The Harwich Select Board’s search for a permanent Finance Director has returned to square one after the preferred candidate, Brittany Capony, declined the town’s offer to accept a position elsewhere. Chair Donald Howell shared the news following an executive session, noting that we will have to down the road recruit again to fill the vacancy left as Town Administrator Joseph Powers prepares to depart on June 30. The setback leaves the town facing a significant leadership vacuum in both the administrative and financial offices simultaneously.

The board spent much of the evening weighing a conceptual proposal from Penrose LLC for 60 units of affordable housing at 456 Queen Anne Road. Larry Ballantine, Chair of the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust, explained that Penrose was selected for the "friendly 40B" project because we loved their design... which we felt would fit more into our Cape Cod culture compared to larger block-style developments. Ryan Kurikoff of Penrose emphasized their commitment to the site, stating, We are a build and hold developer. We are not a developer that builds and then turns around and sells.

While Member Jeffrey Handler praised the partnership, noting that shows the partnership that town of Harwich can work with a developer, other board members and residents voiced sharp concerns regarding density and infrastructure. Vice Chair Peter Piekarski warned that the existing traffic on Queen Anne Road is already problematic. You take a left onto Queen Anne off the highway at 4:00 p.m. on a weekday and that traffic's already backed up to Oak Street, Piekarski said. If this gets developed to a point where it's gridlock for everybody, then nobody's happy. Resident Patrick Otton questioned the broader strategy, asking, To try to solve the housing problem by build build. Is that the correct approach? Realtor Richard Waystack countered that the project is essential given that market rate right now is a little over $3,000 a month, squeezing out local workers.

Leadership stability became a point of friction during a discussion on appointing an Acting Town Administrator. Member Jeffrey Handler strongly advocated for Assistant Town Administrator Megan Eldredge to lead the transition, stating, We have an assistant town administrator currently who for the last four and a half almost five years has been the person that the board, the town and the public has trusted... I know who I would like to have sit in that seat. However, Chair Howell and other members expressed concern that Eldredge is already overburdened with procurement and the lack of a Finance Director. Member Anita Doucette suggested hiring an outside retired administrator for temporary support, noting, My thing is just to bring forward some help for her and I would be more apt to bring someone in that would be able to assist her a little bit more than just putting more burden on her. Resident Julie Kavanagh questioned the logic of the shift, asking, Why the change now? regarding the board's hesitation to elevate the assistant.

Fiscal oversight also returned to the forefront as the board discussed a mandatory review of town legal services. Vice Chair Piekarski revealed that legal costs are currently projected to exceed the budget by $50,000. Chair Howell suggested the town needs to re-examine how it utilizes counsel, pointing to a policy to access legal counsel, which appears to be 20 years old. Member Handler requested a dedicated board discussion before any formal bidding process begins to define exactly what the town requires from a legal firm.

In other business, the board addressed several inter-municipal and procedural items. Motion Made by M. Kelleher to approve the 2025 ex-officio external public body appointments. Motion Passed (5-0). The board also moved to support regional projects and local summer traditions. Motion Made by M. Kelleher to approve the MOA with the Town of Orleans Council on Aging for the Rock Harbor respite program. Motion Passed (5-0). Additionally, the board cleared the way for seasonal festivities in the Port. Motion Made by M. Kelleher to approve the special permit for Wednesday night music, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, July 2nd through August 27th, 2025. Motion Passed (5-0).

The Harwich Town Band also visited to mark their 50th anniversary. Peter deBakker recounted the band's 1975 debut on a hay wagon pulled by Clydesdales and encouraged residents to join the 57-member ensemble, noting that auditions not required. Before concluding, Member Mark Kelleher welcomed new local business "Bagel Hound" to town, while Christine Flynn updated the board that the Phase 3A Great Sand Lake sewer project remains on schedule after meeting its June 30 state funding obligations. The message is everything's going as we planned, Howell concluded.