The West Harwich Baptist Church, an 1841 landmark on Captain’s Row once slated for the wrecking ball, emerged as the center of a $667,500 community preservation request during Thursday’s Community Preservation Committee meeting. Applicant John Kerry, who previously restored the West Harwich Schoolhouse, presented a plan to refurbish the exterior of the historic church to create a permanent community meeting house. Kerry told the committee that the project was born of necessity, noting that a demolition permit had already been pulled for the property before he intervened. This building is Harwich, Kerry said. The town gets a refurbished historic asset, a permanent preservation restriction, and we are donating land for a sewer pump station.

Public support for the project was robust, with neighbors highlighting the potential economic and cultural windfall for West Harwich. Resident Duncan Berry cited research suggesting that historic preservation can offer a significant return on investment. The request tonight from Mr. Kerry is about $660,000; times 40, that is a $26 million multiplier effect over the next two decades, Berry said, calling old buildings infrastructural incubators for local job growth. Resident Patty Torque described Kerry’s previous work as a model of careful planning, while Judith Ward, whose father served as the church’s minister for 14 years, expressed tears of joy that the building would be saved. If we can invest in this building, we could get to know each other better, Ward added.

Despite the public enthusiasm, committee members raised questions regarding the project's long-term sustainability and budget accuracy. Kathy Green questioned whether the creation of a new nonprofit, Friends of Harwich, to manage the funds was simply a move to make the application more palatable for funding. She also voiced concerns about the town’s ability to support another community venue alongside existing meeting houses. Art Bodin expressed skepticism about the project's cost estimates in an inflationary market. In this crazy time of building, costs are going sky-high, Bodin said. If you're comfortable with the budget, I'll say so be it. Eric Beebe specifically questioned the allocations for specialized work, noting that the stained glass window repair and the clock repair look low if significant removal and reinstallation are required.

The committee also evaluated a $138,000 request for a diagnostic assessment of Hinckley Pond. Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski explained that the shallow glacial pond suffered the state’s first recorded mid-winter algae bloom last year, signaling that a 2019 alum treatment failed prematurely. This study will guide remediation alternatives; otherwise, we are just shooting in the dark, Usowski said. Kathy Green noted that the town had previously rescinded monitoring funds in 2022, a move she suggested was a mistake. Chair Jan Moore signaled support for the study despite rules against funding maintenance, stating, I see the difference.

Financial housekeeping took center stage during the latter half of the meeting as the board moved to return unspent funds to the CPA general fund. Motion Made by D. Nixon to rescind $3,500 from the 2024 South Harwich Gravestone Conservation Project, seconded by M. Cole. Motion Passed 8-0. This was followed by a Motion Made by M. Maslowski to rescind $18,520.06 from the 2024 Beach AED Project, seconded by J. Ketchum. Motion Passed 8-0. The committee also cleared a larger balance from a recreation project with a Motion Made by M. Maslowski to rescind $54,300 from the 2024 Senior Memorial Softball Field Fencing Project, seconded by J. Ketchum. Motion Passed 8-0.

A planned rescission of $150,000 for the Senior Memorial Field Restroom project was stalled due to ongoing discrepancies in municipal financial reports. Kathy Green noted that several previously rescinded amounts have not yet appeared on town ledgers, prompting Mary Maslowski to suggest a more formal inquiry. I think as a board we can request a detailed report on the articles we just rescinded so we can see the debits and credits, Maslowski said. The item was placed on hold pending a meeting with the Finance Department. Motion Made by J. Ketchum to approve the minutes of the December 4, 2025 meeting, seconded by M. Maslowski. Motion Passed 8-0.

The committee concluded with a look at new signage for CPA-funded open space. Jan Moore presented a sample sign costing approximately $50, stating, It's very nice, meets approval. John Ketchum raised a procedural point regarding late-arriving letters of support, which Moore clarified would be included as part of the public record. I don't see it as supplemental information; it's an opinion, Moore said regarding a letter received after the December 1 deadline.