MassVoter.com← Acton Select BoardActon Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
May 19, 2025
17 recorded votes, 5 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Francesca Arsenault, Dean A. Charter, Alissa Nicol, David D. Martin, Jim Snyder-Grant
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
2. Chair Update/Town Manager Update/Members Minute
Close the public hearing
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to close the public hearing
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to close the public hearing and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Martin, second: Nicol)
Approve the gas main replacement in Nashoba Road at Elm Street and Central Street
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the gas main replacement in Nashoba Road at Elm Street and Central Street
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, MartinAbstained: Nicol, Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the gas main replacement in Nashoba Road at Elm Street and Central Street and 3-0-2 (Snyder-Grant and Nicol).” (Motion: Martin, second: Arsenault)
Close the public hearing
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to close the public hearing
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to close the public hearing and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Martin, second: Nicol)
Approve the application as submitted
Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the application as submitted
The minutes give the count as 2-3 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Charter moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the application as submitted and failed 2-3.” (Motion: Charter, second: Arsenault)
Open the public hearing and to continue hearing
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to open the public hearing and to continue hearing
The minutes give the count as 4-1 but do not say who voted no or abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to open the public hearing and to continue hearing and approved 4-1.” (Motion: Martin, second: Nicol)
Close the hearing
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to close the hearing
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to close the hearing and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Nicol, second: Arsenault)
Approve the gas main replacement for Elm St., Arlington Street, Houghton and Central Streets
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the gas main replacement for Elm St., Arlington Street, Houghton and Central Streets
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, NicolAbstained: Martin, Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the gas main replacement for Elm St., Arlington Street, Houghton and Central Streets and approved 3-0-2 (Martin, Snyder-Grant).” (Motion: Nicol, second: Arsenault)
Approve a common victualler and carry in alcoholic beverage license for malt and wine for Acton Seafood Company at 541 Massachusetts Ave
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant to approve a common victualler and carry in alcoholic beverage license for malt and wine for Acton Seafood Company at 541 Massachusetts Ave
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Snyder-Grant to approve a common victualler and carry in alcoholic beverage license for malt and wine for Acton Seafood Company at 541 Massachusetts Ave and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Nicol, second: Snyder-Grant)
7. Joint Meeting with Planning Board to Review Additional Public Comment and
Approve the Housing Production Plan
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the Housing Production Plan
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the Housing Production Plan and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Nicol, second: Arsenault)
9. Approve Request Acton Community Housing Corporation for Funding $60,000
Approve request from ACHC for funding $60,000 for Habitat for Humanity-North Central MA affordable housing project at 416 Great Road in Acton
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve request from ACHC for funding $60,000 for Habitat for Humanity-North Central MA affordable housing project at 416 Great Road in Acton
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve request from ACHC for funding $60,000 for Habitat for Humanity-North Central MA affordable housing project at 416 Great Road in Acton and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Nicol, second: Arsenault)
10. Authorization for Execution of Documents Related to Wetherbee Conservation
Approve that the Conservation Restriction (the "Conservation Restriction") on the Property being granted by the Town of Acton, acting by and through its Select Board, to the Sudbury Valley...
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to approve that the Conservation Restriction (the "Conservation Restriction") on the Property being granted by the Town of Acton, acting by and through its Select Board, to the Sudbury Valley Trustees, Inc., in the form presented to the Select Board tonight May 19, 2025 and (a) To authorize the Select Board to execute the Conservation Restriction; and (b) To authorize the Town Manager to take all actions on behalf of the Select Board that are reasonably necessary, in the judgement of the Town Manager, to complete the Select Board's granting of the Conservation Restriction, including without limitation, executing any and all closing documents and/or closing forms
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to approve that the Conservation Restriction (the "Conservation Restriction") on the Property being granted by the Town of Acton, acting by and through its Select Board, to the Sudbury Valley Trustees, Inc., in the form presented to the Select Board tonight May 19, 2025 and (a) To authorize the Select Board to execute the Conservation Restriction; and (b) To authorize the Town Manager to take all actions on behalf of the Select Board that are reasonably necessary, in the judgement of the Town Manager, to complete the Select Board's granting of the Conservation Restriction, including without limitation, executing any and all closing documents and/or closing forms and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Nicol, second: Martin)
11. Discuss and Vote on Request for Fossil Fuel Bylaw Waiver Application, Sri
Approve request for fossil fuel bylaw waiver from Sri Chaitanya Somanchi at 2 Betty Lane
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Charter to approve request for fossil fuel bylaw waiver from Sri Chaitanya Somanchi at 2 Betty Lane
Yes: Arsenault, Charter, NicolNo: Martin, Snyder-Grant
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Charter to approve request for fossil fuel bylaw waiver from Sri Chaitanya Somanchi at 2 Betty Lane and approved 3- 2. (Martin, Snyder-Grant).” (Motion: Nicol, second: Charter)
12. Approve Request for Building Permit Fee Refund from Yan Ma for 51 Robbins
Refund the entire fee
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to refund the entire fee
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to refund the entire fee and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Martin, second: Arsenault)
13. Approve Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Agreement for Discovery Way
Approve payment in lieu of taxes as presented for Discovery Way
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to approve payment in lieu of taxes as presented for Discovery Way
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to approve payment in lieu of taxes as presented for Discovery Way and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Martin, second: Nicol)
14. Approve Appropriation of $250,000 from Energy Efficiency Fund for Final
Approve the appropriation of $250,000 from the Energy Efficiency Fund for the purpose of final design and bidding services associated with the Town Hall HVAC and Emergency Power Replacement project
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the appropriation of $250,000 from the Energy Efficiency Fund for the purpose of final design and bidding services associated with the Town Hall HVAC and Emergency Power Replacement project
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Ms. Arsenault to approve the appropriation of $250,000 from the Energy Efficiency Fund for the purpose of final design and bidding services associated with the Town Hall HVAC and Emergency Power Replacement project and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Nicol, second: Arsenault)
16. Assign Member to Attend Eagle Scout Court of Honor on June 4, 2025
Approve consent items 17-24 inclusive
Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to approve consent items 17-24 inclusive
From the minutes
“Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. Nicol to approve consent items 17-24 inclusive and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Martin, second: Nicol)
Adjourn
Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to adjourn
From the minutes
“Ms. Nicol moved, seconded by Mr. Martin to adjourn and approved 5-0.” (Motion: Nicol, 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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