Task force member Brent C. Whelan ’73 attributed the lack of time allotted to community input during task force meetings to the priority given by the BRA to presentations from Harvard and its developers.
According to Houghton, imposed time constraints imposed prevent everyone from having the opportunity to voice their personal opinions. For instance, the task force was offered just a couple of months to produce a request for community benefits associated with a master plan Harvard had taken years to assemble.
But Gerald Autler, a representative from the BRA, said “there are plenty of opportunities to participate in the process and attend meetings as a community member.”
Acknowledging this potential for community input, residents said that the task force has room for improvement and evolution.
“The Task Force is committed, and I respect the years of dialogue they have had with Harvard, but the formation, roles, and responsibilities of the Task Force may need to be looked at with fresh eyes,” Mook said.
–Staff writer Karl M. Aspelund can be reached at karl.aspelund@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @kma_crimson.
—Staff writer Marco J. Barber Grossi can be reached at mbarbergrossi@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @marco_jbg.