Three of Four Boxborough Dispatchers Resign

BOXBOROUGH: At a May 2 meeting of the Boxborough Finance Committee, committee members discussed recent staff turnovers in the Boxborough Dispatch Department. At the meeting, town administrator Michael Johns confirmed that two of the four dispatchers and the dispatch supervisor have resigned. Two of the dispatchers were said to have found positions in other towns that offer high pay; the third took a position requiring a shorter commute.

The town has developed a state-approved plan that, for 60 days, Devens-based Nashoba Valley Dispatch will handle 911 calls for Boxborough at no charge. Nashoba will take the calls and then refer to Boxborough dispatch. In the event that a resident requires advanced life support, the paramedics from Emerson Hospital will respond to the call.

On the Boxborough end, police officers are temporarily handling dispatch. The officers are being paid at a standard overtime rate. This has necessitated an increase of $12,000 in the dispatch budget.

Town administrator Johns said he is researching ways to move Boxborough to a more sustainable operational model for public safety dispatching. “Along with the police chief and fire chief, I’m working with the state 911 executive director and his staff for a solid succession plan to protect the security of Boxborough's public safety communications and dispatching," Johns said.

Celebrate Fifer's Day at Flerra Meadows

BOXBOROUGH: The 2023 Fifer’s Day will take place on June 17 at Flerra Meadows on Stow Road. Fifer's Day is jointly sponsored by the Boxborough District Minuteman Company and the Town of Boxborough's Public Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee. The Day commences at 9:30am with the Fifer’s Four Mile Road Race. This is followed by a parade from the Blanchard School to Flerra Meadows at 11am, then the presentation of the Golden Fife Award. The Fair will then commence and include food and barbecue, including a vegetarian option, children’s games and activities, volleyball tournament, booths representing Town organizations, and a craft fair. There will be live music throughout the afternoon. For more information or to sign up for a non-profit booth, craft booth, road race, or volleyball please go to www.fifersday.org. If you would like to get involved by helping with planning of Fifer’s Day, or helping on the day, please contact the Boxborough Minutemen Company online at boxboroughminutemen.org/contact-us.

Steele Farm Photo Contest Entries at Boxborough Library in May

BOXBOROUGH: In 2018, the Boxborough Historical Society sponsored a Steele Farm Photo contest. There will be an encore showing of the entries at the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough from May 1-30. See an outstanding array of pictures, each capturing a unique aspect of beautiful Steele Farm, submitted by photographers of all ages and experience. The contest was also supported in part by a generous grant from the Acton Boxborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. To see “the real thing”, please visit, walk, photo, etc. the Steele Farm and the 1784 Levi Wetherbee (Steele) Farmhouse at 484 Middle Road.

Boxborough’s 2023 Town Election

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough’s Annual Town Election will take place May 16 at Town Hall, 29 Middle Road. Polls open at 7am and close promptly at 8pm. There are several contested races in this election including: a one-year term on the Select Board, two three-year terms on the Select Board, two seats on the School Committee, and two seats on the Planning Board. Applications for absentee/vote by mail ballots must be received by the town clerk before 5pm on May 9. To be valid, completed absentee/VBM ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by the close of polls (8pm) on Election Day. In order to vote at the Town Election, residents must be registered to vote in Boxborough by May 5, 2023.

Boxborough Annual Town Meeting Preview

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough voters are encouraged to attend the 2023 Boxborough Annual Town Meeting (ATM) starting at 7pm May 8 at Blanchard Memorial School. The warrant is the ATM agenda, which will be posted to the town website, as well as town social media sites through www.boxborough-ma.gov and mailed to every household on April 20. Everyone is encouraged to review the warrant ahead of time to learn about what will be discussed and decided by the voters.

The ATM will include a brief Special Town Meeting (STM) embedded within the ATM on May 8 starting at 7:15pm to hear motions on five articles that address current year business.

The ATM will then continue with brief reports from the Select Board, the Planning Board, and the AB School Committee. The report of the Finance Committee will be made under Article 5, the Town Operating Budget.

Voters will then decide to approve salaries for elected officials and to consider changes to the Personnel Administration Plan and the Plan’s Classification and Compensation Schedule.

Article 5 will give residents the opportunity to vote on the proposed Town Operating Budget. Article 6 proposes the establishment of a Fall Town Meeting amendment of the General Bylaws. Article 7 requests funding the first year of collective bargaining agreements. Article 8 proposes additional staff for the Fire Department. Article 9 proposes funding for road maintenance.

The Select Board, in consultation with Town Counsel, the Moderator, and the Finance Committee, has placed the next 32 Articles on a Consent Agenda, believing these articles can be properly voted without debate. If any voter objects, individual articles can be removed from the Consent Agenda and be debated and voted separately.

Among the consent articles are a request for $120,000 for cable services and equipment (Article 14), $150,000 for a new Department of Public Works backhoe (Article 20), $280,000 to remove underground fuel storage tanks and install new above-ground tanks (Article 21), and $175,000 to replace the roof of the Sargent Memorial Library (Article 31).

Additional Articles to be discussed individually include Article 42 which considers a vote to accept Joyce Lane, Loring Avenue, and MacLeod Way as public town ways. Article 43 requests $310,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the preservation of the Steele Farm House. Article 44 considers funding of the replacement of Fire Department Tender 65 (Tanker). Article 45 proposes an independent forensic accounting of the cost associated with the investigations of the Boxborough Police Department and the Chief(s) of Police.

Article 46 is a proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment to Section 4.2.2 concerning accessory apartments (also known as Accessory Dwelling Units). Article 47 is a proposed General Bylaw Amendment for a Tree Protection and Preservation Bylaw.
Those attending Town Meeting are asked to bring non-perishable items for the Food Pantry. Especially needed are hot and cold cereals, hearty soups, dried or canned beans, canned meat and fish, rice, pasta and sauce, pasta, toilet paper, detergents, incontinence items, and diapers.

Signed,
Town Moderator: Dennis Reip
Select Board members: Diana Lipari, Wes Fowlks, Les Fox, and John Markiewicz
Town Administrator: Michael Johns

Building Committee Examines Outdated Public Safety Facilities

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough’s Building Committee (BBC) is charged with upgrading the town’s fire and police facilities to serve the town’s needs through 2050. At the BBC’s meetings on April 12 and 27, discussion focused on a variety of challenges.

In a recent study, Context Architecture, specialists in public safety facilities, told the BBC that the town’s fire and police stations are undersized for storage of equipment, lacking in working space, and not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The study projects an increase of six public safety personnel by 2050, requiring less than a three percent increase in space. The largest space increase is needed for storing essential equipment, supplies, and records.

The BBC is looking at possible locations for building a new fire station or a combined fire and police station. A dozen site possibilities along Mass. Ave. were examined and found to be inadequate; a location at 700 Mass. Ave. is under investigation. Land at 70-72 Stow Road, held by the Boxborough Housing Board (BHB), may be useful if the BHB decides not to use it for housing.

On April 27, Context reported that its recent study of the existing police station found the building structurally sound and that it could be expanded. The BBC recognized, however, that the sprinkler system and other code requirements need attention at significant cost.

For an overview of Boxborough public safety operations and estimates of staff and space needs, go to https://bit.ly/40Xeq7i. The BBC will hold its next meeting on May 24 at 7:30pm in the Morse-Hilberg Room in Town Hall.

Updates From the Boxborough Recreation Commission

BOXBOROUGH: The Recreation Commission is sponsoring a "Boxborough at Fenway" day on June 27 to see the Red Sox play the Mariners at 7:10pm. They secured 100 tickets at $45 each in center bleachers for a chance to experience Fenway with fellow Boxborough residents. All are welcome. Commission chair Megan Connor is going to the Select Board in June to ask for permission to take the Boxborough Town flag with them, and they will be giving out mini Boxborough flags there, too. A flier with more details will be posted on the Town website.

At Liberty Field, things are moving right along. Work continues in the areas where the pickleball, basketball courts, and play areas are going.

The Commission is also close to securing AED’s (defibrillators) from the fire department, to be placed at Liberty and Flerra fields.

Finally, there are already 140 children registered for this year’s Flerra Summer Playground. Loads of terrific, fun activities are being planned!

Boxborough's Annual Memorial Day Parade - May 29

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough will once again have an annual Memorial Day Parade to honor fallen soldiers. The parade will begin at the corner of Hill Road and Wetherbee Lane on May 29. Participants will march, pausing for reflections at North Cemetery, Town Hall, and South Cemetery. The parade begins at 8:30am. Marchers are asked to meet by 8am.

All town veterans are invited to join the parade as Grand Marshals by either marching or riding in a car available for veterans. The Boxborough Minutemen will conduct a musket salute at both cemeteries as the names of fallen soldiers are read. Three Blanchard 6th graders will read their original essays. Both the Blanchard Elementary Band and the R.J. Grey Junior High Band will provide patriotic music throughout the parade, and local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will also march.

Parking for the parade is available across from Town Hall on Middle Road and near South Cemetery on Burroughs and Stow Roads. Parade route: Begins at Wetherbee Lane on Hill Road, proceeds on Hill Road to North Cemetery, turns left down Middle Road to Town Hall, proceeds from Town Hall across Rte 111, and continues down Stow Road to South Cemetery.

Where to watch the parade: Ceremonies take place at North Cemetery, Town Hall, and South Cemetery. There is no parking at North Cemetery, so those not in the parade who want to watch North Cemetery ceremonies should park at Town Hall, the church, or on Burroughs Road, east of South Cemetery.

Non-marchers who wish to follow the parade: People are welcome to follow the parade or watch in one place. Those walking must follow the end of the parade; walking along the side of band members and marchers obstructs the view for parade attendees and creates safety concerns.

If you are picking up marchers after the parade, please meet them at South Cemetery at the corner of Stow and Burroughs Roads. After the ceremonies end, marchers will be served lemonade at South Cemetery.

The Boxborough Minutemen Company Wants You!

BOXBOROUGH: The Boxborough Company of Minutemen will hold a Company meeting on May 21 at the Boxborough Community Center at 30 Middle Road starting at 8pm. The Company is open to anyone of least 18 years of age who is interested in service to the Town and/or perpetuating the memory of the Minutemen of 1775. Members may participate in any number of Company activities including marching in parades, organizing the annual Fifer's Day town festival, performing seasonal clean-ups on Route 111, sponsoring the Boy and Cub Scouts, providing volunteers to the Blanchard School and other service organizations, and participating in various social functions. The Company also provides financial support to a variety of service organizations and sponsors a number of annual scholarships to Boxborough students who are continuing their education after high school. Both old and new residents of the town are welcome to come and make new connections with others in town. For more information visit www.boxboroughminutemen.org, or contact Captain Tony Newton at captain@boxboroughminutemen.org, or (617) 448-5931.

Youth-Run Kids and Teens Clothing Drive Begins, Donations Distributed at Free Bee Market

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough FreeBee Market is hosting a clothing and accessory drive for kids and teens, created and run by the youth volunteers at Free Bee Market. The drive will be accepting new or lightly used and pre-washed spring and summer clothing, shoes, and accessories like jewelry and scarves. New socks will also be accepted. No hats, hair accessories, or undergarments, please. Donations may be dropped off at the Sargent Library, the Boxborough UCC church, Acton Memorial Library, and both the AB junior and senior high schools through May 12. Youth volunteers will do the collecting, sorting and distributing at the Free Bee launch, May 20. The gathered items will be available at the May 20 season opening.

The Free Bee Market and Network aims to reduce waste and provide resources to those in need in Acton-Boxborough and surrounding communities. If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, email freebeecommunity@gmail.com. You can also visit the market on FaceBook and Instagram, or scan the QR code herein for more Free Bee info.

Why was a Child's shoe hidden in the wall of a House for 300 years?

BOXBOROUGH: On May 21, the Boxborough Historical Society will conduct its annual “Hidden Treasures” event. Every May for the last 8 years, Freedom's Way, a consortium of 45 cities and towns that were involved in the events of 1775, has sponsored a "Hidden Treasures" event to highlight notable items and places in each municipality. This year Duncan Brown of the Boxborough Historical Society will explain the story of why a child’s shoe was hidden in the wall of a Boxborough house for 300 years and the journey the shoe took to come home to the Boxborough Museum.

The house, owned by James and Hannah Whitcomb, was built in 1721 in a portion of Harvard later incorporated into Boxborough in 1783. During renovations in the 1950s, the small shoe was discovered within a wall in the oldest part of the house. Concealed shoes have a long history throughout Europe and in early New England homes and a single child’s shoe was commonly used.

The presentation will take place in the Morse Hilberg Room of the Boxborough Town Hall at 29 Middle Road starting at 1pm. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

John Szewczyk Appointed Boxborough Police Chief

BOXBOROUGH: On April 10, Boxborough’s Select Board appointed John Szewczyk to a three-year contract as the town’s Chief of Police. He had served as Interim Police Chief since last November. A graduate of Trinity College in Hartford (CT) where he majored in political science and education, the Chief says his college involvement in community service projects led to his interest in police work.

Szewczyk (pronounced “shef-schick”) explains, “I have wonderful, hard-working parents, two sisters, and a brother, but I’m the only family member working in law enforcement.”

Szewczyk came to Boxborough after 18 years with the Hartford Police Department, where he began as a patrolman, taught at the police academy, authored the department’s recruitment and retention plan, and became the police union president. He also found time to earn an MBA from the University of Connecticut. From 2019 until 2022, Szewczyk served on Connecticut’s Task Force on Police Transparency and Accountability, playing a major role in recommending “more fair and equitable treatment of minority employees and citizens … and training for interactions with the disability community.”

In a recent interview, Szewczyk said that on April 24, Boxborough police joined Ayer, Littleton, and Westford in calling on a mental health professional to help respond to people needing more than police attention.

In his brief biography on the town’s police department website, Szewczyk says he taught police academy courses in such disciplines as cultural diversity, immigration law, and morals and ethics in policing. He describes himself as a “strong advocate” for community policing, restorative justice, and interaction with historically disenfranchised communities.

In a “Message” on the police website, Szewczyk highlights “professionalism … diversity and inclusion … sustainability … transparency and accountability … and officer wellness” as goals of a department “committed to providing the highest quality of public safety services to both residents and visitors.”

PHOTO: Boxborough’s Police Chief John Szewczyk says he appreciates the savings and quality of the department’s first administrative hybrid vehicle, a Ford Explorer Four-Wheel Drive. [At annual town meeting, Boxborough voters will consider replacing an old gasoline vehicle with the town's first hybrid police cruiser.]

Ayer, Boxborough, Littleton, and Westford Police to Share Co-Response Clinician

BOXBOROUGH: Ayer Police Chief Brian Gill, Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk, Littleton Police Chief Matthew Pinard, and Westford Police Chief Mark Chambers are pleased to announce that their police departments will share a new co-response mental health clinician to help improve police services to those suffering from mental health crises and substance use disorder. Co-response clinician Susan Lemere, who has a masters degree from Smith College, and who is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will be available to respond with police to calls for service involving mental health or substance use disorder issues to provide on site counseling and services, as well as follow up care and resources for community-based support.

The addition of Lemere as a co-response clinician is an expansion of the COIN jail diversion program, of which the Ayer, Boxborough, Littleton and Westford departments are members. COIN, a program of Family Continuity, has been working in the community to support residents in getting mental health, substance use disorder, and community-based supports since 2016. This expansion will allow a clinician to respond to 911 calls at the time of crisis to offer more immediate support when needed.

Lemere has worked as a co-responder in Vermont, where she worked with the Montpelier and Barre City Police Departments, as well as Washington County Mental Health Services.

"I believe strongly in the co-response model and look forward to collaborating with police here to serve the community," Lemere said.

"We are very fortunate to have a co-response clinician of Susan’s high quality working with us and enhancing the services we have available through our partnership with the COIN program," said Chief Chambers. "We owe it to our residents to take advantage of these opportunities to provide additional support to those experiencing a mental health or substance misuse crisis."

“When we can provide proper services for an individual experiencing a mental health crisis thereby keeping that individual out of the courts because of an arrest, then we are doing our job promoting the guardian mindset in policing, as opposed to the warrior mindset”, said Boxborough Police Chief John Szewczyk. “What set Susan apart from other candidates was not only her fine work history and impressive educational qualifications, but her empathy and compassion. We are looking forward to having someone of Susan’s caliber become part of the Boxborough community and welcome her to town.”

“This is just one more step we are taking to ensure we are doing our part in assisting with those in need of assistance with mental health needs," said Chief Pinard. "The challenge of our nation's mental health crisis has been thrust upon us, and we are working to meet that challenge with professionalism and compassion."

“Working with Susan as our shared co-response clinician will be a progressive step forward in providing much needed services to those experiencing mental health crisis and/or substance use disorder," said Chief Gill. "It is our hope that by triaging crises in the field with Susan and using the follow-up referral services through our COIN program, we will be able to better serve those in need in our communities.”

Boxborough Holds Open Space and Recreation Plan Public Forum

BOXBOROUGH: The Open Space and Recreation Plan public forum took place on April 12, at Boxborough Town Hall, with 16 residents in attendance. The forum was moderated by the Town Planner Alec Wade, with assistance from Recreation Commission Chair Megan Connor and Conservation Commission Chair Liz Markiewicz.

Mr. Wade began by explaining, “Open Space and Recreation Plans are a tool through which a community plans for the future of its conservation and recreation resources. OSRPs are informed by a thorough public participation process and reflect the needs of its community members.” Mr. Wade added that although he is relatively new to the position, he is very familiar with Boxborough and remembered fondly his time playing baseball at Flerra Field.

The Town Planner then gave an overview of the draft of Boxborough’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP), created with input from community members with experience on town boards and committees. Consultants from Comprehensive Environmental, Inc. oversaw the process.

Mr. Wade went on to explain that towns must update their OSRP every five years and provide town residents with a chance to weigh in on open space and recreation priorities. The process is helpful to the town in setting land acquisition priorities and keeping the town eligible for state grant funding.

Attendees were broken into three groups to work together on several exercises to prioritize open space and recreation goals, provide feedback on how resources were being used, and to brainstorm ways to improve them. The conversations were lively, as participants gathered around large town maps and quickly dotted the maps with Post-it suggestions.

Participant Lisa St. Amand commented, “It was fun and empowering to help put together an open space and recreation wishlist. The time flew as we brainstormed ideas to improve our opportunities for outdoor experiences.”

The forum ended with a question-and-answer session. Mr. Wade said the next step was to analyze the feedback from the forum and incorporate the information into the OSRP. His summary of the forum will be available on the Town Planner webpage on the Boxborough website.

Fire Chief Fillebrown Announces Retirement

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough Fire Chief Paul Fillebrown, 56, has announced that he will retire in late June of this year. Fillebrown has served as chief since September 2019. “It’s been a rewarding job, but I need a rest,” Fillebrown told Boxborough News. “I want to sleep through the night and not have to worry about responding to an emergency call. This job is 24-7,” Fillebrown said.

A fifth-generation firefighter, Fillebrown hails from Ayer where his father was fire chief. Fillebrown joined Ayer’s fire department in 1985 as a call firefighter, working his way up to full time captain before leaving for Boxborough.

As the fire chief, he also serves as the town’s emergency management director. Fillebrown said one of his greatest challenges has been dealing with the COVID-19 situation. “You prepare and train for natural disasters, but nothing truly prepares you for a worldwide pandemic,” Fillebrown said. He oversaw a response that ranged from instituting safety precautions for town employees and those attending annual town meeting to adjusting personnel procedures for medical calls and creating face mask giveaways.

Fillebrown hasn’t yet decided what he’ll do after retiring besides “taking a couple of months off and working on my golf swing.”

Boxborough Assistant Town Administrator Rajon Hudson said he is “at once delighted and disheartened to announce that Paul Fillebrown is retiring.” Hudson said, “We consider him a leader who always tackles any problem with a positive attitude and great sense of humor. His staff and fellow co-workers recognize Paul for his joy and teamwork. Paul's retirement is our loss, but a well-deserved respite for him, and we all wish him the very best.”

Businesses in Your Community

League of Women Voters to Hold Boxborough Candidate Forum for Contested Races

BOXBOROUGH: The League of Women Voters – Acton Area will host a candidates forum for all Boxborough candidates in contested races ahead of the May 16 elections. The forum will be held at Town Hall at 29 Middle Road on May 4 at 7pm. The forum is free and open to the public. All candidates in contested races whose names appear on the ballot have been invited to participate. The forum will also be televised on Boxborough TV for viewing afterwards. Candidate questions for consideration may be sent to lwvboxforum@gmail.com.

Next Week at Boxborough Town Hall

BOXBOROUGH: Below is a list of Boxborough’s board and committee meetings scheduled to take place the week of May 1-5. Note that the information is gathered a week or more in advance. Meetings can be added to the calendar up to 48 hours before the meeting. Meeting agendas are posted on the Town website up to 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Consult the calendar on the homepage of the Town website for meeting agendas and up-to-date meeting information. For meetings on Zoom, the link to the meeting can be found on the agenda.

Monday, May 1:

Planning Board, 7pm via Zoom. On the agenda: continuation of public hearing on the site plan approval for a 3-unit trade shop building at 100 Codman Hill Road, vote on issues regarding the Priest Lane subdivision, consideration of a request for the waiver of Site Plan Approval at 200 Beaver Brook Road, discussion of the Draft Environmental Impact Report for 1414 Massachusetts Avenue
Sustainability Committee, 7pm via Zoom

Tuesday, May 2:

Finance Committee, 7pm - Boxborough Town Hall, 29 Middle Road, also via Zoom. On the agenda: re-vote budget, review of Annual Town Meeting, possible FinCom policy review, possible Request for Fund Transfer review and vote, possible interdepartmental transfers, projected Free Cash discussion

Acton Boxborough Cultural Council, 7:30pm via Zoom. On the agenda: survey questions to determine Council priorities, details of grantee reception

Wednesday, May 3:

Conservation Commission, 7:30pm in person, Boxborough Town Hall, 29 Middle Road. On the agenda: continuation of Notice of Intent hearing for 100 Codman Hill Road, continuation of Notice of Intent hearing for 241 Depot Road, discussion of Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation for 244 Adam’s Place, vote on the response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report for 1414 Massachusetts Avenue

Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council Presents 14th Annual ABCC "Our World Film Series"

ACTON/BOXBOROUGH: The ABCC Our World Film Series returns for four successive Friday nights in late April/early May. Live and in-person at a new location, Boxborough’s Sargent Memorial Library Meeting Room, all programs starting at 7pm. The screenings are free and open to the public. Light refreshments provided.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28
A Short Night - The 11th annual Our World Short Film Program, presenting a selection of recent short films produced by film students from Massachusetts colleges and universities. The filmmakers are invited to attend and discuss their work with the audience.

FRIDAY, MAY 5
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan 2020) - An aspiring singer living with his grandmother in the capital of Bhutan dreams of getting a visa to move to Australia. Oscar nominee for Best International Feature Film. “A testament to the vitality of making cinema available to those without standard resources... an affirmation that all films, however humble their origin, can matter and be counted.” -
Ronda Racha Penrice, TheWrap

FRIDAY MAY 12
Flee (Denmark 2021) - The extraordinary true story of a man, Amin, on the verge of marriage which compels him to reveal his hidden past for the first time. Nominated for three Oscars: Best Documentary Feature Film, Best Animated Feature Film, and Best International Feature Film. “Flee is a remarkably humanizing and complex film, expanding and expounding the kind of story that’s too easily simplified.” – Benjamin Lee, The Guardian

FRIDAY MAY 19
The Dark Horse (New Zealand 2014) - A brilliant but troubled New Zealand chess champion finds purpose by teaching underprivileged children about the rules of chess and life. Award winner at the
Rotterdam International Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, St. Tropez International Film Festival. “The heartfelt telling of a truly extraordinary true story with a mesmerizing central performance.” – David Hughes, Empire

More information on the series and prior year’s film selections is available online at
abccourworld.wixsite.com/abccourworld, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ABCCOurWorld.

Boxborough Select Board Meeting Recap - April 24, 2023

BOXBOROUGH: At the beginning of its meeting on April 24, the Boxborough Select Board met in executive session to discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation with CBK Towing and to approve and release executive session minutes from March and April 2023.

The BSB then moved on to an open, public session, voting to keep transfer station sticker prices the same as last year ($150).

The board then discussed and voted to accept the broad terms of a preliminary draft of a possible inter-municipal agreement with the town of Littleton regarding the provision of water to the western portion of Boxborough, including properties on Beaver Brook, Swanson and Codman Hill Roads.

If the agreement goes into effect, Littleton would install the necessary infrastructure, funded by a 30-year, zero percent interest loan from the state. The loan would be paid off through fees charged to benefited property owners via their property tax bills and collected by Boxborough.

The betterment fees and water usage fees would be turned over to Littleton on a quarterly basis. The project will need approval at annual town meetings of both towns.

Select Board Chair, Diana Lipari, read a statement describing the BSB investigation of allegations against former Chief of Police Warren Ryder. She presented a timeline on the investigation and settlement, saying that the BSB would also provide a complete accounting of the expenditures associated with the investigation. Her statement and the timeline, along with relevant executive session minutes, will be posted on the town website.

Contested & Uncontested Races in Boxborough Town Election

BOXBOROUGH: On May 16, 2023, Boxborough voters will elect candidates to fill eleven town positions. Contested races include two Select Board seats, a one-year Select Board seat to fill an unexpired term, two Planning Board seats, and two School Committee seats. The uncontested races include Town Moderator, two Library Trustee seats, and a Board of Health seat. Asking them to answer the question “Why are you running?” The responses received included:

John Markiewicz, Candidate for Select Board Three-Year Term (Incumbent)
I am running again for Select Board to continue building on the progress made over the last three years. As a Board member, I worked hard to help move the Town from a weak Town Administrator model to a strong TA, with all department heads reporting to them. This change, recommended by the Town Government Study Group, will provide better oversight and accountability of town employees and a clearer chain of command. I recommended that Boxborough’s ARPA federal grant money be classified as “lost revenue”, giving the Town more flexibility in how the $1.7 M can be spent. If re-elected, my priorities would be to help find solutions to water and water quality issues, get approval for a new fire station, and determine the space needs of Town Hall employees. I would appreciate your vote on May 16.

Kristin Hilberg, Candidate for Select Board Three-Year Term
Boxborough is a special place where people come and put down roots, my family included. I’ve lived in town for 56 years and now my children are raising my 5 grandchildren here. We’re fully invested! As a member of the Select Board, my focus will be on creating a collaborative environment where all residents feel included and can express their ideas and be heard, where all employees feel valued and where boards and commissions work together to not only maintain but improve our quality of life. This includes but is by no means limited to:

Continuing to work with all departments, boards and commissions to implement our Master Plan, whose stated vision is to create A Rural, Engaged Community For All (check it out on the town website!)
Ensuring open and civil communication among all who work and live in town
Maintaining and prioritizing a willingness to collaborate vs. pushing individual agendas when faced with questions or concerns
Managing fiscal responsibility with consideration for the issues facing both residents and businesses
Protecting our natural resources while balancing growth

I have the track record and institutional knowledge to help Boxborough continue to thrive and I look forward to serving the town I know and love!

Priya Sundaram, Candidate for Select Board Three-Year Term
We have lived in Boxborough since 2012 and raised both my boys here. As a resident of this town and a parent, I want to ensure that this town remains a great place, not only to raise a family but also to retire. Living here made me feel like I am part of a big family and I want to maintain that family community feel. My background is Speech Therapy working in the nursing home industry. I have been overseeing the clinical departments in various nursing homes as a Regional Director. I am also a current serving member in the Town Finance Committee. Given my background as a parent, working with elderly in nursing homes, and as a member of the Finance Committee, I am uniquely positioned to understand the issues faced by a wide range of residents. I will strive to make meaningful change by improving community involvement through better communication, fiscal responsibility, transparency, inclusivity, equity and sustainability. I might not have a solution to every issue but I will keep open lines of communication, so residents can voice their diverse ideas and knowledge and together we can collectively solve our issues.

Keith Lyons, Candidate for Select Board One-Year Unexpired Term
I love our town and I would bring continued stability to the Select Board by being able to jump in and make an immediate impact based on my three years of experience on the Finance Committee and short time on the Personnel Board last year. Some areas of focus for me would be:

People – whether corporation or municipality, the focus should always be on the employees - ALL employees. Support, recognition, listening to and valuing what they all have to say
Water resources – we all believe in protecting our most critical resource. Now is the time to act with all voices sought, heard and valued
Thoughtful development - including any new public safety building(s) properly designed for Boxborough’s needs
Town Center - we still have a tremendous opportunity to develop the center of town that we can all be proud of for future generations
Technology - contributing to Boxborough’s Information Technology, per my experience, addressing People and Process first then implementing Technology solutions

You will always get Honesty, Integrity and Accountability from me and I would expect the same from others. I look forward to talking with all of you more in the coming days and weeks.

David McKiernan, Candidate for Select Board One-Year Unexpired Term
As a Boxborough resident for 33 years, my wife and I have always valued Boxborough as a quiet, safe place to raise our family. We value the open space and outdoor recreation Boxborough has to offer. The town has given us so much, and I feel it’s time for me to give back. If I have the honor of serving on our Select Board, my focus will be on:

Transparency — I will work to promote increased transparency in our town government.
Fiscal Accountability — I will work with the Town Administrator and Finance Committee to ensure that we are accountable for every tax dollar spent.
Water — I will work with the Water Resource Committee to help ensure the Boxborough Drinking water is safe for EVERYONE.
Safety — I have always thought of our town, our schools, and our homes as safe. I will work to restore the confidence that our Public Safety personnel should have in the leadership of the town.
Respect and Civility — I will lead by example using Cooperation, Collaboration, and Communication.

My 40 years in private industry in management and consulting roles give me the experience, skill, and insight to work toward a better Boxborough.

Mark Barbadoro, Candidate for Planning Board (Incumbent)
I joined the Planning Board in 2020 when I learned that several developers were planning large warehouse and manufacturing facilities without the necessary due diligence to safeguard our natural resources and the rural character of Boxborough. As a board member and Chair, I have authored several successful zoning changes to minimize industrial impact in the aquifer district. I have also worked to facilitate improvements to redevelopment projects through site plan approval and special permits--and have held firm on projects that would be detrimental to the town. These are crucial steps towards safeguarding our woods, open spaces, and most importantly - our watershed. I am honored to be part of the revitalization of Boxborough, and if reelected I will continue to put my 15 years of public sector planning/zoning experience to good use. I will work tirelessly toward protecting our quality of life, and preserving it for future Boxborough generations. Over the next three years, I want to help reimagine our downtown and will plan for the introduction of more amenities such as craft retail and food services. My goal: the Best Boxborough we can be.

Cindy Markowitz, Candidate for Planning Board (Incumbent)
When first elected to the Planning Board in 2019, I established several goals: 1) Ensure thoughtful new development and redevelopment of existing properties, 2) Enact zoning bylaw changes to stimulate appropriate development, 3) Protect our environment and the health and safety of our residents, 4) Promote affordable housing and sustainability. Over the last four years the Planning Board delivered on these goals. Project approvals have allowed for new Research and development facilities, many vacant commercial spaces were filled, new zoning was enacted to protect our water supply and open spaces from pollution and overdevelopment. I am proud of my record as a Planning Board member, including two years as Chair. Looking ahead, I have new goals for the healthy development of Boxborough. These include maintaining our affordable housing inventory, planning for MBTA Community zoning, promoting low impact development, and creating sensible regulations for an attractive Town Center. The Planning Board deals with a variety of complex regulatory issues. I am a hard worker who has the energy and enthusiasm to get things done. Experience matters. If reelected, I will continue to put my 30+ years’ experience in private sector land use regulation to work for the benefit of Boxborough.

Rich Guzzardi, Candidate for Planning Board
I am running for Planning Board to help make our great community even better. My wife Karen and I have lived in Boxborough for 31 years and we raised our two children here. We are grateful for all that this community has offered us, and recommend this town to anyone as great place to live, work and raise a family. Our future is not certain and requires that we get much more proactive in our planning, taking appropriate actions to ensure that we protect our town’s character while we grow in a balanced and thoughtful way that makes us even better. I am running to do exactly that. As a member of the Planning Board, I will:

Listen to everyone’s ideas, and collaborate to find the best solutions
Support responsible growth to provide balance and long-term financial sustainability
Encourage partnerships with land owners to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes
Promote the establishment of a village business district for the benefit of everyone
Protect our open spaces and natural resources to ensure long-term viability

I believe this is critically important for our town and ask for your support by voting for me on May 16th.

Chad Childers, Candidate for School Committee
Community service is my way to contribute to my children's future, which is why I served on a school board in Michigan for nine years before moving to Boxborough. My goals are to make sure Boxborough is heard at the school committee and give the superintendent and district the support they need to give our children the best education possible by providing clear policy, budget, and oversight.

Lakshmi Kaja, Candidate for School Committee
I have always believed in a holistic educational system that integrates academic, adaptive, and social-emotional learning. As a practicing engineer, I have realized the importance of these “soft-skills” in preparing students for the real-world. I have lived in Boxborough for 27 years, and have been involved, as a team manager and district coordinator, for nearly two decades in Destination Imagination (DI)—a volunteer driven creative problem solving program that fosters teamwork, critical thinking and an integrated approach to STEM and arts education. As a school committee member, my mission is to work towards (i) educational freedom via uncensored access to educational material and curriculum set by professional educators; (ii) equity and inclusion enabled by providing equal opportunity to students of all backgrounds; and (iii) student well-being to enable effective learning. Implementing and furthering such programs would require continued support from the wider community which I propose to achieve through community engagement, going beyond student families to promote understanding and encourage participation. My children, who graduated from the Acton-Boxborough school system several years ago, greatly benefited from an environment promoting many of these values. I would like to ensure that future generations of students have the same benefits.

Dennis Reip, Candidate for Moderator (Incumbent)
I am running for reelection to the one-year term for Town Moderator so that I can continue to serve the Town in this essential role. I offer the voters the right combination of experience, ability, and interest to perform as their Moderator. As the Town’s first newly elected Moderator in almost 20 years, I presided over a successful one-night Special Town Meeting last fall and demonstrated my commitment to providing a fair and productive meeting experience for all. As a 20-year resident with a long history of service to the Town, I understand how Town Meeting is supposed to work. I will continue to seek ways to improve the meeting process and voter experience by working in partnership with the Select Board, Town Clerk, and Town Administrator. As the appointing authority over the Finance Committee, I appointed one new member, and reappointed another member to a new term. I will continue to seek qualified volunteers to serve on the Finance Committee. I welcome the opportunity to continue my service to the Town as its Moderator and respectfully ask for your vote on May 16th.

Nancy Settle-Murphy, Candidate for Sargent Memorial Library Trustee (Incumbent)
Our library is the heartbeat of our town. It’s a place where people of all ages and walks of life can freely choose books, music, films and more recently, “things,” that enlighten them and enrich their lives. It’s a gathering space where people come together to learn, enjoy and experience new sights and sounds. Our library is a sanctuary, a safe space where all are welcome. I am running because I want to help keep it that way.

Jessica Levesque, Candidate for Library Trustee
My name is Jessica Levesque, and I am running for a seat as Library Trustee. I am interested in being a Library Trustee because I would like to be able to give back to our community in a meaningful way by supporting our Library’s mission to provide services and resources that encourage personal growth, enrich lives, foster social connections, and promote civic involvement. I have a fun personal experience that speaks to the mission statement. I took a pastel painting class last October at the Library. It was a two-hour class with a professional artist, and at the end we had a small picture to take home. The experience was fantastic, and I continue to enjoy this creative new hobby. In summary, I appreciate the role our library plays in the community and want to ensure that it continues to be a welcoming, useful and valued resource for everyone.

Boxborough Finance Committee Meeting Recap - April 18, 2023

BOXBOROUGH: The Boxborough Finance Committee (FinCom) met on April 18 to discuss changes to the FY2024 operating budget and to the warrant to be voted at annual town meeting (ATM) May 8-11. Those changes include: (1) a reduction of $20,000 to the Police Chief salary line, (2) possible reduction to the vocational education budget line (the committee is waiting to learn how many students will attend), and (3) waiting for the Select Board to release the Fire Department contract in order to study the impact on taxes.

Chair Maria Neyland reported that the Select Board plans to fund the settlement agreement with former Chief Ryder out of two line items from the FY2023 budget, including the Police Chief’s salary line and the salary line for full time police officers; the balance will come from interdepartmental transfers.

The committee also discussed free cash. Currently, free cash stands at ~$2.7 million. To reduce the tax impact on residents in the FY2024 budget, FinCom proposed using ~$1.5 million in free cash, leaving a balance of !$1.2 million. FinCom’s policy requires that 5% of the operating budget be set aside as free cash, which means the Town may have limited free cash available to offset taxes for the FY2025 budget.

April Events at Sargent Memorial Library

BOXBOROUGH:

April Vacation Youth Programs. Hey kids and parents! The Library is gearing up for April break! There's a STEM workshop with BuildWave, opportunities to read to Blitzen the dog, an old-school pizza/movie party, drop-in craft times, a Camp Wanderhome session (a one-shot, kids friendly, Dungeon and Dragon like game) and lots more! For a full list of programs, more details, or to register, visit the event calendar.
Adult Craft Night: April 27, 6pm in person at the Library meeting room. Calling all creative adults, come get crafty with us at the library! This month's craft is Air Dry Clay Flower "Frogs". For this craft you will be creating a flower frog to place on top of a jar or vase to hold cut flowers in place. We will have jars available, but you can also bring your own vessel! Registration is required as space is limited.
Touch a Truck: April 29, 11am-2pm. If you own an antique vehicle or an interesting automobile, and are willing to show it, please contact Heather Waddell at hwaddell@cwmars.org. On that day, the Library's parking lot will be closed so there is space for the very cool vehicles, and for families to wander around freely to explore them. All parking will be at Blanchard Memorial School except for those with disability placards/plates.
North Sea Gas: Wednesday, May 10, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. North Sea Gas is coming back to the Library once again. Their hour-long program of Scottish folk music and stories are unfailingly engaging and entertaining. No registration is required. All are welcome.

Library Resource Highlights:

Freegal Music Streaming and Downloading: Whether you are a lover of classical, country, jazz or pop music or enjoy K-pop, childrens', soundtracks, or heavy metal, use your library account and stream up to three hours of music through Freegal, the free music streaming service provided by the Library to cardholders. Visit the Library website for the link.
Genre Deep-Dive into Horrors: The Library is starting a new series of special book displays taking readers onto "Genre Deep Dives,” highlighting various genres over the coming months, starting in April with horror. Horror can be many things - it can be eerily atmospheric, or so scary you don't want to turn off the lights, but it can also be funny and thought-provoking (try Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark). Take a look at the books displayed and give one a try. You just might find something new to love.

PTF-sponsored “Festival of Cultures” Showcases Blanchard Community

BOXBOROUGH: On March 24, Boxborough’s Blanchard Elementary School families and friends gathered to celebrate the wide diversity and creativity of their community. The school’s gymnasium was full with crowds of smiling faces enjoying the music, artwork, dances, food, and traditions of their friends and neighbors. PTF chair Nicole Johnson explained, “The Festival of Cultures is the flagship event run by the Blanchard PTF annually. It is an opportunity for the entire Blanchard community to come together to celebrate the diversity within our school and the incredible talents that many of our students bring from their cultural background.”

Overflowing tables surrounded the room, representing more than 17 countries, with several families joining together to showcase their culture. The tables held an eclectic mix of foods, dress, artifacts, and crafts. The celebrations continued on stage, with 10 student performances. There were Indian dances, including Bharatanatyam – a south Indian dance form, three Bollywood dances, as well as a Latin American Dance Medley. Other performers included a piano player from Ukraine, a French singer, and the National Integration song from India performed on keyboard.

Blanchard vice principal Mike Votto is another big fan. “I find our yearly Festival of Cultures to be an inclusive, engaging, and community event,” Votto said. “Students highlight some of their amazing talents! We had traditional dances, music, and singing from a variety of students in our Blanchard Community. Families are able to socialize and visit the many tables that are set up where families decorate a small table and share culture through food, art, or simply information. Prior tables have included country maps, flags, favorite food, art projects, or artifacts. We had close to 20 countries represented this year.”

Parent Jennifer Bauder (also seen behind the desk at Sargent Library) summed up the feeling so many expressed, “The Festival of Cultures was a really wonderful event. It was great to see our diverse community come together for a night of learning and celebration.”

PHOTO: Grace Connor's smile reflects the joy of the evening. Says her mother Megan, “It was really wonderful to see such a wonderful turnout with so many countries represented. The dancers were so amazing too!”

Boxborough Minutemen Muster for Patriots’ Day

BOXBOROUGH: On April 17, the Boxborough Minutemen Company convened at 5:30am outside the Boxborough Museum on Middle Road to commemorate the events of the original Patriots’ Day. The Museum is located at the edge of Boxborough’s Old Town Center Historic District where some of the original Minutemen from Boxborough mustered on April 19, 1775.

The list of company officers was confirmed by a drumhead election, which is an old tradition whereby Minutemen Company members indicate their approval by tapping on the company bass drum. The company cannon was fired, announcing the company’s readiness to meet the enemy. At the North Cemetery, there was a commemorative musket volley, and the names of the men from Boxborough who joined in the battle on April 19, 1775, were read aloud.

The Boxborough Company joined its comrades, the Acton Minutemen, at Acton town center for a three-volley musket salute and then embarked on a seven-mile march on the Isaac Davis Trail to the North Bridge in Concord for a skirmish against the British Redcoats.

Minuteman Captain Tony Newton expressed his feelings about the march: "The trail off of Route 27 - imagining what it must have been like 200 plus years ago when the original Minutemen marched to Concord, not knowing what they were facing. You can kind of visualize what it was like in those days, just doing that walk quietly through those woods. It hasn’t changed that much in all those years. That was quite a nice moment for me."

The Boxborough Minutemen finished the day’s events with a parade through the center of Concord.

Recreation Commission’s Run BXB Event a Huge Success

BOXBOROUGH: On April 2, a large crowd turned out for Run BXB, the 5K race sponsored by the Recreation Commission. The race was held to raise funds for a new Blanchard playground. The field consisted of over 175 runners and walkers of all ages. The first place finisher was Chris O'Neil with a time of 20 minutes. In second place was Tristan Schnitzler with a time of 20.58. In third place was Stefano Caprara with a time of 22.13. The race raised over $7500 to support the playground. Combined with other fundraising, $66,000 has been raised so far for this effort, with a goal of $310,000.

Becca Edson from the Recreation Commission said “We are grateful to all the folks who came out. We had a much bigger showing than we expected and we hope to be able to do this again next year if we have the community support.”

After the race, runners and non-runners gathered at Steele Farm to celebrate. Two Friends Chocolates, West Side Creamery, and True West Brewery all had tables selling their food. The Boxborough Historical Society and Steele Farm Advisory Committee were there with a table of old farming implements. The Boxborough Minutemen and the Blanchard PTF also had tables, and there were balloon animals too. People ate, drank, and mingled, all while helping out a great cause.

Donations for the playground can still be made at http://bit.ly/3KmvfTx

Boxborough Holds Recognition Luncheon

BOXBOROUGH:
Over 80 town volunteers and staff attended the April 13 Town of Boxborough Recognition Luncheon hosted by the Town Administrator Michael Johns. More than 30 individuals and groups were recognized for their service, among them the Department of Public Works and the Boxborough Fire Department.

Boxborough Holds Green Community Forum

BOXBOROUGH: In an online forum April 11, a panel of experts answered questions about Boxborough’s next steps to becoming a green community. Discussion focused on a Sustainability Committee article citizens will consider at Annual Town Meeting May 8-11. Passage would add $5.04 to an average household’s annual electric bill and allow the town to become a green community. Boxborough could then apply for state grants to reduce energy costs in municipal buildings and help replace the town’s worn out gasoline vehicles with hybrid and electric vehicles.

The goal is to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent in the next five years. The panel emphasized that such a plan eventually could lower town expenses and taxes.

Sustainability Committee Chair Francie Nolde introduced moderator Kate Davies, a committee member, and director of a master’s program and lecturer in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University. The other panelists were Town Planner Alec Wade and town resident Kelly Brown, Regional Coordinator of the Green Community Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

A video recording of the hour-long meeting can be found at https://bit.ly/BXBGreen. For other information, go to energizeboxborough.org, the Sustainability Committee website at boxborough-ma.gov, mass.gov/orgs/green-communities-division, and masscec.com.

Building Committee Examines Outdated Public Safety Facilities

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough’s Building Committee (BBC) is charged with upgrading the town’s fire and police facilities to serve the town’s needs through 2050. At the BBC’s meeting April 12, discussion focused on a variety of challenges.

In February, Context Architecture, specialists in public safety facilities, confirmed the BBC’s 2015 conclusion that the town’s fire and police stations are undersized for housing of equipment, lacking in working space, and not Americans with Disability Act-compliant.

The Context study projects a need for six more public safety personnel by 2050, requiring less than three percent more space. The largest space increase is needed for storing essential equipment, supplies, and records.

The BBC is looking at possible locations for building a new fire station or a combined fire and police station. A dozen site possibilities along Mass Ave are not adequate; one such site is under investigation. A Stow Road site may be useful if the Housing Board decides not to use it for housing.

The BBC has asked Context to examine the possibility of renovating and expanding the current police station, to see if police functions can remain where they are.

For an overview of Boxborough public safety operations and estimates of staff and space needs, go to https://bit.ly/40Xeq7i.

Boxborough Housing Board Discusses use of Stow Road Land

BOXBOROUGH: At its April 13 meeting, the Boxborough Housing Board (BHB) discussed what kind of housing might be developed on the Stow Road property near Massachusetts Avenue. The board voted to seek advice from Metro West Collaborative Development, which gives housing assistance to Boxborough, and is a member of the Assabet Regional Housing Consortium.

Channing Wagg, who heads the board’s affordable housing task force, said that it might be possible to build 25-30 housing units at 70-72 Stow Road. BHB Chair Al Murphy explained that the land is held by the BHB on the condition that it be used for affordable housing. He added that use of the land may require changes to zoning restrictions.

The board will ask Metro West to look at what kind of housing might be appropriate in Boxborough, such as homes for older people who are downsizing, first-time homeowners looking to stay or settle in the town, disabled people, low- and moderate-income households, and a socioeconomic mix of families.

Wendy Trinks, the town’s Community Services Coordinator, told the board that Boxborough’s Rental Assistance Program is working at capacity, supporting 14 families. To renew the program with Community Preservation Act funding, the board is presenting an article for approval at Annual Town Meeting, which begins on May 8.

BHB member Korinne Stevens described the board’s progress in designing an affordable housing preservation program to help owners keep deed restricted homes in good condition with financial help for repairs and energy efficiency.

Boxborough Holds Open Space & Recreation Plan Public Forum

BOXBOROUGH: The Open Space and Recreation Plan public forum took place on April 12 at Boxborough Town Hall, with 16 residents in attendance. The forum was moderated by the Town Planner Alec Wade, with assistance from Recreation Commission Chair Megan Connor and Conservation Commission Chair Liz Markiewicz.

Wade began by explaining, “Open Space and Recreation Plans are a tool through which a community plans for the future of its conservation and recreation resources. OSRPs are informed by a thorough public participation process and reflect the needs of its community members.” Wade added that although he is relatively new to the position, he is very familiar with Boxborough and remembered fondly his time playing baseball at Flerra Field.

The Town Planner then gave an overview of the draft of Boxborough’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP), created with input from community members with experience on town boards and committees. Consultants from Comprehensive Environmental, Inc. oversaw the process.

Wade went on to explain that towns must update their OSRP every five years and provide town residents with a chance to weigh in on open space and recreation priorities. The process is helpful to the town in setting land acquisition priorities and keeping the town eligible for state grant funding.

Attendees were broken into three groups to work together on several exercises to prioritize open space and recreation goals, provide feedback on how resources were being used, and to brainstorm ways to improve them. The conversations were lively, as participants gathered around large town maps and quickly dotted the maps with Post-it suggestions.

Participant Lisa St. Amand commented, “It was fun and empowering to help put together an open space and recreation wishlist. The time flew as we brainstormed ideas to improve our opportunities for outdoor experiences.”

The forum ended with a question-and-answer session. Wade said the next step was to analyze the feedback from the forum and incorporate the information into the OSRP. His summary of the forum will be available on the Town Planner webpage on the Boxborough website.

Recreation Commission News

BOXBOROUGH: Registration for Flerra Summer Playground starts April 23. The link to sign up will be available at https://bit.ly/417QoGM on that date. This year, counselors and directors will be offered CPR and Red Cross Certification during their June 6 orientation.

The Recreation Commission is working with the Boxborough Fire Department to provide defibrillators at Flerra and Liberty fields, and possibly for Fifer’s Day.

The Boxborough Recreation Commission will sponsor Spring Flag Football, led by Blanchard's gym teacher Rob Guilmette. This program is open to fifth and sixth graders. It will run for six sessions, Tuesday afternoons from 3:20-4:30pm at the Blanchard playing fields. The first session will be on May 2, and the last on June 6. The cost per player is $20 for the whole program. Contact the Commission at boxborough.rec@gmail.com if this fee is a hardship. This will be limited to 20 participants.

Spring Running Club is off to a great start. There are more than 80 students running every Wednesday at 8 a.m. with parent volunteers and gym teacher, Mr. Guilmette.

The next meeting of the Boxborough Recreation Commission will be April 25, 7pm, at Boxborough Town Hall.

A Message from the Boxborough Community Services Coordinator

Boxborough Emergency Assistance Program: The Boxborough Emergency Assistance Program (BEAP) provides eligible households impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering economic impacts with a financial assistance payment of up to $1,000 to help pay common household expenses such as rent, mortgages, utilities, other household fees, and medical and prescription expenses. Application forms and program guidelines explaining the income and asset limits for eligibility are available on the Town’s web site at https://bit.ly/3JRq8Jq. Paper copies are also available at Town Hall and the Sargent Memorial Library.

Doli Atamian Campership Program: Are you beginning to think about camp and summer programs for your child/children? Are you concerned about affording a program? The Doli Atamian Campership Program is an all-volunteer organization raising funds to provide a camp or summer experience for children of low-income families in the Acton-Boxborough area. To learn more about their program and application process, go to doliatamiancampership.com or call Wendy Trinks at (978) 264-1735 for help with the application.

GIft Card Drive: Are you looking for a way to help support local families? Consider donating a gift card to the Community Services Department. Grocery and gas cards will be gladly accepted to support our neighbors in need. Please contact Wendy Trinks at (978) 264-1735 to arrange a donation.

Candidate Forum for Contested Races

BOXBOROUGH: The League of Women Voters – Acton Area will host a candidates forum for all Boxborough candidates in contested races ahead of the May 16 elections. The forum is free and open to the public. All candidates in contested races whose names appear on the ballot have been invited to participate. The forum will be held at Town Hall at 29 Middle Road on May 4 at 7pm. The forum will also be televised on Boxborough TV for viewing afterwards.

Select Board (three-year term) two open seats:

John Markiewicz (incumbent)
Priya Sundaram
Kristin Hilberg

Select Board (one-year term) one open seat:

Keith Lyons
Dave McKiernan

School Committee (one-year term) two open seats:

Rick Barrett
Chad Childers
Lakshmi Kaja
Vikahm Parikh

Planning Board (three-year term) two open seats:

Mark Barbadoro (incumbent)
Cindy J. Markowitz (incumbent)
Richard A. Guzzardi

Leslie Hogan, Acton Area League membership and outreach chair, said “We want to give Boxborough voters an opportunity to learn about candidates and cast an informed vote on May 16, or by using a mail-in ballot.”

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that encourages informed and active participation in local, state, and national government. The League develops positions on issues but does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. It has a long tradition of providing important voter information services, such as this forum. Candidate questions for consideration may be sent to lwvboxforum@gmail.com.

Next Week at Boxborough Town Hall

BOXBOROUGH: Below is a list of Boxborough’s board and committee meetings scheduled to take place the week of April 24-28. Note that the information is gathered a week or more in advance. Meetings can be added to the calendar up to 48 hours before the meeting. Meeting agendas are posted on the Town website at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Consult the calendar on the homepage of the Town website www.boxborough-ma.gov for meeting agendas and up-to-date meeting information. For meetings on Zoom, the link can be found on the agenda.

Monday, April 24:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC), 7 p.m., via Zoom
- Update on holiday calendar
- Update on survey
- Future of DEIC

Tuesday, April 25:

Recreation Commission, 7 p.m., Boxborough Town Hall, 29 Middle Road
- Run BXB follow-up
- Flerra Summer Playground
- Running Club program
- Liberty Field update

2023 Boxborough Annual Town Meeting Preview

BOXBOROUGH: Boxborough voters are encouraged to attend the 2023 Boxborough Annual Town Meeting (ATM) starting at 7pm on May 8 at Blanchard Memorial School. The warrant is the ATM agenda, which will be posted to the town website, as well as town social media sites through www.boxborough-ma.gov and mailed to every household on April 20. Everyone is encouraged to review the warrant ahead of time to learn about what will be discussed and decided by the voters.

The ATM will include a brief Special Town Meeting (STM) embedded within the ATM on May 8, starting at 7:15pm to hear motions on five articles that address current year business.

The ATM will then continue with brief reports from the Select Board, the Planning Board, and the AB School Committee. The report of the Finance Committee will be made under Article 5, the Town Operating Budget.

Voters will then decide to approve salaries for elected officials and to consider changes to the Personnel Administration Plan and the Plan’s Classification and Compensation Schedule.

Article 5 will give residents the opportunity to vote on the proposed Town Operating Budget. Article 6 proposes the establishment of a Fall Town Meeting amendment of the General Bylaws. Article 7 requests funding the first year of collective bargaining agreements. Article 8 proposes additional staff for the Fire Department. Article 9 proposes funding for road maintenance.

The Select Board, in consultation with Town Counsel, the Moderator, and the Finance Committee, has placed the next 32 Articles on a Consent Agenda, believing these articles can be properly voted without debate. If any voter objects, individual articles can be removed from the Consent Agenda and be debated and voted separately.

Among the consent articles are a request for $120,000 for cable services and equipment (Article 14), $150,000 for a new Department of Public Works backhoe (Article 20), $280,000 to remove underground fuel storage tanks and install new above-ground tanks (Article 21), and $175,000 to replace the roof of the Sargent Memorial Library (Article 31).

Additional Articles to be discussed individually include Article 42 which considers a vote to accept Joyce Lane, Loring Avenue, and MacLeod Way as public town ways. Article 43 requests $310,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the preservation of the Steele Farm House. Article 44 considers funding of the replacement of Fire Department Tender 65 (Tanker). Article 45 proposes an independent forensic accounting of the cost associated with the investigations of the Boxborough Police Department and the Chief(s) of Police.

Article 46 is a proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment to Section 4.2.2 concerning accessory apartments (also known as Accessory Dwelling Units). Article 47 is a proposed General Bylaw Amendment for a Tree Protection and Preservation Bylaw.

Those attending Town Meeting are asked to bring non-perishable items for the Food Pantry. Especially needed are hot and cold cereals, hearty soups, dried or canned beans, canned meat and fish, rice, pasta and sauce, pasta, toilet paper, detergents, incontinence items, and diapers.

Private Investigator Reports Available on Boxborough Town Website

BOXBOROUGH: Two reports from L’Italien Investigative Services dated February 8, 2023 and February 15, 2023 are now available on the Town of Boxborough website. The reports are addressed to Joseph Fair, Esq. of KP Law with the subject line, “Independent Investigation Boxborough Police Department Chief of Police Warren Ryder” and are signed by Paul J. L’Italien, Licensed Private Investigator.

The report dated February 8, 2023 (with file name “Statement of Facts - redacted”) is available here: https://tinyurl.com/RyderInvestigation.
The report dated February 15, 2023 (with file name “Executive summary - redacted”) is available here: https://tinyurl.com/RyderSummary.

Learn about Proposed Research/Industrial Park at 1414 Massachusetts Avenue

BOXBOROUGH: Lincoln Properties Company is proposing to construct three single-story, research/light manufacturing buildings, totaling 577,525 square feet, and 1,157 parking spaces, at their property at 1414 Massachusetts Avenue. The project will require extensive landscaping, stormwater management infrastructure, new on-site wells, expansion of an existing on-site wastewater treatment plant, and a new subsurface disposal area (leaching field). Lincoln Properties has just filed a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The DEIR can be downloaded using this link: https://tinyurl.com/LincolnDEIR

Comments on the DEIR can be made through the MEPA website comment portal: https://tinyurl.com/DEIRcomments or you may email your comments to Jennifer.Hughes@state.ma.us.

If you would like to learn more about the proposed development, there will be a public information meeting on April 24 from 5:30-7pm. The meeting will be both in-person and online. The in-person session will be at Vibalogics, 1414 Massachusetts Avenue, in the conference room adjacent to the front door. RSVP to David Hewett at dhewett@epsilonassociates.com if you plan to attend. To participate remotely, click on the link below to receive the Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/1414zoom

At the meeting, Lincoln Properties will discuss the proposed project and provide an opportunity for those attending to ask questions and express their opinions.

Craft Food Halls Restaurant Coming to Boxborough

BOXBOROUGH: A new restaurant is coming to Boxborough this fall. Craft Food Halls, a local chain specializing in office food service, is planning to open a 7,000 square foot space on the ground floor of 500 Beaver Brook Road, where the Cisco cafeteria used to be. The restaurant will offer indoor and outdoor dining, gaming areas, and patio fire pits. The menu will include pizza, burgers, tacos, steak, and salads. A key feature is that food will be prepared using the sous-vide method, which is a low-temperature, long-cooking-time method of cooking that is supposed to retain moisture and prevent over-cooking.

Unlike typical sit-down service style restaurants, Craft Food Hall asks patrons to place their orders at the main counter; their names will be called when their meals are ready to be picked up. A unique feature of the new restaurant will be a beer wall, with 28 different draft beers. Diners will get a prepaid card at the counter and then go to the wall, insert the card, and serve themselves. Beer is charged by the ounce, with a maximum of 32 ounces per card.

Craft Food Halls plans to offer community events, such as live music and drive-in movies, on weekends at various times throughout the year. They currently operate restaurants in Boston, Lexington, Marlborough, Waltham and Wellesley.

AB Cares to Host May 6 Safer Homes, Safer Community Gun Buyback Program

BOXBOROUGH: AB Cares is once again partnering with the Acton and Boxborough Police Departments and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office to host a gun buyback initiative on May 6 at the St. Matthew’s Methodist Church located at 435 Central Street in Acton. The event will run from 9am–noon. Individuals turning in unwanted firearms are asked to transport them to the site unloaded and in the trunk of their car. Ammunition will be accepted as well. No ID required, no questions asked, and each person turning in a firearm will have the option of receiving a gift card to a local grocery store. All firearms and ammunition will be handled by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and will be destroyed by the Massachusetts State Police.

AB Cares is a community-based collaborative effort that seeks to prevent suicide and support all who are impacted by suicide. Click HERE for more information.

ABRHS Baseball to host Hope at Bat Fundraiser to Support American Cancer Society

ACTON/BOXBOROUGH: For the second time post-Covid, the ABRHS Baseball Boosters Program is holding their cancer fundraising event now called "Hope at Bat" (formerly 'Coaches vs. Cancer'). The event will be held May 12 beginning at 5:30pm with concessions and entertainment, including special guests to sing the National Anthem and throw out a ceremonial first pitch. The Junior Varsity game will begin at 5:30pm and the Varsity game will begin at 6pm - both games are against Newton South, who will also be participating in Hope at Bat.

Each team will take this game to honor the lives lost to cancer, celebrate survivors, and support the caregivers who so selflessly help others. We aim to raise awareness of those living with cancer, caring for those with cancer, and working to advance treatments and cures for the disease, as well as raise money for the American Cancer Society. For more information or to donate, click HERE or contact krychlik@mac.com.

See Boxborough's Treasures at Boxborough Museum April 16

BOXBOROUGH: The Boxborough Museum at 575 Middle Road will be open from 2pm-4pm on April 16. See Boxborough’s historic treasures including the 1850s scale which is sensitive enough to weigh a penny and strong enough to calibrate a 50 pound weight, the “new” hearse built in 1881, and the “old” hearse (come and see how old is old). Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, or if anyone wishes to arrange a private tour for a small group at a different time, please call John Fallon at (978) 264-0069.

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Boxborough Minutemen Patriots’ Day Activities

BOXBOROUGH: On April 17, the Boxborough Minutemen Company will convene at 5:30am outside the Boxborough Museum, 575 Middle Road, to commemorate the events of the original Patriots’ Day. The Museum is located at the edge of Boxborough’s Old Town Center Historic District where some of the original Minutemen from Boxborough mustered on April 19, 1775.

The list of company officers is confirmed by a drumhead election. This is an old tradition whereby minutemen company members indicate their approval by tapping on the company bass drum. The company cannon is fired to announce that the company is ready to meet the enemy. There is a short march to Boxborough North Cemetery for a commemorative musket volley after which the names of men from Boxborough who joined in the battle on April 19, 1775 are read out.

At 6:20am, the Boxborough Company joins its comrades, the Acton Minutemen, at Acton town center for a three volley musket salute, after which both companies embark on the seven mile march on the Isaac Davis Trail to the North Bridge in Concord (arriving about 8:45am) for a skirmish against the British redcoats.

The Minutemen finish the day’s events with a parade through the center of Concord. For information, please contact Captain Tony Newton at captain@boxboroughminutemen.org, or (617) 448-5931.

Household Goods Donation Drive for Earth Day

BOXBOROUGH: Earth Day is April 22. Donating your unwanted household items is a great way to help a family in need and recycle. Household Goods provides a full range of furniture and household items, free of charge, to help people in need make a home. Pots and pans, towels, lamps, sheets, blankets, small rugs, etc. are always needed. Click for a list of items accepted and donation guidelines, or HERE. Donations are accepted at Household Goods (530 Main St, Acton) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9am-noon.

Can’t get to Household Goods during these hours? The Boxborough DTC is sponsoring this drive and will be collecting small item donations (no large furniture) and delivering them to Household Goods on Earth Day. For more information, send an email to boxborough.dtc@gmail.com, visit them online or find them on Facebook.

Free Bee Market to Return May 20

BOXBOROUGH: The first Free Bee Market of 2023 will be a full food and community market with a focus on seedlings and launches next month on Saturday May 20. The smaller food-only Free Bee pop ups will continue most Saturdays at 30 Middle Road from May 20-October 28, 2023 from 10:30am to 12pm. For details on additional full Free Bee Market dates and other information, look for Free Bee on Facebook, Instagram and here in the Action Unlimited each week. Online, check out at the Free Bee Market website
or HERE, or get updated Free Bee news by signing up. Volunteers of all ages (including youth) sign up HERE.

Happening at the Junior High School

BOXBOROUGH:

8th Grade Dance - Parent Volunteers Needed. Volunteers are urgently needed to help plan the year-end 8th grade dance! The dance is scheduled for June 9 from 7-9pm. Please contact Lara Plaskon at laraplaskon@yahoo.com if you are able to help with the planning.
Teen Self-Defense Seminar. Acton-Boxborough teens ages 13-19 are welcome to join Danny's Place and Concord Self-Defense Academy for this hands-on self-defense program. We recommend signing up as a pair, if possible, as there is a good amount of partner work during the seminar. April 26, from 7-9pm at ABRSD Administration Building Gym, 15 Charter Road, Acton. Cost: $30.
HS Math Club Offering Peer Tutoring. The high school club He(r) + Math is offering peer tutoring to all Jr. High and High School students on Friday afternoons in room 244W in the high school from 3-3:45pm. Each week, they have a short fun activity and then pair off for peer tutoring. Email khoogeboom@abschools.org if you have questions.

Yard Waste Burning Now thru May 1

BOXBOROUGH: As spring is upon us, some residents will be turning to open burning to rid their yards of winter debris. Those who do so need to be aware of the regulations which include a requirement to register each day of burning with the fire department. This year's burning season runs until May 1. Burning is permitted between 10am and 4pm; however, burning is banned on days when air quality is deemed unacceptable (for example particularly dry and/or windy days) and fires would pose a danger.

Material that may be burned includes brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing. Prohibited is burning of grass, hay, leaves, stumps, tires, construction materials, demolition debris, and household trash.

Residents must register with the Boxborough Fire Department each day they wish to burn. They may register online at https://bit.ly/3KILVES (link only works on days burning is permitted) or by telephoning the fire department at (978) 264-1770. Additional information on burning policies, procedures and daily burn status appears at https://bit.ly/3miEkmW

Next Week at Boxborough Town Hall

BOXBOROUGH: Below is a list of Boxborough’s board and committee meetings scheduled to take place the week of April 17-21. Note that the information is gathered a week or more in advance. Meetings can be added to the calendar up to 48 hours before the meeting. Meeting agendas are posted on the Town website up to 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Consult the calendar on the Town website for meeting agendas and up-to-date meeting information. For meetings on Zoom, the link to the meeting can be found on the agenda.

Tuesday, April 18:

Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m., Boxborough Town Hall, 29 Middle Road (Hybrid)
- Finalize presentation for ATM
- Free Cash/budget line item transfers projections
- Written procedures for using funds in other line items before requesting an RFT
- Possible budget vote, waiting for the Voc school numbers
- Query to Select Board re funding Chief Ryder's retirement and/or settlement

Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m., via Zoom
- ongoing sign special permit application for 650 Mass Ave (Pink Dog)

Wednesday, April 19:

Conservation Commission, 7:30 p.m., Boxborough Town Hall, 29 Middle Road
- Continued Notice of Intent (NOI) hearing for 100 Codman Hill Road
- NOI hearing for septic system for 241 Depot Road

AB United Way "United We Run" for Mental Health

WEST ACTON: On May 13 starting at 10am will be the Acton-Boxborough United Way "United We Run" for Mental Health. Moving together to move our community forward! All are welcome at this family-friendly run/walk event to support Acton-Boxborough United Way's mental health initiatives. Let's come together as a community (rain or shine!) and enjoy the power of connection.

Yankee Timing will be there to provide professional race timing to all participants, and medals will be awarded to the top finishers in each age group. But don’t let that intimidate you — you can go at any pace… run or walk, stroll with neighbors, or mingle with new friends. It’s all about having fun together!

Get the kids involved in giving back to the community with a One-Mile Fun Run! They'll be cheered along the route with bubbles and noisemakers. Free frisbees for all participants. Prizes for the fastest and most spirited!

Fabulous run t-shirts for the first 250 registered. Sign-up before April 15th to ensure you receive your preferred size. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Acton/ABUW5K.

Thank You for the Boxborough Book Sale

BOXBOROUGH: The Friends of the Boxborough Library would like to thank everyone who helped to make our recent book sale such a success. Thank you for donating such a wonderful selection of books. Thank you also for coming to the library to buy books. Because of your support over 2,000 books found new homes and the Friends will continue to be able to provide the community with museum passes and exciting programs for both children and adults. A special thank you also to all who helped to sort and arrange all of the books!

PHOTO: Vicky Zhang and her child Jayden Xing examine their treasures.

About Action Unlimited

A weekly advertising publication with seven (7) different editions to choose from - Acton (Acton, Boxboro, Maynard), Ayer (Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Shirley, Devens), Chelmsford, Concord (Concord, Carlisle, Bedford), Hudson (Hudson, Stow), Marlborough (Marlborough, Sudbury) and Westford (Westford, Littleton), Each edition is filled with news, events, puzzles, local advertisers, classifieds and more!

The Action is also your one stop shop for graphic design, copying services, website design, business card printing, scanning & shredding services.

Contact Details:

100 Domino Drive
Concord, MA 01742

Phone: (978) 371-2442

Monday - Wednesday: 7:30am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 7:30am - 3:00pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday - Sunday: Closed

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