The future of the 30.9-acre Getty land on Mass. Ave. was the focus of a sometimes-heated discussion at a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen (BOS) and the School Committee on Monday.

Selectman Leo Blair advocated using funds from the Conservation Commission or the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to acquire the land, which has been on the market twice, most recently since this spring. Blair stipulated that the parcel might in the future be shifted out of conservation to another municipal use.

“The land won’t wait for you,” Blair said. He noted that Harvard has a history of acquiring land for conservation, however the town has not set aside land for other municipal uses, such as elderly housing or future school needs.

School Committee Chairman Keith Cheveralls supported Blair’s idea in general, as did members Pat Wenger and Stu Sklar. However, Cheveralls pointed out that the School Committee is not taking a position at this time. Moreover, he argued that the schools cannot be a driving force for land acquisition now because it is unclear when a new school will be needed.

Selectwoman Lucy Wallace challenged Blair’s approach to acquiring the land as a conservation parcel, saying, “I think it would be much more honest and straightforward to say that we should be setting aside lands for potential municipal needs.” Blair replied, “I don’t see it as a question of being honest or not honest. I see it as a question of being enlightened or operating with blinders on.”

Wallace noted that the Conservation Commission should be part of the discussion. BOS Chairman Ron Ricci agreed that a working meeting with the commission should be the next step. A meeting was tentatively scheduled for July 9 at 1 p.m.

Contacted for comment, Conservation Commission Chairman Paul Willard noted that conservation funds can be used only to purchase lands for conservation. The process for taking lands out of a conservation restriction is complex. It requires a vote at town meeting, a vote of the state legislature, and placing land with comparable area from the same town into conservation. He explained that land purchased for conservation with CPC funds have an even higher level of protection; they are designated for conservation in perpetuity.

The BOS considered issuing a letter of option to purchase the Getty land in the fall of 2008. At that time, a committee drawn from members of various town boards was created to investigate the possibility. The committee’s report, issued in January 2009, concluded that “an immediate and identifiable purpose” was necessary to justify any purchase.