Neil Murphy Is Harwich’s New Recreation Director

 HARWICH – The select board has affirmed the recommendation of Town Administrator Jay McGrail to appoint Neil Murphy as the town’s new recreation director. 

 McGrail told the board Murphy has more than 25 years of experience in recreation, athletics and community programming. Most recently, McGrail said, Murphy served as director of athletics for the Sandwich Public Schools from 2013 to 2023.

While serving in Sandwich, Murphy handled budgets, facilities, staffing, and long-range planning for the athletic program, according to McGrail.

Prior to taking the Sandwich position, Murphy worked in athletic administration at Harvard University, including as assistant director of athletics and assistant director of the Harvard Varsity Club, managing multi-million dollar budgets and coordinating major events, said McGrail. 

Over the past few years Murphy ran his own finish carpentry business on Cape Cod, an experience Murphy said reminded him how much he enjoys community-facing public service work, said McGrail.

Murphy has a master of education degree from Springfield College and a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University. 

 “My recommendation comes down mainly to his experience working with unionized personnel and his municipal background,” said McGrail. “Both will serve the department well. His background in personnel supervision, budgets, facilities, events, and community engagement fits the role closely.”

McGrail thanked Assistant Town Administrator James Mulcahy for stepping up over the past few months as interim recreation director. He said Mulcahy kept the department running smoothly.

Murphy will replace Eric Beebe, who resigned as recreation director in March after serving the department for 18 years. According to then-select board chair Donald Howell, a mutual separation agreement prevented the public disclosure of the reasons for Beebe’s departure.

 Jen Andersen was hired as a program specialist in the department in March, four days before Beebe left. She had eight years’ experience as a recreation director in Grafton. Ten days into the job, Andersen was appointed acting recreation director. But on May 14 she received a termination notice. Andersen described the letter as “vague.” Officials have not explained the reason for her termination or for Beebe’s departure.

 John Losey, a former program specialist in the department, stepped in to oversee the department. Mulcahy was named interim director. Losey also applied for the director position. McGrail said he plans to name Losey the assistant director of the department.

During the board’s discussion, select board member Mark Kelleher noted the departure of the Orleans recreation director, who had been discussing shared programming with Brewster. With the declining population of kids in town, he recommended Murphy also look at shared programming with other towns. 

Howell said there is a Lower Cape recreation director group that Harwich has not utilized. He recommended that Murphy become active in the group.

 “I look forward to being part of it,” Murphy said.

Murphy received a unanimous affirmation from the board. He was scheduled to start work last Monday at an annual salary starting at $112,000, according to McGrail.