Harwich Annual Elections Are On Tuesday

 HARWICH – Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 20 to elect two new members to the select board and a new member of the Monomoy Regional School Committee. The annual ballot also contains several questions, including three debt exclusions.  

The annual election will be held in the community center gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 With select board members Julie Kavanagh and Michael MacAskill deciding not to seek re-election, there are three candidates seeking the two three-year terms on the board: Anita Doucette, former longtime town clerk; Mark Kelleher, a member of the finance committee; and Kathryn McManus, a leadership coach (see related story, page 7).

 Three candidates are seeking the one seat on the Mononoy Regional School Committee. Harwich’s representative to the regional committee, Tina Games, chose not to seek re-election to another term. The candidates running are Ryan Edwards, Bretten Fortin and Ann Marie Varella (see related story, page 7).

 There is also a race for one seat on the water/wastewater commission. Incumbent Judith Underwood is being challenged by Ann Frachette. 

 There are six ballot questions. The big-ticket item is excluding $35 million to sewer the Great Sand Lakes section of town from the limits of Proposition 2½. Although opposed by the select board, the measure was approved by town meeting last week. The opportunity for a zero to 2 percent loan from the State Revolving Fund and a 25 percent reduction in the total from the Cape and Islands Water Protection Fund were strong selling points among voters.

Voters will be asked to approve a $9,007,030 debt exclusion for the Monomoy Regional Middle School siding and window reconstruction project, which town meeting also endorsed. The project is estimated to cost $11.5 million, and $2.5 million was approved for the work a year ago. Harwich’s assessment for the project would be $6,918.300. 

The third debt exclusion seeks $2.4 million to purchase a new fire truck and two new ambulances for the fire department. 

There is a ballot question which seeks to establish a nine-member charter commission to study and consider revisions to the town’s home rule charter, initially established in 1987. Should the question be approved,  the nine-member commission, and elective body, would be put in place for an 18-month period. There are nine candidates on the ballot who would make up the commission’s membership. The other charter-related ballot question seeks voter confirmation of several amendments to the town charter that were approved in the annual town meeting in 2024.

 The non-binding advisory question on the ballot asks voters to direct local government officials to communicate with state officials about the need to ensure laws are enforced requiring Holtec, owners of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, to immediately cease the discharge of radioactively and chemically contaminated industrial wastewater from the plant in Plymouth.