Handler Calls For Town’s Assembly Delegate To Step Down

HARWICH – The Home Rule petition narrowly approved by the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates seeking to establish a real estate transfer tax has the town’s representative to the assembly in hot water.

Representative Elizabeth Harder was one of the authors of the petition, and the lack of local participation in the initiative has one member of the select boards calling for her immediate resignation from the assembly.

After taking Harder to task for her vote March 9, the select board did not allow her to speak during this Monday’s meeting as they discussed a letter to the state Legislature citing vehement opposition to the petition, which was approved by the assembly by a 51 percent margin. 

Select Board Chair Donald Howell said that since the assembly of delegates had discussed the initiative on its own, without board input, Harder would not be allowed to participate in the discussion. Howell said he did not want a debate between Harder and board members. 

“We have our position and they have theirs, and I don’t remember them inviting us to partake in their discussion,” Howell said. “We’re not going to have a rebuttal for everyone who speaks.”

When Harder rose to speak, she was shut down by Howell.

“You are not recognized for public comment,” he said. “You had many shots last week. You are not recognized.”

“You said you are looking for public comment,” Harder replied. “You did not listen to a word I spoke last week.”

“You are out of order,” responded Howell.

 “This attack does nothing but denigrate me and the assembly of delegates,” said Harder.

 “You denigrated the town, now please sit down,” Howell shot back.

Board member Jeffrey Handler wanted to go further. 

“I request right now that Miss Harder step down from the assembly of delegates effective immediately, and I would hope this board does not entertain any reappointments,” he said. “Her behavior is obnoxious and this is not who I think the public wants to represent this community going forward.” 

 “I understand you don’t like me, you’ve made that clear,” said Harder. “I was not appointed by you, I was voted by the town. If they want me out, they can vote me out. You tell me to move on, to resign, you show absolutely no respect for me or the assembly, absolutely none. You can’t make me step down.” 

 Howell said the lack of respect is reciprocal and the assembly has shown no respect for the select board.

In the letter, the board wrote that there was an absence of any proper process leading to the action and a lack of clarity as to how it might work and who it might benefit. It cites a lack of discussion with the select board and the community and asserts that the proposal should have been brought to town meeting. 

The board claimed that neither it nor the public was allowed to weigh in on the petition, which could provide a tax of between 0.5 to 4 percent on the transfer of properties exceeding $1 million. The board asserted that the initiative is legally defective and has no clearly defined objectives and mechanism.  

 The board voted 5-0 to approve the letter to be sent to the Senate president and speaker of the house conveying the board’s opposition to the petition.

The board allowed other residents to speak. Teresa Johnson took issue with the petition, saying that taxpayers don’t want a transfer tax, even though the town’s delegate voted for it.

“Our delegate did not hold any public input meetings, nor was it discussed with the select board,” she said. “We need a Harwich delegate that listens to what the Harwich taxpayers want, and votes that way. We certainly don’t want more taxes. Homes are our biggest asset in life.”

Johnson said she and her husband have to work two and three jobs to raise their family here, and when they decide to downsize they’ll need as much equity as possible. She said they already pay 3 percent in taxes for affordable housing and they don’t want to pay as much as another 4 percent. 

“Please, no more taxes,” said Johnson.