Reorganization
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to appoint Lucy Wallace chairman, Bob Eubank vice-chairman, and newly elected selectman Tim Clark clerk for the coming year.
Home rule legislation sent to Resor and Eldridge
The selectmen signed letters to Senator Pam Resor and Representative Jamie Eldridge requesting that they file the home-rule petition that was approved at Annual Town Meeting to allow accessory apartments to be counted as affordable housing if they meet the criteria.
Appointments time again
The board voted unanimously to approve town employee appointments, which is done annually. Although only a dozen or so people have responded to their reappointment letters for town committees, the selectmen decided to reappoint those who responded affirmatively. At the next meeting, May 8, they will continue making appointments as people respond. No names were mentioned and no handouts were available at the meeting.
Town signs MOU with DPW workers
The selectmen voted unanimously to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with AFSCME, AFL-CIO, State Council 93, Local 1703, that gives a 2 percent raise to Department of Public Works employees for the 2007 fiscal year. The pay raise will be retroactive to July 1, 2006.
Use of town flag by Harvard nonprofits
Prompted by a request from Andra Evans of Finn Road for SOS Harvard to use the town flag at the Stand for Children rally April 25, the selectmen established a policy regarding the use of the town flag and its design. The board unanimously approved Selectmen Bill Marinelli’s motion to furnish the design of the town flag to any town nonprofit organization that wants to use it, subject to the town clerk’s approval and adherence to guidelines, not yet determined. Evans’s request was also approved.
Evans told the selectmen that SOS Harvard was also considering selling items commemorating Harvard’s 275th anniversary to raise money to add to the town’s coffers. The new policy allows the use of the town flag design on those items as long as the town clerk, who is responsible for the town seal, which appears on the flag, approves.
Proposal to keep defeated candidates involved
Noting a “succession of bitterly fought campaigns” for a seat on the board, Bob Lerner of West Bare Hill Road asked the selectmen to reinstate a policy that fell into disuse some years ago. That practice, according to Lerner, was to appoint defeated candidates for the Board of Selectmen to a committee of their choice, even if it meant giving an incumbent on that committee a sabbatical, he said.
Lerner, who has served the town for 35 years in many capacities, including as a selectman, suggested that this would preserve community assets and encourage townspeople to volunteer and participate. If a defeated candidate stopped serving the town, “It would be his decision, not ours,” Lerner continued. Lerner also reminded the selectmen that sign-up cards used to be distributed at every annual town meeting so newcomers and others could volunteer for committees.
Marinelli said his experience on the board suggested that when people stopped serving on boards and committees it was because they “got busy or moved.” Wallace, who was just reelected for another term on the board, told Lerner that both recently defeated candidates for the board were encouraged to continue their involvement and service to the town. She thanked Lerner for his suggestions and service to the town.
Retreat scheduled
The board scheduled its annual retreat for April 29 at 5 p.m. The location has not been chosen, but it will be held locally. The purpose of the retreat is to discuss the board’s direction for the coming year. Chairwoman Lucy Wallace said that the retreat would be posted, but asked members of the press not to come so that the board can hold frank and open discussions. There will be no motions made at the retreat and the board will issue a report afterward, Wallace added.
JBOS update
Selectman Bob Eubank told the board that the Joint Boards of Selectmen “is still struggling to find its way.” At its meeting March 22, the joint boards voted to ask representatives of Ayer, Devens, Harvard, and Shirley to bring two questions to their selectmen for a vote. On the first question, the selectmen voted unanimously to support continuing efforts by the joint boards toward final disposition of Devens. Pending clarification of what that means, the board voted to take no action on the second question, “Would the selectmen support a disposition scenario for Devens that would result in a portion of Devens becoming a town?” Eubank fretted that no action has been taken on a list of proposed objectives that Harvard selectmen approved and he presented at the first meeting of the joint boards in January. Although Ayer Selectman Pauline Conley called it “a good start,” it was tabled because the Devens members had not seen it before the meeting. The next joint-boards meeting will be held April 26 in Devens.
