Town Moderator Michael Ford presented a suite of procedural reforms to the Charter Commission on Thursday, aiming to revitalize Harwich’s legislative process through the introduction of consent calendars and stricter speaking limits. Seeking to expedite proceedings that once stretched six nights, Ford recommended adopting a consent calendar for non-controversial items, a practice successfully utilized in Orleans for nearly a decade. It collects articles that aren't controversial, generally don't have an appropriation, and are usually customary articles, Ford explained, noting that grouping these for a single vote would significantly shorten the warrant. He suggested that if five voters object, an item would be removed from the calendar for individual debate.

To address what Ford described as a turn-off by government that can depress turnout, he advocated for slashing individual speaking limits from 10 minutes to five. Chair Christine Flynn noted the commission is also considering a more drastic shift: splitting the annual gathering into a spring financial meeting and a fall session for non-financial matters to boost participation. However, Ford expressed reservations about a mandated fall meeting, warning that quorums are often difficult to reach unless a high-profile issue is on the warrant. Zoning articles are important and should be considered at the annual meeting when we have 400 or 500 people, Ford said, suggesting that land-use issues might not receive proper attention in a separate session.

The commission revisited the ongoing debate over professionalizing town leadership, a move that aligns with recent shifts toward granting the Town Administrator full hiring authority. Ford voiced strong support for rebranding the position to Town Manager. I think the reaction would be positive. It starts with the name, Ford said. It allows the select board to focus more on policy and the manager to run the town. Paul Doane noted that the town already handles several customary articles, such as those for the cultural council and herring fisheries, which would be ideal candidates for a streamlined consent calendar.

Regarding the town’s fiscal oversight, Ford suggested that removing term limits for the Finance Committee could help retain valuable institutional knowledge as the town navigates its current razor-thin property tax margin. John Ketchum proposed extending the deadline for the Moderator to fill committee vacancies from 30 to 60 days, arguing that 30 days isn't enough time to run the required ads and interview people. Ford agreed the current timeline is unrealistic and suggested that the town website should be the primary tool for recruitment, noting he had never seen a volunteer come forward as a result of a traditional newspaper advertisement. Sandy Hall added that while the 1987 charter previously required two meetings, the focus should remain on educating the public on complicated issues. Richard Waystack questioned what truly inhibits attendance, leading Ford to suggest that a lack of interest, rather than procedural length, is the primary hurdle.

The session also touched on transparency for the capital budget. Ford suggested a charter provision requiring the Capital Outlay Committee to provide formal comments at Town Meeting, asserting that anything that educates the public is a good thing. Members Linda Cebula and Lou Lowny joined in the consensus to move further financial discussions to the next meeting. Before concluding, the commission approved minutes from the February 19 meeting, which had to be reconstructed by staff after the recording equipment failed 40 minutes before adjournment. Motion Made by P. Doane to approve the minutes of February 19th. Motion Passed (7-0).