Considers regionalization, timeline
To increase confidence in the Devens revenues and costs, Board of Selectmen Chairman Leo Blair suggested at the July 15 selectmen’s meeting that the board consider an independent assessor’s check of a sample of the parcels listed in the recent revenue analysis provided by MassDevelopment, that the town develop it’s own cost analysis through its service departments, and that the board seek clarification on the tax incentives promised to some of the businesses.
Clark reminded the board that he and finance committee member Marie Sobalvarro have requested further revenue information from MassDevelopment and that Selectman Richard Gillis from Ayer recently requested the cost data on behalf of the Joint Boards of Selectmen. Clark suggested the board support Gillis’ request and also work with the JBOS in developing the cost estimates, along with Harvard’s own estimates.
“We shouldn’t overlook the possibility for regionalizing services,” said Selectman Lucy Wallace.
Using fire protection as an example, she suggested that Devens may have a specialized fire department to meet the needs of the Devens businesses.
“It might make sense for the towns to underwrite a shared service rather than each town develop its own…work with Ayer and Shirley and see where there is overlap on services and where would it be up to each town.”
When asked if he hadn’t already done a cost analysis of regionalization for the defeated 2B scenario, Chief Denmark said that he had, more than once, but that he would look at the costs somewhat differently this time.
“Where my numbers last time were upsetting to some, I was trying to give the worst-case scenario, the highest possible cost….I wasn’t given the task of what would it be to take over tomorrow. I would suggest doing something with immediate turnover, something based on a five-year projection, and something based on a 10-year projection”
“If we get good, reliable revenue data and we get credible cost data, then we can move the dialogue away from whether it is a good idea economically to the other pieces,” suggested Blair.
“Maybe we should start looking at those other pieces in parallel,” suggested Wallace.
Discussion turned to Blair’s desire for a timeline to bring a disposition vote to the town at the March Town Meeting. Wallace proposed developing milestones in concert with the other participants rather than milestones, saying, “There is a lot of territory to cover and there is a lot of public activity that has to happen. And I think that we have to be working with our counterparts in Ayer and Shirley. There are a lot of pieces to bring together.”
A vision for the future of Devens
Earlier in the day, some members of the board attended the opening of Evergreen Solar at Devens. Reflecting on Governor Deval Patrick’s remarks that place Devens at the center of a Northeast green future, Clark gave an impassioned description of the Patrick administration’s visions for Devens.
“The speech that Gov. Patrick made today really spoke to the core of this whole place that we know as Devens and how, quite honestly, how insignificant Harvard and we, as a board, are in that process. Yet, we are an integral part of the process…I got the sense that what’s happening in the commonwealth with the synergy they are developing really is all about partnerships…This is a wave that is sweeping over us that I don’t think we want to be drowned by.”
Clark distributed a draft resolution outlining Harvard’s desire to work with Devens, MassDevelopment, and the surrounding communities “to support initiatives that balance the economic, social, and environmental needs” and “to support development that balances local, regional and Commonwealth interests.”
Devens residents speak their minds
A combination of public comments by Devens residents left the audience with a sense that the strong divisions of the past disposition process might give way to a spirit of cooperation.
Devens residents Phil Crosby, Dave Winter, and Harry Armstrong each upbraided Harvard for the way they felt Devens residents had been treated by some in Harvard, citing feelings of being treated as a commodity, called riffraff and interlopers, and generally left out of Harvard’s partnerships with Ayer and Shirley.
They and others expressed appreciation to the board for holding the meeting at Devens. A few residents spoke happily about Devens parents embracing the new school contract with Harvard.
Residents from both Harvard and Devens said it felt good to be in the same room talking and listening to one another.
Note: This article did not appear in print. It was posted to the Press website on July 18, 2008, during the Press‘s summer hiatus.
