(June 24, 2026) – The Ayer Select Board recently voted to send a letter to Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Danillo Sena, expressing the town’s concerns regarding Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed changes to Chapter 498 of the Acts of 1993 governing Devens, as proposed in the Mass Wins Act, H.5386. The Select Board voted to approve the language at its June 16th meeting. At that time, the legislation was pending before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, according to the letter. We don’t have the latest status.
We are sharing a copy of the Ayer Select Board’s letter here.
The proposed legislation would eliminate the requirement for a “Super Town Meeting” in the towns of Ayer, Harvard and Shirley when it comes to changes in the Devens Reuse Plan and By-laws. Currently each town has to hold its own Town Meeting and meet the quorum, which in Ayer is 50 registered voters. The proposed change would allow one meeting to be held with a quorum of 50 voters, regardless of which town residents live in.
“The effect of this change is to limit participation and minimize the voices of the residents of Harvard, Ayer, and Shirley,” states the letter.