Harvard has a chance to do something good on Sept. 27, adding a long overdue playing field to our town. We haven’t done this in more than 20 years. It’s time.
When opportunity knocks, we should answer. Finding land in Harvard that is flat, contiguous to another plot of land we own (Harvard Park), at a reasonable price, and which various boards agree we should purchase almost never happens.
Now, it’s a very simple process, come to Town Meeting on Saturday, Sept. 27, at noon in Cronin Auditorium at the Bromfield School and vote “yes” on Article 4 at Special Town Meeting (technically this meeting starts at 1 p.m.).
The purchase is using Capital Planning and Investment Committee funds. CPIC is our “piggy bank” for capital purchases. This purchase will have no effect on the tax rate, it comes from an account that is reserved for this purpose. These funds cannot be used for operational expenses; they are put aside specifically for capital items.
For this article to pass it needs a two-thirds vote, this article failed by three votes in the spring, garnering 66% but needing 66.7% It almost never happens that we get a second chance on a land purchase. I have no young children and I’m enthusiastically supporting this article. If you have children you should come, if you think protecting land as a grass field is important you should come and vote “yes” at the Special Town Meeting.
Democracy is not a spectator sport; come make a positive impact on our town. Vote “yes” on Article 4.
Stu Sklar
Scott Road
