Letter of support for 40T shelved
The selectmen agreed to delay a letter of support for the state’s proposed 40T legislation, pending an in-depth discussion of the issue to be scheduled for a later time. If passed, the new law would enable individual property owners to create separate sub-districts and issue bonds to fund infrastructure improvements, such as sewers, walkways, and road repairs. According to Selectman Lucy Wallace, proponents of the legislation like the fact that the law enables “landowners to undertake the responsibility [of improvements] themselves…it is another tool without having to saddle the whole town with the [costs of] improvement.”
Selectmen Tim Clark and Bob Eubank both opposed the notion of sending a letter of support for the legislation at this juncture, citing a need for more information as well as the need to offer town residents the opportunity to voice questions and concerns about the proposed legislation.
“We aren’t clear on what the loopholes are, and we need to be clear about what requirements Harvard would be compelled to comply with versus those that they could choose to adopt,” said Clark. “I think we need to do the due diligence and be more inclusive in the sharing of information.”
Town residents present at the meeting added their own concerns about supporting 40T.
Keith Cheveralls of Quarry Lane expressed a desire that the board “respect the democratic process more thoroughly and explore [the issue] with the land use boards.”
Mort Miller of Westcott Road likened the proposed legislation to “surgery with a machete rather than a scalpel,” and offered his view that 40T would be dangerous in that it would privatize government functions, while potentially allowing individual property owners to profit from tax-free bonds.
“The developers would have all the power of government but would be exempt from accountability,” he said.
Special education audit to begin
Selectman Bob Eubank announced that School Committee members have approved the special education audit and that they will be meeting on Monday to get the audit process started.
Senior project to collect items for soldiers
The selectmen agreed to allow Bromfield senior Chris Martin of Stow Road to set up a collection station at the transfer station. Martin’s senior project is to collect items to send to American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He will be welcoming a range of items, including CDs, DVDs, candy, books, letters, clothing, canned food, phone cards, and hygiene supplies.
Appointments to Personnel Board, Cable, Advisory Board
The selectmen voted unanimously to appoint town employee Susan Naylor to the Personnel Board as the employee representative to replace former town administrative assistant Valeska Ross. The selectmen also voted unanimously to appoint Keith Turner of Littleton County Road to the Cable Access Committee to replace longtime committee chair Jackie Normand.
