Select Board advances Tax Relief Evaluation Task Force nominees after debate

The Select Board advanced nominations for a new seven-member tax force to evaluate the residential tax exemption, fielding concerns about the process before pushing ahead.

The board approved a task force charge on January 6 that asked members to evaluate Acton’s RTE and study other tax relief options.

The residential exemption shifts the tax burden toward higher-valued homes. Fans say it helps seniors and fixed-income residents stay in Acton. Critics say the town rushed to adopt the exemption without fully assessing its effectiveness. 

Select Board member Wendy Rovelli fielded task force recommendations from her colleagues and delivered last Monday’s list of nominees: Frank “Rich” Feeley, Kathi O’Neil, Jon Piper, Lynn Salinger, Ellen Quackenbush, Abby White, and Shannon Sweeney.

A handful of residents cited Acton’s appointments policy that says residents should serve on only one committee at a time, but allows exceptions “on a case-by-case basis.” 

Last Monday’s Select Board agenda noted exemptions for Feeley and Quackenbush, who serve on the Acton Municipal Affordable Housing Trust and the Transportation Advisory Committee, respectively.

Select Board member Cameron McKennitt said he took no issue with any nominee but said he knows other qualified people who are not on other committees. 

“It’s a broken process,” he said before casting the lone “no” vote in the 4-1 tally. 

Chair Mary Hartman said McKennitt could have spoken up while the board was charting the nomination process in January.

“Just because somebody hasn’t been on a committee before doesn’t qualify them to be on this or any other committee,” she said.

Hartman said the Select Board will vote on committee appointments February 10.