The Harwich Affordable Housing Trust is formally calling on the Select Board to fill a critical vacancy in its ranks, warning that the current four-member board requires a full roster to successfully manage a trio of active developments. Acting Chair Brennan Lowey informed the Trust on Friday that he had consulted with the Acting Town Administrator regarding the empty seat—traditionally reserved for the Town Administrator or their designee—which has remained vacant since July 1, 2025. Lowey noted that the administrator suggested the Trust submit a formal request to the Select Board to initiate the appointment process, as the Trust currently lacks the fifth member mandated by its founding documents.

The trust has three projects in motion that need a fully membered trust, Lowey wrote in a letter read into the record by Trustee Jeff Handler. Among those projects is the Penrose development at Queen Anne Road, which is currently in its due diligence phase and recently moved forward with a project eligibility letter to the state. The urgency comes as the town navigates a delicate housing landscape; while Harwich recently celebrated reaching the 5% Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) milestone, officials remain wary of a 2027 "affordability cliff" when existing unit restrictions are set to expire. Motion Made by J. Handler to vote to send this letter that was just read into the record from the Harwich affordable housing trust fund to the Harwich Select Board as soon as possible and as presented. Motion Passed 3-0-0.

Handler, who also serves as the Select Board's designee on the Trust, emphasized the need for transparency by reading the formal request into the public record before the vote. The letter clarifies that per the declaration of trust and state law, the responsibility for bringing the board to full strength lies with the Select Board. The current roster includes Lowey, Handler, Bob Spencer, and Claudia Williams. Lowey described the chair position as very active and requiring significant time and expertise, particularly as the Trust works to educate the town on its progress and assist applicants with funding. This push for administrative clarity coincides with broader town discussions regarding a "Strong Town Administrator" model being drafted by the Charter Commission, which seeks to modernize how department heads and board designees are appointed.

In other business, the Trust addressed a backlog of confidential records dating back to late 2024. Handler questioned whether executive session minutes from November 13, 2024, had been finalized before the board considered their public release. Motion Made by J. Handler to approve the meeting minutes dated Wednesday, November 13, 2024, as presented. Motion Passed 3-0-0. Following the approval, the board conducted a final review to ensure no sensitive information required redaction before the documents were made available to the public. I'd like to read through this before I make a motion to release just to make sure there's nothing in here that should not be let go, Handler noted. Motion Made by J. Handler to vote to release the meeting minutes dated Wednesday, November 13, 2024, as presented from the executive session. Motion Passed 3-0-0. Trustee Bob Spencer seconded the administrative actions, which concluded the brief session.