As losses mount, it’s time to ditch Anderson Kreiger as town counsel
Acton has gotten litigation-happy, and taxpayers have to foot the bill.
Last month, Superior Court Judge Brent Tingle annulled a decision from Acton’s Historic Districts Commission and concluded members showed “bias and bad faith” regarding plans for 615 Lowell Road.
Place “1” in the loss column.
Earlier this year, Judge Tingle ruled Acton had violated wetlands at 1175 Elm Street. He characterized Anderson Kreiger’s (AK) position as “misplaced,” imposed a preliminary injunction, and ordered Acton to file a notice of intent (NOI).
Place “2” in the loss column.
But wait, the losing doesn’t stop there. Instead of filing an NOI, Acton and AK will use public funds to continue litigation using the same legal position the court determined was “misplaced.”
AK has already charged $50,000+ in litigation fees, and that’s only for February through June 2026. This case will go into 2027 and possibly 2028. Why are we doing this?
Why don’t Acton officials file the NOI (like everyone else in town), move on, and save us the money?
Then there’s 1450 Main Street. In 2025, a court concluded the Zoning Board of Appeals’ denial was “legally untenable, arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, and otherwise beyond the proper exercise of [its] authority.”
Ouch — place “3” in the loss column.
Acton has gotten litigation-happy, and taxpayers have to foot the bill. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate Anderson Kreiger as town counsel. Bedford did, and they made the change.
While I live in Gloucester, my wife and I grew up in Acton, raised our kids here, and still own a home at 255 Commonwealth Avenue.
Miguel Echavarri
Wheeler Street, Gloucester
Editor’s note: The writer is a plaintiff in the 1175 Elm Street case.
