Harwich Charter Commission Hires Wellesley Law Firm to Review Draft Charter

HARWICH -- June 25, 2026, Harwich Charter Commission unanimously hires outside legal counsel and advances draft charter toward September deadline. The commission voted at its June 25 meeting to retain Wellesley-based Harrington Heath, capped at $15,000, to review the draft charter for compliance with Massachusetts General Law; firm partner Christopher Brown has worked on 17 charter processes statewide. Members reached a 4-to-3 informal consensus to mandate a spring and fall town meeting in the new charter, over objections from two members who said the requirement adds burden without sufficient benefit. A lengthy debate on the charter compliance structure produced a working proposal: an elected five-member compliance commission would vet alleged violations as a clearinghouse, and a three-person panel of the town clerk, town moderator, and one commission designee would conduct any formal hearing. The commission also accepted the resignation of member Paul Dome and is accepting applications to fill the vacancy at charter.commission.harwich-mass.gov, with a preliminary charter draft due to the state in September.