Select Board Disbands Housing Committee, 4-1

Select Board · Meeting of October 5, 2026

Harwich Select Board disbands its Housing Committee in a 4-1 vote after years of vacancies and no funding source for attainable housing. Member Art Bowden, the panel's lone active volunteer, said he published a public plea for new members and "apparently no one has answered the call." Former chair Elizabeth Harder told the board the committee had been sidelined from presenting directly to selectmen for years. Separately, Finance Director Jen presented a 16-year, 12-fund forensic review finding $338,785 in unauthorized Recreation and Youth fund overspending and $2.3 million in wages paid from revolving accounts since 2010, including $348,138 from a Community Center weight-room fund whose bylaw allows only equipment purchases.

The board also voted unanimously to authorize a roughly $200,000 Green Communities grant application, with a $50,000 town match, for town hall energy upgrades.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 4,084 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of October 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.