MassVoter.com← Acton Select BoardActon Select Board · 2020–2021 Board · Regular meeting
December 14, 2020
10 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Jon Benson, Dean A. Charter, David D. Martin, Joan Gardner, Jim Snyder-Grant
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
3. Tax Classification Hearing
Adopt a residential factor of 1.0 resulting in a uniform tax rate
Ms. Gardner moved to adopt a residential factor of 1.0 resulting in a uniform tax rate, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to adopt a residential factor of 1.0 resulting in a uniform tax rate, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner, second: Snyder-Grant)
Not adopt an open space discount, seconded be
Ms. Gardner moved to not adopt an open space discount, seconded be Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to not adopt an open space discount, seconded be Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner)
Not adopt a residential exemption
Ms. Gardner moved to not adopt a residential exemption, seconded by MR. Martin. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to not adopt a residential exemption, seconded by MR. Martin. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner, second: Martin)
Not adopt a small commercial exemption
Ms. Gardner moved to not adopt a small commercial exemption, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to not adopt a small commercial exemption, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner, second: Martin)
5. Discuss Open Meeting Law Complaint from December 8, 2020 and Delegate
Instruct Town Counsel and the Town Manager to respond to the complaint and send response the to the Attorney General, and have the BoS updates available on the COVID updates on the town website
Ms. Gardner moved to instruct Town Counsel and the Town Manager to respond to the complaint and send response the to the Attorney General, and have the BoS updates available on the COVID updates on the town website, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to instruct Town Counsel and the Town Manager to respond to the complaint and send response the to the Attorney General, and have the BoS updates available on the COVID updates on the town website, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner, second: Martin)
9. Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee Waiver
Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee Waiver
Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee Waiver
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“Discuss 2021 Restaurant Liquor License Fee Waiver The Board voted unanimously.”
Approve the 25% liquor license fee waiver
Mr. Martin moved to approve the 25% liquor license fee waiver, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved to approve the 25% liquor license fee waiver, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Martin, second: Gardner)
10. Board to Consider Approval of "Adopt a Tree" Program
Support the tree planting programs proposed by the DPW Director and the Tree Warden and continuation of the treescapes program or other names of programs as necessary
Mr. Charter moved to support the tree planting programs proposed by the DPW Director and the Tree Warden and continuation of the treescapes program or other names of programs as necessary, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved to support the tree planting programs proposed by the DPW Director and the Tree Warden and continuation of the treescapes program or other names of programs as necessary, seconded by Ms. Gardner. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Charter, second: Gardner)
11. Updates on Current Public Works and Infrastructure Projects
Approve consent items 12-14
Ms. Gardner moved to approve consent items 12-14, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to approve consent items 12-14, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Board voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner, second: Martin)
Adjourn
Ms. Gardner moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin
From the minutes
“Ms. Gardner moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin called roll: Mr. Snyder-Grant - aye Ms. Gardner - aye Mr. Benson - aye Mr. Charter - aye Mr. Martin - aye The Bard voted 5-0, the motion carried.” (Motion: Gardner, 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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