Alissa Nicol, Acton Selectwoman

10/23/2026

10/22/2026

I attended a moving dedication ceremony at Freedom Park in Concord’s town center today for the new Black Heritage Trail. Speakers included local and state elected officials, town staff and appointed officials, the Robbins House co-founder and co-Presidents, and the Concord Carlisle Black Student Union, many of them METCO students from Boston.

Vocalist Shy’Kira Allen enthralled us with renditions of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and Cynthia Erivo’s “Stand Up.”

Sankofa, an Akan word from Ghana, meaning “to go back and get it,” was referenced in the welcoming remarks, along with the proverb, “It is not shameful to go back and get what you forgot.”

I am so grateful that Concord is going back to find these forgotten stories, and bringing them forward to share them proudly. This is, and always has been, their community, and these stories are integral to Concord’s history and the belonging Black residents deserve to feel today.

Go grab a map, and discover the stories for yourself!

10/20/2026

Do you serve on an Acton board or committee? It’s that time of year once again! Your favorite topics in one training - Open Meeting Law, Conflict of Interest and Public Records!

Two opportunities available. No registration required.

Thursday, November 5, 2026 10:00 AM-12:00 PM or
5:00 PM-7:00 PM at Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, in the Francis Faulkner Hearing Room 204

10/20/2026

10/20/2026

Driving around town this morning, I passed so many crews working - public works filling potholes, tree companies with police details. Fall is a busy time for roadside work! 🚧

Safety Tip Tuesday.

10/19/2026

Learn more about the important work Shawn Case (pictured here with our new water restriction sign) and his colleagues are engaged with relative to climate and environmental issues.

https://www.actonexchange.org/actons-climate-resilience-starts-with-the-land-beneath-our-feet/

10/17/2026

Picked up some blue bags for the Acton Transfer Station, and discovered a welcome packaging reduction! No more plastic bag; just a paper wrap! 🌏

10/16/2026

I’m really looking forward to this event! 🪔

10/16/2026

More Covid tests are available! 🦠 Stop by the Land Use counter at Town Hall during regular business hours, and stock up!

10/16/2026

Since it’s raining today, I thought I would share what a watery month I spent in September. 💦

I attended the MWRA Cost Allocation Study presentation at the Concord Free Public Library along with many other officials, including Acton Water District staff, commissioners and finance committee members, as well as Town staff. Consultants presented the results of their study of nine Metrowest communities exploring a future connection to the MWRA.

At an all-day workshop in Worcester, organized by the MA Rivers Alliance, panelists from towns and cities that have adopted stormwater utility fees presented the history of those efforts, and shared critical factors for adequate public engagement, efficiency and effectiveness.

I also attended a One Water Webinar, “Stormwater Funding and Financing Basics,” hosted by the U.S. Water Alliance that informed how stormwater utilities can help communities build long-term capacity to address stormwater challenges and invest in more resilient infrastructure.

And finally, at the end of the month, I joined members of the Town’s Water Resources Advisory Committee as they presented their stormwater management and sustainable funding report to the Acton Finance Committee, a project they undertook last year at the direction of the Select Board.

Drinking water (sources in Acton from underground aquifers), stormwater, as well as wastewater, are all regulated at the local, state, and federal level, and thoughtful management and funding of the infrastructure and natural resources, are critical to safeguard them all, protecting public health, public safety, and environmental health, and the Town’s ability to do so successfully will continue to present challenges for years to come.

Stay tuned for opportunities to learn more, including at a joint meeting of the Acton Water District’s Board of Commissioners and Finance Committee this coming Monday, 10/19, at 7:00 PM, where the MWRA Cost Allocation Study published report will be discussed.