Harwich Charter Commission Backs Mandated Fall Town Meeting, Code of Conduct Rule

HARWICH — January 22, 2026 — Harwich Charter Commission reaches working consensus on mandated fall town meeting and new conduct requirements. The commission, meeting January 22 at Harwich Town Hall, agreed without a formal vote to pursue charter language requiring two annual town meetings — a spring session anchored to the operating and capital budget, and a fall session in the first week of October open to planning, zoning, and other business — reverting roughly to the town's 1987 charter structure. Members also reached consensus that the Select Board shall be required by charter to create and maintain a committee handbook including a code of conduct for both elected and appointed officials, reviewed at least once every five years. A third question — whether to add explicit language requiring the town administrator to "facilitate reasonable access to appropriate staff and information" for boards, committees, and commissions upon request — generated the most debate and was deferred, with members saying they hope to consult incoming Town Administrator McGrael and the acting town administrator before settling language. The commission is awaiting a redlined draft of proposed changes from its consultants before moving to binding votes.