Harwich Charter Commission Faces Pushback on Capital Plan Two-Thirds Vote Proposal

HARWICH — June 18, 2026 — Harwich Charter Commission hears sharp criticism of proposed capital plan voting rules at 51st public session. At the June 18 meeting, Capital Outlay Committee Chair Martha Donovan warned that draft charter language in sections 9.5.2 through 9.6.7 would require as many as 32 separate town meeting votes to approve capital spending in a given year and called the provisions "worse than what was in there in the May meeting," adding that she would actively oppose the charter at the ballot if the language is not revised. Commission member John Chorey responded that six items totaling $1.5 million appeared in year-one capital funding this year without ever having been on the five-year plan, and said the two-thirds vote requirement is meant to ensure public accountability for unplanned spending. The commission also reached consensus on renaming the town administrator position to town manager — a change supported by Town Administrator Jay McGrail — and is weighing a proposed five-member elected compliance commission that Select Board member Jeff Handler called "a solution for a problem that truly doesn't exist." The revised charter is targeted for the May 2027 town ballot, with a draft report due to the Attorney General's Office in September 2026.