The meeting began with Chief Gill commending dispatcher Matt Collie for his exemplary response during a 911 call on April 6. A caregiver reported a toddler found unconscious in a pond, and Collie promptly coordinated emergency medical services while providing CPR instructions over the phone. His guidance helped the caregiver, initially unfamiliar with CPR, perform life-saving measures that led to the toddler’s full recovery after treatment at a trauma center. Chief Gill presented Collie with a certificate of commendation and a life-saving pin, emphasizing the critical role dispatchers play in emergencies and highlighting the teamwork involved in saving the child’s life.

Following this recognition, concerns about the installation of automated license plate readers in Ayer were raised by John Monson during public comments. Monson questioned the transparency of the contract with Flock Surveillance, expressing unease that it had been integrated into the police budget without public discourse. He urged for the contract details to be disclosed and suggested that the police department’s policy on license plate readers be made publicly accessible, as demonstrated by Waltham. Chief Gill acknowledged Monson’s request for information and assured that the department would provide the necessary details. The chief explained that the Flock camera system, funded by grants, had been operational for a few weeks, though not fully deployed, and clarified that it enhances public safety by identifying vehicles linked to crimes without accessing personal data. He emphasized the importance of transparency and community engagement in the deployment of new law enforcement technologies and discussed the timeline for the system’s complete rollout and the potential for making the usage policy available online.

In a separate discussion, Kimberly Abraham, water and sewer superintendent, addressed the committee regarding the current drought situation, announcing a mandatory outdoor watering ban from May 1 to September 30 due to the town’s water management act permit. Despite the drought, the town’s water supply remained unaffected, but the permit required the enforcement of odd-even watering restrictions based on street addresses. The necessity of these regulations was clarified, countering misinformation that the ban was arbitrary. The committee unanimously approved the motion to implement the restrictions, aligning with existing town signage. Abraham also discussed the need to revise the town’s rules and regulations as part of the reapplication for the water management act permit. This would involve adding language about seasonal limits on non-essential outdoor water use, clarifying exemptions for growing food both commercially and personally. Plans were made to call a public hearing to discuss these changes, allowing for community input before final approval.

Another topic was the proposed changes to the governance of Devens, an enterprise zone rather than a municipality. Mass Development’s president and co-CEO, Navit Ball, communicated that local businesses and residents questioned why Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley residents participated in Devens’ governance. The proposal suggested decisions be made by a majority vote rather than requiring all towns’ consent, which had previously stalled projects like Vicksburg Square. This change would reduce the quorum to 50 voters at a single location, down from 150 across three towns. Concerns were raised about the potential erosion of towns’ influence and the procedural integrity of the process, as Mass Development would conduct meetings without town board involvement. The role of non-registered voters in Devens was also questioned, as they could attend but not vote in town meetings.

The meeting also included updates on a new economic bill related to the chapter 498 reuse plan for Devens. The town manager outlined super town meetings where Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley representatives vote on Mass Development proposals. Additionally, there was positive news on the NextGen initiative, which sought a $5 million grant for a microgrid project, supported by local select boards and environmental organizations. A proposed tour of a microgrid facility in Andover was mentioned, emphasizing ongoing collaboration with potential partners. The financial burden for the study was halved through matching funds from NextGen, reducing costs to $37,500 per town. The need for each town to compile lists of municipal assets and electric bills was highlighted, with discussions on potential solar panel installations at local schools anticipated.