The Harwich Conservation Commission strengthened its membership Wednesday night, welcoming Susan Cyr to the board during a session focused on the town’s long-term wastewater infrastructure goals. Cyr joins the commission at a pivotal moment as Harwich navigates what officials have termed a 25-year infrastructure wall, where aging assets and environmental mandates require simultaneous high-stakes investments across multiple departments.

Chair John Ketchum opened the meeting in the Don B. Griffin Room by introducing the newest appointee. I'd like to welcome our newest commission member, Susan Cyr. Welcome, Susan, Ketchum said. Cyr, who brings a professional interest in the Cape’s historical ecology and the professionalization of land care, responded simply, Thank you, before the board turned its attention to a critical link in the town's sewer build-out.

The primary focus of the evening was a Notice of Intent for 15 Wales Road, the designated site for a 61-square-foot pumping station shed. This project is a key component of the Phase 3A sewer extension, part of a broader sewer-driven fiscal strategy aimed at mitigating nitrogen loading in local watersheds. These infrastructure improvements are frequently paired with the commission’s watershed-first regulatory approach, which seeks to protect impaired water bodies from further degradation.

Engineer Raul Lizardi, representing the project, briefed the commission on the construction plans for the small utility structure. The site had previously drawn scrutiny due to significant illegal yard waste dumping. To ensure the new facility remains protected and the surrounding environment is respected, the commission had previously requested that the town perform a thorough cleanup and install permanent No Dumping signage as a condition of the project’s advancement. Attorney Jonathan Paloney and representative Amy Hamlin were also present to ensure the application met the Conservation Agent's technical requirements following the issuance of a DEP file number.

Member Wayne Coulson, who has historically advocated for consolidating town-owned natural resource land under the appropriate department custody to ensure permanent protection, participated in the final review of the site’s environmental safeguards. Vice Chair Mark Coleman and member Sophia Pilling also reviewed the plans, ensuring the project adhered to the board's strict standards for minimizing disturbance in sensitive buffer zones. Motion Made by W. Coulson to issue an Order of Conditions for the 15 Wales Road sewer pumping station. Motion Passed (5-0).

The addition of Cyr comes as the commission continues to coordinate with other regulatory bodies, such as the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board, to present a unified front on environmental standards. This ongoing collaboration is particularly focused on mandating native habitat restoration and limiting chemical inputs on both town-led infrastructure projects and private developments, as the town moves toward more centralized and professionalized management of its natural resources.