Accomplishments

Being a member of the Select Board is definitely a team sport. The Board as a whole is like a mayor, but we are 5 people. For example, the Board’s goals for this year are a blend of the priorities of all the members. Before we started, I don’t think that any of us could have predicted the result.

As a member of Acton’s Select Board over the past 3 years, I’ve been a key player in a number of the efforts, which the Board has taken on. For each issue I’ve spoken with numerous people from all sides. Here are some of my accomplishments.

• Moved the project to breach the 53 River Street dam forward. Some years back, the town bought the 53 River Street property without really knowing what to do with it – a practice that I don’t endorse. After some public input sessions, the town decided to create an historically-oriented park there. Unfortunately, the mill dam at the site is unsafe, and needs to be breached – an expensive and complicated process.
• Worked to complete the Kelley’s Corner re-design in preparation for construction, starting in the end of 2022. In addition to fixing traffic bottlenecks at this intersection, the new streetscape will enhance opportunities for retail in the area.
• Worked to get approval of a comprehensive budget for our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants, based on significant public input. The broad input helped the Board consider many opportunities to effectively apply these funds. One large set-aside was to support the School District.
• Worked to get approval of a plan to rehabilitate our Waste Water Treatment Plant. Some components of the 20 year-old plant were out of date or just worn out. The rehabilitation project will allow the WWTP to continue to be the most environmentally friendly way to treat waste.
• Worked to move various traffic safety projects forward, including complete-streets features. Residents have complained about a number of the Main Street intersections being unsafe for them and their children. We are looking to revamp several Main Street intersections, and as we do, we make sure that safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians is part of the design.
• Worked to put the Recreation Commission back in place. When I joined the Board, the Recreation Commission did not have a quorum of members to meet. I worked with the Recreation Director and others to get members installed and the Commission working again.
• Worked with the Dog Park Committee and others to get approval of the dog park plan. The Dog Park Committee had worked long and hard to find a place for a dog park. They had come up with several suitable locations, but all were getting push back. We brought the final proposed site to Town Meeting, where it was approved.
• Worked with the Friends of Gardner Field and others to get approval of the Gardner Field plan. The Friends of Gardner Field has done an extraordinary job of raising money and support for revamping the playground. Unfortunately, there were many communication problems that were hindering progress. I met with everyone concerned to help open channels between all of the players.
• Working on the School Building Committee to replace two older elementary schools with a new triple-net-zero twin school building. Even before I was on the Board, I was attending School Building Committee meetings. Now I contribute as member of the School Building Committee. The building was always going to be net-zero energy, but I pushed hard to have electric backup, rather than fossil gas backup, to the ground-source heat pumps, assuring that the building would use no fossil fuels.
• Working to further Town sustainability goals, especially urging the halt to fossil fuel use in new construction and significant renovation. We need to stop using fossil fuels in a couple decades. It makes no sense to heat new houses or buildings, that might last upwards of 75 years, with fossil gas.
• Working with the Acton Water District on managing the quality of our wastewater. The AWD does a good job managing our drinking water. They tested for PFAS, before they were required to — not knowing the outcome. Since then, they have managed operations to keep PFAS levels as low as possible, while longer-term solutions are. Since the AWD is a separate entity, it takes active coordination to make sure that we’re coordinated in addressing water quality issues, especially with the larger projects.
• Emphasized equity and inclusion. A number of things happened in 2020 to bring DEI issues to the fore. Since then, it’s been a vital area of concentration for me.
  • Actively opposed attacks on people of color in our community.
  • Advocated for equity and inclusivity measures in Town government.
  • Drafted the short-term and long-term charges for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (DEIC).
  • Chaired the DEIC during the creation of its recommendations.
  • Drove the name change from Board of Selectmen to Select Board.
  • Drafted and advocated for statements, passed by the Board, to denounce attacks on people of color, both nationally and in our community.