Short of time, BOS waives policies and appoints absent candidates
Though they recently adopted a policy that requires candidates for town committees to appear in person before they can be approved, a majority of the BOS voted to ignore the rule in the interest of filling two vacant positions needed for the upcoming legislative elections that will be held in two weeks.
By a vote of 3-1, with Selectwoman Marie Sobalvarro abstaining, the selectmen appointed Anthony Fiore as Ballot Box Clerk and Deborah Kaegebein as Deputy Inspector for the Democratic Party. Nancy Reifenstein was confirmed as a member of the Board of Registrars. Of the three, only Kaegebein was present, having sat through nearly two hours of other business.
Sobalvarro objected that it was inconsistent to make some volunteers wait and give others a pass, and she lobbied to wait until the two missing candidates could be present. Selectman Bill Johnson argued that since the BOS was merely confirming choices made by Town Clerk Janet Vellante, an independently elected town official, there was no point in sticking rigidly to the policy, which had been adopted with major committees such as the EDC and DEAT committees in mind. Selectman Ron Ricci said the BOS needed to “fix the policy to suit the way things work” at a future meeting. With the Nov. 2 election just around the corner, the latter views prevailed.
Town groups don’t have to post agendas
Town Administrator Tim Bragan reported this week that the state attorney general (AG) had ruled that posting the meetings of town boards and committees on the official Harvard town website meets the requirements of the revised Open Meeting Law. The new law went into effect July 1, but the AG has not ruled on all aspects of its implementation. The decision that a town website meets the requirement that schedules be available 24/7 means, said Bragan, that they will no longer be posted to the bulletin board just outside the main entrance to Town Hall. The change has no impact on other requirements, such as the one that says notices must be posted at least two nonholiday business days before a meeting.
Selectman Tim Clark objected that not everyone in Harvard has Internet access and that not everyone subscribes to Charter cable, where schedules are also available. Bragan answered that there were sufficient numbers of terminals in the town library for residents to access the town website during regular library hours.
EDC accepting volunteer applications
Selectman Bill Johnson announced this week that the Economic Development Committee (EDC) is now accepting volunteer applications for its five open positions. The charter of the EDC has now been approved by both the BOS and the Planning Board. Johnson encouraged residents who would like to contribute to go to the town website and read both the charter and list of skills the committee seeks before sending in an application. Committee members must be approved by both the BOS and the Planning Board. The EDC was created by Annual Town Meeting in May to advise the two boards how to encourage commercial development of the Ayer Road C district in a manner consistent with the vision of the town Master Plan.
Ag Committee to consider sign limits
Does Harvard have too many “u-pick” signs lining its roads? No citizen has complained to Town Hall, but a farmer who wishes to remain anonymous has apparently given Town Adminstrator Tim Bragan an earful. “I’m surprised,” said Vice Chairman Wendell Willard of the Agricultural Advisory Commission, who appeared before the BOS along with alternate Al Coombs, at Bragan’s request. “U-pick operations are difficult,” said Willard. “We couldn’t reach any agreement the last time we discussed it.”
Bragan said he had driven through town and found spots where the number of signs was excessive. Willard promised to put the matter on the AAC’s agenda. All u-pick signs must be taken down on or before Dec. 31, a date chosen to accommodate farms that sell Christmas trees during the run-up to the holidays.
