Members of the Harwich Bylaw/Charter Review Committee voiced sharp criticism Tuesday regarding a perceived breakdown in communication with Town Hall, characterizing the current state of the spring warrant as a nightmare for voters. The committee, which is tasked with reviewing all proposed changes to town governance before they reach the floor of Town Meeting, reported a total lack of cooperation from Town Administration in providing necessary filings and draft language for several high-profile articles.

The frustration centered on a lack of transparency and a chaotic numbering system for the upcoming warrant. The Chair noted that a complete warrant has yet to be made available to the public, forcing both officials and residents to hunt through disparate Select Board agenda packets to find individual articles. I think we're spending more time coming up with cutesy little numbering systems than we are numbering the damn articles, the Chair remarked, citing a confusing mix of letter-coded prefixes like "F" for finance or "C" for Community Preservation Committee. One committee member agreed, adding that the numbering is a nightmare that leaves residents with little idea of what they are actually voting on.

The administrative friction extended beyond formatting. The committee noted that they have received no response from the Select Board regarding a comprehensive report submitted in December 2024. Furthermore, the Chair alleged a persistent failure by Town Administration to provide copies of bylaw changes as they are filed, a requirement under the Town Charter. It's just a refusal to follow the Charter and a refusal to be cooperative. It's really disappointing and frustrating, the Chair said. It would make this board's job a lot easier if we had some cooperation so we would be more prepared for Town Meeting.

This lack of preparation is particularly evident in two significant areas: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the Affordable Housing Trust. Despite these topics being listed on the warrant sheet, no specific language has been provided to the committee for review. The town has recently seen a flurry of activity regarding housing, including a $1.5 million transfer to the Affordable Housing Trust for the West Harwich Square project and efforts by the Zoning Board of Appeals to align local rules with new state ADU mandates. However, the committee remains in the dark on the specific local amendments. For those two, I don't have a clue, the Chair admitted.

The committee also reviewed a controversial private petition submitted by resident Mr. Burch that seeks to rescind the town’s bans on single-use plastic water bottles and plastic food service containers. The petition aims to delete portions of Chapter 125 of the general bylaws, effectively reversing a major environmental policy passed two years ago. The issue has created a split among town boards; the Finance Committee voted 2-6 against the repeal, while the Select Board supported it with a 4-0-1 vote. Anita, a committee member, recalled the original debate over the ban, noting that at the time there's all kinds of wooden utensils that you can get and they're cheaper than plastic. While the committee saw no direct conflict for them to resolve, the Chair anticipated an interesting discussion at Town Meeting as the original implementation deadlines for these bans are now approaching.

Environmental bylaws continue to face an uphill battle in Harwich. A suite of articles regarding fertilizer use, pesticides, and tree preservation—identical to versions proposed last year—are returning to the warrant. While the Finance Committee has shown some support for the fertilizer and pesticide restrictions, the Select Board remains unanimously opposed to all three measures. The tree preservation bylaw appears particularly vulnerable, having received a 0-7 "not to support" recommendation from the Finance Committee and a 0-5 vote from the Select Board.

On the financial and procedural front, the committee discussed a proposed $35,000 appropriation to purchase electronic "clickers" for counting votes at Town Meeting. The move follows a March 3 Select Board vote to place the technology on the warrant in hopes of modernizing the legislative process. The Chair argued the investment would save significant time during counts that require a two-thirds majority, noting that it would prevent the need for tellers to waste time going up and down the aisles to manually count hands. It would actually do the math. It would make it go faster and more smoothly, the Chair said.

The committee also addressed a necessary legal correction to Chapter 8 of the town bylaws regarding the Golf Infrastructure Fund. Following a determination from town counsel, the fund must be removed from the list of authorized revolving funds and reclassified as a receipts reserve fund. Members also noted that a proposed amendment to the demolition delay bylaw—extending the waiting period for historic structures from 12 to 18 months—is moving forward with strong support from both the Finance Committee and the Select Board, aligning with broader town efforts to ensure historical accuracy and preservation.

Early in the proceedings, the committee handled routine business. Motion Made by Anita to approve the minutes of January 14, 2025. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

The Bylaw/Charter Review Committee is currently operating with two vacancies and is actively seeking new members to help navigate the busy Town Meeting season. The next meeting is scheduled for April 8, which Anita noted is her birthday, jokingly remarking, I can't imagine something better to do.