Harwich Housing Committee Elects Clerk, Defers Chair Vote After Tie

HARWICH — April 14, 2026 — Harwich Housing Committee appoints clerk unanimously but deadlocks on chair election. The four-member committee voted unanimously April 14 to seat Ellen Collins as clerk, but a tied two-to-two vote on the chair position — with member Matt Hemmion the declared candidate — left leadership unresolved until the May 12 meeting. Brendan Lowney of the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust informed the committee that Michael McCaskill has become the trust's new chair as the town administrator's appointed designee, and urged the committee to present a written work plan to the Select Board rather than asking the board for direction. Member Anthony DeMauro pressed for a structured agenda process with defined outcomes, saying the committee needs to decide whether an item is headed to the Select Board or to a town meeting warrant — "not just coffee shop talk." The committee agreed to pursue a workforce housing data request from town HR after the current town meeting cycle concludes, coordinating with town housing coordinator Brianna on survey questions covering municipal employees by department.