After carefully reviewing the Economic Development Analysis Team’s (EDAT) report for potential development in Harvard’s commercial district and the proposed warrant article to establish a permanent Economic Development Committee (EDC), the Planning Board urges a vote against Article 29. The board believes that EDAT has done a good job of collecting initial data, but the report is clearly not complete. While there are some hard recommendations identified, these can and should be incorporated by the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board. However, there is no plan for addressing other recommendations, studies, and reviews identified in the report, and some of the data presented fails the “is it realistic” test. It is also clear from the warrant article that the EDC will not complete this effort.
It is not clear on what basis the EDC will create a development plan incorporating the findings and recommendations, and how they will plan and coordinate infrastructure improvements that have not been clearly defined. Without the clear guidance of a completed report and specific recommendations, the Planning Board is concerned about EDC’s role. The EDC would implement incomplete recommendations made in the EDAT report, including the creation of a sewer district and the installation of roundabouts and traffic lights along Ayer Road. These have serious consequences for the town and should not be delegated to a permanent, nonelected committee.
The EDAT report also recommends that the proposed EDC be provided with a budget for consulting fees and engineering studies. The town’s Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Protective Bylaw, and open meeting process are the appropriate venues for obtaining public input and implementing the findings and recommendations of the report, which legitimately support the town’s economic and other interests. By creating an EDC through Warrant Article 29, the town would be creating an entirely new and permanent unelected entity that is not directly held accountable to the citizens of Harvard.
In summary, the Planning Board sees no need for an EDC at this time, but recommends that the many unfinished items in the report be completed before citizens are asked to make a decision of this magnitude. The Planning Board urges all voters to carefully read EDAT’s report and question the role of an EDC prior to voting on Article 29.
Joe Sudol
On behalf of Planning Board
