Harwich Water Board Reorganizes, Sends Charter Language to Commission for Review

HARWICH — March 17, 2026 — Harwich Water and Wastewater Commission reorganizes leadership and clears charter language for state review. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to install Bob Young as chair, replacing outgoing chair Noreen Doyle, who moved to vice chair; Judith Underwood was elected clerk. Newly hired Town Administrator Jay McGrath introduced himself, saying water and wastewater is "the biggest project this town's ever going to see" and pledging close collaboration with Superintendent Jason Long. The board also voted unanimously to send revised charter language to the Charter Commission, including a new provision requiring the town finance director to keep the water and wastewater superintendent informed of entries affecting the enterprise funds — a change commissioners said is urgently needed after a difficult year of after-the-fact financial disclosures. Long reported receipt of a long-awaited MassDOT permit for Route 28 east water main work, with bidding expected within 30 days and construction no earlier than September, and warned that a May 1 water restriction appears virtually certain as the town's observation well sits roughly one foot above the drought threshold at a Level 2 significant drought designation.