Selectmen get draft of regional dispatch agreement
Selectmen received draft copies of the inter-municipal agreement that will commit Harvard to join a regional consortium for the dispatch of fire, police and other emergency services. The agreement and tentative budget suggest that there will be as many as five members of the group, but so far only Devens and Harvard have said they would join. Officials say Lancaster will likely sign on, but Shirley will not. Lunenburg is said to be considering the proposal, and Harvard Town Administrator Tim Bragan reported this week that he is reaching out to other communities as well.
The more communities that join the consortium, the greater will be the savings, Bragan said. But Selectman Peter Warren said it would be worthwhile to join even if the membership consists initially of only three towns. He asked Bragan to provide budgets for three-town and four-town consortia in addition to the five-town model currently before the Board of Selectmen. The agreement will be formally discussed and voted at the next meeting of the board.
Harvard stores reported caught in sting operation
Town Administrator Tim Bragan reported this week that both the Harvard General Store and the Grapevine had been caught selling alcohol to a minor in a regular sting operation conducted by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. Hearings for both stores are scheduled before the ABCC in October.
“I’m told the individual looked as though he was 31,” Bragan said. “I’m pretty certain it won’t happen again,” he added.
Town Meeting authorized the licensing of three stores to sell beer and wine in 2009 and the state approved the special home rule petition later that year. These are the first reported violations for either store.
Cheveralls and Warren to form ad hoc facilities management Committee
Selectman Peter Warren and School Committee Chairman Keith Cheveralls will form an ad hoc committee to develop a plan for maintaining the more than 14 buildings—excluding schools—for which the town of Harvard is responsible. Selectmen voted unanimously to endorse the proposal, which was moved by Selectman Bill Johnson. The board asked for a progress report by September and a proposal that can be brought to Town Meeting in 2012.
“It’s going to require additional funding,” Cheveralls told Selectmen. There needs to be a long-range capital plan for town buildings, he said, as well as an annual operating budget for their maintenance, including a part-time or full-time facilities manager.
