Residents who feel that Harvard has been on the wrong track for the last few years will have an opportunity to change our town’s leadership and its direction on April 1. It is the day of the annual election, and Harvard’s future is at stake.
The current Board of Selectmen has presided over a number of wrong moves that have been bad for Harvard. Here is a brief litany:
Two years ago, the selectmen said that they could get us a better deal with the Devens disposition. All they have managed to do since then is to make most of the other stakeholders angry with them. There is no better deal in sight. In fact, events are moving in such a way that Harvard will have little or no choice about Devens disposition.
The selectmen were briefed by a lobbyist for a group that is in favor of a new law, Chapter 40T. Without doing a thorough investigation about the law, selectmen were about to sign a letter of endorsement to the legislature. A group of citizens pointed out to them that a number of public service groups saw the new law as a high-level threat to towns and another example of laws that favor developers. The selectmen backed down and did not send the letter.
There are additional examples (e.g. the MHOC fiasco). Clearly, we need new leadership that will be more in touch with citizens, will provide the skills to get things done, and will be accountable to citizens for their actions. Fortunately, we have three candidates who fill the bill. They are Leo Blair, Ron Ricci, and Peter Warren. We urge residents to vote for them on April 1 and put Harvard back on track.
Anthony J. Marolda, Jacob Gates Road
Wade Holtzman, Bolton Road
