DeCosta Honored With James Noonan Community Service Award

HARWICH – Former selectman Dana DeCosta was honored by the town’s Democratic Town Committee on Saturday with the James M. Noonan Community Service Award. DeCosta has been volunteering here for well over 30 years.

 “Some people collect stamps. Some people collect baseball cards. Dana collects ways to give back,” said Deb DeCosta, his wife of 48 years. “This man simply doesn’t know how not to volunteer.”

 He served for six years on the board of selectmen and for 23 years on the town’s finance committee. He also serves on the board of directors of the Association of Town Finance Committees, a statewide organization.

 The presentation was initially scheduled to be made on President’s Day, Feb. 16, but the winter blizzard interceded. The DeCostas had driven up from Florida for the award presentation, only to learn the event had been cancelled.

In her introduction to the presentation, Deb DeCosta (former advertising manager at The Chronicle) introduced Dana as “the sign guy.” 

 “If a candidate needed signs placed around town, Dana was on it,” she said. “He didn’t do it for attention or recognition. He did it because he believed in civic engagement, local democracy and helping candidates who cared about this community.”

Dana started out on the parks and beach commission and recreation and youth commission in 1989. Along with his terms on the board of selectmen finance committee, he was the chair of the community center study committee and the pool study committee for the center.

 “Deb and I have been supporting each other for over 50 years. She has just as long a list of accomplishments as I do, including the Mabel Canto Award,” he said.

DeCosta thanked fellow selectman, business colleague and friend Peter Hughes for working with him. Hughes is the chair of the town’s Republican Town Committee.

 “Through all the things I have done here in Harwich to earn this award, Peter Hughes has been at my side,” DeCosta said, also acknowledging Hughes’ appointment to the town’s Wall of Fame in May. 

 “When you work on committees, one of the first things you learn is how to work with others. Few things are done by one person,” DeCosta said. 

 “I’m proud that the only time since Proposition 2½ began in 1981 that Harwich did not raise taxes is when in the 1990s, as a selectman, I led the charge through the budget process to make it happen. It’s the one and only year taxes have not been raised,” DeCosta said. 

He praised the commitment to community made by former selectman James Noonan, citing Noonan’s sponsorship of the human services article that each year provides approximately $80,000 to support the town's neediest residents.

 “I am exceptionally proud to win this award, and I hope the committee will continue to give this service award to future deserving citizens in honor of James M. Noonan" said DeCosta.

 DeCosta received certificates of appreciation for his service from Congressman Bill Keating, D-Bourne, and state Auditor Diana DiZoglio.