Harwich Voters Approve Sewers, Middle School Renovations

HARWICH – It was a contentious opening night of the annual town meeting on Monday, with heated debates over sewering for Great Sand Lakes, funding for the charter commission, and increasing the reserve fund for the finance committee.

 While funding for the Monomoy Regional Middle School renovation and reconstruction drew a lot of discussion, voter support for the $9,007,030 project was approved overwhelmingly.

 Debate over the estimated $35 million for the Great Sand Lakes sewing project went on for an hour, but voters also overwhelmingly supported it. The request for $125,000 for the proposed charter commission was approved by just 12 votes. And an amendment seeking to reduce the finance committee’s request to increase its reserve fund from $50,000 to $125,000 lost by a 187-to-258 vote. 

 Voters approved a $48,127,931 annual operating budget for the town, a 5.2 percent increase. They also approved the town’s share of the Monomoy Regional School District budget at $31,142,031, a 4.23 percent increase.

 Finance Committee Chair Peter Hughes informed town meeting that the town has $83.3 million in available funds, a 4.42 percent increase over the previous year, and the town is seeking to spend $83,293,122, “virtually everything that is available,” he said. 

Former finance committee chair Jon Chorey provided some insight into the town’s spending, pointing out that the town has five operating budgets totaling close to $87 million. There are nearly $10 million in capital requests this year and another $44 million in debt exclusion requests. He said the town could end up spending around $140 million. Chorey said voters should use this information when voting, “because you are voting with your tax dollars.”

Great Sand Lakes resident Ann Frechette said she was there to ask voters to approve the sewer project to help protect Bucks Pond, John Joseph Pond, Kiddies Pond and Sand Lake. While the finance committee supported the funding request, the select board voted 3-2 for indefinite postponement. 

 The ponds have become impaired because groundwater leaches from septic tanks into the waters. With sewers, everything that gets flushed down the toilet would go to the Chatham wastewater treatment plant, said Frechette. She also said there is a need to protect town wells and drinking water downgradient of Great Sand Lakes. 

Frechette said the town has been approved to receive $31,130,000 from the state’s Clean Water Revolving Fund, and is eligible for a zero to 2 percent interest rate on the borrowing. The town has been approved for a 25 percent reduction from the Cape and Islands Water Protection Fund, Frechette added. She also said the town would be using underutilized flow capacity at the Chatham plant.

Select Board Chair Jeffrey Handler said there are unknowns related to the project and the cost is unclear. He agreed there is state loan forgiveness, but the total cost remains uncertain and could be as high as $39 million.

Handler also said took issue with the need to protect downgradient public drinking water wells. He said the town has award-winning water quality.

“It’s bad practice to take a loan just because it’s low,” he said. “I listen to our experts, and without knowing the cost, I can’t put my stamp on it.” 

David Swords said that right now the ponds in Harwich are deteriorating. Fifteen years ago you could see sand at the bottom, now it’s a murky water bottom, he said, because effluent is seeping into the ponds. If action is not taken now, water quality will deteriorate further, he said.

Select board member Donald Howell said the town is obligated to do the project under phase eight of the comprehensive wastewater management plan. This is not optional, Howell said. The town asked to have the project moved up a year ago, and the state has given its approval.

“The county has allocated close to $8 million to buy this project down. If the cost is too high we can stop it once we have the bid,” Howell said. “This project at some point in time has to be done.” 

“It’s not a drinking water issue, but the state has given us one of the top 10 subsidies,” said select board member Julie Kavanagh. “I don’t think we should walk away from this.” 

 Voters approved the funding request 288-30. A debt exclusion ballot question will also have to be approved at the May 20 annual election to secure the funding.

 The middle school renovation and reconstruction project was approved with only one dissenting vote heard. The article sought approval of a debt authorization for $9,007,030. The project is expected to cost $11.5 million, said building committee co-chair Ed McManus. He explained $2.5 million was approved for the project last year.

McManus said the siding is failing and there are issues around the windows causing sheathing inside the school to be impacted, especially around window areas. This is a two-phased project, he said, and officials will be back next year seeking funding for a new roof, which is expected to cost around $8.5 million.

Building committee member Richie Roy said the building is in “great disrepair,” but he assured voters the work proposed would be done properly through oversight from a building project manager. 

Mold has been a major concern at the school. 

“I was hesitant to share my health-related illnesses,” said middle school science teacher Nancy Gifford. “But for the health and safety of colleagues and students, I can’t stay quiet any longer.”

Gifford said she has been battling health and mold issues for the last five years, and conditions have been getting worse over time. She said at times she has been so sick that she thought it would end her career. For years, she said, she has experienced headaches, sore throat and sinus issues while at school but felt fine when at home. Gifford said she has also experienced skin rashes, extreme fatigue, brain fog, and gastrointestinal problems. She has seen numerous doctors and was taking 10 different medications to go to school. All the medical experts have said her issues are a direct result of the mold in the middle school, Gifford said. 

 “We care about the future of our school and it’s clear we need an update to keep it in good shape for the future,” said MRMS seventh grade student Emma Langelier.

 “We need crucial updates because they will protect our building, especially as water causes serious damage, including mold, which causes students to get sick,” added Meggie Braz, another seventh grader. 

 “It’s not about fixing the building for today, but it’s for your kids and grandkids. Our school should be safe, healthy and protective, a place to learn. Our school should be a place where we can grow, learn, and achieve and these updates will assure this will happen,” said Braz.

There were a number of emotional pleas supporting the funding for the project, but the efforts of Langelier and Braz sealed the deal for the school funding project.

A petition article seeking $125,000 to support a charter commission review and recommendations was met with some opposition. Lead petitioner Sandra Hall said the money would be used to hire a consultant, provide clerical services, and allow for a finished report to be mailed to residents as required by law.

Hall said that in 2022 Town Administrator Joseph Powers asked the bylaw/charter review committee if they needed funds to conduct a charter review. She said $75,000 was approved for that purpose, but those funds never got to the committee and were never spent. 

 Leo Cakounes opposed the measure, saying it was a lot of money for a group that will analyze what other towns are doing. He then said the group could replace town meeting with a representative town meeting and change the town administrator to a town manager, and all this is to be done in 18 months. He suggested using finance committee reserve funds, should a commission need money.

 “It’s a ridiculous ask,” said Cakounes.

 Rosemary Shields praised the initiative, pointing out proponents had to gather 1,800 signatures to get the nine-member charter commission on the ballot. Cakounes was a “fearmonger,” she said. 

 Select board member Michael MacAskill said his board has discussed charter needs a number of times. Two consultants have examined the town charter and officials have been told there is nothing wrong with the document. MacAskill suggested any decision on funding should come after the voters have acted on the ballot question that is required to establish the commission. He said funding could be sought in a fall special town meeting.

 Hall said there is only an 18-month window under state statute to perform the review and produce findings, and waiting another six months for necessary funds would cut the process short.

 Lou Urbano, a candidate for the commission, said a consultant is necessary to advise the group on what can and cannot be done as it goes through the process.

Bylaw/charter review committee Chair Linda Cebula said the process requires public meetings and hearings, and what the people want will determine any changes recommended by the commission. There are no pre-set ideas, and the voters will make the ultimate decision on changes to the charter, she said.

“I apologize if I did some fearmongering. I stood up for financial concerns only,” Cakounes said. “I will be voting for a charter commission, but not the $125,000. There is ample money, so just vote it down.”

Town meeting approved the funds 188-176. 

Earlier in the meeting, Cakounes took exception to the budget line seeking to increase the finance committee reserve fund from $50,000 to $125,000. He said the committee has operated for years with the $50,000. He offered an amendment to reduce the request by $50,000, allowing for a $25,000 increase. 

“It’s a management tool on our part,” finance committee Chair Peter Hughes said, explaining that with the additional funds available for emergencies, department heads would be able to tighten up their annual budget requests.

Cakounes said when additional funds are needed they could be sought in a special town meeting, or obtained through unpaid bills at the end of the fiscal year. But voters turned aside his amendment, 187-258.

The first night of the annual session ended with voters acting on 20 of the 57 articles in the warrant.