HARWICH — Local resident Ann Marie Ellis has been named the town’s next finance director and town accountant. The selectmen affirmed the appointment this week, praising Ellis’ two decades of municipal and professional experience. “I’m pleased to present my recommendation of Ann Marie Ellis. She has an exceptional resume backed up by professional and academic experience. She’s another good person who knows what...

HARWICH -The Barnstable County Commissioners have settled the budget funding dispute with the Assembly of Delegates over staffing for the county’s information technology department. That’s good news for the town of Harwich, which contracts with the county for computer support. The commission did not get all the funds it was seeking in its budget proposal, but the $97,457 the commission voted in a supplemental ...

HARWICH - There will be a few changes along Main Street in Harwich Center, as the owner of the Main Street Marketplace and Royal Smoke Shop is looking to add two apartments to each of the buildings. Saumil Patel, who previously built a convenience store and two apartments at the former gas station site at 711 Main St., was before the historic district and historical commission on June 22 seeking certificates o...

Summer’s here. The harbors are filled with boats, sun worshipers are on the beaches, clam rolls are back on the menu, and The Cape Cod Chronicle’s “Helping Neighbors” campaign has returned. This is the sixth summer that The Chronicle has held its fundraising drive for the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. Since 2017, summer visitors and seasonal residents have joined locals in contributing more than $420,000 to hel...

HARWICH – The town’s extensive review of the Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project got underway with the filing of permit requests with the conservation commission. The project, a partnership between the town of Harwich and Harwich Conservation Trust, seeks eco-restoration and nitrogen mitigation of fallow cranberry bogs. The commission received its first presentation of the project on June 15. Commission members...

HARWICH — For almost every town building project, there are a few people eagerly waiting for the job to be completed. But in this case, hundreds of constituents are literally peering through the fence every day looking for signs that the work is finished. It’s the new playground behind Harwich Elementary School, and despite pandemic-related setbacks and other challenges, it’s nearly complete. “Our kids have...

There was a sense this week that the Barnstable County Commissioners and the Assembly of Delegates would like to resolve their budget differences before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, when contracts for information technology services with Harwich and Bourne are slated to begin. Despite pleas from assembly representatives from the two towns, as of early this week the situation has yet to be resolv...

HARWICH — There’s no doubt that the Community Preservation Committee has advanced a number of important projects in Harwich, including major open space purchases, affordable housing initiatives, recreational improvements and historic preservation efforts. But many citizens don’t know that these projects were funded under the Community Preservation Act without the use of town budget funds, committee members said. ...

HARWICH – The water/wastewater commission last week approved the eminent domain taking of five parcels of land totaling 7.76 acres to add to wellhead protection area surrounding the town’s main public water supply well field. The parcels are located between Chatham Road and Route 39 and surround the water department’s seven wells located near its headquarters along Chatham Road. Town meeting approved the ac...

HARWICH – The town received two proposals for purchase of the former fire station property and surrounding parcels at 203 Bank St. As expected, a joint proposal was filed by the Harwich Conservation Trust and Harwich Fire Association, and Leo Cakounes, trustee of Olga Realty Trust, also submitted a proposal. The HCT-HFA proposal proposes a $300,000 purchase price, while the Cakounes proposal came in at $330,00...

HARWICH – The town has had a spate of resignations from employees in leadership roles in recent months. Building Commissioner Robert Piccirilli, who held the position for less than six months, became the latest to resign on June 17. More than half a dozen department head or top leadership positions are currently vacant. Piccirilli reportedly left to take another position elsewhere. Details were not availabl...

HARWICH – Selectmen on Monday night affirmed the police department’s emergency powers, authorizing Police Chief David Guillemette to close any town beach in an emergency or serious public safety threat. Beachfront property owners and commercial interests have raised issues about late-night parties, underage drinking, noise, bonfires and violent confrontations on the beaches, especially over the Fourth of July ...