The October 2, 2023 Acton Select Board meeting opened, as usual, with an opportunity for Acton residents to bring issues before the Board, and with updates from the Board. Residents’ comments are heard, but not discussed, by the Board at these sessions. In his update, Select Board Chair Jim Snyder-Grant said that he would be available for conversation at the Acton Memorial Library Atrium on October 8, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM.
Residents’ comments at Select Board meetings span a wide range of issues. At this meeting the Board heard from a resident of Canterbury Lane about a local playground that is maintained by the Recreation Department. The speaker was frustrated at the Town’s slow response to a long broken water bubbler, and at trash such as beer bottles left by late night visitors to the park. Mr. Synder-Grant appreciated the comments, and Select Board member David Martin suggested that comments also be emailed to the Board at SB@ActonMA.gov.
A significant part of the evening’s meeting was devoted to discussion of recruitment of volunteers to serve as members of Acton’s Boards and Committees. A substantial part of Acton’s governance is done by volunteers, and the Select Board reviewed the means by which residents can be made aware of volunteer opportunities. Members of the Board mentioned information tables at public events such as the Farmer’s Market. Each Select Board member serves as liaison to several of the Town’s boards and committees, and the role of Board members to effect coordination between committees, and committee communication with the Select Board, was mentioned.
Select Board member Alissa Nicol emphasized her sense of the importance of outreach to potential volunteers and said that “the Volunteer Coordinating Committee (VCC) had partnered with ActonTV to make … recruitment videos but it’s really hard to find them on the website”. Mr. Fang Yang of the Volunteer Coordinating Committee was present and spoke briefly to the Board regarding the VCC’s publicity efforts at School Committee meetings and at Town Meeting.
A listing and description of Acton’s Boards and Committees for an April 2011 Volunteer Job Fair in the Volunteer Job Fair Booklet. Current volunteer opportunities are on the Town’s website at Employment and Volunteer Opportunities. Scroll down on that page to the heading “Volunteer Opportunities”.
Update. The Acton News Initiative visited Robbins Mill Community Playground at 61 Canterbury Hill Road in Acton at mid-afternoon on October 11, 2023. The playground was very clean and attractive; however what apparently was once a water fountain lacked valve-parts.
