Christine M. McCarthy

The meeting involved a discussion regarding financial planning and rate strategy, where the Finance Committee recommended Option C for rate increases. This option includes a proposed block rate increase of 1.1% per usage, an increase in the bond debt fee to $46 per quarter to accommodate long-term debt from the South Acton treatment plant, and an increase in the municipal flat rate to $.042/cubic foot. The Commissioners unanimously approved this recommendation. Updates were provided on the South Acton Water Treatment Plant progress, including upcoming meetings with the engineer and contractor regarding startup plans, and confirmation that several wells have been redeveloped. New business involved assigning motions for presentation of Warrant Articles at the upcoming Annual Meeting. Additionally, a real-time modeling software for water flow by a company named Terbus was discussed for further review by the IT Manager.

The meeting addressed several operational and planning matters. New business included a request from an LLC concerning property access via an existing easement at 960 Main Street-Rear, requiring the District's cooperation as a co-applicant for Planning Board submission regarding a potential development, which the Board agreed to discuss further before rendering a decision. The Board also discussed the potential postponement of the 2021 Annual District Meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions. Old business included a review of the Draft Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 and updates on Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination remediation efforts, including grant applications and pilot technology results. Additionally, updates were provided on the Lawsbrook and Knox Trail solar projects, noting progress on permitting, lease execution, and payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreement finalization, particularly regarding the DOR's stance on treating the District as a municipality for tax purposes. The Board appointed a Commissioner to approve warrants during virtual meetings and convened an Executive Session to discuss litigation strategy.

The Finance Committee meeting addressed several critical operational and budgetary matters. Key discussions included the constraints of the Open Meeting Law regarding document distribution, which led to an agreement to be more cognizant of compliance for finalizing the annual report letter. The committee reviewed and approved revisions to the annual report letter, specifically concerning OPEB, bedrock wells, and PFAS fund usage. A significant portion of the agenda focused on the interrelation between PFAS settlement fund utilization, the draft FY27 budget, debt service fees, and rate setting, culminating in a motion to revise the budget to ensure PFAS funds reduce both usage fees and debt fees equally. Furthermore, the committee reviewed the FY26 Annual Meeting presentation framework and established a recommended target free cash range of five to 20 percent of the annual expense budget. The committee also compared Acton water bills to nearby communities, noting that AWD bills were the highest, and received an update on the Treasurer/Collector candidate search.

The meeting addressed several critical areas. In the Finance Committee session, the annual audit report was presented by CBIZ CPAs, focusing on financial position and fund balance considerations, with follow-up questions on audit guidance. An update on District investments from Cap Trust provided a market overview, noting current allocations of approximately 55% equities and 41% high-quality bonds, and discussed intentional defensive strategy. Key Old Business discussions involved PFAS sampling data, progress updates on upgrades at Center Acton and South Acton facilities, and the status of settlement-related payment options. The review of the Draft Budget for FY '27 highlighted a projected increase in the debt fee for customer bills. Further, the status of the MWRA MetroWest Expansion project was reviewed, along with the ongoing recruitment for the Treasurer/Collector position. The Board appointed one Commissioner to sign warrants during virtual meetings, and the session concluded with an Executive Session dedicated to strategy sessions for contract negotiations with non-union personnel.

The meeting addressed several critical items under Old Business, including updates on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), discussion of additional PFAS upgrades including conditioning status at both treatment plants, and an update on the Bottled Water Rebate Program, which is anticipated for discontinuation after Q1 2026. The committee also reviewed compliance efforts under the US EPA Lead & Copper Rule Improvements, noting the distribution of consumer notification letters and continued low-risk sampling results. Review of the Draft Budget for FY '27 and proposed articles for the 2026 Annual District Meeting Warrant was postponed pending free cash certification. New Business included an update on water conservation programs, authorization of up to $10,000 for 2026 water efficiency rebates, reporting the successful donation of the 126 Massachusetts Avenue parcel in Boxborough, and a discussion regarding the projected FY'27 Debt Fee increase reflecting the transition to permanent financing.