I want to thank all Harvard citizens who signed the citizens’ petition on ambulance billing this past weekend. It was a great pleasure to hear from many concerned voters on both sides of the issue. The underlying take-away message was unmistakable—supporters and detractors both find merit in raising the debate and decision to a town-wide forum. A Special Town Meeting on imposed volunteer ambulance billing allows all interested citizen-voters, including those serving us on the Board of Selectmen, to listen and be heard, and to ultimately have their collective wishes measured in the ballot box.
The petition gained the necessary support in just over four hours’ time; signatures have now been submitted to the Town Clerk for verification. Once complete, the selectmen are required, within 45 days, to schedule and post the time for our meeting and vote.
Despite some persons’ efforts to dissuade the petition and impede signature collection, citizens demonstrated remarkable unity in upholding the principles of fair, open, and civil debate and action. As we move ahead, it is reassuring to observe how Harvard neighbors can disagree without necessarily being disagreeable.
Steven Beckman, M.D., EMT-B
Withington Lane
