Select Board clears way for new fire station applications

Select Board · Meeting of August 24, 2026

Boxborough clears fire station land use, weighs financial policy rewrite. The Select Board voted 5-0 to recommend the Planning Board withdraw three pending applications at 984 and 996 Massachusetts Avenue and 38 Saras Way, the site of the town's planned new fire station. The board also approved Town Administrator Michael Johns' annual review 5-0, with an average score of 4.54 out of 5.

Finance Committee Chair Tony Newton presented proposed changes to the reserve fund, budget transfer and audit policies, including a new audit committee to select the town's outside auditor, though no vote was taken pending a Finance Committee revote. Paddock Estates residents, including Bethany Holcomb, pressed for a non-lethal "Beaver Deceiver" device to address beaver activity affecting drainage; the board said it has no jurisdiction over the private property. Members also flagged an unresolved $10,000 hazardous waste day budget line against a potential switch to the regional Devens collection program.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,735 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.