JBOS frustrated by lack of openness on Vicksburg redevelopment proposals

The Joint Boards of Selectmen discussed the bids for redeveloping Vicksburg Square, as reviewed with a subset of the Vicksburg Square subcommittee, but could not fully assess them because of confidentiality agreements that limit communication. No MassDevelopment (MassDev) spokesman was available to answer questions.

Two multi-million dollar bids have been received for the redevelopment of Vicksburg Square at Devens. With the recent departure from MassDev of Rich Montuori, who resigned to become Tewksbury town manager, MassDev has not been able to provide a spokesperson who can speak with authority on Devens-related issues. MassDev was scheduled to recommend a developer (College Street Management or Trinity Development) to its Board of Directors in January, but has missed that milestone. Harvard Selectman Ron Ricci, chairman of the JBOS Vicksburg Square subcommittee, stated that requests for information [from MassDevelopment] were not forthcoming. Ricci said he had scheduled a meeting with MassDev’s Ed Starzec, but Starzec had to cancel because he couldn’t get authority to talk about Vicksburg Square.

Ricci said that he has requested “sanitized versions of the proposals” that he could share with his Harvard Board of Selectmen colleagues and with Harvard residents, but there has been no response to that request. Shirley Selectman Andy Deveau said, “Having read these documents, I don’t see the need for confidentiality. There is no reason for this.”

Once again voicing displeasure at the lack of openness in the approach MassDev is taking in evaluating and choosing a developer for Vicksburg Square, JBOS Chairman Enrico Capucci said, “This time we may not sign the warrant for the super town meeting.” A vote at a “super town meeting,” or simultaneous town meetings in Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley, would be required to approve any proposal needing a zoning change.

Devens economic model still incomplete

As part of the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) mandate to review and analyze revenues and expenses at Devens and surrounding towns in order to build a model of what the towns would have to work with if they resume jurisdiction of Devens, MRPC representatives Glen Eaton, John Hume, and Nancy Belliveau presented a progress report containing expense data from Devens and some of the towns, but without analysis of that data.

Hume explained, “Rich Montuori was our prime contact [for MassDev] to answer most of the questions” posed by the board from previous meetings. Eaton discussed metrics requested by the board―for example, how to measure road miles from town to town in order to estimate plowing or other maintenance costs―and then asked the board, “What would you like us to do?”

Ayer Selectman Rick Gilles pointed out to Eaton that Ayer has a different town model than Harvard or Shirley and that Devens is a separate model altogether. He said, “We need to understand the different types of departments and pick the ones that are common and that we can compare.”

After further discussion, the board agreed that the topic could be more efficiently managed by the JBOS Finance Subcommittee. Gilles agreed to schedule a subcommittee meeting during the first week in February.

No suggestions yet for Ch. 498 changes

In previous JBOS meetings, Capucci requested that members submit suggestions on changes they would like to see to Chapter 498, the law that established the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone, and which specifies how changes are made to the Reuse Plan and/or zoning. JBOS Administrative Assistant Liz Garner reported that there have been no suggestions thus far.

Harvard Selectwoman Lucy Wallace said, “Before we even form a subcommittee on this, we should discuss it in our towns,” and she asked Capucci to elaborate on his concerns.

Capucci said that he was concerned that the “super town meeting” model allows a small number of people to influence the outcome, and gave the example of Ayer’s rejection of the Vicksburg Square proposal. Wallace responded that the point of the law is to ensure that changes have the support of all three towns, and that the last two efforts to change zoning and use of Devens were defeated because of the way the law is written.

JBOS seeks funding, more communication with MassDev

Garner reported that she is searching for sources of grant funding for JBOS, explaining, “We need more money for financial analysis, for support for continued administration, and outreach to the public.” She asked for information about grant sources from Ayer Town Administrator Shaun Suhoski, who referred her to state legislators.

Garner is also coordinating communications with MassDev and has scheduled MassDev Chief of Staff Meg Delorier to address JBOS on what DREZ (Devens regional Enterprise Zone) can do for towns. Garner reported that Delorier will not address the topics of finances or Vicksburg Square.

—Joe Hutchinson