As members of the Devens Economic Analysis Team, we spent several years focusing on the financial impact on Harvard from resuming jurisdiction over the portion of its historic area which lies within Devens. Our work suggests that there is much reason to be optimistic that Devens, and its municipal utility, will provide a substantial economic benefit to the town. Other aspects of Devens, such as infrastructure, zoning, industrial and residential development, and conservation space, were not within the scope of our study, but are certainly no less important. As volunteers, our analysis was necessarily limited. Devens is a complex topic and deserves a full, in-depth analysis by people with strong experience in municipal government. We encourage people to vote yes on the Devens question on April 4, so that Harvard can understand all aspects of Devens prior to an eventual decision on whether or not to resume jurisdiction.
Victor Normand and Paul Green, on behalf of
the former Devens Economic Analysis Team
