MassVoter.com← Acton Select BoardActon Select Board · 2019–2020 Board · Regular meeting
June 15, 2020
8 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Joan Gardner, Jon Benson, Dean A. Charter, Peter J. Berry, David D. Martin
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
2. Chair Update/Town Manager Update
Approve the application for Eversource to allow the installation of conduit under Woodbury Lane for this purpose Mr. Charter call roll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye Mr. Berry - aye Ms....
Mr. Charter moves the Board of Selectmen approve the application for Eversource to allow the installation of conduit under Woodbury Lane for this purpose, Mr. Martin seconds. Mr. Charter call roll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye Mr. Berry - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moves the Board of Selectmen approve the application for Eversource to allow the installation of conduit under Woodbury Lane for this purpose, Mr. Martin seconds. Mr. Charter call roll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye Mr. Berry - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carries.” (Motion: Charter, second: Martin)
4. Discuss Department of Revenue Emergency Spending Authorization
In the event the Town does not approve an FY2021 budget by June 30, 2020, that the Board of Selectmen hereby approves the July 2020 deficit spending estimate of $14,114,294 to operate the community
Mr. Martin moves that in the event the Town does not approve an FY2021 budget by June 30, 2020, that the Board of Selectmen hereby approves the July 2020 deficit spending estimate of $14,114,294 to operate the community, Mr. Berry seconds. Mr. Charter
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moves that in the event the Town does not approve an FY2021 budget by June 30, 2020, that the Board of Selectmen hereby approves the July 2020 deficit spending estimate of $14,114,294 to operate the community, Mr. Berry seconds. Mr. Charter called roll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Berry - aye Mr. Martin - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carries.” (Motion: Martin, second: Berry)
Authorize the Town Manager to request from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to allow the Town to have $750,000 in overall deficit spending to cover expenses incurred from COVID 19 and...
Mr. Martin moves to authorize the Town Manager to request from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to allow the Town to have $750,000 in overall deficit spending to cover expenses incurred from COVID 19 and eventually be reimbursed, Mr. Berry seconds. Mr. Charter called toll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Berry - aye Mr. Martin - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moves to authorize the Town Manager to request from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to allow the Town to have $750,000 in overall deficit spending to cover expenses incurred from COVID 19 and eventually be reimbursed, Mr. Berry seconds. Mr. Charter called toll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Berry - aye Mr. Martin - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carries.” (Motion: Martin, second: Berry)
6. Board and Committee Reappointments, and Reappointment of Planning Board Members
Approve reappointments with exception of Nancy Tavernier and Andy Magee
Mr. Martin moves to approve reappointments with exception of Nancy Tavernier and Andy Magee, Mr. Berry seconds. Mr. Charter
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moves to approve reappointments with exception of Nancy Tavernier and Andy Magee, Mr. Berry seconds. Mr. Charter called roll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Berry - aye Mr. Martin - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carries.” (Motion: Martin, second: Berry)
7. Board to Discuss Cable License Renewal Extension of Time
WHEREAS, the Town of Acton ("Town") is desirous of completing the Cable Television License Renewal process and reaching a Cable Licensing Agreement with Comcast of Massachusetts, III, Inc..,...
Mr. Benson moves: WHEREAS, the Town of Acton ("Town") is desirous of completing the Cable Television License Renewal process and reaching a Cable Licensing Agreement with Comcast of Massachusetts, III, Inc.., pursuant to the informal licensing process set out in Section 626(h) of the Cable Act; WHEREAS, Comcast and the Town have engaged in a good faith cable license negotiations process; And WHEREAS, the Board of Selectmen ("Board") as Cable Television License Authority deems it prudent to protect the interests of all parties with respect to the formal license renewal process. NOW THEREFORE, because a Renewal License Agreement has not yet been finalized and issued by this Board, and in order to protect the interests of the Town and Comcast as both parties work to finalize a Renewal License Agreement, the Board pursuant to Section 626(c)(1) of the Cable Act, hereby votes to issue this "Preliminary Assessment of Friendly Denial" to provide additional time to complete the license renewal process and issue a renewal cable license. In order to provide the best opportunity for the parties to expeditiously reach an agreement regarding a Cable Television Renewal License, the Town Special Cable Counsel will file a request/motion with the Department of Telecommunications and Cable of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to extend the time for the Town to file a "written statement detailing the reasons for its preliminary denial" pursuant to 207 CMR 2.06(3). This will provide additional ti
From the minutes
“Mr. Benson moves: WHEREAS, the Town of Acton ("Town") is desirous of completing the Cable Television License Renewal process and reaching a Cable Licensing Agreement with Comcast of Massachusetts, III, Inc.., pursuant to the informal licensing process set out in Section 626(h) of the Cable Act; WHEREAS, Comcast and the Town have engaged in a good faith cable license negotiations process; And WHEREAS, the Board of Selectmen ("Board") as Cable Television License Authority deems it prudent to protect the interests of all parties with respect to the formal license renewal process. NOW THEREFORE, because a Renewal License Agreement has not yet been finalized and issued by this Board, and in order to protect the interests of the Town and Comcast as both parties work to finalize a Renewal License Agreement, the Board pursuant to Section 626(c)(1) of the Cable Act, hereby votes to issue this "Preliminary Assessment of Friendly Denial" to provide additional time to complete the license renewal process and issue a renewal cable license. In order to provide the best opportunity for the parties to expeditiously reach an agreement regarding a Cable Television Renewal License, the Town Special Cable Counsel will file a request/motion with the Department of Telecommunications and Cable of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to extend the time for the Town to file a "written statement detailing the reasons for its preliminary denial" pursuant to 207 CMR 2.06(3). This will provide additional time for the parties to finalize an agreement and for the Town not issue a Renewal License, without the need to devote time and attention to matters other than the completion of the Renewal License agreement. Dated June 15, 2020. Mr. Martin seconds, Mr. Charter called roll: Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye Mr. Berry - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carries.” (Motion: Benson, second: Martin)
8. Board to Approve Municipal Green Budget Advocacy Letter
Approve the letter addressed to the Chairs of Joint Committee on Ways and Means to level fund for FY 21 the various State Environmental and conservation Departments set forth within the letter
Mr. Benson moves to approve the letter addressed to the Chairs of Joint Committee on Ways and Means to level fund for FY 21 the various State Environmental and conservation Departments set forth within the letter, Mr. Marting seconds. Mr. Charter
From the minutes
“Mr. Benson moves to approve the letter addressed to the Chairs of Joint Committee on Ways and Means to level fund for FY 21 the various State Environmental and conservation Departments set forth within the letter, Mr. Marting seconds. Mr. Charter called roll: Mr. Berry - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carries.” (Motion: Benson, second: Martin)
9. Board to Consider Plans for Outdoor Dining and License Amendments
Accept consent item 10
Mr. Martin moves to accept consent item 10, Mr. Charter seconds. Mr. Charter
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moves to accept consent item 10, Mr. Charter seconds. Mr. Charter called roll: Mr. Berry - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carries.” (Motion: Martin, second: Charter)
Adjourn
Mr. Benson moves to adjourn, Mr. Martin seconds. Mr. Charter
Yes: Benson, Berry, Charter, GardnerThe roll call reads “Mr. Martin - Ms. Gardner - aye”, so it does not record David D. Martin’s vote; he is left out of this vote. The minutes give no count.
From the minutes
“Mr. Benson moves to adjourn, Mr. Martin seconds. Mr. Charter called roll: Mr. Berry - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Martin - Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Charter - aye The motion carries..” (Motion: Benson, second: Martin)
From the Acton Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Archive Center (Select Board Minutes). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: The Acton Exchange candidate profiles (Francesca Arsenault, April 2024, photo courtesy of Barrett Sotheby’s Realty; David D. Martin, April 2025; Alissa Nicol, April 2026; Pam Nourse, April 2026, photo by Maddie Freeman); Dean A. Charter from the Town of Acton’s Select Board group photo (May 11, 2026).
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