Harwich officials are bracing for a rigorous fiscal cycle as Interim Town Manager Kevin Considine establishes a firm February 2 "drop-dead" deadline for the upcoming budget and capital plan. During Thursday’s Finance Committee meeting, Chair Robert MacCready shared insights from a recent sit-down with Considine, noting a renewed push for transparency and adherence to timelines. MacCready told the committee that the Interim Town Manager is prioritizing internal budget preparation, with plans to present a formal update on November 13. He has every intention of getting us the budget and capital plan as soon as physically possible, MacCready said, highlighting that the administration is treating the February date as an absolute cutoff to ensure the committee has ample time for its mandate.

The committee’s discussion quickly shifted to the sobering realities of the town’s financial outlook. With payroll and benefits consuming roughly 75% of the total budget, and all union contracts having expired this past June, the town faces significant unknowns. Liaison Mark Kelleher informed the board that while some progress has been made, including three-year deals for the Fire union and smaller units at roughly 4-3-4 percent increases, the fiscal pressure remains high. Member Dana DeCosta warned that the town must remain vigilant regarding fixed costs, noting, Health insurance may go up by 10%. DeCosta suggested a firm line with department heads, particularly regarding the school district, stating, I would counsel the schools to take something out if they want to put new people in, to have a net effect of level services.

Concerns over the accuracy of budget forecasting were echoed by Michele Gallucci, who questioned the effectiveness of non-binding increase targets. Does the message have a percentage for the increase? Gallucci asked. Last year we had a 4% marker that turned into an 8.1% increase, which made a joke out of the budget message. Chair MacCready clarified that the current guidance emphasizes level services and no increase in total staffing rather than targeting a specific percentage. This move toward stabilization comes as the town continues to navigate its "25-year infrastructure wall," where aging assets and major projects like the sewer build-out compete for limited resources.

Transparency surfaced as a major point of contention when Vice Chair Scott Norum challenged the validity of existing financial reporting. Norum pointed to a letter in the 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report claiming that monthly budget-to-actual reports are regularly shared with the Finance Committee. I've never seen one, Norum stated, describing the language as boilerplate that doesn't reflect reality. Member Mark Peterson, drawing on his three decades of professional financial analysis experience, expressed alarm at the lack of intra-year data. So it's a black box until the audit reports come out? Peterson asked. We don't know if anything is going sideways? The committee agreed to compile a formal list of metrics and reports they require to provide effective oversight, moving away from what Peterson described as nice information in favor of actionable data.

The committee also moved to assert itself in the ongoing town charter revision process, seeking a joint meeting with the Charter Commission to discuss governance and vacancies. A primary concern remains the speed of committee appointments. Member DeCosta advocated for a mechanism to prevent long-term vacancies if the Town Moderator fails to act promptly. If he hasn't made [an appointment] by then, we would make the appointment, DeCosta said. We want a member ready to go, rather than having months go on with no decision. Motion Made by D. DeCosta to meet with the Charter Commission on Thursday, October 16th at 6:30 PM — Passed (6-0-0). Member Peterson added that the committee should also address whether temporary bodies, like the Charter Commission, should receive stipends or expense reimbursements for materials like ink and mileage.

On the capital front, Michele Gallucci and Scott Norum provided updates from recent facility tours, including a visit to Harwich Elementary School. Gallucci noted that significant expenses are looming for boiler replacements, which may require simultaneous roof work to qualify for state subsidies. The committee is pushing for a more comprehensive five-year capital plan that identifies specific funding sources—such as free cash or borrowing—for every year, not just the first. Norum noted that the goal is to create a reliable debt forecast for the town. DeCosta expressed concern that the current process has mushed together capital planning and free cash allocation, arguing that the two should be treated as distinct financial exercises. Chair MacCready also noted a policy shift: moving forward, the capital plan will only include items exceeding $50,000 to prevent smaller maintenance items from being funded through free cash instead of the operating budget.

Education spending, which accounts for over 40% of the town budget, remains a focal point as the Monomoy Regional School District prepares its own FY27 projections. Liaison Tina Games reported that the school committee is looking to coordinate with Harwich and Chatham leadership on five-year budget and debt projections. The school committee is encouraging leadership to develop projections that incorporate capital debt, Games said, promising to share the district’s 10-year capital plan with the Finance Committee. DeCosta reminded the board that the October 1 pupil census is the most important number in the school budget process, as it dictates the 77% to 23% cost-sharing split between Harwich and Chatham. Before concluding, the committee shared a moment of community support for member Peter Hughes, who was absent while supporting his wife through medical treatments after recently completing his own milestone in his cancer battle. Motion Made by D. DeCosta to approve the minutes of September 11th — Passed (6-0-0).