MassVoter.com← HarwichMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Board
Harwich Select Board
How the Harwich Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Same five members after the May 19, 2026 town election, when Jeffrey Handler and Donald Howell were re-elected without opposition. On June 8, 2026 the board chose Peter Piekarski as Chair, Mark Kelleher as Vice Chair and Jeffrey Handler as Clerk (each 5-0-0), as the town’s Select Board page also shows. Covers 10 meetings so far, June 8 to September 21, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetVote Transparency Score
Harwich Select Board: 6 out of 10 · Partly open
How easy Harwich makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 4, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for most meetings, but some are missing.Part points: 1/2
- Each vote namedThe minutes name members who vote no.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes usually go up within a few weeks.Full points: 2/2
- Past years onlineSelect Board minutes from 2012 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe minutes are scanned images, so they can’t be searched or copied.No points: 0/1
- Member photosThe town’s website does not show the members’ photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
- Minutes posted (+1): Post approved minutes for every meeting on the town website. Don’t require a sign-in to view them.
- Each vote named (+1): On any vote that isn’t unanimous, write how each member voted. For example: “Motion passed 3–2. Yes: Smith, Jones, Lee. No: Brown, Silva.” A roll call on split votes is the simplest way to do this.
- Readable text (+1): Save minutes straight from Word or Google Docs as a PDF instead of printing and scanning them. If a scan is needed, turn on the scanner’s “searchable PDF” or text-recognition setting.
- Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
Board years
Coming up
- Tue, Oct 13Show Cause Hearing - The Port →
- Wed, Oct 14Select Board Interview Committee Meeting →
- Thu, Oct 15Show Cause Hearing - Perks →
- Thu, Oct 15Show Cause Hearing - Noble House →
From the agendas Harwich posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
What Town Meeting decided
In Harwich, Town Meeting — not the Select Board — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.
Annual Town Meeting · May 4, 2026 62 votes: 47 passed, 1 passed as amended, 11 failed, 3 indefinitely postponed
Sessions: May 4 and 5, 2026
- Art. 1 Choose various Town officers and committees Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 350, No: 6”
- Art. 2 Hear reports of Town officers and committees for 2025 Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 373, No: 8”
- Art. 3 Set salaries of elected officials for FY2027 Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 4 Town operating budget for FY2027: appropriate $51,763,298 Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 365, No: 50”
- Art. 5 Monomoy Regional School District assessment for FY2027: raise $33,104,137 Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 389, No: 42”
- Art. 6 Approve $11,801,239 Monomoy Regional School District borrowing for Middle School roof Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 396, No: 40”
- Art. 7 Transfer $47,139 from Educational Cable Access Fund for high school TV studio equipment Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 8 Transfer $137,954 from Educational Cable Access Fund for fiber and press box PA system Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Cape Cod Regional Technical High School assessment for FY2027: raise $1,828,391 Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 10 Water Department operating budget for FY2027: $5,442,329 Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 11 Wastewater Department operating budget for FY2027 Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 12 Transfer $890,000 from free cash for miscellaneous appropriations Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 13 Transfer $20,000 for Chase Library and Harwich Port Library Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 14 Pay $16,205.20 in prior-year unpaid bills Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 15 Authorize Select Board to evaluate possible acquisition of the former Marceline Salvage Yard (about 29 acres) Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 283, No: 120”
- Art. 16 Adopt the FY2027–FY2031 Capital Outlay Plan Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 17 Appropriate $700,000 for road maintenance and improvements Passed “The motion carried with the necessary 2/3 majority. · Yes: 337, No: 37”
- Art. 18 Appropriate $577,500 for a new ambulance Passed “the Moderator ruled the vote received the necessary 2/3 majority and carried.”
- Art. 19 Appropriate $425,000 for a new Harbormaster boat replacing two boats Passed “The motion carried with the necessary 2/3 majority. · Yes: 285, No: 22”
- Art. 20 Appropriate $1,000,000 for design of a new DPW facility and mechanical workshop Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 159, No: 172”
- Art. 21 Reappropriate $1,109,721.33 of unspent capital balances to FY2027 capital requests Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 22 Transfer $320,000 from Waterways Fund for capital projects Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 23 Transfer $915,369.53 from water retained earnings for well, treatment plant and equipment Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 24 Capital projects: transfer $2,495,410 from free cash Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 231, No: 55”
- Art. 25 Transfer $45,000 from PEG fund for Harwich Channel remote meeting cart Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 26 Petition: add a Scenic Roads section to the General Bylaws Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 122, No: 239”
- Art. 27 Adopt an updated Local Comprehensive Plan Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 304, No: 29”
- Art. 28 Petition: bar fee waivers, tax reductions or other incentives for future development projects Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 112, No: 211”
- Art. 29 Adopt a bylaw to protect Town funds and document development impacts Indefinitely postponed “The article was indefinitely postponed.”
- Art. 30 Transfer $5,000 for the Historic District Historic Commission preservation award Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 31 Ask the Legislature for a special act restricting fertilizer application in Harwich Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 173, No: 130”
- Art. 32 Home rule petition to restrict use of SGAR rodenticides Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 210, No: 57”
- Art. 33 Community Preservation: FY2027 budget and reserves Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 34 Community Preservation: $50,000 for committee administrative expenses Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 35 Community Preservation: $10,000 for Lower Cape Housing Institute Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 170, No: 76”
- Art. 36 Community Preservation: $650,000 for the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 213, No: 75”
- Art. 37 Community Preservation: $100,000 for Pennrose project at 0 Meetinghouse Road, Chatham Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 66, No: 212”
- Art. 38 Community Preservation: $100,000 for Pennrose project on Main Street, Chatham Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 52, No: 220”
- Art. 39 Community Preservation: $667,500 for West Harwich Baptist Church exterior renovation Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 265, No: 13”
- Art. 40 Community Preservation: $225,000 for Robbins Pond property acquisition Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 41 Community Preservation: $197,260 for fields irrigation project Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 42 Community Preservation: $35,793.50 for water quality equipment replacement Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 43 Community Preservation: $25,107.89 for shellfish lab updates Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 44 Community Preservation: $138,000 for Hinckley's Pond diagnostic assessment Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 45 Petition: add a Tree Preservation Bylaw to the General Bylaws Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 50, No: 200”
- Art. 46 Petition: Select Board oversight of tree removal in road setbacks instead of a Tree Warden Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 68, No: 166”
- Art. 47 Petition: amend Noise bylaw to regulate leaf blowers Failed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion did not carry.”
- Art. 48 Transfer $143,840.33 from PEG fund for Cape Cod Community Media Center Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried.”
- Art. 49 Supplement the Cultural Council (amended from $4,000 to $4,500) Passed as amended “The amended main motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 50 Petition: bar members of Town boards from serving on more than one board or committee Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 29, No: 190”
- Art. 51 Amend Affordable Housing Trust bylaw (Code Section 140) Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 52 Petition: recommend the Housing Trust prioritize assistance programs for certain groups Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 39, No: 173”
- Art. 53 Zoning: accessory dwelling unit rules (§325-14(T) and use table) Indefinitely postponed “The article was indefinitely postponed.”
- Art. 54 Zoning: special permit for single-family dwelling with accessory dwelling unit Indefinitely postponed “the article was indefinitely postponed.”
- Art. 55 Zoning: height and bulk rules for multifamily (§325-16 Table 3) Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 74, No: 17”
- Art. 56 Petition: prohibit multifamily special permits in low and medium density residential districts Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 66, No: 113”
- Art. 57 Zoning: remove §325-54(A)(5)(e) on replacing nonconforming structures Passed “The motion carried with the necessary 2/3 majority. · Yes: 112, No: 9”
- Art. 58 Zoning: amend §325-20 on stories for human use or occupation Passed “The motion carried with the necessary 2/3 majority. · Yes: 184, No: 9”
- Art. 59 Acquire a permanent easement for general municipal purposes Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried.”
- Art. 60 Set spending limits for revolving funds Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 61 Authorize lease purchase agreements for town equipment in the FY2027 budget Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 62 Herring fisheries Passed “The vote was taken by voice vote. The motion carried.”
Source: Town Clerk's results of the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting (full warrant).
Annual Town Meeting · May 5, 2025 57 votes: 49 passed, 1 passed as amended, 3 failed, 2 indefinitely postponed, 2 advisory
Sessions: May 5 and 6, 2025
- Art. 1 Choose various Town officers and committees Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 2 Hear reports of Town officers and committees for 2024 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 3 Set salaries of elected officials for FY2026 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 4 Town operating budget for FY2026: appropriate $48,127,931 Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 5 Monomoy Regional School District assessment for FY2026: raise $31,142,031 Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 6 Cape Cod Regional Technical High School assessment for FY2026: raise $2,116,618 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Water Department operating budget for FY2026: $4,968,049 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 8 Wastewater Department operating budget for FY2026: $708,825 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Approve $9,007,030 Monomoy Regional School District debt for Middle School siding and windows Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 10 Authorize lease purchase agreements for town equipment in the FY2026 budget Passed “the motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 11 Transfer $150,486.75 from PEG Access fund for Cape Cod Community Media Center Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 12 Petition: $125,000 from free cash for the Home Rule Charter Commission Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 188, No: 177”
- Art. 13 Adopt the FY2026–FY2030 Capital Outlay Plan Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 14 Capital projects: $101,000 from Cable PEG and Waterways funds Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 15 Capital projects: transfer $4,576,149 from free cash Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 16 Borrow $2,500,000 for Cranberry Valley Golf Course irrigation upgrade Passed “the Moderator ruled the vote received the necessary 2/3 majority and passed.”
- Art. 17 Transfer $100,000 from water retained earnings for pipe upgrades Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 18 Transfer $150,000 from wastewater retained earnings for capital items Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 19 Borrow $2,400,000 for a fire engine and two ambulances Passed “the Moderator ruled the vote received the necessary 2/3 majority and passed.”
- Art. 20 Borrow $35,000,000 for Phase 8 of the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Passed “The motion carried. · Yes: 288, No: 30”
- Art. 21 Accept state Clean Water revolving funds for Queen Anne Road sewer construction Indefinitely postponed “The article was indefinitely postponed.”
- Art. 22 Community Preservation: allocate additional prior-year funds to the three reserves Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 23 Community Preservation: FY2026 budget and reserves Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 24 Community Preservation: $50,000 for committee administrative expenses Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 25 Community Preservation: $10,000 grant to Lower Cape Housing Institute Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 26 Community Preservation: $500,000 for the Affordable Housing Trust Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 27 Community Preservation: $120,000 grant for the Forward at the Rock project Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 28 Community Preservation: $37,015 for North Harwich gravestone preservation Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 29 Community Preservation: $500,000 to acquire a conservation restriction Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 30 Community Preservation: $168,000 for Herring River boardwalk Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 31 Community Preservation: $143,000 for Brooks Park infield replacement Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 32 Community Preservation: $33,000 for Sand Pond restroom Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 33 Community Preservation: $100,000 for Veterans Field shade project Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 34 Petition: hire a part-time tree warden under MGL Chapter 87 Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 35 Amend General Bylaw Chapter 125 (amended to remove only Article II) Passed as amended “The motion carried.”
- Art. 36 Petition: ask the Legislature for a special act restricting fertilizer application in Harwich Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 94, No: 134”
- Art. 37 Petition: ask the Legislature to let the Town adopt a Pesticide Reduction Bylaw Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 97, No: 112”
- Art. 38 Petition: add a Tree Preservation Bylaw to the General Bylaws Failed “The motion did not carry.”
- Art. 39 Non-binding resolution endorsing an annual Historic Preservation Award Advisory “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 40 Petition: rescind Select Board authority under 2022 Article 2 for 62 Route 28 (adopted as advisory only) Advisory “The motion carried.”
- Art. 41 Rescind $750,000 borrowing authorized under 2024 Article 19 Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 42 Transfer $600,000 from water retained earnings to paint Pleasant Lake Avenue water tank Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 43 Transfer $150,000 for engineering to find wastewater effluent recharge sites Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 44 Transfer $1,500,000 from affordable housing stabilization fund to the Housing Trust Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 45 Transfer $35,000 from free cash for electronic voting at Town Meeting Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 46 Pay $1,250.91 in prior-year unpaid bills Passed “the motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 47 Transfer $4,000 to supplement the Cultural Council Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 48 Transfer $20,000 for Chase Library and Harwich Port Library Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 49 Adopt MGL c.59 §5O affordable housing property tax exemption program Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 50 Accept cost-of-living increase to disabled veterans tax exemption (Clause 22I) Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 51 Reaffirm and extend tax abatement for National Guard and reservists (Clause 56) Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 52 Acquire road easements; transfer $200,000 from Chapter 90 funds Passed “the motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 53 Amend General Bylaw Chapter 8 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 54 Set spending limits for revolving funds Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 55 Amend General Bylaw Chapter 131 Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 56 Zoning: allow protected-use accessory dwelling units by right in RH-2 and RH-3 Indefinitely postponed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 57 Herring fisheries Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
Source: Town Clerk's results of the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting (full warrant).
Annual Town Meeting · May 6, 2024 53 votes: 48 passed, 4 failed, 1 indefinitely postponed
Sessions: May 6 and 7, 2024
- Art. 1 Choose various Town officers and committees Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 2 Hear reports of Town officers and committees for 2023 Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 3 Set salaries of elected officials for FY2025 (estimated $136,616) Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 4 Town operating budget for FY2025: appropriate $45,732,309 Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 5 Monomoy Regional School District assessment for FY2025: raise $29,876,982 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 6 Cape Cod Regional Technical High School assessment for FY2025: raise $2,204,820 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 7 Water Department operating budget for FY2025: $4,831,887 from water receipts Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 8 Wastewater Department operating budget for FY2025: $700,432 total Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 9 Approve $2,500,000 Monomoy Regional School District debt for Middle School exterior siding Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 10 Petition: adopt a Tree Preservation Bylaw (amended on the floor) Failed “The motion did not carry.”
- Art. 11 Transfer $158,273 from PEG Access fund for Cape Cod Community Media Center Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 12 Authorize lease purchase agreements for town equipment in the FY2025 budget Indefinitely postponed “The article was indefinitely postponed.”
- Art. 13 Petition: ask the Legislature to let the Town adopt a Pesticide Reduction Bylaw (amended on the floor) Failed “The motion did not carry.”
- Art. 14 Petition: ask the Legislature for a special act restricting fertilizer application in Harwich Failed “The motion did not carry.”
- Art. 15 Petition: resolution supporting a public swimming pool and facilities at the Community Center Failed “The motion did not carry. · Yes: 134, No: 166”
- Art. 16 Adopt the FY2025–FY2029 Capital Outlay Plan, with additions to FY2025 projects Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 17 Capital projects: transfer $47,863 from Cable PEG Fund and $240,000 from Waterways fund Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 18 Capital projects: transfer $2,892,000 from free cash Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 19 Water capital projects: appropriate $2,402,000 ($1,652,000 retained earnings, borrow $750,000) Passed “the motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 20 Wastewater capital projects: transfer $75,000 from retained earnings Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 21 Acquire a conservation restriction on 9.6 acres at 1039 Route 28 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 22 Acquire land; spend $1,505,001 from Sale of Land fund Passed “the motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 23 Amend 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 24 vote to allow a conservation restriction Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 24 Community Preservation: FY2025 budget and reserves Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 25 Community Preservation: $39,000 for beach AED equipment Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 26 Community Preservation: $250,000 for Cold Brook Trailhead and public access Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 27 Community Preservation: $48,700 for mobile soccer pitch project Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 28 Community Preservation: $500,000 for the Affordable Housing Trust Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 29 Community Preservation: $7,500 for Lower Cape Housing Institute Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 30 Community Preservation: $100,000 for Monomoy press box project Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 31 Community Preservation: $100,000 for Northwoods conservation restriction Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 32 Community Preservation: $400,000 for 203 Bank Street housing at the old fire station Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 33 Community Preservation: $150,000 for a conservation restriction (Red River Valley) Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 34 Community Preservation: $110,000 for senior softball field fence Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 35 Community Preservation: $23,000 for South Harwich cemetery gravestone project Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 36 Community Preservation: $37,000 for Veterans Field irrigation/electrical project Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 37 Repurpose $25,000 from 2013 Article 31 for Brooks Free Library work Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 38 Transfer $858,742 from wastewater retained earnings for FY2024 debt payments Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 39 Set spending limits for revolving funds Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 40 Transfer care and custody of 172 Queen Anne Road Passed “the Moderator ruled the vote received the necessary 2/3 majority and passed.”
- Art. 41 Transfer care and custody of 178 Queen Anne Road Passed “the Moderator ruled the vote received the necessary 2/3 majority and passed.”
- Art. 42 Transfer care and custody of 246 Queen Anne Road Passed “the Moderator ruled the vote received the necessary 2/3 majority and passed.”
- Art. 43 Amend General Bylaw §7-10 (composition of appointed Town agencies) Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 44 Amend General Bylaw Chapter 271 Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 45 Amend the Harwich Town Charter Passed “the motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 46 Petition: seek special legislation to amend Affordable Housing Trust bylaw to include attainable housing Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 47 Raise $20,000 for Chase Library and Harwich Port Library Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 48 Raise $50,000 for the Chamber of Commerce to promote the Town Passed “The motion carried.”
- Art. 49 Raise $4,000 to supplement the Cultural Council Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 50 Direct Moderator and Town Clerk to study electronic voting at Town Meeting Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 51 Amend 2023 Article 19 vote (West Harwich sewer main project) to cover other projects Passed “the motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 52 Transfer $100,000 for a sewer connection assistance grant program Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
- Art. 53 Herring fisheries Passed “The motion carried unanimously.”
Source: Town Clerk's results of the May 2024 Annual Town Meeting (full warrant).
Titles are short descriptions of each article from the official record; the quoted words are the Town Clerk’s. A vote at Town Meeting is not the final word on everything: some articles also need a ballot vote (such as a tax override) or the Attorney General’s approval (bylaws).
Members
ChairPeter PiekarskiChair · Elected townwide · at 10 of 10 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Vice-ChairMark KelleherVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 10 of 10 meetings
Anita DoucetteMember · Elected townwide · at 10 of 10 meetings
Jeffrey HandlerClerk · Elected townwide · at 10 of 10 meetings
Donald HowellMember · Elected townwide · at 9 of 10 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Attendance
29 full-board meetings so far this year, through September 21. Ties share a rank.
1Anita Doucette29 of 29 meetings Every meeting100%1Mark Kelleher29 of 29 meetings Every meeting100%3Jeffrey Handler28 of 29 meetings97%3Donald Howell28 of 29 meetings97%5Peter Piekarski27 of 29 meetings93%43 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Mark Kelleher25 of 25 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Michael MacAskill18 of 18 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%3Jeffrey Handler42 of 43 meetings98%4Anita Doucette24 of 25 meetings · served from May96%5Peter Piekarski40 of 43 meetings93%6Donald Howell39 of 43 meetings91%7Julie Kavanagh15 of 18 meetings · served until May83%48 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Jeffrey Handler47 of 48 meetings98%2Michael MacAskill45 of 48 meetings94%3Julie Kavanagh44 of 48 meetings92%4Peter Piekarski31 of 34 meetings · served from Apr91%5Donald Howell42 of 48 meetings88%47 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Larry Ballantine20 of 20 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%2Jeffrey Handler26 of 27 meetings · served from May96%3Michael MacAskill43 of 47 meetings91%4Mary Anderson34 of 39 meetings · served until Oct87%5Donald Howell40 of 47 meetings85%5Julie Kavanagh40 of 47 meetings85%38 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Larry Ballantine38 of 38 meetings Every meeting100%2Michael MacAskill37 of 38 meetings97%3Mary Anderson35 of 38 meetings92%3Julie Kavanagh35 of 38 meetings92%5Donald Howell30 of 38 meetings79%46 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Mary Anderson24 of 24 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Edward McManus22 of 22 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%1Julie Kavanagh12 of 12 meetings · served from Sep Every meeting100%4Donald Howell45 of 46 meetings98%4Michael MacAskill45 of 46 meetings98%6Larry Ballantine43 of 46 meetings93%7Stephen Ford9 of 22 meetings · served until May41%58 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1Edward McManus58 of 58 meetings Every meeting100%2Larry Ballantine56 of 58 meetings97%3Michael MacAskill55 of 58 meetings95%4Donald Howell54 of 58 meetings93%5Stephen Ford53 of 58 meetings91%44 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1Julie Kavanagh44 of 44 meetings Every meeting100%2Larry Ballantine43 of 44 meetings98%3Edward McManus22 of 23 meetings · served from May96%4Michael MacAskill42 of 44 meetings95%5Donald Howell41 of 44 meetings93%6Jannell Brown19 of 21 meetings · served until May90%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent. Not shown: 2019, because too many of that year’s meetings are missing from the posted minutes.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Harwich Select Board minutes (called the Board of Selectmen until 2023) from January 8, 2018 through September 21, 2026: 2018 to January 2025 from the town’s archived Agendas & Minutes page, and January 2025 on from its agendas and minutes portal (CivicClerk). The archive goes back to 2012; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Also loaded: joint meetings with other town boards and committees (only the Select Board’s own votes are counted). Not here: almost all of 2019 (the town has posted only seven sets of Select Board minutes for 2019, from February to April; minutes from January and from May to December 2019 are not online); minutes the town has not posted for about 151 other meeting dates since 2018 that have an agenda but no minutes (for example the Charter Commission joint meeting of November 6, 2025, the Monomoy School Committee joint meeting of December 11, 2025, January 26 and February 23, 2026, and the joint meeting with the Chatham Select Board on June 25, 2026); three executive-session minutes files that were posted in place of the regular minutes for March 5, March 19 and April 2, 2018 (the regular minutes for those dates are loaded); and every meeting after September 21, 2026. Most of Harwich’s minutes are scanned copies; MassVoter read them with text-recognition software and checked doubtful lines against the page images. Harwich’s minutes give the mover and seconder for each motion. Through 2019 they mostly say “the motion carried by a unanimous vote”; in 2020 and 2021 many votes are roll calls that list each member’s vote by name (“Mr. Howell - Yes”); since 2021 most votes give a count (“approved 5-0-0”, “Vote 4:0 in favor”), sometimes naming the members who voted no or abstained (“approved 4-1-0 (Handler opposed)”). When the minutes say a vote was unanimous, or the count matches the members present, we show every member present as voting yes; when they name the members who voted no or abstained, everyone else present as voting yes. Since 2025 the minutes often put one name in brackets after a split count (“approved 4-1-0 (Piekarski)”); we read that name as the member in the minority and say so in a note. Where the minutes give only a split count without names, a roll call leaves out a member who was there or names one who was not, or the count does not match the members present (for example “Vote 4:0” with five members present), we show the count only and add a note. Motions with no vote written down are shown with no count. Members who stepped aside (recused), had not yet arrived or had left are left out of that vote. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Sep 21Approve consent agenda item e, with letters of thanksMotion: To approve consent agenda item e, with letters of thanksPassed 4–0 · see note
September 21, 2026: Approve consent agenda item e, with letters of thanks
To approve consent agenda item e, with letters of thanks
The minutes say 4-0, but 5 members were present for this vote (Peter Piekarski, Mark Kelleher, Jeffrey Handler, Anita Doucette and Donald Howell). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Mr. Howell moved to approve consent agenda item e, with letters of thanks, 2nd by Mr. Kelleher and approved 4-0-0.” (Motion: Howell, second: Kelleher)
Sep 14C.30A, §§18-25, as amendedMotion: c.30A, §§18-25, as amendedPassed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
September 14, 2026: C.30A, §§18-25, as amended
C.30A, §§18-25, as amended
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“c.30A, §§18-25, as amended, 2nd by Mr. Howell and approved 5-0-0.” (second: Howell)
Sep 8Approve consent agenda item cMotion: To approve consent agenda item cFailed 1–4 · see note
September 8, 2026: Approve consent agenda item c
To approve consent agenda item c
The minutes add a name in brackets after the count ("(Kelleher in favor)") without saying how that member voted. The minutes give only the count (1-4), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. Handler moved to approve consent agenda item c, 2nd by Ms. Doucette and denied 1-4- 0 (Kelleher in favor).” (Motion: Handler, second: Doucette)
Sep 8Draft a letter of opposition regarding the Massachusetts Ready…Motion: To draft a letter of opposition regarding the Massachusetts Ready ActPassed · see note
September 8, 2026: Draft a letter of opposition regarding the Massachusetts Ready Act
To draft a letter of opposition regarding the Massachusetts Ready Act
The minutes record this motion but no vote on it.
From the minutes
“Mr. Handler moved to draft a letter of opposition regarding the Massachusetts Ready Act, 2nd by Mr. Howell..” (Motion: Handler, second: Howell)
Aug 10Approve the Board of Health member appointments as presented…Motion: To approve the Board of Health member appointments as presented in…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Handler
August 10, 2026: Approve the Board of Health member appointments as presented in the packet
To approve the Board of Health member appointments as presented in the packet
Yes: Doucette, Howell, Kelleher, PiekarskiAbstained: Handler
From the minutes
“Mr. Handler moved to approve the Board of Health member appointments as presented in the packet, 2nd by Mr. Howell and approved 4-0-1 (Handler abstained).” (Motion: Handler, second: Howell)
Jul 27Nominate Matthew Sutphin a Harwich representative to the Cape…Motion: To nominate Matthew Sutphin a Harwich representative to the Cape Cod…Passed 3–2 · No: Doucette, Handler
July 27, 2026: Nominate Matthew Sutphin a Harwich representative to the Cape Cod Commission with a term to expire April 24, 2029
To nominate Matthew Sutphin a Harwich representative to the Cape Cod Commission with a term to expire April 24, 2029
Yes: Howell, Kelleher, PiekarskiNo: Doucette, Handler
From the minutes
“Mr. Kelleher moved to nominate Matthew Sutphin a Harwich representative to the Cape Cod Commission with a term to expire April 24, 2029, 2nd by Mr. Howell and approved 3-2- 0 (Doucette & Handler opposed).” (Motion: Kelleher, second: Howell)
Jul 27Appoint Patrick Otton as Harwich's representative to the Pleasant…Motion: To appoint Patrick Otton as Harwich's representative to the Pleasant Bay…Failed 2–3 · No: Handler, Howell, Piekarski
July 27, 2026: Appoint Patrick Otton as Harwich's representative to the Pleasant Bay Alliance Steering Committee for a term to expire on June 30, 2027
To appoint Patrick Otton as Harwich's representative to the Pleasant Bay Alliance Steering Committee for a term to expire on June 30, 2027
Yes: Doucette, KelleherNo: Handler, Howell, Piekarski
From the minutes
“Mr. Kelleher moved to appoint Patrick Otton as Harwich's representative to the Pleasant Bay Alliance Steering Committee for a term to expire on June 30, 2027, 2nd by Ms. Doucette and denied 2-3-0 (Howell, Handler and Piekarski opposed).” (Motion: Kelleher, second: Doucette)
Jul 27Approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment…Motion: To approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license…Passed 3–2 · No: Howell, Piekarski
July 27, 2026: Approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license for Perks for an event to be held on August 6, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., event to…
To approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license for Perks for an event to be held on August 6, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., event to be held at 545 Route 28
Yes: Doucette, Handler, KelleherNo: Howell, Piekarski
From the minutes
“Mr. Handler moved to approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license for Perks for an event to be held on August 6, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., event to be held at 545 Route 28, 2nd by Mr. Kelleher and approved 3-2-0 (Piekarski and Howell opposed.” (Motion: Handler, second: Kelleher)
Jul 27Approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment…Motion: To approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license…Passed 3–2 · No: Howell, Piekarski
July 27, 2026: Approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license for Perks for an event to be held on August 20, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., event to…
To approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license for Perks for an event to be held on August 20, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., event to be held at 545 Route 28
Yes: Doucette, Handler, KelleherNo: Howell, Piekarski
From the minutes
“Mr. Handler moved to approve a special permit application for a one-day entertainment license for Perks for an event to be held on August 20, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., event to be held at 545 Route 28, 2nd by Mr. Kelleher and approved 3-2-0 (Piekarski and Howell opposed).” (Motion: Handler, second: Kelleher)
Jul 13Accept the resignation of Kevin DuPont from the Board…Motion: To accept the resignation of Kevin DuPont from the Board of…Passed 4–1 · No: Handler
July 13, 2026: Accept the resignation of Kevin DuPont from the Board of Health, effective immediately
To accept the resignation of Kevin DuPont from the Board of Health, effective immediately
Yes: Doucette, Howell, Kelleher, PiekarskiNo: Handler
From the minutes
“Mr. Handler moved to accept the resignation of Kevin DuPont from the Board of Health, effective immediately, 2nd by Mr. Kelleher and approved 4-1-0 (Handler opposed).” (Motion: Handler, second: Kelleher)
From the Harwich Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s agendas and minutes portal (2025 on) and its archived Agendas & Minutes page (2012–2024). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: The Cape Cod Chronicle (William F. Galvin and file photos) and the Handler For Harwich campaign website.
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