Harwich Select Board Suspends Ember Pizza Wine License for One Day in September

HARWICH — June 8, 2026 — Harwich Select Board votes 4-1 to suspend Ember Pizza's wine-and-malt license for one day this September. The board accepted Town Administrator Jay McGrail's finding from a May 20 show cause hearing that Ember Pizza Inc., doing business as Ember at 600 Route 28, closed without required board approval between approximately January 6 and March 1, 2026, in violation of town liquor license regulations. Town Counsel Greg Corbo cited Valentine v. Rent Control Board of Cambridge to rebuff a recusal motion against McGrail, who had photographed a parking-lot sign and testified at the hearing. After Ember's attorney agreed the business would not appeal, the board settled on a September 16 wine-and-malt suspension — the only license in effect during the infraction period. In other action, the board unanimously promoted Officer Derek Dutra, a 23-year department veteran, to sergeant; transferred $241,615 from the cell tower fund to the affordable housing trust; and elected Peter Piekarski as its new chair, Mark Kelleher as vice chair, and Jeff Handler as clerk.