The Harwich Board of Water and Wastewater Commissioners is sounding the alarm over a "financial emergency" after state records revealed a surprise $75,000 deficit in the town’s Wastewater Enterprise Fund. During a Tuesday morning session, Chair Noreen Donahue reported that the Department of Revenue flagged the shortfall within the last 48 hours, a discovery she attributed to potential misclassification or "co-mingling" of municipal funds. Donahue expressed deep frustration with the pace of the town's response, noting that while she met with the Acting Town Administrator and the new Finance Director, a "date certain" for a correction remained elusive.

I truly think our numbers are not that far off, maybe a few hundred thousand has been misclassified, Donahue said, adding that she felt exhausted by the oversight required to track the department's finances. I would like us to have a full audit of our wastewater enterprise fund from FY20 through FY25. The proposal sparked a sharp exchange with Commissioner Judith Underwood, who arrived mid-meeting and took issue with the Chair drafting a formal memo to the Select Board without prior committee input. This is not a committee by one, Underwood remarked. As the chairperson, you do not have more power than anybody else. I'm just asking that we all get to read the letter before you ask us for support.

Despite the procedural friction, the board reached a consensus to demand the multi-year audit. Commissioner John Young defended the move, suggesting the friction stems from a lack of established municipal procedure for such emergencies. I think what you're upset about is the process—that there is no process the town has put in place for us to respond to something like this, Young said. I trust our chair to have our backs on this financial thing.

The financial scrutiny comes as the department prepares for significant debt obligations tied to the Route 28 construction projects. Dan Pelletier of Waterworks Consulting informed the board that once bids are finalized for the eastern side of the project, the town will need a five-to-seven-year budget projection to manage the impact on ratepayers. Pelletier noted that while some municipalities utilize senior citizen or low-income tiers, the ultimate structure rests on local priorities. It really depends on the board's philosophy as to how to structure the rates, Pelletier said. Superintendent Jason Trapia advocated for maintaining the town's historical trend of small, incremental 2.5% annual rate hikes to avoid future price shocks. Those little increments don't hit as hard as a very big jump, Trapia noted.

The board also addressed several high-dollar billing disputes, including a massive $3,400 bill for a resident on L County Road who suffered a major service line failure resulting in the loss of 520,000 gallons of water. Motion Made by B. Thompson to go to the disaster rate as requested. Motion Passed (4-0). The move reduces the resident's liability to $894.15. Conversely, the board took a harder line on a $57.90 request from a Pleasant Bay Road resident. Data logs indicated a continuous leak began exactly when the resident's plumber was on-site, despite the resident's claim that town staff may have interfered with the meter pit. Motion Made by B. Thompson to deny the abatement. Motion Passed (4-0). A smaller $25 late fee was waived for an elderly Shaw Road resident struggling with illness. Motion Made by B. Thompson to adopt this abatement $25. Motion Passed (3-0).

In a move to prioritize technical expertise over lower-cost labor for the Route 28 project, the board shifted oversight responsibilities away from the engineering firm GHD. Donahue noted that while GHD provided observers at $99 per hour, the department would be better served by hiring Waterworks Consulting as a resident representative at $175 per hour. GHD was $99 an hour for a college kid; Waterworks is $175 an hour. It's the best money we've probably ever spent, Donahue said. Motion Made by B. Thompson to approve the amendment for GHD and the Waterworks Consulting contract. Motion Passed (4-0).

Long-term governance also took center stage as the board reviewed proposed changes to the Town Charter. Commissioners debated whether the Water/Wastewater Superintendent should have sole authority over hiring and firing, or if the board should serve as a secondary level of review for dismissals. Commissioner Bob Thompson favored a strong management model. I've always supported a strong superintendent, Thompson said. Generally speaking, the superintendent is the individual that has them day-to-day. Why have some angry, aggravated soul around your day-to-day and you can't do anything about it? Trapia clarified that he would not act in a vacuum, stating, I can't just say 'you're fired.' I would talk with the board and say this is what has transpired and been documented.

Environmental constraints continue to stall development requests, particularly regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The board remains in a deadlock with the Board of Health over who has the authority to approve increased water flow in sewered areas while maintaining nitrogen neutrality. Donahue noted that a request for a legal opinion from town counsel has been pending since October. Underwood warned against granting exceptions prematurely. We absolutely do not have that authority, Underwood said. This is a town-wide development issue. Otherwise, every single household and developer is going to put in a request immediately.

Providing a bright spot in the superintendent's report, Trapia announced that the Oak Street tank painting project is now complete. The project was finished significantly under budget, leaving a surplus of $87,272. The department is also pursuing a $50,000 cybersecurity grant to protect its SCADA systems. To foster departmental identity, the board authorized the purchase of branded apparel for staff and commissioners. Motion Made by B. Thompson to approve purchase for apparel for the staff and the commissioners. Motion Passed (4-0).