The Harwich Capital Outlay Committee took a decisive step toward expanding the town’s wastewater infrastructure on Thursday, moving to include a $35 million sewer extension for the Great Sand Lakes area in the upcoming fiscal year 2026 capital plan. The decision, which follows a period of intense cross-board debate regarding the town’s financial capacity and environmental priorities, represents a pivot from Harwich's long-standing focus on nitrogen removal in saltwater estuaries toward phosphorus abatement in its freshwater ponds.

Town Administrator Joe Powers presented the project, officially designated as Phase 3A, as a critical opportunity to secure favorable state financing. By advancing the plan now, the town remains eligible for the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and Clean Water Trust programs, which offer interest rates between 0% and 2% as well as potential loan forgiveness. Powers warned that hesitation could cost the town its priority status, noting that If we do not go forward with this plan as it's articulated, we're off the list and we'd have to start all over again. While the project was originally slated for a much later phase of the town's comprehensive wastewater management plan, recent cyanobacteria blooms in the Great Sand Lakes have accelerated the timeline.

The recommendation did not come without significant pushback. Committee Chair Ann Tucker cast the lone dissenting vote against recommending the project to the Select Board, citing the high cost and a departure from the town's original nitrogen-focused mandate. I personally am a 'no' on this, Tucker said. I don't think it meets the objective of nitrogen removal, which was our original plan. The costs are extremely high—at $35 million for 275 homes, it's $130,000 a home. I also believe we have to lock up this debt capacity for three to six years.

Other committee members viewed the financial incentives as too significant to pass up. Member Mark [Last Name] supported the move as a way to preserve the town's access to low-interest capital, stating, I would only vote 'yes' to hold that place to have that money at 0 to 2%. I don't think it's a commitment completely to the project yet, but it keeps us in place for relatively cheap money. Motion Made by M. [Last] to add $35 million in fiscal year 2026 to the capital plan for the watershed phase 3A sewer extension. Motion Passed 5-0. A subsequent vote to formally recommend the project to the Select Board also carried. Motion Made by M. [Last] to recommend to the Board of Selectmen the approval of the Phase 3A project for $35 million. Motion Passed 4-1 (A. Tucker opposed).

The committee also grappled with the role of technical expertise versus financial oversight. Member Rich [Last Name] pushed back against the idea that the committee should judge the engineering merits of the phosphorus plan. The capital outlay committee is not a technical committee, he noted. I don't think it's proper for us to say it doesn't achieve something from an engineering standpoint. The issue is: can we afford it? The answer is yes. Remote member Scott Norm agreed with the environmental urgency, adding that protection of freshwater resources is just as important as saltwater resources.

Beyond wastewater, the committee reviewed the status of the Monomoy Middle School renovation, a project that has become a flashpoint between town officials and the school district. Powers clarified that the $11.5 million siding and window project—which the Select Board recently refused to place on the town warrant—is considered a district assessment rather than a town capital project. Harwich would be responsible for roughly 77% of the debt service for the project, which would require a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion vote. If this were on our list, it would represent the single largest project aside from wastewater construction, Powers told the committee.

Infrastructure at Saquatucket Harbor also remains a priority, with $770,000 slated for the design and permitting of a bulkhead replacement. While an engineering report suggested the current structure could last up to ten years in some sections, Powers advocated for funding the design work now to avoid future complications. I will always pay good money for design and analysis; it takes a lot to get me to do construction because construction is always complicated, Powers said. Members questioned if the design would become outdated if construction was delayed until 2028, but the project remained in the FY26 plan without modification.

A smaller request of $40,000 for obsolete smoke alarms at Harwich Elementary School was ultimately pulled from the formal capital plan. Chair Ann Tucker questioned why the item was included when it fell below the committee’s $50,000 reporting threshold. I have a problem if other departments see this and wonder why their $35,000 or $47,000 projects aren't shown, she said. Powers agreed to handle the item through the school district's assessment article instead, noting that transparency can sometimes bite you.

Providing a broader financial outlook, Powers reported a healthy certified free cash balance of approximately $5.8 million. He proposed utilizing $3.87 million of those funds to cover various capital needs, including IT upgrades, police cruisers, and facility maintenance. The town also expects an influx of over $1 million in Chapter 90 road funding, bolstered by revenues from the state’s millionaire’s tax. Free cash was our friend this year, Powers concluded, noting that the proposed plan would still leave the town with a $1.4 million cushion.