I attended the Devens Success Criteria meeting this past Saturday morning. This was the first time I have felt that the Devens issue was spoken about openly and without extreme pressure. One of those present said working on this issue has been like “being trapped in a nightmare.” This came from the feeling that those who have put countless hours of hard effort into Devens disposition find they meet up with no clear outcomes.
The concern I have about the Devens disposition process is that, in a way we all live its “nightmare.” No one is comfortable with the unknown that it conjures in the imagination. It is very easy to not want to think about it, and think it is removed from us all. To even want to push it away as unnecessary to think about: a hot potato to throw. We must take this issue more seriously as a whole town.
However, there is a difference between steady nudges and sudden sledgehammers of timelines and pressured votes. There is a difference between working from fear and having direction that stems from the defined needs of our town driving the process.
As the person sitting next to me said, We have to boil and re-boil until we get to the “maple syrup” on this issue. The syrup has to be based on facts about our town’s needs and economics, facts about all our options, clear reasons for choosing a disposition that can lead to a consensus and a vote. More effort to invite discussion among shareholders like Saturday’s would be a great improvement.
Belinda Friedrich
Littleton Road
