At the Monday July 24 Acton Select Board meeting, Town Manager John Mangiaratti updated the Board on the effort to form a Regional Dispatch Center with the Town of Concord. Mangiaratti notified the Board of a Fiscal Year 2024 grant from the State 911 Department for $50,000 for project management, bringing the state support including the previous two fiscal years to $1,723,403. Acton and Concord signed an agreement in May 2021 to form a Regional Dispatch Center that would handle incoming emergency calls from both towns. At Monday’s meeting, the Board discussed concerns that were raised by the Concord Select Board at their June 26, 2023, meeting, including timing of the hiring of the director, participation of additional towns, and the location of the facility. Concord Board members had noted that Acton’s Public Safety Facility would not be a neutral location. Some Acton Board members expressed concern about the cost of a different location. The Acton Board concurred with Concord that hiring a director for the Center would help the project progress and noted that they were in favor of talking to other towns and that they wanted to continue pursuing a regional emergency call center.
In other business, Acton Conservation Agent Mike Gendron described the status of the 53 River Street Dam removal. A contract has been signed and work is scheduled to begin in August 2023. The anticipated park design has been scaled back at the present funding level; however, other funding sources to complete the design are being sought.
Select Board member Fran Arsenault discussed changes to the Human Services Committee; the committee is seeking new members. The Board approved changes to the committee’s charter. Ed Mullen, Acton Building Commissioner, recommended changes to some fees. The Board approved the changes. Select Board member David Martin said he has been attending meetings of the MBTA Advisory Board for years, and the Acton Board voted to make Mr. Martin the designated representative to the MBTA board.
At the end of the meeting, the Board discussed a topic that was not on the agenda but was taken up because it was timely. They approved a proclamation of Indian Independence Day that will be read at an August 8 celebration outside of Town Hall.
The next Select Board meeting is scheduled for August 24, 2023.
