the expanded Friday hours, saying “we are a public entity; a public entity is supposed to be open to the public…if [being open five days a week] is what the majority of towns are doing, why should our citizens not avail that same service.”

When reached for comment after the meeting, Town Administrator Michael Johns responded that he reached out to town counsel for an opinion on two questions that were raised during the meeting: “(1) could management change what is in place without Board input, or (2) is it locked in, because we're in collective bargaining?” Johns also noted that “we are not yet technically in collective bargaining, while we are in the posting ‘status quo’ period.” The Select Board expects to revisit this discussion at their next meeting on March 23. The Board then moved to preparing for Annual Town Meeting in May. Town Planner Alec Wade walked the Board through draft Planning Board articles “for information” and then the Board began voting on warrant articles. The Board is expected to continue voting warrant articles at its next meeting.

ABRSD School Committee Reacts to Draft Geographic Boundaries and Discusses AB Forward Implementation

(27-FEB-26) In a three-and-a-half-hour meeting on February 26, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee tackled several different aspects of the AB Forward elementary school reorganization.

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

Dillinger is tasked with creating geographic boundaries to determine which schools Acton and

Boxborough’s elementary students will attend, as well as planning the transition to the new geography-based system.

Stellitano reviewed the results of Dillinger’s “Geographic Boundaries Survey;” shared a draft list of possible priorities for School Committee feedback; and presented three initial draft scenarios for geographic zones – which he emphasized were just the first step in an “iterative process.”

With respect to Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough, Stellitano reported “overwhelming support” among survey respondents for “ensuring that Boxborough students are able to attend Blanchard,” and a majority of the School Committee agreed that Boxborough students should be assigned to Blanchard. Acton students, however, will not all be able to attend school in Acton due to space constraints; some Acton residents will need to be assigned to Blanchard.

With respect to dividing Acton students between the elementary school campuses, the School Committee grappled with tensions between balancing student demographics across the schools, establishing contiguous zones as opposed to establishing satellite “island” zones, keeping neighborhoods together, and managing building utilization and future enrollment.

Dillinger will present revised draft scenarios to the School Committee at their meeting next week on Thursday, March 5. In the meantime, Dillinger is expected to release another survey for public feedback.

Turning to new business, the Committee discussed two issues that generated considerable disagreement among members.

The first issue was a proposal by School Committee member Andrew Schwartz to establish a “common thread task force” to “support community connection, engagement, and shared culture” as the district moves forward with the reorganization. Some members agreed with Schwartz that the School Committee should lead this “school culture” work, while others preferred that it be a community-led effort instead. Superintendent Peter Light also asked Schwartz to clarify how the school principals would be involved with the task force. Schwartz agreed to revise his proposal for the Committee’s next meeting.

The second issue was how to name the newly reorganized elementary schools in Acton. Superintendent Light asked the Committee to advise on whether the schools should retain the names Douglas, Gates, Merriam, and McCarthy-Towne or whether they should be re-named. Light also shared some “operational implications” of the decision, including the effect on PTSOs, banking, and historical rankings data. Some Committee members spoke in favor of using the old names for cost-savings and administrative ease. Others advocated for establishing new names, arguing that “the emotions are still too raw” and that new names need to be part of the transition despite any administrative inconvenience. The School Committee will revisit the issue at their next meeting.

Superintendent Light also presented the results and “actionable insights” from an AB Forward implementation survey that asked families and staff about their concerns, questions, and suggestions with respect to the elementary school reorganization.

FSBC Hears Fire Chief Presentation on Apparatus Needs

(27-FEB-26) At its meeting on Thursday, February 26, the Fire Station Building Committee heard a presentation from Fire Chief John Kivlan outlining the fire department’s apparatus needs.

Kivlan began by acknowledging that apparatus occupies a large percentage of the fire station space. He described each vehicle in the fleet, outlined its function, and explained why it is necessary for Boxborough to have these pieces of apparatus in the fleet. “Every apparatus and staff vehicle operated by the Boxborough Fire Department exists to fill a defined need…Together, they ensure life safety, property protection, system reliability, operational safety, and community readiness,” said Kivlan.

FSBC members commended Kivlan on his presentation and plan to use it as a tool to educate residents about the fire department's programming and space needs, noting that they have heard from some residents that the proposed building is too large and expensive.

Looking ahead to the design phase of the fire station, FSBC Chair Mary Brolin said that “part of our work in the design phase is pulling out the (code) requirements and making it clear that there are standards…(we’re going to) design as efficiently as we can within those requirements.” Member Larry Grossman added, “this program is based on needs and code requirements (necessary to) protect residents.”

Steve Kirby of Vertex, the town’s Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), shared a document that detailed the typical steps in a public “design-bid-build” project, which he noted differ greatly from a project in the private sector. The document contains over 100 examples of design phase tasks that are required to be performed by architects, engineers, OPMs, and municipal representatives.

The committee engaged in a brief discussion about forming a “bonding working group,” which will be composed of some FSBC members, two FinCom members, and Town administration. This group’s goal will be to set up parameters for bonding, watch the bond market, and decide the best time to enter the market.

In the closing minutes of the meeting, Chief Kivlan expressed his disappointment that only 185 residents have signed up for RAVE, the town’s new emergency alert (Reverse 9-1-1) system which launched in January. Kivlan noted that there are over 5,000 residents in town, and in the case of an emergency, they want to reach as many people as possible. To sign up for RAVE, visit: https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=boxboroughma

FSBC Chair Mary Brolin reminded residents that the fire station will conduct an open house this Saturday, February 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and that she will be at the Boxborough Community Center on Sunday, March 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. to answer questions about the fire station building project.

There will be another opportunity for residents to learn more about the fire station building project prior to Special Town Meeting. On Tuesday, March 3, FSBC members will be at the town’s Special Town Meeting Info Night from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sargent Memorial Library.

Planning Board Opens and Continues Public Hearing for Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments, Recommends Than Stuntz as Associate Member

(27-FEB-26) At its meeting on Monday February 23, the Boxborough Planning Board opened a public hearing to consider several proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments for Annual Town Meeting in May 2026.

Planning Board Clerk Rich Guzzardi presented an amendment for the creation of a “gateway business district” (Business 2 or B2) for key parcels on Mass Ave. The new district would convert the targeted parcels currently in the Industrial Commercial (IC) district to the new B2 district to “lower the intensity” and restrict uses like warehouses and self-storage units, which are currently allowed by right on these parcels, but allow other uses like retail and specialty food shops.

Guzzardi walked the board through the types of uses outlined in the Zoning Bylaw and noted how each may or may not change under the proposed zoning. While many of the uses remain the same, the bulk of the changes occur in the business/industrial use table. Planning Board members discussed the changes and several members expressed their general support for the amendment, but there was concern for existing businesses who may be impacted by the zoning change.

Planning Board Chair Rebecca Verner expressed that, in general, she is not a fan of removing zoned uses. When reached for comment after the meeting, she clarified her position. “If the goal is to create a gateway to our community, then we should take a comprehensive look at what exactly we want that vision to be and zone for it in a way that accomplishes that goal, which I anticipate is more like a business district than an industrial district.”

The public hearing also covered a proposed amendment that would expand the purview of the Design Review Bylaw. Currently, the Design Review Bylaw applies to new construction, exterior alteration or expansion that is subject to site plan approval or special permit, and new or modified signs only in the Town Center zoning district. The proposed amendment expands the applicability of the bylaw to the Business (B) and Business-1 (B1) districts. Design review is conducted by the Design Review Board (DRB), which is appointed by the Select Board and has only advisory capabilities.

Chair Verner, who is also the DRB chair, informed the board that the current design guidelines need to be revised so that they can be applied to the type of larger properties that exist in the B, B-1, and proposed B-2 zoning districts. She also indicated that the DRB is pursuing funding to write the expanded design guidelines.

The Board also discussed an amendment to the Accessory Dwelling Unit Bylaw (raising the maximum square footage from 900 to 1,000) and an amendment that would reduce the number of off-street parking spaces required for commercial operations such as office buildings and research and development facilities. Planning Board members were in agreement that the current requirement is excessive, given the increase in remote work.

Member Mark White presented an amendment to Zoning Bylaw Article 9.2 to revise the town’s definition of a specialty food shop to include the sale of “beverages, alcoholic or otherwise” as an accessory use. This bylaw revision was proposed in response to the permitting issue experienced by the owner of Thinking Flower Bakery and Coffee Shop. The owner of the shop had obtained a permit to operate as a Specialty Food Shop, but when Building Commissioner Ed Cataldo learned that alcohol was going to be served, he required a new permit be obtained, defining the establishment as a restaurant.

The Board continued the public hearing on the zoning bylaw amendments to Monday, March 2 at 7:05 p.m. and began discussing future articles for consideration, including a scenic road bylaw, a rodenticide/SGAR ban, and a plastic bag, polystyrene, and disposable plastic reduction bylaw.

In other business, the Planning Board interviewed two candidates, Than Stuntz and Mark Barbadoro, to fill the role of Associate Member. In a straw vote, the Board was split 3-2 in favor of Stuntz, with Verner and member Cindy Markowitz expressing their preference for Barbadoro. However, a formal motion to recommend Stuntz to serve a three-year term as the Associate Member passed unanimously (5-0).

On March 2, the Boxborough Select Board will consider the Planning Board’s recommendation and vote on Stuntz’s appointment. When reached for comment, Stuntz stated, “I look forward to supporting the planning board as we deal with the development issues that come before the town…and look forward to using my experience and common sense to make sure we get the best outcomes for the town in a way that works for our land owners and residents.”

The Planning Board Administrative Rules and Regulations specify that Associate Planning Board members “sit on the Board, when necessary, for the purpose of acting on Special Permit applications and when so designated by the Chair, and other matters as allowed by Massachusetts General Law.”

Boxborough Select Board Reviews Town Meeting Warrant, Hears Update on Town Employee Unionization

(26-FEB-26) At their meeting on February 23, the Boxborough Select Board closed the warrant for Annual Town Meeting (ATM), scheduled to begin on May 19, 2026. The Board walked through the almost fifty draft articles in the warrant but did not vote; they expect to vote at their next meeting on March 2.

The current draft of the ATM warrant includes six Planning Board articles, seven Community Preservation articles, seven Fire Department articles, four Police Department articles, and a Citizens Petition, among many others.

The May ATM will be the second Town Meeting of the year. On March 9, Boxborough is holding a Special Town Meeting with three articles regarding the building of a new fire station. The Special Town Meeting will be followed by a Special Town Election on March 17.

The Board also heard an update from Town Administrator Michael Johns about the unionization of town employees. In an executive session earlier this month, the Select Board voted to voluntarily recognize the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) as the exclusive representative for the purpose of collective bargaining for most town hall and library employees, as well as the administrative assistants for the police and fire departments.

Johns told the Board he believes that voluntarily recognizing the union in this way is in the best interest of the town. By avoiding the alternative path to unionization, a state petition, the town saves money on legal fees and can negotiate the positions that will organize. Johns reported that the AFSCME Council 93 initially presented a list of 27 positions and Johns negotiated to 17 positions, which includes 19 individuals.

The Board also heard a report from Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan about emergency services preparedness and a report from Adam Klein, School Committee Vice Chair for Boxborough, about the Acton-Boxborough school budget.

The Board set its March meetings for March 2 and March 23. Responding to public comment at the beginning of the meeting, the Board indicated that the new Town Hall hours are expected to be on the agenda for their March 2 meeting.

Water Resource Committee Discusses New BOH Water Quality Regulations, Next Steps for Continuing Water Study

(26-FEB-26) At its meeting on February 17, the Water Resources Committee (WRC) discussed the new Board of Health private well regulation, a follow-up plan to the recently-completed water study, and GIS mapping of firefighting resources.

Committee members engaged in an in-depth discussion on water sampling as it relates to the town’s recently amended Well Regulations. Under the new Boxborough Board of Health (BOH) Well Regulations, the town will receive water quality data on new wells or properties being sold. Such tests will be able to detect the presence of PFAS and other contaminants. The BOH conducted a public hearing on February 11 and is expected to formalize approval of the regulations at their March 11 meeting. The regulations are expected to become effective in May or June of this year.

WRC member Bryan Lynch told the committee that, at present, Nashoba Analytical of Ayer will perform all water testing for the regulation at no cost to the property owner. However, the Nashoba Board of Health will charge a fee to obtain the certificate to prove compliance with the regulation. Lynch explained that the “chain of custody” of the sample is very important to avoid contamination, and the collection of the sample must be done by someone experienced with PFAS testing of water. He emphasized that it is the “person” who is certified, not the lab.

Committee member Bryon Clemence shared that he was looking into aggregating the data on private-well water quality in town. The new regulation will only provide data on new wells and property transfers, and Clemence noted that it would take a very long time before the town had complete data if this were the only source. In an effort to learn how data on private wells could be obtained, Clemence wants to explore what other towns are doing to gather water quality data.

The committee discussed the possibility of conducting a follow up study to the recently completed Comprehensive Water Resources Study and is seeking the public’s feedback. Several topics were proposed, including a town-wide drinking water sampling program, an assessment of the availability of water sources external to Boxborough, and the modelling of run-off water. WRC Chair Les Fox stated his view that the overall objective should be to educate the residents of Boxborough about our water resources.

The Comprehensive Water Resources Report by consultant Weston & Sampson (W&S), completed in November 2025, concluded that the groundwater in Boxborough recharges at a rate that is higher than the water demand, such that the town’s water supply appears adequate for the future. However, the report only addressed water quantity, not water quality. W&S consultant Emily DiFranco will present the report to the Planning Board at its meeting on March 16.

In other business, Clemence reported that he had found maps of fire ponds, hydrants, and cisterns in Boxborough that were created in 2019. He and Associate Town Planner Ian Gilson plan to incorporate them into the WebGIS layer on the town website. Their usefulness to the Fire Department is being examined, and the conversion to electronic form is being explored.

The next WRC meeting will be on March 17, at 7:30 p.m., via Zoom.

Town Redesigning Website – Looking for Volunteers and Feedback

(26-FEB-26) The Town of Boxborough's website is getting a redesign, and they are looking for volunteers and feedback.

According to Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson, the goal of the redesign is to make the website more user-friendly and to make sure website visitors can more easily find the information they are looking for. The redesign aims to improve on the current site by building on what works well, while also keeping it professional. The redesign will also address issues that residents have complained about.

Hudson is forming a team to work on the redesign project. The team currently consists of six people, mostly town employees and board members. Hudson would like to include a few more individuals, preferably residents who do not work for the town or sit on boards so that the team can include different points of view.

The time commitment for the redesign team would be four to five virtual meetings (averaging 60 to 90 minutes each), starting in April and lasting 4-6 months. Interested residents may contact Hudson at rhudson@boxborough-ma.gov.

The town is also soliciting comments and suggestions for the new website, which residents can offer without joining the redesign team. Comments can be sent to Hudson at rhudson@boxborough-ma.gov.

The town’s website is managed by CivicPlus, and the town’s redesign team will be working with CivicPlus to implement the changes. The website was last updated about two and a half years ago. At that time, the town also pre-paid for the present update.

The town expects to begin communicating the requested changes to CivicPlus in April, then CivicPlus will begin making the updates. The updated website is expected to go live in fall 2026 or early 2027.

Personnel Board Recommends 3% COLA for Non-Union Employees

(26-FEB-26) Over the last two months, the Personnel Board discussed proposed changes to the Personnel Plan, a recommendation for the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for non-union, non-contract employees, and a warrant article for a salary survey.

Personnel Board Chair Allan MacLean presented both fiscal and calendar year Consumer Price Index data from the US Department of Labor and recommended a 3% COLA for non-union, non-contract employees for Fiscal Year 2027. The board voted 4-0 to recommend the COLA at Annual Town Meeting, scheduled for May 19 at Blanchard Memorial School.

MacLean said that in addition to the 3% COLA, the Personnel Plan provides a 2.5% step increase for employees whose performance is rated as “proficient,” for a total wage increase of 5.5%, which is comparable to Boxborough contract employees. According to MacLean, a “step increase” is a wage adjustment given to employees as they gain experience in the job. Finance Director Honghoa Le estimated the cost of the COLA at $34,055 and the cost of the Step increase at $28,000.

The Personnel Board also plans to bring forward several proposed changes to the Personnel Plan. Those changes include making part-time employees eligible for holiday pay, changing the performance rating system to make it easier to differentiate between levels of performance, and clarifying how sick time is calculated.

Finally, the board voted to ask Town Meeting to fund a salary survey to ensure that Boxborough wages were in line with comparable communities. The last salary survey was completed in Fiscal Year 2020 and implemented in Fiscal Year 2021.

The next meeting of the Personnel Board is scheduled for March 3 at Town Hall at 5:30 p.m.

Will Boxborough Students Continue to be Guaranteed a Seat at Blanchard Elementary? School Committee Considers the Future of the “Hometown Guarantee”

(19-FEB-26) On February 12, Acton-Boxborough Regional School District consultant Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”) released a “Geographic Boundaries Survey” soliciting public feedback on various aspects of the transition from “open enrollment” to “geography-based enrollment” for the district’s elementary schools in connection with the AB Forward initiative.

The survey states, “The district is considering to continue the preference for Boxborough residents to attend the Blanchard Memorial School” and asks respondents, “Do you support this geographic priority?”

Currently, in the “open enrollment” system, Boxborough residents have a “hometown guarantee.” This means that incoming elementary school students living in Boxborough are guaranteed a spot at Blanchard Memorial School, the district’s only elementary school located in Boxborough, if they so choose (and as long as the student’s specific schooling/program requirements allow).

Now, as part of the AB Forward elementary school reorganization process, the School Committee has voted to transition from open enrollment to a geography-based enrollment system where students will be assigned to elementary schools based on their residential address.

To date, the School Committee has not explicitly stated whether and how the current “hometown guarantee” for Boxborough residents may or may not continue to exist in the new geography-based enrollment system.

Boxborough families have been left wondering: Will Boxborough residency continue to guarantee placement at Blanchard? Or will students in some Boxborough neighborhoods be assigned to an elementary school in Acton?

The concept of a “hometown guarantee” for both Boxborough and Acton students is written into the Regional Agreement between Acton and Boxborough, but since 2019 the “guarantee” has continued only at the School Committee’s discretion.

Section 3.D of the Regional Agreement states: “During the period July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2019 pre-school to grade 6 students who reside in Acton will have first option for attending an elementary school in Acton while pre-school through grade 6 students who reside in Boxborough will have first option for attending an elementary school in Boxborough. Exceptions to this may be made for special education purposes or for other reasons which the Superintendent finds compelling. As of July 1, 2019, the “first option” described in the preceding two sentences will continue unless the option is altered by the Regional School Committee. In any event, any student who began his or her attendance in a particular elementary school, as well as any younger siblings of that student, will be given a preference in terms of continuing to attend at that school.”

On February 9, the School Committee heard a presentation from Dillinger, the consultant that the district has hired to design the geographic enrollment system. In that presentation, Dillinger presented a list of possible “guiding principles,” which were described as “assumptions that… need to be codified both by the community and by the School Committee.” One of these guiding principles was whether “[t]he model should prioritize assigning Boxborough residents to the Blanchard Memorial School.”

The School Committee is scheduled to discuss these “guiding principles” and other priorities with Dillinger at the School Committee’s next meeting on Thursday, February 26.

When asked for comment, School Committee Vice Chair for Boxborough Adam Klein told Boxborough News, “Firstly, I believe it’s important that all students have the option to attend elementary school in the town where they live. That is something the School Committee has talked about and supported for both Boxborough and Acton. I believe that idea is still important as we transition to a geography-based enrollment. At the same time, this is a hard issue from both a space planning and fairness point of view. About 180 students currently go to elementary school in the other town. Since full regionalization this has been a cornerstone of fostering connections between our communities at all school levels.”

Klein emphasized that Blanchard has always been “the Boxborough school for Boxborough families” and that, to date, the School Committee has not discussed a scenario where Boxborough students would be moved to an Acton school. But he also noted that flexibility will be the key for the future, as space needs may change over time, and “flex zones” in Boxborough may be considered.

School Committee member Vikram Parikh told Boxborough News: “My stance on this is that we must work to minimize disruption to our schoolchildren as much as possible. An overwhelming amount of data shows that disruption of grade school-aged children can and does have profound and lasting effects, and that the catch-all phrase ‘children are resilient’ is not in line with decades of formal data demonstrating the negative side effects, both emotionally and behaviorally, that disruption has upon young children. Frankly, I was extremely disappointed that the school committee voted in favor of geography-based enrollment…I feel that we have worked hard to integrate our two towns, and that this hard work has largely been successful. With this being said, I do feel that parents should have the ability to send their children to the school they feel is the best fit for their family, and that this decision should be up to parents and students, not to a consulting agency.”

School Committee member Lakshmi Kaja commented, “Boxborough kids attending Blanchard align with the 'Geographic based allotment'..But in addition to that, Boxborough has only one school in town, which provides kids and families with the town identity, and it is important to preserve that.”

School Committee member Liz Fowlks declined to comment.

Dillinger’s Geographic Boundaries Survey remains open until Wednesday, February 25.

More information, including opportunities to comment, are available at https://www.abschools.org/read-the-plan.

Select Board Voluntarily Recognizes Union Representing Town Employees

(19-FEB-26) The Boxborough Select Board has voted to recognize the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) as the exclusive representative for the purpose of collective bargaining for most town hall and library employees, as well as the administrative assistants for the police and fire departments.

Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), employees have the right to form unions in several ways. The most common way is through voluntary recognition by the employer (in this case, the town) or by vote of the employees.

In conversations with town employees, who agreed to speak with Boxborough News on the condition of anonymity, there were several common themes about the decision to unionize.

Some employees were concerned about the decision to reopen Town Hall on Fridays, requiring all employees work Fridays on a rotation basis, even those not regularly scheduled to work on Fridays. One employee described the decision as a “galvanizing” factor, saying the “process was rushed.” The change was announced on a Wednesday and implemented two days later, the employee said; employees were “never included in the process” to consider how those changes would affect them.

However, not all employees felt that way. One employee thought the change in the Friday schedule was “blown way out of proportion” and was surprised that this was the catalyst for unionizing, but also noted that it was not the only factor that led to unionizing.

Other employees said they had “no protection over unilateral decisions that were made at the top level.” Many employees said there was no one to advocate for them; they had “no voice at the table” and looked to the union to provide a “level playing field” across all functions.

Several employees also expressed concern about the possibility of eliminating a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) if the town did not approve an “override” of Proposition 2½ for the next fiscal year. Ultimately, the override was deemed unnecessary.

According to Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson, the town’s Personnel Plan, which covers all non-union employees, requires an annual “step” salary increase if the employee has achieved a performance rating of “proficient.” However, Hudson said, “a COLA is not automatic and is subject to approval at Town Meeting.” When the town believed an “override” was necessary, department heads were told not to include a COLA for non-union employees in the next fiscal budget.

At the same time, union employees were budgeted for both a “step” salary increase and a COLA, and at least two major department heads negotiated $20,000 salary increases for the next fiscal year. Non-union employees felt there was no one “advocating” for them.

Other employees talked about not having a Human Resources department to help them navigate benefit questions and vacation accruals.

Still others said there was no one to go to when they believed they were being treated unfairly. Some said they had no way to “grieve” personnel-related issues and were not “protected” against arbitrary termination, ensuring that management have “just cause” for discipline.

Not all Town Hall employees were included in the new collective bargaining unit (CBU). Excluded from the CBU are the Assistant Town Administrator, which is a management position, the Town Clerk, which is an elected position, and all positions with individual contracts. Additionally, the Administrative Assistant to the Town Administrator and the Assistant Accountant were excluded because of their involvement with confidential and sensitive information related to the town’s other CBU’s (Police, Fire and the Department of Public Works).

FSBC Prepares for March 9 Special Town Meeting

(19-FEB-26) At its meeting on February 12, the Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee (FSBC) discussed its preparation for the Boxborough Special Town Meeting (STM) on March 9.

The first two articles also require a separate ballot vote at a Special Election scheduled for March 17. The Special Election ballot asks voters whether they approve a Proposition 2 ½ “debt exclusion” in connection with fire station funding. A “debt exclusion” is a temporary increase in the tax levy to finance a capital expenditure through borrowing.

If the fire station project funding does not pass at STM, the Special Election will still go forward. If the ballot questions pass after the warrant articles fail, the town would have the option of bringing the funding to another Town Meeting later this year; it is not necessary for the Town Meeting approval to occur before the ballot approval.

However, some FSBC members cautioned that the land at 984 Mass Ave may not remain available for the town to purchase if the March 9 STM vote fails.

FSBC members also discussed when and how to engage in “value engineering” to bring down the total cost of the fire station project. The committee agreed that they would continue to try to decrease the size and cost of the building; however, they also explained they cannot value engineer until the building is designed, and they cannot commit to getting the project below a specific dollar value.

There will be several opportunities to learn more about the fire station building project prior to STM. On Monday, February 23, FSBC members will be at the town’s Special Town Meeting Info Night from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sargent Memorial Library. On Saturday, February 28, the current fire station at 502 Mass Ave will be open for tours.

Finance Committee Reviews Recreation Commission Budget, Hears Police Chief’s Plan for New Command Structure

(12-FEB-26) At its meeting on February 10, the Finance Committee (FinCom) discussed the Recreation Commission (Rec Com) budget and the Police Department’s plan to add a second lieutenant to the command structure.

Town Administrator Michael Johns and Rec Com Chair Hilary Greven presented the Rec Com budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). Johns explained that revenues and expenses, including payroll associated with the Flerra Summer Playground (Flerra) program, were moved from the operating budget to a revolving account, making the program entirely self-funded. All other expenses for things like Winterfest, the repair and maintenance of equipment, Rec Com software, as well as payroll for the Recreation Services Coordinator and Department Assistant, would be funded through the town operating budget.

FinCom members wanted a better understanding of what expenses were being paid under the revolving account before voting on the Rec Com budget. Johns said he will meet with the Finance team and will provide that information to FinCom.

FinCom also heard from Police Chief John Szewczyk, who introduced a new police command structure and his rationale for the change. Szewczyk explained that the current structure has a chief of police, one lieutenant, three sergeants, and eight patrol officers. His plan is to add a second lieutenant position and reduce the number of patrol officers from eight to seven. The change in structure does not increase head count.

According to Szewczyk, the new structure provides for internal career progression, succession planning, more supervision, and more flexibility in scheduling while maintaining fiscal responsibility. When contacted by Boxborough News, Szewczyk explained that the new structure will allow both lieutenants to “cover patrol" and thus reduce the overtime budget by approximately $20,000 next year, with a net savings of $8,000. Szewczyk said, “the increase in salary with the new organizational structure will be more than offset by the decrease in overtime costs.”

FinCom member Maria Neyland asked if the department would require an additional command vehicle for the second lieutenant. Szewczyk answered that no additional vehicle was necessary “as the current fleet will suffice.” Member Joe Stolpin asked about future staffing needs of the department, and Szewczyk said the department may need an additional patrol officer sometime within the next 3-5 years.

While no vote was taken by FinCom, five of the six members supported the change in the command structure, primarily because of anticipated savings in the FY27 budget.

In other matters, FinCom briefly discussed whether a warrant article is needed for temporary housing for firefighters. The consensus was that if the design and construction funding for the new fire station is approved at the March Special Town Meeting, the town could delay funding of temporary housing.

The next FinCom meeting is scheduled Tuesday, February 17 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The meeting is hybrid.

Boxborough Leadership Discusses Warrant Articles for May Annual Town Meeting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A-B School Committee Hears Superintendent Personal Announcement and Geography Enrollment Presentation, Votes Preliminary Budget

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boxborough Private Well Regulations Now Require Water Quality Testing Prior To Property Transfer

(12-FEB-26) At their meeting on Wednesday, February 11, the Boxborough Board of Health announced that they have amended the town’s Well Regulations. Boxborough Well Regulations now require private wells to undergo water quality testing prior to a property transfer, as well as upon construction.

Beginning May 1, 2026, Boxborough property owners selling property with a private well will be required to have their water collected by an approved water sampler and tested for a specific list of “primary” and “secondary” quality metrics (at the cost of the seller or buyer, as negotiated).

The water quality results will be transmitted to the Board of Health and will become a public record. If the water does not meet one or more of the required standards, remediation and retesting will be required.

The previous Well Regulations, last amended in March 2004, did not require property owners to test private wells prior to the transfer of their property.

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

At the February 11 meeting, the Board of Health answered questions from six Boxborough property owners about the new requirement. One resident pushed back on the new regulation, asking why the town was not given an opportunity to vote on this issue and asking why the Board is implementing a testing-prior-to-transfer requirement when such testing is not required by the state.

Board of Health Agent Jim Garreffi explained that the Board of Health is “allowed to make reasonable regulations” per Mass General Law.

“It’s a safety issue,” said Board of Health member Lori Lotterman.

Member Bryan Lynch clarified that the Board of Health is creating a requirement to test prior to transfer but is not creating any new water quality standards; the standards in the revised regulation were established by the state. He noted that families moving into town with children “should be told that they can drink the water.”

Prior to the meeting, Garreffi told Boxborough News, “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 language for the revised regulation comes from a model regulation for private wells developed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Garreffi noted that the Board of Health will put together a procedure document to guide homeowners through the new requirements.

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.

Town To Host Drop-In “Special Town Meeting” Info Night

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Select Board Approves Ballot Questions for March 17 Special Election

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

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

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

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

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

Finance Committee Reviews Updated Financial Model, Hears Presentation from Personnel Board

(6-FEB-26) At the Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) meeting on February 3, Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson presented an updated financial model. The town’s model relies exclusively on “free cash” to fund warrant articles while FinCom’s model uses a combination of free cash and bonding. “Free Cash” is a term that refers to the money that is left over at the end of a Fiscal Year.

FinCom Chair Tony Newton said that “we need to recognize that next year, the town will probably need a “Proposition 2 ½” override and therefore should conserve free cash for when it’s needed.”

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 members also discussed using $250,000 in free cash for the town’s “stabilization fund,” which currently stands at $1.56 million. The stabilization fund is a long-term strategic reserve generally used for unexpected future expenses and requires a two-thirds vote at Annual Town Meeting (ATM).

Newton said “a strong stabilization fund helps to maintain a high bond rating. A high balance in the fund demonstrates responsible management, which leads to lower borrowing costs for infrastructure.” FinCom deferred a vote until the proposal could be discussed with the Select Board and the town administration.

In an email to Boxborough News, Hudson explained that “the TA (Town Administrator) model is focused on the operating budget in a more detailed capacity, with particular emphasis on revenues and expenses to ensure day-to-day financial sustainability and operational clarity. Capital budgeting is reviewed in a separate capacity, as it involves different assumptions, timelines, and decision criteria.”

According to Hudson, “FinCom’s work encompasses a broader perspective that integrates capital planning alongside other financial considerations, whereas the TA model is intentionally structured to support operating budget analysis and oversight. The difference in models is therefore a function of purpose and scope, not a divergence in overall financial objectives.”

In other matters, FinCom heard from Personnel Board Chair Allan MacLean who presented the Personnel Board’s recommendation of 3% for a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Fiscal Year 2027 for non-union, non-contract employees. MacLean said that the protocol used for the wage adjustment takes into account a three-year rolling average in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area compiled by the US Department of Labor, using both fiscal and calendar year data. The Personnel Board also polled comparable towns to ensure that Boxborough wages were in the 75th percentile. MacLean explained that employees whose performance is rated as “proficient” receive a 2.5% step increase plus a 3% COLA for a total increase of 5.5%, which is comparable to Boxborough contract employees.

FinCom member Maria Neyland suggested that in the future the town might want to consider a merit-based system where employees receive a COLA and a merit increase rather than a step increase, similar to what the Town of Harvard does.

Neyland also said she was concerned about adding a position for a Conservation Agent/Sustainability Coordinator to the Classification and Compensation schedule, re-grading other positions, and the impact of those decisions on the FY2027 budget, particularly when there hasn’t been a salary survey conducted since 2020.

Newton said that the budget guidance given to all departments called for no promotions, no changes in salary grades, no additional hours, and no increases in staffing. He said he would vote against those changes if included in the Personnel Board warrant article.

According to MacLean, town administration asked the Personnel Board to review updated job descriptions for selected positions and re-rate those positions. MacLean clarified that the new Conservation Agent/Sustainability Coordinator position would be added to the schedule in FY2027.

However, Newton said there would be no additional head count unless approved at ATM in FY2028 or FY2029. FinCom asked MacLean to come back after the Personnel Board meeting in February once they have more information.

FinCom is scheduled to meet on Saturday February 7 at Town Hall for the annual “Capital Saturday” meeting, where all warrant articles will be discussed with town administration, the Select Board, and department heads.

Planning Board Begins Work on Zoning Bylaw Changes for Annual Town Meeting, Schedules Public Hearing

(5-FEB-26) With the work on MBTA Communities zoning and The Park at Beaver Brook Open Space Special Permit behind them, the Boxborough Planning Board turned its attention to zoning bylaw amendments that they may bring to Annual Town Meeting (ATM) in May 2026.

During the Planning Board meeting on January 21, each Board member shared their ideas for potential zoning bylaw amendments that the Board could bring to a future Town Meeting. At their February 2 meeting, Board members sorted through the proposed amendments, determining which ones could realistically be brought to Annual Town Meeting (ATM) versus Fall Town Meeting.

As a starting point, the Board decided to bring to ATM zoning bylaw amendments regarding the creation of a “Business 2” district for parcels on Mass Ave; increasing the allowable square footage for accessory dwelling units; implementing design review guidelines for buildings on Mass Ave; revising the specialty food shop definition; and updating the parking calculations for site plan approval. The Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, February 23.

The Board discussed in detail several zoning bylaw amendments proposed by Planning Board Clerk Rich Guzzardi, including an update to the Mass Ave zoning bylaw that he proposed last year. Guzzardi is proposing a new “Business 2” (B2) district for key parcels along Mass Ave that are currently in the Industrial Commercial (IC) district. Guzzardi's stated objective is “to enable our zoning on Mass Ave to better allow for retail, service, and other consumer based small businesses people desire while lowering the intensity of future development…I do think this is a gateway business district, different from the middle of town…” Guzzardi pointed out that absent a zoning change, the IC-zoned parcels on Mass Ave would allow warehouses and self-storage units by right, which are the uses that townspeople have consistently objected to in the past.

Guzzardi also presented proposals pertaining to the creation of a village center overlay district and revisions to municipal use. Other proposed zoning bylaw amendments included establishing clarity on sidewalk requirements and funding.

Board members also had proposals for general bylaws, including banning single-use plastics, the establishment of a historic district, revisions to the stone wall bylaw, and regulations on the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and rodenticides.

Acton-Boxborough Begins to Implement Elementary Reorganization, Hosts Parent Webinars

(5-FEB-26) The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) administration has begun the process of implementing the School Committee’s January 22 decision to reorganize the district’s elementary schools and switch from “open enrollment” to “geography-based enrollment.”

One component of implementation is the launch of a “twice-monthly family webinar” series hosted by the ABRSD Superintendent Peter Light. The webinars will be held on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. and will be recorded and available at https://www.abschools.org/read-the-plan. The next webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24.

The most recent webinar, held February 3, included a short presentation and Q&A with Dillinger Research and Applied Design (“Dillinger”), a consultant that the district has hired to help facilitate the change from “open enrollment” (in which families were able to rank their preferred elementary schools) to “geography-based enrollment” for elementary school students.

Dillinger is tasked with creating the geographic boundaries that will determine where Acton and Boxborough’s elementary students will attend school and planning the transition to the new geography-based system.

On the February 3 webinar, Dillinger shared a timeline for their work. Dillinger expects to present 3-5 “initial scenarios” to the School Committee at their meeting on February 26. Dillinger will then gather feedback through a public survey and present revised scenarios to the School Committee on March 5. Dillinger expects to do a second public survey in early March and make a final recommendation to the School Committee on March 19. The School Committee is expected to vote on the final plan on April 9.

Dillinger explained that it will be an “iterative process” as they design scenarios, consider “trade-offs,” and refine those scenarios in accordance with community priorities. The consultant emphasized that “this is a very, very complex problem” and “there is no perfect solution.”

The district is expecting to share student (and educator) school placement decisions in late April. According to the timeline published on the AB Forward website, families will be surveyed in May regarding “peer groups” to inform student placement into classrooms. By June, the district expects to share student classroom placements.

As AB Forward enters the implementation phase, some community members are organizing to try to stop or slow implementation. Some disagree with the outcome of the January 22 votes; others express concern about process – specifically with respect to speed and transparency.

On January 22, the School Committee voted 9-2 to approve reorganization Option 5v2, which will replace the district’s five elementary schools located in Acton with two Grades K-3 schools (one at the Boardwalk campus and one at the Parker-Damon campus) and two Grades 4-6 schools (one at the Boardwalk campus and one at the Parker-Damon campus). The district’s single elementary school located in Boxborough, Blanchard Memorial School, will remain a K-6 school. The Committee also voted 9-2 to end (effective June 30, 2026) the district’s longstanding “open enrollment” policy (in which families were able to rank their preferred elementary schools) and implement a geography-based enrollment system.

More information about AB Forward can be found at https://www.abschools.org/read-the-plan.

Female Jogger Reports Suspicious Activity on Old Harvard Road

(5-FEB-26) On Monday, February 2, Boxborough Police received a report of a suspicious person in the area of Old Harvard Road and Pierce Lane.

According to Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk, the incident occurred at approximately 5 p.m. and involved a female jogger who “was approached by a passing male motorist in a dark sedan and found his behavior to be concerning.” Szewczyk noted that “possible suspect and vehicle information is extremely limited…It is still unclear if any crime has occurred.”

Chief Szewczyk reported that the Boxborough Police “are actively attempting to identify the possible suspect as the investigation is ongoing.”

He also added a message to the public: “Please always contact the Boxborough Police Department immediately if you are ever concerned for your safety or need assistance."

ZBA Approves Special Permit for Sign on Liberty Square Road, Moves to Publish Meetings on BXB-TV

(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.

Boxborough Board of Health To Hold Public Hearing on New Requirements for Private Well Testing

(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.

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

Boxborough’s 2026 Burn Season Has Begun

(5-FEB-26) January 15 marked the beginning of burning season in Boxborough. Burning of brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris is allowed in Boxborough from January 15 to May 1, as regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

Boxborough News reached out to Fire Chief John Kivlan for more information. Kivlan provided guidelines that include the permit requirement, what you can burn, and when you can burn. He also provided some safety guidelines and alternatives to open burning (see https://tinyurl.com/2026BurnSeason).

The Boxborough Fire Department’s web page outlines the rules and regulations for burning and provides a link to register for a daily burn permit when conditions are safe: boxborough-ma.gov/251/Burn-Permits.

Boxborough Rolls Out “Reverse 911” Emergency Alert System

(29-Jan-26) Boxborough’s Rave Alert, a “reverse 911 system,” is now available to the public for registration at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=boxboroughma. Rave Alert is a leading mass notification system that enables governments, organizations, institutions, and schools to quickly and reliably send messages, including desktop notifications.

Developed in 2015 by Rave Mobile Safety, a software company currently based in Framingham, Massachusetts, the system was designed to provide emergency information directly to the mobile devices of a large group of people instantaneously. The Rave Alert system is now a Motorola product that delivers billions of messages annually.

Since July 2024, Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan has been looking for a method of notifying the public of emergency situations in a quick and efficient way. After much research, the Motorola Rave system stood out to him as the best solution because it gives the town more control over messaging, instead of having to rely on a third party to send out alerts.

In Boxborough, Rave Alert is an “opt in” voluntary system. By providing an email address and phone number, users are able to receive email, automated phone calls, and/or text messages when emergencies are announced. The registration is flexible, allowing each user to select one or more methods of receiving the alerts. If a resident does not register, they will not be contacted.

The system will be used to notify the community of emergency road closures, major accidents, weather emergencies, and other urgent situations, with real-time updates.

In Boxborough, the system is also configured for other types of notification options. In addition to emergency messages, users can sign up for notifications from other institutions, committees, and groups, for example, the Sargent Memorial Library or the Fire Station Building Committee.

Emergency alerts and system administration will be controlled by a four-person team: the Fire Chief, the Fire Captain, the Police Chief, and the Police Lieutenant. All other groups will only have the ability to post messages to their respective group message channel. Learn more on the town website: https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/.

Boxborough Select Board Discusses Police Department Staffing, Appoints Board of Assessors

(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.

The Police Chief explained to the Select Board that he had previously been given approval to add one supervisor position and had planned accordingly to increase the number of sergeants from three to four. The Chief then decided, he explained, that it would be operationally better and would save the town money to keep the number of sergeants the same and instead add a second lieutenant position.

Town Administrator Michael Johns expressed support for the benefits of adding a second lieutenant instead of a fourth sergeant. Finance Committee Chair Tony Newton expressed concerns to the Board that the addition of a lieutenant position is not in line with the Finance Committee’s budget guidance, noting that there is a concern about consistency across departments when others have been asked to “hold the line” with respect to next year’s budget.

Newton asked the Chief to provide more information about how this staffing change can be done “with no budget impact” this year or in the coming years. Johns apologized for what he described as his failure to communicate the police department staffing plans to the Select Board and Finance Committee ahead of time, and stated that the Chief would provide the requested information to the Finance Committee.

The Board also appointed three Boxborough residents to serve on the town’s new Board of Assessors: Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Barrett, and Jim Howie. The Boxborough Board of Assessors was established in October 2025 by a vote at Special Town Meeting. It is comprised of three volunteers and is charged with supporting the Town Assessor.

After discussion, the Select Board voted 3-2 to set the Board of Assessor volunteers’ staggered terms at 1.5 years (ending June 2027), 2.5 years (ending June 2028), and 3.5 years (ending June 2029). The minority of the Board was in favor of setting the terms at 6 months (ending June 2026), 1.5 years (ending June 2027), and 2.5 years (ending June 2028).

The Select Board also closed the Special Town Meeting warrant and opened the Annual Town Meeting warrant. Special Town Meeting, with four articles – most of which relate to the building of a new fire station – will take place on Monday, March 9. Annual Town Meeting is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 19.

The Board also heard from Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan, who thanked the Boxborough Emergency Reserve Corps volunteers, especially Cathy and Ron Sisco, for their work to support the town’s “warming center” at the library on Saturday, January 24. The Siscos “always step up and always show up” said Chief Kivlan. “You’re the unsung heroes,” he told them.

Boxborough Historical Commission Recommends Two CPC Articles for May Town Meeting

(29-JAN-26) At its meeting on January 22, the Boxborough Historical Commission reviewed two historical Community Preservation projects that are scheduled to be on the May 2026 Town Meeting warrant.

The first project is the replacement of the windows at the 1857 School House #2 for $20,093. Commission Chair Alan Rohwer noted that this is the first time that Community Preservation Act funds have been requested for private property. Rohwer pointed out that the building is unique among privately owned local buildings in that it has been used for public purposes, and not as a residence, since it was bought by the Robinson family in 1949.

The second project is the continuation of the cemetery restoration project for $9,500. This project began eight years ago and involves stabilizing and restoring the monuments and other structures in the North and South Cemeteries.

After discussion, the Commission voted unanimously to favorably recommend both projects. Additional meeting time was spent reviewing the upcoming maintenance and repair work at the Boxborough Museum, scheduled to go out to bid in the spring.

The next meeting of the Commission is March 17 at the Boxborough Museum, 575 Middle Road, at 7 p.m.

Boxborough Town Hall Now Open Friday Mornings, Town Administrator Collecting Feedback

(29-JAN-26) The Boxborough Town Hall hours of operation have changed: Town Hall is now open every Friday morning from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., in addition to Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As of Friday, January 9, 2026, Town Hall is staffed on Friday mornings “on a rotating basis, which includes all staff,” said Town Administrator Mike Johns. “So far, we have been able to take care of any questions or drop ins, but it’s still early.”

According to Johns, the change in hours is “not necessarily permanent and depends on the service needs of the community. … As the Board and Administration do a cost benefit analysis of this change, I think feedback from the community to the Board and Administration would be helpful.”

When asked about feedback from the community and Town Hall staff thus far, Johns stated, “[f]rom the community, we’ve had about three people stop in each Friday, mostly with questions or correspondence for the Town Clerk’s office, but we haven’t had any direct feedback. From the staff, initially one staff member was in favor, most others were opposed, and some didn’t say one way or another. Since implementation, so far it seems all staff members are opposed.”

“The most direct feedback has been that Town Hall staff have organized and decided to unionize,” Johns continued. “Reasons I’ve heard [for unionizing] include town official discussions in late 2025 about possible personnel cuts and no cost of living allowance in FY27 for non-union personnel (during planning for the B budget, which has since gone away), and the impacts of changing Town Hall schedule.”

Town Administrator Johns described the decision to open Town Hall on Fridays as “a policy decision that falls within the authority of the [Select] Board,” while “how that policy decision gets rolled out is within the authority of the T[own] A[dministrator].”

The Select Board discussed expanding Town Hall hours of operation at their September 22, 2025 meeting. Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg raised the issue, explaining that she had heard complaints from multiple residents about Town Hall being closed on Fridays. Hilberg noted that she heard complaints about the inability to conduct business at Town Hall on Fridays and complaints based on a perception that full-time employees (who work remotely on Fridays) may be getting paid for time they are not actually working.

During that meeting, Board members discussed the importance of providing good customer service to the town and also the advantages of offering employees a “remote work” day on Fridays – such as attracting talent, improving employee morale, and improving productivity. Several board members spoke in favor of expanding Town Hall hours, either by opening on Fridays or by opening later in the evening. The Board did not take a vote.

In response to a request for comment, Hilberg emphasized “it’s important to note that it’s a perception in the community that staff who work from home on Fridays might be getting less done, but there’s no proof to the statement. The Select Board is in no way saying that we believe this to be true, we’re simply responding to community feedback.”

Continued Hilberg, “[t]he Select Board believes that it’s important for Town Hall services to be accessible in person on Fridays, and in keeping with past practice, we agreed that 8 a.m. to noon hours made the most sense. This is something we’ve been talking about for over a year and it was time to put it into practice and see how it plays out.”

Town Administrator Johns explained, “I was requested by two [Select] Board members to try it out in 2026 for 3 to 6 months and see how it works…We started by trying Friday hours. …I am looking now at trying evening hours for a while to see if that provides a better benefit to the community, especially access to in-person services for those who work out of town all week.”

He continued, “[w]e are only three weeks into this, but have not yet had any people stop in or request for services that couldn’t have been done either online, through email, by using the tax drop slot, or during other hours Monday through Thursday. It’s early at this point to tell if these additional open hours will provide benefits to people that are not able to take care of Town Hall business the rest of the week.”

“The bottom line in all of this,” he added, “is that Board members, Administration, and Town staff are all interested in providing the highest quality public service to the community and the best possible working conditions for our employees.”

A-B School Committee Votes to Reorganize Elementary Schools, End Open Enrollment

(23-JAN-26) At their meeting on Thursday, January 22, the Acton-Boxborough School Committee held two much-anticipated votes on the AB Forward initiative to reorganize the district’s elementary schools.

The Committee voted (9 members in favor and 2 against) to approve reorganization Option 5v2, which will replace the district’s five elementary schools located in Acton with two Grades K-3 schools (one at the Boardwalk campus and one at the Parker-Damon campus) and two Grades 4-6 schools (one at the Boardwalk campus and one at the Parker-Damon campus). The district’s single elementary school located in Boxborough, Blanchard Memorial School, will remain a K-6 school.

The other reorganization option being considered, Option 4, would have resulted in the district maintaining five K-6 elementary schools. Proponents of Option 4 advocated to limit the number of students disrupted by the reorganization. Proponents of Option 5v2 advocated for the efficiency and flexibility of having fewer elementary schools, especially in light of ongoing budget challenges.

The Committee also voted (9 members in favor and 2 against) to end the district’s longstanding “open enrollment” policy effective June 30, 2026 and instead implement geography-based enrollment.

The specifics of a geography-based enrollment policy, including how maps will be drawn, how the transition from open enrollment to geographic placement will be managed, and whether there will be a mechanism for families to attend a different school than the one assigned to their residence, will be determined in the coming months with the help of a consulting firm.

The school reorganization and new enrollment policy are expected to be implemented for the 2026-2027 school year.

The Committee first debated and voted on which enrollment model (geography-based versus open enrollment) to assign to reorganization Option 5v2, then debated and voted whether to pursue Option 5v2 or Option 4. The enrollment model would not have changed if the Committee had chosen Option 4.

Three of the four Boxborough members – Adam Klein, Liz Fowlks, and Lakshmi Kaja – voted with the majority for geography-based enrollment and Option 5v2. Boxborough member Vikram Parikh voted against geography-based enrollment and voted against Option 5v2.

Before the votes, Superintendent Peter Light shared a number of reorganization “mitigation strategies” that district leadership is exploring regarding family supports, maintenance of administrative teams, thoughtful teacher and staff placement, and developing cohorts for student placements.

When asked for comment, School Committee Vice Chair for Boxborough Adam Klein stated, “This was a challenging and deeply impactful decision, and I know it has brought up a lot of strong emotions across our community. I’m truly grateful to every community member, educator, and School Committee colleague who showed up, spoke up, and advocated thoughtfully through a process that asked us to weigh real tradeoffs while keeping students at the center of every conversation. Now our focus turns to healing, supporting families and staff through the transition, and working together to make implementation as thoughtful and steady as possible. There’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m optimistic about what we can build from here, and I’m confident that we will continue to deliver an exceptional education for students in Boxborough and Acton.”

After the votes, Superintendent Light presented preliminary FY27 budget numbers. The FY27 preliminary budget is $121.4 million, a 3.69% increase over FY26. Boxborough’s preliminary assessment is $17.7 million, a 5.57% increase over FY26. Budget drivers include health insurance (which has increased 14.79% from last year) and personnel salaries. The School Committee will hold a “budget workshop” meeting on Monday, February 9.

At the end of the three and a half hour meeting, the School Committee voted to approve the 2026-2027 school calendar. The district withdrew their recommendation to change elementary school bell times; they will remain the same for the next school year. The calendar can be found at https://abschools.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/b8e89cc5-492c-4357-8a28-3c4b1bf37a46/.

Personnel Board Discusses Regrading Positions

(22-JAN-26) At its meeting on January 20, at the request of the Town Administration, the Personnel Board continued to discuss revised job descriptions for three existing positions, Assistant Treasurer-Collector, Assistant Town Accountant, and the “Principal” Assessor. The positions need to be re-rated and re-classified for inclusion in the Classification and Compensation Schedule for FY2027. Positions are rated using job descriptions developed by department heads and based on factors like education, training, experience, independent judgement and decision making, policy making, planning, supervision, and working conditions.

In September 2025, Alec Wade, Town Planner and Director of Land Use and Permitting, submitted a job description for a new position entitled “Conservation Agent/Sustainability Coordinator.” Currently, the work of the conservation agent is being handled by the town’s land use Administrative Assistant and the Town Planner. Wade envisions the new position to encompass conservation tasks like site inspections and construction monitoring as well as grant writing, compliance with Green Communities requirements, and other sustainability tasks. When contacted by Boxborough News, Wade said he has “no expectation to fund the position in FY27,” but hopes to “fund the position in FY28 or FY29, if budget and circumstances allow.”

The next Personnel Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The board plans to discuss the COLA (cost of living increase adjustment) for non-union and non-contract employees and potential revisions to the Personnel Plan for recommendation at Annual Town Meeting in May 2026.

Boxborough to Roll Out “Reverse 911” Emergency Alert System

(22-JAN-26) Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan reports that Rave Alert, a “reverse 911 system,” will be available to the Town of Boxborough by the end of January.

Rave Alert is a leading mass notification system that enables governments, organizations, institutions, and schools to quickly and reliably send messages, including desktop notifications.

Since taking the office of Fire Chief in July 2024, Kivlan has been looking for a method of notifying the public of emergency situations in a quick and efficient way. After much research, the Motorola Rave system stood out to him as the best solution because it gives the town more control over messaging, instead of having to rely on a third party to send out alerts.

In Boxborough, Rave Alert will be an “opt in” voluntary system. To receive alerts, community members can register via a website. By providing an email address and phone number, users will be able to receive email, automated phone calls, and/or text messages when emergencies are announced. The registration is flexible, allowing each user to select one or more methods of receiving the alerts. If a resident does not register, they will not be contacted.

The system can be used to notify the community of emergency road closures, major accidents, weather emergencies, and other urgent situations, with real-time updates.

In Boxborough, the system will also be configured for other types of notification options. In addition to emergency messages, users can sign up for notifications from other institutions, committees, and groups, for example, the Sargent Memorial Library or the Fire Station Building Committee.

Chief Kivlan is expected to announce registration information by the end of January on the Town website, the Fire Department web page, social media, and through various town committees.

SPCP at Winterfest to Solicit Feedback on Improving Law Enforcement in Boxborough

(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.

Source: Town of Boxborough Web GIS

ZBA Grants Special Permit to Convert Single-Family Home to Two-Family on Liberty Square Road

(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.”

EDC To Begin Work on Economic Development Plan in February

(22-JAN-26) Boxborough’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) will begin work on the town’s first Economic Development Plan (the “Plan”) at their next meeting, scheduled for February 12.

The purpose of the Economic Development Plan, according to the project scope of work, is to “define actionable economic development goals” for Boxborough. The Plan is expected to identify “options and strategies for the town to consider,” explained Town Planner Alec Wade. These options may include potential bylaw changes, business outreach programs, and/or other steps the town could take to pursue opportunities for economic growth.

Having an Economic Development Plan in place “will make us eligible for more state and federal grants, most notably grants available through the Executive Office of Economic Development,” said Wade.

To fund the creation of the Plan, Boxborough applied for and was awarded a Rural Development Fund grant of $60,000 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development and a $15,000 grant from the Metropolitan Areas Planning Council (MAPC). The project will be funded entirely by these grant dollars, with no cost to Boxborough taxpayers.

The Plan will be created with the help of MAPC staff, in collaboration with the EDC, the Boxborough Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and other stakeholders in the local economy.

The work will begin at the EDC’s next meeting, scheduled for February 12th, with Austin Knipper, a Senior Economic Development Planner from MAPC who will be providing technical assistance for the project.

According to the Scope of Work, the project will proceed in four phases over twelve months: (1) data collection and equity analysis; (2) community engagement and stakeholder outreach; (3) economic development strategy and policy recommendations; (4) final plan development and adoption.

“The Town of Boxborough has a rich history of successful projects led through our regional planning agency,” said Wade in response to a request for comment. “I look forward to introducing the Economic Development Committee to our MAPC team in February. MAPC's expertise and community engagement methods will allow us to develop a robust plan, priming the pump for economic growth.”

“One of the strategies in Boxborough's 2030 MasterPlan is to 'create a long-term vision for the town's commercial areas, prioritizing enhanced quality of life over expanding the commercial tax base,'” explained EDC Chair Abby Reip in response to a request for comment. “An Economic Development Plan with a 10-15 year horizon will help us understand the local and regional markets and identify appropriate opportunities for future growth in town. We need to understand Boxborough's current economy – What business sectors exist? Are there growth opportunities? Other sectors that may be a good fit for Boxborough that we can focus on? We expect that we will gain valuable insight from the work on this plan that will help the town develop beneficial relationships with current and prospective businesses.”

“We want to thank Town Planner Alec Wade for securing the grant money that will enable this work,” added Reip.

Town Planner Announces Initiative to Expand BXB-TV Recordings of Board/Committee Meetings

(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.”

Town Administration Reports that Town Hall Employees Considering Unionizing

(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.

Finance Committee Votes Warrant Articles for Special Town Meeting

(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.

Planning Board Unanimously Approves OSCD Special Permit for The Park at Beaver Brook

(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).”

Select Board Discusses Property Tax Bill Error, Special Town Meeting & Special Town Election

(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.

Mark Your Calendars, Boxborough Voters: Two Town Meetings and Two Town Elections

(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.

School Committee Discusses AB Forward and Enrollment, Vote Expected on January 22

(15-Jan-26) At its four-hour meeting on January 8, the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee focused largely on the AB Forward elementary school reorganization. The School Committee is expected to choose a reorganization plan at its next meeting on January 22. The reorganization is expected to be implemented for the 2026-2027 school year.

The meeting began with presentations about how the two remaining reorganization options would affect student learning and special education, followed by 75 minutes of public comment primarily from parents who offered opinions about which reorganization option and/or which enrollment model they believed would be best for the district.

After public comment concluded, School Committee members first debated the two remaining AB Forward elementary school reorganization options and then turned to the question of how the district will distribute students across the reorganized elementary schools.

Reorganization Option 4 would “merge” Merriam and McCarthy-Towne schools to allow the Conant school to move into the Parker-Damon building after the current Conant building is closed. This would result in the district maintaining five K-6 elementary schools.

Option 5v2 would implement a “partial grade-band” model to create a “lower” school (grades K-3) and an “upper” school (grades 4-6) in both the Boardwalk and Parker-Damon buildings. Blanchard Memorial School, the district’s only elementary school located in Boxborough, would remain a K-6 school. This would result in each grade level being split across three schools.

School Committee members debated the extent to which each reorganization option would impact student learning and wellbeing (positively or negatively) – and the extent to which each option addresses the district’s budget challenges and/or promotes the long-term sustainability of the district.

Three of the four School Committee members from Boxborough – Adam Klein, Liz Fowlks, and Lakshmi Kaja – expressed support for Option 5v2. The fourth member from Boxborough, Vikram Parikh, spoke in favor of Option 4. Members from Boxborough also disagreed about the AB Forward process. Boxborough member Parikh criticized the process as “bias[ed]” and “rush[ed]”, while Boxborough member Klein defended the process.

Of note for the Blanchard school community, the Pathways Program currently housed at Blanchard is expected to be moved to the Boardwalk campus if Option 5v2 is chosen. The Pathways program would remain at Blanchard if Option 4 is chosen. According to the ABRSD Special Education Program Guide, “[s]tudents in the Pathways program have moderate to significant learning needs and require complex support including intensive behavioral and communication support through individualized programs.”

Turning to enrollment, the School Committee discussed three potential models for student distribution. One model is a redistribution of only those students displaced by the school reorganization. The other models would involve re-enrollment of all students, either by a “one-time complete re-lottery” or by eliminating the current lottery system in favor of “geography-based” enrollment.

School Committee members discussed the pros and cons of giving families the agency to choose (or at least request, as not all families receive their top choice) their child’s elementary school. Some members spoke in favor of a geography-based system, although some also voiced concerns that geographic enrollment would have a broader, detrimental effect on the towns and/or create economic disparities between the schools.

Superintendent Peter Light shared that the district administration is working on how to “support and resource” the transition that will accompany either reorganization option and thinking through the placement of staff and students to help with the adjustment to new buildings and/or new schools.

At the end of the meeting, the Committee did a “first read” of the 2026-2027 academic calendar (draft calendar at http://bit.ly/4pM8da8) and a request by district administration to move elementary school bell times 10 minutes later for the 2026-2027 school year due to transportation challenges (bell change memo at https://bit.ly/3Z7OdUb).

Community Preservation Committee Votes to Approve Six CPA Projects

(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.

calculating-costs.png

Town of Boxborough Concludes No Operational “Override” Needed

(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.

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.”

FSBC Recommends 984 Mass Ave for Fire Station, Town To Vote in March

(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.

Sustainability Committee Discusses Climate Action Plan, 2026 Priorities

(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.

Housing Board Discusses Status of Affordable Unit on Summer Road

(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.”

Finance Committee Addresses Property Tax Bill Error

(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.

Annual Census (Street Listing) Sent to All Boxborough Residents

(8-JAN-26) This week, every residential address in Boxborough will receive an annual census form, also known as the street listing. Boxborough News reached out to Town Clerk Rebecca Harris to learn more about the annual census. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Is Boxborough required to do an annual census?

A: Yes, by state law every town in MA must complete the annual street listing (sometimes called the census). My understanding is that we are the only state in the country with this requirement. Here is the MGL: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter51/Section6

Q: The census form must be returned within 10 days of receipt. What happens if it's returned late or not at all?

A: There is no penalty for returning it late (that language is put in there by the state). We send a second request if we don't hear back from the first one (usually around March), and then a final postcard in June which tells people they will be made "inactive" on the voter rolls if they don't respond (this means that they have to show ID at the polls, and if they don't vote in two consecutive federal elections, they will be deleted from the voter rolls).

Q: Is there any way for residents to respond online or are hard copies required?

A: Yes, on the back of the street listing it explains that you can scan it and email it to me (real signature required).

Q: How soon is the data compiled? Who inputs the data?

A: By state law we are supposed to compile it by April 15. I input all of the data.

Q: How many census forms were sent out?

A: There were 2,719 forms sent out this year. It is typically one per household, but this is complicated by the fact that sometimes households are split between census years, so some addresses receive more than one census form.

Q: How many households (unique addresses) are in Boxborough?

A: 2,355.

Q: How many total residents were there in 2025?

A: According to the street listing 5,107. In reality, the number of people is higher because some don't return their street listing forms, and some leave their children off it. The 2020 Federal Census number was 5,506, and that is more accurate.

Q: The street listing mailing also includes the dog license application. How many dogs were counted in 2025?

A: We can't extract the number of dogs from the state system, but based on licenses, we had 629 dogs licensed in 2025.

Select Board December Meeting Recap: Town Meeting “Clickers” and Police Department Staffing

(8-JAN-26) At their December 22 meeting, the Boxborough Select Board continued their ongoing conversation about using electronic voting devices (“clickers”) at Town Meetings.

After discussing pros and cons of using electronic voting - including costs, learning curves, reliability, and accessibility - Board members agreed to put the question of whether to procure electronic voting devices on the March Special Town Meeting warrant so that Town Meeting voters can decide whether electronic voting should be used at future Town Meetings.

Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg stated that she is in favor of using clickers both to save time during Town Meeting and to allow private voting. Hilberg explained that the Board has “heard a lot about [privacy]… at the last couple of Town Meetings…people [were] feeling very uncomfortable and maybe even choosing not to vote….”

Town Moderator Dennis Reip and Town Clerk Rebecca Harris both indicated that they would not recommend implementing electronic voting at this time.

The Board also addressed police department staffing, acknowledging that the retirement of Boxborough police officer Jeff Landgren leaves the police department “down four officers.” Town Administrator Mike Johns said, “while it’s less than the staffing [Chief Szewczyk] would like and less than full staffing, [the Chief] assured me that we’ll be safe and all shifts will be covered.”

The town is advertising for only three officers “until we know the exact budget direction,” reported Johns. Select Board Chair Hilberg explained, “as we move through the budget season we’ll be looking at numbers… if we do indeed need to go to a ‘B’ budget, we will not be filling all four positions… we won’t have the money.”

The Select Board also heard short presentations from Economic Development Committee Chair Abby Reip and Sustainability Committee Chair Kate Davies.

Reip shared that EDC members and town administration and staff recently spoke with MassEcon, a nonprofit whose mission is to “promote and champion Massachusetts as the best place to start, grow and locate a business.” MassEcon representatives recommended that the town build relationships with the bigger businesses in Boxborough and develop a “pitch” about why Boxborough is a good place to do business. Select Board Chair Hilberg suggested the creation of a “task force” with the shared mission of encouraging economic development in Boxborough.

Davies shared an update on the $132,000 “Designation Grant” that the town received when it became a “Green Community” in 2024. The town will begin using the grant funds in early 2026 for weatherization (insulation) and LED lighting projects at municipal buildings and Blanchard Memorial School. Once the Designation Grant funds are spent, the town can apply for additional grants.

The Select Board’s next meeting is Monday, January 12 at 7 p.m.

Finance Committee and Select Board Meet for “Budget Saturday”

(8-JAN-26) The Finance Committee (FinCom) and Select Board held a joint meeting on January 3 to discuss the proposed fiscal year 2027 (FY27) operating budget to be presented and voted at Annual Town Meeting in May 2026. The five-hour marathon meeting featured presentations by Town department heads, including the Department of Public Works (DPW), Police, Fire, and Town Administration.

At the start of the meeting, Select Board Chair Kristin Hilberg offered what she described as her “guiding principles in developing a budget for next year.” Those principles include financial solvency, financial sustainability, and social responsibility.

Finance Committee Chair Tony Newton presented an overview of the town’s projected levy limit. With a proposed 5.3% increase in the operating budget, as submitted by the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) and the Town, Newton projected that, overall, the town budget will come in at $1.1 million below the levy limit and will not require an “override” of Proposition 2 ½.

Proposition 2½, 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 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.

Newton explained that last year, revenues, which include state aid and local receipts, were underestimated by 53% ($900,000). Local receipts include motor vehicle excise taxes, investment income, hotel taxes, fees, licenses/permits, rentals and charges. Additionally, the proposed budget does not include funding for the “overlay reserve,” which is used to fund potential property tax abatements, exemptions and uncollected taxes for the fiscal year. When reached for comment after the meeting, Newton said there are currently sufficient funds in the “overlay reserve,” and additional funds are not necessary.

Town Administrator Michael Johns introduced the proposed town government budget and said that he directed department heads to develop a “level service” budget, focusing on expenses that we “can live without” for the next budget year. The proposed town budget, excluding the ABRSD assessment, has an overall increase of 3.7% over the current fiscal year. There were no cuts in staff or staff hours.

DPW Director Ed Kukkula presented the proposed DPW budget with an overall increase of 2.3% over the current fiscal year. Salaries increased by 6.2%, including a one-time salary increase of $20,000 for the director position. The budget also includes a proposed reduction of 1.1% in the non-salary line, which includes a $30,000 reduction in tipping fees, which represent the cost of transporting solid waste and recycling from the transfer station.

Police Chief John Szewczyk presented the proposed police budget with an overall increase of 3.93% over last year. Non-salary expenses are projected to increase by 2.26%. Salaries, most of which are contractual, went up by 4.1%, including a one-time $20,000 increase for the police chief. The budget includes staffing for all open positions. Currently, the police department is “down” by four officers, one of whom recently retired, and a department assistant.

When discussing the overtime budget, FinCom member Maria Neyland asked whether all shifts were covered by two officers as voted at a prior Annual Town Meeting. Szewczyk said that while all shifts are offered to officers, they are not always filled, and he prefers not to “order in” a second officer. He estimated that the overnight shift is filled by a second officer only 50% of the time.

Fire Chief John Kivlan presented a proposed budget with an overall increase of 5.07%. Non-salary expenses are projected to increase by 2.8%, while the salary budget, most of which is contractual, increased by 5.26%.

Kivlan said that expenses on vehicle equipment are trending higher than expected due to multiple emergency repairs on firefighting apparatuses which require compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Neyland asked why that budget line was level funded if expenses are trending upward. Kivlan responded by saying that staffing “takes precedence over expenses.”

Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson presented multiple town hall budgets. Salary increases were roughly 4-5% across all departments. Boxborough does not have an in-house technology professional and, instead, contracts those services. The Town found savings in the technology budget by changing the service provider and replacing desktop computers with laptops. Hudson also reported that legal expenses, including “land use” litigation, were reduced by 4.7%.

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 Annual Town Meeting in May 2026.

FinCom hybrid meetings are scheduled for the next several Tuesdays starting at 7 pm.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse