Audit of the Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC)

This is a state performance audit of the Devens Enterprise Commission, the local permitting and regulatory body for Devens.

“The Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC) was created by Chapter 498 of the Acts of 1993 and is the local regulatory and permit-granting authority for the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone (Devens).”

Auditors checked whether DEC was managing affordable housing goals and helping improve commuting options for people and businesses in Devens.

“In this performance audit, we examined whether DEC had taken measures to accomplish its stated goals related to the oversight and management of new and existing affordable housing in the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone (Devens).”

Devens is a former military base being redeveloped for civilian use, so housing, jobs, transportation, and nearby town impacts matter to residents and workers.

“Devens was created to help provide an orderly and expeditious conversion and development of approximately 4,400 acres that were a portion of a former federal military base, Fort Devens,4 into a non-military-use area.”

If you live, work, or commute in or around Devens, this audit says DEC was taking steps on affordable housing oversight and transportation options during the audit period.

“Has DEC taken measures to partner with MassDevelopment, local businesses, and surrounding communities to establish, support, and improve commuter options for Devens businesses and residents?”

The auditor concluded DEC had taken the measures reviewed for both affordable housing coordination and commuter options.

“Below is a list of our audit objectives, indicating each question we intended our audit to answer and the conclusion we reached regarding each objective.”

The report does not list required corrective actions; it ends by saying there were no significant reportable compliance problems.

“Our audit revealed no significant instances of noncompliance that must be reported under generally accepted government auditing standards.”

The audit is significant because it confirms, for the period reviewed, that DEC was on track with the specific housing and transportation responsibilities the auditor examined.

“We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.”

A regional affordable housing coordinator is the outside consultant helping monitor affordable housing rules, such as whether units stay affordable and follow deed restrictions.

“These services will [be] intended to provide MassDevelopment and the DEC with ongoing oversight to ensure compliance with affordable housing regulatory agreements with respect to tenant and owner eligibility for housing developments in Devens.”