Ayer Selectman Gary Luca proposed last month that Ayer take jurisdiction of the entire Devens Regional Enterprise Zone (DREZ), and that service agreements be developed with Harvard and Shirley for delivery of selected services. Luca’s proposal would shift the JBOS’ attention—which since October has been on developing a regional solution for sharing Devens resources away from shared services and return its focus to jurisdiction and disposition of land within the DREZ. Since October, JBOS has focused on developing a regional solution for sharing Devens resources and services based on an overlay district comprising the entire DREZ (Devens regional Enterprise Zone).
Luca emphasized that the presentation was “just my thoughts,” not a position endorsed by the board.
According to Luca, under Ayer jurisdiction, all services to Devens residents and businesses would be delivered by Ayer. Harvard’s participation in Devens would be limited to that of a recipient of services, delivered under contract agreement(s).
Luca said that he believed that his was the most “solid proposal since 2B,” referring to Scenario 2B, which was voted down by both Harvard and Ayer in 2006, and that it “provides for every town at the table to receive revenue more easily and more quickly than by way of the overlay district,” referring to the regional solution that had been discussed over the past six months. He also said that he believes the measure would be accepted by majorities in all three towns. Jared Wollaston of Harvard, a member of the Devens Information Alliance, a Harvard organization that helped defeat 2B, replied that he doubted that Harvard would vote for such a proposal.
Ayer resident Pat Walsh said she “supports Gary,” adding that “lots of Ayer citizens don’t want to see regionalization.” She said, “Let’s see what the towns want.” Walsh also said that Luca’s proposal would allow for another road from Devens into Harvard and for repair of McPherson Road, issues that haven’t been addressed by the Joint Boards of Selectmen. She suggested that the JBOS “bring it to the voters that you are giving up on disposition and going to regionalization.”
Ayer resident Frank Maxant said that he has “long thought that Ayer should be willing to take whatever part of Devens Harvard didn’t want; make it easier for Harvard to take back some part so that we could get Devens back into the jurisdiction of the towns.” He added, “I see Gary’s proposal as a way to implement what has been discussed in terms of making Devens one entity and having all services provided in some coherent way.”
Devens resident Tom Kinch summarized the discussion by saying that “substituting the name is the problem. If it doesn’t have Harvard’s name on it, they will take exception; if it doesn’t have Ayer’s name on it, they will take exception.”
