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Welcome to ActonForum.com!
We are a group of Acton, Massachusetts citizens who have been involved in local town poltics, attending Town Meetings, and participating in various boards or commitees, and who are committed to the open and free exchange of ideas.
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Latest News
This is transparency?
Editorial Opinion By Charlie Kadlec and Allen Nitschelm
ActonForum has just obtained the minutes of School Committee meetings from January 1st, 2009 to the present
(not an easy task); included were the minutes for the January 8, 2009 executive session of the local and
regional school committees. What did the minutes tell us? That the meeting lasted from 10:07 PM to 11:15 PM
and that "Committee members discussed changes to the Administrators' Benefits contract." That is the full
text of these minutes. Nine words.
Read more...
Outdated 40-B Law Needs Repeal
Editorial Opinion By Craig Chemaly
For 40 years, communities statewide have seen their local zoning laws ignored and overridden by Chapter 40B,
a state law that is supposed to create affordable housing. However, during that same 40-year stretch,
Massachusetts has dropped to a pathetic 49th nationally in housing affordability. Naturally, this must
have triggered lawmakers and state agencies to rewrite, or at least rethink the law, right? Wrong.
Read more...
The Suburban Legend of Local Aid
Editorial Opinion By David K. Stone
In a recent guest editorial in the Acton Beacon, Rep. Jen Benson explained why she thinks a 25% hike in the
Massachusetts sales tax, from 5% to 6.25%, is "necessary." Let's do the math for taxpayers in Acton and
see whether Benson's proposal makes sense.
Read more...
Freedom of Speech
Editorial Opinion By Clint Seward
Freedom of Speech is constitutionally protected in the United States. There are many people in
the US who oppose this concept, and apparently even some in Acton who are opposed.
Read more...
Fincom cost reduction sub-committee dives into insurance pool
By Rich Logan, Correspondent
The Acton Finance Committee has appointed a cost reduction sub-committee to study possible savings in the municipal and school budgets.
One of the biggest possible savings being evaluated is having the town and schools join the state GIC health insurance plan. The possible savings to the town, and employees, is very big.
However, it is not an easy process and not all the savings are automatic.
Read more...
Ryan Recommends Operating Override
By Allen Nitschelm, Correspondent and Editor
At the June 18, 2009 School Committee meeting, outgoing Superintendent Bill Ryan urged School Committee members to show "leadership" and get behind an operating override.
He said, "...Next year is going to be a very difficult year....You are going to have to make reductions, revenues are going to be cut. But when you get to a certain point, and you say 'we can't make any more reductions, it's not the right thing to do,' do not be afraid to go out and ask this community to support an operating override."
Read more...
Featured Story
Proposed Plans for the South Acton Train Station Stirs Up Residents and Commuters
By Julia Quinn-Szcesuil
Reporter-at-Large
The South Acton train station has been part of the neighborhood's backbone since the 1800s, and is now one of the
busiest on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Fitchburg line.
But time has worn down the station and things have changed.
There are many separate projects proposed for the station, confounding residents who just want to know what
is going on over there.
Read more...
2011 Finances Look Cloudy
By Rich Logan, Correspondent
School superintendant Bill Ryan reported on the current situation with school finances. The dark cloud
in the presentation was the fact that the state has cut Q4 FY2009 chapter 70 reimbursements to the
schools by nearly $1.3M and replaced it with stimulus money. This might seem like a zero sum game, but
the total of stimulus money for 2010 and 2011 is unlikely to be increased to account for this.
Read more...
Economy Creates Financial Pressures for Acton
By Clint Seward, Correspondent
Acton Leadership Group this Monday discussed Acton’s financial challenges for the next two years.
Read more...
What a Waste! - The Mulch Pile on Transfer Station Mountain
Editorial Opinion By Richard Logan
In April 2009, Town Meeting approved $185,000 for an excavator at the transfer station. You might not
remember approving this because it was not presented as a separate warrant article. It was included
in article 7, the NESWC, or transfer station budget. AKA the town reserve fund.
Read more...
An Amazing Place to Live...If you can afford it!
Editorial Opinion By Allen Nitschelm
A humorous look at some "frequently asked questions" answered inside by our "town officials!"
Read more...
Flint/Tuttle Neighborhood Residents Start Blog Regarding Sewer Plans
At the Special Town Meeting on June 23, Article 1 is a vote to extend the sewers into our neighborhood.
A group of us have started a blog that is full of information about the sewer extension, and it explains
the reasons why we are against this project.
Read more...
Featured Story
Next Generation Generates Controversy
By Julia Quinn-Szcesuil
Reporter-at-Large
Next Generation Children's Center's proposal to build a 24,085-square-foot facility at 348-352 Main Street
near the intersection of Route 27 and Hayward Road has many Acton residents decrying traffic concerns
and voicing apprehension that mom-and-pop day care centers will be forced out of business.
Read more...
Meet New Acton Forum Writer Julia Quinn-Szcesuil!
Read more...
Acton has $720K Revenue Shortfall
Acton Extra!
By Rich Logan, Correspondent
At the May 26th, 2009 meeting of the Acton finance committee Town Manager Steve Ledoux and Finance Director
Steve Barrett reported on the current state of town finances. The presentation outlined a $720k shortfall in
revenue for FY2009 caused by cuts in state aid and lower than forecast local revenue.
Read more...
Acton School and Municipal Employee Salary Information now available
Find them on our Links and Documents page.
Acton Union Contracts now available
Find them on our Links and Documents page.
The Beacon as Cheerleader
Editorial Opinion By Allen Nitschelm
The Acton Beacon newspaper has become editorially irrelevant. In the last year or two, and certainly
in the last couple of months, it has played the role of cheerleader for our local officials rather
than the important journalistic role of questioner, of balancer, of skeptic.
Read more...
Proposed Sewer District Expansion - Special Town Meeting June 23rd
Editorial Opinion By Charlie Kadlec
The selectmen have decided to hold a Special Town Meeting (STM) on Tuesday, June 23rd to get voters'
approval for the design and construction of a multi-million dollar expansion of the existing Sewer
District. This proposal is far from ready for a town meeting vote, the Selectmen should cancel the
proposed Special Town Meeting until all of the questions have been addressed.
Read more...
Acton needs a method to objectively debate its tax and spending future
Editorial Opinion By Clint Seward
The recent Town Meeting demonstrated that Acton needs a way to objectively debate its future in a place
and manner devoid of politics. The debate needs to allow time enough to deal with complex subjects in
a way not possible at Town Meeting or at board meetings.
Read more...
Acton Forum is Looking for Reporters!
The Acton Forum Website, an online journal committed to the free exchange of ideas and opinions, is looking for part-time volunteer reporters to cover Acton committee and board meetings. We are looking for writers who will prepare news articles that will give readers a full review of what happened at these meetings.
Read more...
January 16 , 2009 :
Sith Lord Evidenced at Acton Board of Selectmen meeting!
 - The Acton Forum has uncovered incontrovertible evidence of the presence of a dark Sith Lord at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting. No one can deny the evidence, which is presented unaltered from the broadcast.
Who is this Sith Lord among us, and what are his (or her) plans for Acton? Does it have something to do with our budget woes? Is he (or she) training an apprentice?
We need your help! Watch the video and see if you can determine from the evidence presented who is the mysterious stranger among us!
Acton Photo Collection
- See the photos here
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