Harwich residents will once again have weekend access to in-person beach and transfer station sticker sales starting June 21, marking a significant policy shift by town officials. During a meeting of the Community Center Facilities Committee on Friday afternoon, staff representative Reagan announced that the Recreation Department window will be staffed for Saturday and Sunday sales from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM through the end of August. While weekday sales continue at Town Hall from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the weekend restoration follows several weeks of administrative friction regarding the town’s transition toward online-only platforms. Committee member Angie praised the decision to provide more face-to-face options, noting that the town was able to pivot on relatively short notice after listening to the public. Officials cautioned that no in-person sales will be available on June 19 or July 4 due to holiday closures.

The committee also addressed growing pains related to facility usage and parking congestion as the summer season intensifies. Reagan reported that portable soccer equipment is returning to the parking lot this summer, a move that will claim approximately 12 parking spots in the front right section of the building. To mitigate future losses of paved space, Detective Bracket is currently investigating two potential permanent locations for the mobile equipment. The parking discussion was prompted by a recent Saturday morning where a high-attendance Animal Control seminar coincided with a lacrosse tournament on the back fields, leaving many residents circling the lot for spaces. Angie emphasized the need for better inter-departmental planning between the Council on Aging (COA) and Recreation, stating that unbeknownst to the community center staff, there was a lacrosse tournament scheduled for the back field... it's even more important for there to be transparency and communication between all the different departments. The Chair suggested that the town could better utilize the dirt lot near the softball fields for overflow parking if better signage were installed.

Modernization of building data is also moving forward with the installation of three new scanning stations, part of a town-wide push to digitize records and improve transparency. While the hardware is in place, Reagan explained that the system is not yet fully operational. COA needs to do their piece, Reagan said, noting that the goal is to have the stations ready for the July newsletter. Once running, the stations will allow residents to check into specific programs and fitness rooms, providing the town with more accurate attendance statistics. That's the long-term goal for sure, Reagan added when asked if the system could generate precise attendance lists for events like Bingo.

Programming updates for the summer include the return of Circus Smirkus, scheduled for July 15 and 16 with shows at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Tickets are currently available online, and the committee is actively seeking local volunteers for a unique role. The Chair noted that we are still looking for some homestay parents. If anyone is interested in hosting two or three children from the circus, that would be great for a couple of days. Other upcoming events include the Ice Cream Summer Kickoff on June 27 and a series of Wednesday movies throughout July. Regarding long-term planning, Sheila reported that the results of a recent community needs assessment are expected by late June. The big thing is the needs assessment was done and the results of it are going to be reported and analyzed by the COA, Sheila said, noting the data will help shape future multi-generational programming at the facility.

To support the increased summer traffic, the center has hired two new part-time employees, Molly and Mark, for the front desk. The Chair noted that Mark, a former volunteer, has already made a positive impression, remarking that he was a true gentleman when assisting residents. In addition to staffing, the building’s exterior underwent a professional cleanup this month, and maintenance crews finalized repairs on the air conditioning units on the far side of the building this week. Earlier in the session, the committee handled procedural business. Motion Made by C. Flynn to accept the minutes. Motion Passed 5-0. Member Chris Flynn also assisted in the review of the previous month's schedule, ensuring that upcoming joint meetings with other departments are tracked for the fall session once the summer rush subsides.

The meeting concluded with a lighter update regarding the building's unexpected visitors. Reagan gave a shout out to Jen Arrington and animal control for successfully removing a chipmunk and a bird from the facility over the past two weeks. Arrington also recently hosted a popular K9 body language talk at the center that drew 50 attendees. The committee will take its traditional hiatus in July, with the next meeting scheduled for August.