Harwich Select Board Closes Eight Labor Contracts, Removes Nine Committee Members

HARWICH — April 13, 2026 — Harwich Select Board closes all eight open labor contracts, removes nine committee members in a single night. The board returned from executive session Monday to announce the closure of every labor contract outstanding since the start of fiscal year 2025, covering units including the Harwich Employees Association and the New England Police Benevolent Association Local 103. A lengthy debate over a proposed $11.8 million Monomoy Regional High School roof replacement — eligible for up to $3.9 million in Massachusetts School Building Authority grants — ended without a vote, but Member Jeff Handler said he was "option C — a no on the whole project" because Harwich's written request for a meeting with Chatham on the regional funding formula had gone unacknowledged for roughly two months: "By ignoring the Select Board, you're not just ignoring the Select Board — you're ignoring our voters." Building committee co-chair Peter Troy, a Chatham resident, said the lack of response was "embarrassing" and pledged to press his selectmen. The board then unanimously removed four unsworn committee members from the Waterways, Golf, Bikeways, and Recreation Youth committees, unanimously removed one Local Planning Committee member for conflict-of-interest noncompliance, and voted 4-1 to remove five additional members across multiple committees for two-year conflict-of-interest failures, while voting 3-2 to grant two February appointees a grace period through May 11.