Harwich is moving to secure its administrative future with a wide net, as the Select Board established strict parameters for the recruitment of its next top executive. During Monday’s session, the board solidified the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a search firm to find a successor for Town Administrator Joseph Powers, who departs on June 30. The board insisted on a competitive process, rejecting efforts to cap the talent pool. I am not sure that you want a maximum, Chair Donald Howell said regarding the number of initial interviews. I'm pretty sure you do want a minimum floor. Member Jeffrey Handler agreed, stating, Personally, I would set the minimum at 10. I wouldn't go less than 10.

The discussion around the search firm RFP also touched on the qualifications of the firms themselves. Member Mark Kelleher suggested the town should remain open to recruiters from the private sector rather than just municipal specialists. Why limit it to just somebody who's been in municipal government? Open it up to somebody who's been in business, Kelleher said, suggesting that internal staff could coach a candidate with a business background on municipal law. Assistant Town Administrator Megan Eldridge noted the tight timeline for responses, eyeing a July 1 deadline for firms to bid. Motion Made by P. Piekarski to accept the request for proposal document draft with modifications for a 10-candidate minimum and 3 to 6 finalists. Motion Passed 5-0

Residents will see no immediate change at the gate following the formal ratification of the town’s fee schedules for beach and transfer station stickers. DPW Director Link Hooper noted that residential disposal stickers have not seen an increase in nearly a decade, even as commercial rates have climbed. Barnstable is in the $300 range. We are much lower, Hooper said, providing a regional comparison. Beach and Recreation officials added that Harwich’s $20 day passes remain below the Cape-wide average of $25. While the board affirmed current rates, Town Administrator Joseph Powers suggested that the upcoming July and August budget cycles might be the appropriate time for the board to weigh further adjustments. Motion Made by P. Piekarski to approve the fee schedule as presented. Motion Passed 5-0

The town’s move toward infrastructure realism was highlighted during public comment when Martha Donovan, Chair of the Capital Outlay Committee, suggested the town could avoid a massive $10 million expense at Saquatucket Harbor. Donovan pointed to an engineering report indicating that targeted repairs could extend the life of the harbor bulkhead by a decade. The engineering report basically says that if we do some repairs in two years, we could extend the bulkhead for 10 years, which seems like a good investment for the town, Donovan said. Chair Howell requested the board be kept informed on the potential to delay the costly replacement project.

The Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) is entering a critical digital phase as the town’s contract with consultant Tighe & Bond nears its June 30 expiration. Local Planning Committee Chair Joyce McIntyre reported that the plan is shifting to an interactive format to improve public engagement. The meat is on the bone, but what we're left to work with now is some high-level prioritization, McIntyre explained. Member Kelleher flagged a staggering $2.07 billion figure for temporary lodging in the draft’s data, which McIntyre attributed to high-value properties like the Witchmere. McIntyre emphasized the need to retain the consultants through the summer to finalize edits, noting the town currently lacks the specific software licenses to manage the Adobe-formatted document internally.

In a rare move regarding committee appointments, the board opted to hold back the reappointment of one Housing Committee member pending an interview regarding past conduct. She's been warned and she knows she went past decorum, Chair Howell remarked, supporting the decision to have the candidate appear before the interview committee. In other housing news, Member Jeffrey Handler was appointed to serve as the Select Board representative on the Affordable Housing Trust for a two-year term. Motion Made by M. Kelleher to appoint J. Handler to the affordable housing trust as a Select Board representative for two years. Motion Passed 5-0

The board also addressed a request from the Board of Assessors to clear 24 miscellaneous unpaid tax parcels totaling approximately $1,800. Richard Waystack, representing the Assessors, noted the average unpaid amount is only $75 per parcel. Because the town is currently operating without a finance director, Waystack sought guidance on who should authorize the removals. The finance director is in tomorrow, so I can talk with both the assessor and the finance director, Howell said, noting the item would likely return to the agenda next week. The board also accepted several resignations, including Anita Doucette from the Bylaw Charter Review Committee and Alan Thompson from the Pleasant Bay Steering Committee. Motion Made by D. Howell to approve the Select Board meeting minutes from June 2, 2025, and the resignations of J. Leech, A. Doucette, and A. Thompson. Motion Passed 4-0-1

Sewer construction continues to move toward a summer hiatus. While work remains active on Route 39 and Bay Road, Town Administrator Powers confirmed that a contract prohibition will keep crews off main roads from June 15 through Labor Day to accommodate heavy seasonal traffic. Residents looking for local culture can look forward to the return of the Captain O Captain show at the South Harwich Meeting House in late June. President Judith Ford promised an immersive experience, noting that audiences will be swamped by 16-foot video graphics of 16-foot waves crashing over the audience while learning about Harwich’s legendary sea captains.