Devons Panel Votes to Keep All Four Disposition Options on the Table

AYER — April 8, 2026 — Devons Jurisdiction Framework Committee unanimously reaffirms all four disposition options amid resident alarm over acceleration. After a lengthy debate triggered by a formal motion from Devons residents representative John Catter, the committee voted to affirm that it is not in favor of any single disposition option and that an accelerated jurisdiction decision "is not an issue for us at this time." Catter had told the body that his constituency was alarmed by public statements and news coverage — including a Harvard Press article — suggesting that resumption of local town boundaries was being prioritized and that some stakeholders were pushing to move the statutory timeline forward ahead of Chapter 498's 2030 planning start and 2033 report deadline. Ayer representative Robert Pomfrian said any statutory change would require the full legislature and the governor's signature, calling the odds of passage "very slim." New Mass Development Deputy Director Michael Sweeney attended in an observational capacity, noting that RFP responses for housing at Grant Road and Adams Circle had been received and were 25 to 50 percent through internal review. The committee meets next July 8.