I am writing in support of Selectman Leo Blair for his “out-of the-box” thinking in suggesting that $15,000 be added to the underfunded Council on Aging budget. It is heartening to witness a politician who is free of the knee-jerk political correctness that permeates much of the dialogue these days. I trust townspeople are open-minded enough to judge his idea on its merits and not be dismissing because of his refreshing straight-talking style of expression.
As a retired former teacher on a modest income and a resident of Harvard for 36 years, I have enthusiastically supported school and town budgets over the years to help make this a quality community to live in. I hope we have not come to a time when we are willfully choosing to ignore the needs of less well-off seniors who also have diminishing capacity to lobby for their own interests.
There are ways that Harvard can continue to accommodate people of different social and economic circumstances without indulging in class warfare. It is disturbing to hear the word “protectionist” applied to one who speaks for an increasingly jeopardized minority of seniors who are slowly being squeezed out of town. The assertion made by some that by augmenting an already bare-bones COA budget in support of those of us who are approaching our dotage is somehow “… an agenda to keep families with children out of town and depriving them of the ability to enjoy life in Harvard …” is laughable and patently absurd. It is a false choice, one that smacks of a self-centeredness not formerly witnessed in Harvard.
At issue is the basic principle of equity and fairness. Many seniors of long standing in the community have taken very little in the way of services over the years and have contributed much to the ethos that has made the town unique. Perhaps a little reciprocity is in order. Adding a token $15,000 to the COA budget is a modest request and would acknowledge the contributions of seniors over the generations.
What would Mario Barba say?
Gig Kerivan
Mettacomett Path
