The Harwich Historic District and Historical Commission (HDHC) hit a procedural wall on Wednesday, delaying a key hearing for the Harwich Junior Theater as town officials struggle to maintain administrative support. The session, which was intended to address a certificate of appropriateness for a safety fence at 265 Sisson Road, was continued to June 18 at the request of the applicant. The property, owned by the town’s Affordable Housing Trust, is seeking to install a 42-inch pressure-treated fence to separate the parking lot from a picnic area at the historic theater site. Because the structure is over 100 years old, the commission must approve the materials to ensure they maintain the town’s historic character.

Motion Made by P. Don to continue the public hearing for HH2025-13 to June 18, 2025, no earlier than 6:00 PM. Motion Passed (5-0)

The brief meeting underscored the "personnel vacuum" currently stressing Harwich governance. Member Lynn Ales raised questions regarding the administrative staff present, noting that she believed staffer Rachel had previously left her role. I don't understand that thing with Rachel. I thought she had gone on, left us, Ales said. Chair Mary Mazlowski explained that the town is currently operating with significant gaps in the Town Administrator’s and Planner’s offices, forcing the town to bring back former employees to train new hires and maintain basic operations.

Rachel keeps trying to get away and we keep reeling her right back in, Mazlowski said of the returning staffer. The planner's office is down a staff member. So, I think everybody's pitching in and doing whatever they can to keep everything afloat. Mazlowski thanked the commission members present for their valiant attempt to conduct business despite the logistical hurdles and the lack of a full-time staff secretary.

Logistical challenges are expected to persist into the summer, as the commission expressed concerns about maintaining a quorum for its upcoming June sessions. While a regular meeting is slated for June 18, members Bob Don and Brennan Looney joined the board in identifying June 25 as a potential backup date should attendance fall short. If we don't have a quorum on the 18th, we would do the same thing that we had done tonight. We would continue to a date certain, Mazlowski noted, emphasizing that the theater hearing cannot proceed without a full board present to hear testimony.

In other business, the commission noted no new developments regarding the Revolutionary War house plaque project or the West Baptist Church preservation restrictions. The plaque initiative, a priority for the board, aims to identify approximately 450 homes associated with Revolutionary War soldiers. The project recently shifted to be an HDHC-led effort to facilitate applications for Community Preservation Committee funding, though the board is still awaiting a formal update on that appropriation process.