Acton Select Board Sets Special Town Meeting Warrant, Awards Sand and Metal Bids

The Acton Select Board approved a two-article special town meeting warrant for October 28, covering the purchase of a 4.3-acre parcel on Route 109 and repairs to a collapsed wall and concrete pad at the transfer station. The board also awarded the winter sand bid to Curtis Excavation and the scrap metal contract to CIA Salvage, and accepted the resignation of Transfer Station Superintendent John Rogo.

Key points

• The board approved Article 2, appropriating $199,000 from the unassigned fund balance to buy land at tax map 229, lot 52, contingent on a clean Phase 1 environmental review.
• The board approved Article 3, appropriating up to $32,064.72 from the unassigned fund balance for a concrete pad and retaining wall at the transfer station, amended to describe the excavation line as excavation and materials.
• The board voted to award the winter sand contract to Curtis Excavation at $15.19 per yard, with a member citing a finer, better-screened sand product than the prior year.
• The board voted to award the scrap metal contract to CIA Salvage, which staff said would turn an estimated $6,020 annual cost into roughly $3,250 in revenue, contingent on insurance and workers' compensation paperwork.
• A board member raised concern about the county tax assessment, now about $600,000 and roughly double what it was, and suggested asking neighboring towns to join in pressing the county commission for an explanation.
• The board accepted the resignation of Transfer Station Superintendent John Rogo, effective October 30, 2026, with staff noting he cited personal reasons.
• Highway department staff reported road reclamation work on Sanborn and Hopper roads, with paving planned, and acknowledged traffic control problems with flaggers that were corrected.

Next steps

• The town administrator will contact neighboring towns to gauge interest in asking the county commission to explain its budget and tax increases.
• A public hearing on the land purchase will be scheduled, likely for the October 21 meeting, before the special town meeting.
• The town administrator will begin the search for a new transfer station superintendent.
• Sebago was hired to produce a preliminary parking lot design, and the town is seeking an appraisal of the Route 109 property.

Read the full transcript