by Julie Gowel ·
Friday, August 21, 2026
A recent legal review of the warrant article used at the 1983 Harvard Town Meeting to purchase the 30.33 acres of land on Depot Road indicates the parcel can be used for municipal purposes other than recreation. Currently, three of Harvard’s athletic fields occupy the land that was assumed by many residents to be covered under Article 97, which provides protection to open spaces. Town Administrator Dawn Dunbar presented her findings at the Select Board meeting held virtually on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Dunbar said she researched the warrant articles and found the exact language used to purchase what is known as the Ryan Land on Depot. According to Dunbar, the article states that the parcel is to be used for “municipal purposes, including a playground, athletic fields, and recreation.” She said KP Law, the town’s legal counsel, reviewed the article and concluded that the use of the word “including” means that any municipal use of the land is acceptable under law, signifying the Transfer Station and Department of Public Works structures can be built on the property.
In the week since she presented her list of questions to be answered about the status of the DPW and Transfer Station, Dunbar also learned the exact cost of the two fill options for capping the landfill.
If Harvard were to cap the landfill using soil known as COMM-97, which drew public criticism at the Aug. 11 meeting for its contaminants, the cost would be neutral. Dunbar said that using COMM-97 would actually help the town cover the cost of moving the Transfer Station and DPW structures to another location.
Conversely, if the town uses clean fill to cap the landfill, the cost will be $8 million. When asked if the volume of soil was the same if Harvard uses COMM-97 or clean fill, Dunbar said she was unsure and would need to do more research. She did indicate that using COMM-97 would prohibit the town from building any structures on top of the landfill, while the use of clean fill makes the land buildable.
Dunbar said she spoke to Littleton Town Administrator James Duggan, who said their Transfer Station facility could not handle Harvard’s trash. Last week, Dunbar said Bolton’s town administrator said their facility could probably take on half of Harvard’s Transfer Station users. She is still waiting to hear from Ayer and Boxborough.
Dunbar concluded her update by saying she is working with town architects to establish alternative site options for both the Transfer Station and DPW facilities and athletic fields, and hopes to have an update at next week’s Select Board meeting to be held Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m.