Harwich Water Board Approves $45,500 Generator Contract, Defers Rate Increase

HARWICH — June 2, 2026 — Harwich water commissioners reorganize, defer rate increase, and flag abatement policy overhaul. The Board of Water and Wastewater Commissioners elected Bob Young as chair, Noreen as vice chair, and Ann as clerk at its June 2 meeting, then voted unanimously to approve a $45,500 generator replacement contract with FM Generator Company following competitive bidding. Consulting engineer Dan presented a five-year rate analysis showing current rates will fund the fiscal year 2027 operating budget — bolstered by roughly $250,000 in unexpected debt-service savings tied to a shift in the town's Route 28 borrowing schedule — making a rate increase unnecessary this year, though a $5 base rate increase is anticipated for FY28 as project debt lands fully on the budget. The board continued an abatement request from 8 Harold Street, where a burst pipe during the February blizzard generated a bill of approximately $1,060 while the owner reported $100,000 in property damage, pending disclosure of any insurance claim. Commissioners reached consensus to pursue a revised disaster rate policy offering a flat 50 percent consumption abatement and excluding outdoor spigots and showers, with proposed regulatory language and a revised application form to come back at the June 16 meeting. The board also raised concerns that a $29,000 joint-facility feasibility study approved the prior evening by the Select Board — contracting Weston and Samson to assess a possible shared DPW and Water Department building — did not reflect the water department's operational needs in its scope.