The Board of Selectmen held its annual strategic planning meeting June 22, and after a three-hour discussion on topics ranging from traffic-calming measures to the high cost of health care for retired town employees, the board narrowed its goals for the year to three areas: Devens planning, municipal operations, and fiscal stability.
In April, at both Town Meeting and the ballot box, voters directed the selectmen to work on a plan for resuming jurisdiction of the Devens land within Harvard’s historical boundaries. Selectwoman Lucy Wallace asked that as a first step the selectmen educate themselves on the work done so far, including the Devens Economic Analysis Team report, which concluded in 2015 that the return of Harvard’s portion of Devens would be economically viable.
The second goal, municipal operations, is really a catchall title for three separate objectives: municipal facilities, road safety, and communication with other boards and with residents. Selectman Ken Swanton lamented that a plan for municipal building maintenance has been on the goals list for three years with little progress. But he added that he was optimistic that Tim Kilhart, the new Department of Public Works director, would make progress on the plan this year. Selectman Stu Sklar also brought up a concern that Harvard’s user-funded Transfer Station may not be financially sustainable because many people moving into town are using trash pickup instead of the Transfer Station. Town Administrator Tim Bragan added that the deep discount for seniors is taking a toll on Transfer Station revenues. Sklar suggested that as part of this goal, the board should look at other options for the Transfer Station, such as extending the hours so more people could use it.
The fiscal stability goal also includes multiple objectives. First, the board will examine the cost of retiree health care, which this year was just over $1 million. Selectwoman Alice von Loesecke said there was a 10 percent increase in health care costs this year, and she expects double-digit increases in the coming years. Second, the board plans to make the budget process more transparent, possibly adding quarterly or semiannual budget and progress reviews. In addition, the selectmen agreed they should weigh in on the financing of the Hildreth Elementary School project before the School Building Committee chooses an option on June 8. Swanton and von Loesecke said the project will affect all other planned capital projects, so residents need to understand that aspect of what would be the most expensive project ever undertaken by the town. The selectmen plan to discuss this topic at their June 6 meeting.
