Newly re-elected state Senator Pam Resor and Representative Jamie Eldridge came to town last Wednesday and held a citizens’ forum to “solicit opinions and ideas for policy statewide, but especially for the town.” A group of about 20 residents of Harvard and Devens talked turkey on a number of local issues.
Chapter 40B developments
At the top of the list of issues was Chapter 40B, the state program that allows developers to bypass local approval processes, local zoning, and other restrictions in towns where the state mandated 10 percent affordable housing requirement has not been met. Resident Keith Cheveralls asked if there was any pending legislation. “Where does it end? How much more land will be developed under the guise of 40B?” he asked in frustration. As he sees it, the property tax dollars from the 140 homes planned under a 40B development of the Shaker Hill golf course would cover the cost of educating only one child per four-bedroom house.
“The purpose is to build more affordable housing,” Eldridge said, “We should give the towns tools and subsidies to work towards the goal and show growth.” This would include convincing the new governor to increase funding for towns to build their own affordable housing, he said. Eldridge said that he will be working on a bill that would enable towns to count affordable units in 40Bs twice in order to reach the 10 percent number sooner.
“What is your reaction to increasing the required percentage of affordable housing in 40Bs?” asked Resor. “This would make it less attractive to developers,” she said. In addition, she said that the Land Use Reform Act could help towns mitigate financial hardship caused by 40Bs.
Resident Larry Finnegan summarized, “40Bs attempt to solve one problem and then create another.” Eldridge said that suburban communities, by coming together and rallying around a very specific issue, could be a powerful tool in effecting 40B reform. “It backs us up,” he said.
Preserving land
Tied closely to the impact of 40Bs was the subject of land use and protection came up in a number of other ways. Resor listed her goal of refiling a Chapter 61 reform bill as soon as the new legislative session begins in January 2007. Under Chapter 61 agricultural, forest, and open space and recreational land is taxed below the market rate of developable land. According to Resor’s website, this bill would “enhance opportunities to protect working forests, farms and recreation lands.” She also mentioned her work on Article 97 legislation, setting up criteria as part of the process for taking land out of protected park or conservation status.
Sydney Blackwell, representing Harvard Local, asked the group to think of land use in an entirely new way. “Within 50 years, we will need to produce our own food. We have to save land,” she said.
Transportation
Described by member Josie Carothers as a grass roots group “interested in addressing global problems in a local fashion,” Harvard Local also questioned Resor and Eldridge about public transportation initiatives. According to Blackwell, climate instability and fossil fuel depletion will put small towns in serious trouble.
Resor mentioned that Acton is very interested in some type of shuttle service to the Acton train station, and Eldridge talked of progress in improving the train lines, including a three million dollar MBTA upgrade plan. The completion of double tracks on all sections would allow for more express trains.
Local aid
Local Aid was another hot topic. Resident Bruce Leicher expressed concern that current proposals to provide additional aid to schools would probably hurt rather than help Harvard. Eldridge responded that it is definitely not a “one-size-fits-all-situation” and Resor said they would be doing a survey of how cities and towns are using fees and how much money would be needed to replace them. Other residents echoed Leicher’s concern about education funding, yet all worried about drastically rising property taxes. Bill Ashe listed increasing local aid as his top issue, closely followed by tax relief for seniors. Resor said, “It’s time to reconsider property tax relief and an increase in income tax.” Eldridge spoke of a number of corporate tax loopholes that had been closed in the last legislative session. During the upcoming session, he said that he intends to tackle the question of how to reduce costs in towns.
Special education
The talk of school funding turned to special education, described by Ashe as “the 800-pound gorilla” in need of some oversight. Resor mentioned a pilot program to cover transportation costs—not currently covered—that had worked well. Eldridge said that he believes the state should commit more funding, but Resor cautioned that the more money the state puts into local education, the more control the state will want. When asked by this reporter about Governor Mitt Romney’s recent cuts to special education “circuit-breaker” funds, Resor relied that a supplemental budget could be filed in January to restore some of the funding.
Devens
“What’s the buzz in the Legislature on Devens?” Carothers asked. Resor answered that there is no buzz, but that she and Eldridge have been meeting with stakeholders. Eldridge said that they would be encouraging communication among the different groups. “Ask us again in January,” he added.
