HARWICH — Assistant Town Administrator Evan N. Melillo has not survived his extended probationary period. Town Administrator Christopher Clark said this week he made the decision to terminate the assistant town administrator's employment. Melillo finished his last day on the job on Friday. On Monday former longtime Yarmouth town administrator Bob Lawton was back in town hall working as interim assistant town a...

HARWICH — With 52 percent of Harwich residents over 60 years of age, the work of the council on aging would be daunting without the commitment of approximately 100 volunteers who help provide services to seniors. Last Thursday the COA held a luncheon at Jake Rooney's restaurant to honor the volunteers. The COA also recognized three of the participants as Volunteers of the Year, presenting the Laurel Award to S...

In this country we have often-strange priorities when it comes to food and feeding the hungry. In 2010, $161 billion worth of food was wasted and ended up in landfills, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This represents 30 to 40 percent of all the food produced. And in 2017, people spent over $66 billion on dieting and weight loss products. At the same time, many of us can’t conceive of what i...

HARWICH — Without a resolution with EverSource on costs associated with providing additional electric infrastructure to Cranberry Valley Golf Course, the town may have to delay implementing plans for a solar array at the new golf cart barn and the switch from gas to electric golf carts. “Everything is dictated by EverSource,” Golf Director Roman Greer told members of the golf committee in a session two weeks a...

HARWICH — The town's Green Communities designation is paying off. The Baker-Polito Administration on Thursday announced that Harwich was among 30 municipalities across the state designated as Green Communities. The town received a $152,910 grant, part of $4,866,648 in grants awarded by the administration to recognized communities' commitment to reduce energy consumption and contribute to a healthier environmen...

HARWICH — Sidewalk conditions have become a major issue here, with initiatives underway to add sidewalks and improve others in several areas in town, including in and around Harwich Center, Harwich Port to Saquatucket Harbor and along Bank Street to connect the town center with Harwich Port. Now a new initiative is underway to improve sidewalks around the elementary school. Principal Mary Oldach is seeking a S...

HARWICH — Because dollars talk, it is safe to say wastewater management expenses were the main topic bantered about in town in 2018. Voters in the annual town meeting approved $24,775,000 for the construction of sewers in East Harwich, and the town is working closely with Dennis and Yarmouth to develop a tri-town sewage treatment plant. There have been a number of battles and accomplishments in the communit...

HARWICH — The sound of music will come under scrutiny from the board of selectmen as they consider adjustments to the town's noise bylaw, including removing commercial districts, or liquor establishments, from the measure. Noise from music coming from liquor establishments in Harwich Port and filtering into residential neighborhoods has become a growing concern, especially with the increase in outdoors venues,...

HARWICH — There was strong support for roadway improvements along Route 6 from approximately 20 people who attended a Cape Cod Commission hearing last week focusing on ramp and shoulder improvements along the state highway. The hearing sought public input on ramp and shoulder needs from the canal to the Orleans Rotary. Steven Tupper transportation program manager for the commission explained a planning study i...

HARWICH — The major capital project facing the town in the coming year is a projected $5,560,471 Lower County Road reconstruction to be funded solely by the town. The project could be eligible for the state/federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), to qualify the road layout would have to be widened, which officials say will compromise community character. Department of Public Works Director Lincoln...

HARWICH — There was consensus among the Harwich Center initiative committee last week that input is needed from stakeholders – property owners – in shaping a direction for improving the vitality of the village. Acting committee chairman Paul Doane told the committee his mother years ago offered a program, including a slide show of the village in the 1950s, '60s and '80s . At the time, he said, the center was u...

HARWICH — A number of building permit fees will be increased as of the beginning of February. The increased building fees had drawn a lot of debate among selectmen when they were first considered in August. Building Commissioner Raymond Chesley returned to the board last week and documented the need for a 57 percent increase. “There is a misnomer the revenue the town receives covers the cost of the building de...