Harwich COA Approves Minutes, Sets Rides to Town Meeting and Statehouse Trip

HARWICH — April 15, 2026 — Harwich Council on Aging maps out transportation services, outreach strategy, and tech help expansion. The board approved its March 18 minutes and confirmed rides to Town Meeting on May 4 and 5, with service limited to a non-wheelchair-accessible van pending completion of state-mandated CCRTA training by a newly hired part-time driver expected to be fully active by May 1. Director Julie reported the COA needs five additional medical volunteer drivers — a figure the board called substantial — and announced a first-ever trip to the May 6 Older Adult Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House, with seats for 12 participants. Social media coordinator Rosa presented a year-long Facebook analytics report showing 1,494 messaging conversations and urged board members to comment on and share COA posts to drive algorithmic reach. The board also endorsed a revived weekly technology help program with Cape Cod Regional Technical School students, a new "beginner and advanced beginner" class structure with a newly identified vendor, and summer sessions aimed at adult children of Harwich seniors visiting during vacation season. A joint tour of the community center basement confirmed no usable program space exists there, with multiple town departments' storage filling the area entirely.