The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to support a warrant article that was created by a citizen petition to move the jurisdiction of land traditionally managed by Parks and Rec from the Select Board to Parks and Rec.
All town land is owned by the citizens, but Massachusetts General Law balances the jurisdiction across multiple organizations, including the Conservation Commission, the school district, and Parks and Rec. It may have been voted on long ago, but no one can find a town vote that places Harvard’s parks, ball fields, and the beach under Parks and Rec jurisdiction. This has led to some conflicts in roles and responsibilities. A simple town vote is all it takes to assign jurisdiction.
It is hard to find good volunteers and even harder when the job includes all of the work, all the responsibility, and all of the headaches, but none of the critical decision making. New volunteers have joined Parks and Rec and have begun to significantly improve our fields and beach operations and have ideas for some future recreation facilities. I am one of these volunteers and have poured thousands of hours into the moorings, docks, boat lottery, and boat kiosk as harbormaster, and over the years I’ve rebuilt the commission’s website/payment system twice.
I’ve also spent time developing a town center patio that has been stopped by the sidewalk project. I am not against sidewalks, and even had the idea that made it all fit, but I did not appreciate the Select Board asserting its jurisdiction to avoid talking to Parks and Rec. Many of you may be unaware that the Ann Lees field fiasco did not involve Parks and Rec. Jurisdiction is a deal breaker for me.
I do not think the Select Board has the time to manage all the town lands, and I don’t think the town administration should have total land control without some checks and balances. Just as the Conservation Commission is the legal check on conservation land, Parks and Rec can be the check on parks and recreation land. This warrant is for parcels that are labeled as Parks and Rec in the open space plan and the assessor’s records. Most people would assume these parcels are under Parks and Rec control, but they are not. Parks and Rec hopes to clarify jurisdiction on the more complicated lands for a future town meeting vote after working with all parties involved.
The town charter gives the town administration “operational control” of all town land. A discussion with the town administrator revealed his interpretation to be maintaining the lands and facilities we have and managing the employees the town hires. Parks and Rec can work with the town administration in this arrangement just as easily as the Select Board and will have even more technical expertise to help out on field maintenance and beach operation issues.
A copy of the citizen petition with a handout that will be provided at the June 20 Town Meeting can be found at https://www.harvard.ma.us/parks-recreation-com mission/files/jurisdiction-citizen-petition
Please give us your support.
Bob O’Shea, chair
Parks and Recreation Commission
