MassVoter.com← Harwich Select BoardHarwich Select Board · 2020–2021 Board · Regular meeting
August 24, 2020
16 recorded votes, 2 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Michael MacAskill, Stephen Ford, Edward McManus
Absent: Larry Ballantine, Donald Howell
Every vote, in order
Enter into Executive Session
To enter into Executive Session
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to enter into Executive Session, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Approve the minutes for June 15, 2020
To approve the minutes for June 15, 2020
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to approve the minutes for June 15, 2020, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote , 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Name Joseph F. Powers Interim Town Administrator for a 90 day period to expire no later than November 18, 2020
To name Joseph F. Powers Interim Town Administrator for a 90 day period to expire no later than November 18, 2020
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to name Joseph F. Powers Interim Town Administrator for a 90 day period to expire no later than November 18, 2020, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Town Offices and Committees
To accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Town Offices and Committees
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Town Offices and Committees, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Accept and adopt and include in the Warrant Reports of Town Offices and Committees
To accept and adopt and include in the Warrant Reports of Town Offices and Committees
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept and adopt and include in the Warrant Reports of Town Offices and Committees, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Elected Officials Salaries
To accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Elected Officials Salaries
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Elected Officials Salaries, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Cape Cod Regional Technical School District Budget in the amount of $1,737,789.00
To accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Cape Cod Regional Technical School District Budget in the amount of $1,737,789.00
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Cape Cod Regional Technical School District Budget in the amount of $1,737,789.00, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
By
By
The minutes do not say who made this motion.
From the minutes
“by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.”
Accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Water Department Budget $4, 291, 075.00
To accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Water Department Budget $4, 291, 075.00
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Water Department Budget $4, 291, 075.00, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Capital Items Funded from Free Cash Under $50,000, the amount is for Police Taser Replacement year 3 of 3, $14,910, Fire Air Pack Capital Contribution...
To accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Capital Items Funded from Free Cash Under $50,000, the amount is for Police Taser Replacement year 3 of 3, $14,910, Fire Air Pack Capital Contribution $27,389 for a total of $42,299. Mr. McManus asked if this includes our share of the larger expenditure on the Air Pack. Mr. MacAskill read the explanation. Mr. McManus had requested had it be separated out. Mr. Ford asked Interim Town Administrator Powers if he understood that Mr. McManus is saying that the overall cost of the Air Packs is in excess of $500,000. The actual cost is not Items up to $50,000. It exceeds that and should be a separate item. Interim Town administrator Powers replied that there had also been discussion if they should use the title Items Under $50,000 because of the charter change. The Finance Committee has incorporated the new rules and voted to move that forward. He noted that they had done that one but not this one. He can do whatever the Board wants as far as that Article goes but if we are operating under the new Charter requirement, there no longer is the concept of items under 50K. Mr. MacAskill referred to his comment last week, he feels it should stay the same and given the time it would take to change it, it should remain as it is on the Warrant. The Town's purchase is still $42,299. Interim Town Administrator Powers commented that that statement is spot on as this Article was carried over from last year in the same format. Mr. McManus 2nd the motion
The minutes give only the count (2-0-1), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Capital Items Funded from Free Cash Under $50,000, the amount is for Police Taser Replacement year 3 of 3, $14,910, Fire Air Pack Capital Contribution $27,389 for a total of $42,299. Mr. McManus asked if this includes our share of the larger expenditure on the Air Pack. Mr. MacAskill read the explanation. Mr. McManus had requested had it be separated out. Mr. Ford asked Interim Town Administrator Powers if he understood that Mr. McManus is saying that the overall cost of the Air Packs is in excess of $500,000. The actual cost is not Items up to $50,000. It exceeds that and should be a separate item. Interim Town administrator Powers replied that there had also been discussion if they should use the title Items Under $50,000 because of the charter change. The Finance Committee has incorporated the new rules and voted to move that forward. He noted that they had done that one but not this one. He can do whatever the Board wants as far as that Article goes but if we are operating under the new Charter requirement, there no longer is the concept of items under 50K. Mr. MacAskill referred to his comment last week, he feels it should stay the same and given the time it would take to change it, it should remain as it is on the Warrant. The Town's purchase is still $42,299. Interim Town Administrator Powers commented that that statement is spot on as this Article was carried over from last year in the same format. Mr. McManus 2nd the motion. Vote 2:0:1 in favor by roll call. Motion carried.” (Motion: MacAskill)
Accept and adopt Facility Maintenance and Repair Fund
To accept and adopt Facility Maintenance and Repair Fund
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept and adopt Facility Maintenance and Repair Fund, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Replace Fire Department Ambulance estimated cost of $378,000
To accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Replace Fire Department Ambulance estimated cost of $378,000
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Replace Fire Department Ambulance estimated cost of $378,000, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Continuation of pay for Police Officers in service in the Reserves National Guard
To accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Continuation of pay for Police Officers in service in the Reserves National Guard
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to accept, adopt and include in the Warrant Continuation of pay for Police Officers in service in the Reserves National Guard, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Approve the contract for Robert B. Our Company, Inc. as presented
To approve the contract for Robert B. Our Company, Inc. as presented
From the minutes
“Chairman Mr. MacAskill moved to approve the contract for Robert B. Our Company, Inc. as presented, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Mr. MacAskill noted that this falls into the 5% contingency. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Approve the contract for RIV Construction as presented
To approve the contract for RIV Construction as presented
From the minutes
“Chairman Mr. MacAskill moved to approve the contract for RIV Construction as presented, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Mr. MacAskill asked for an update on the East Harwich Sewer Project, what needs to be done for work, what's left in the contingency funds, as much information as possible. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call. Motion carried unanimously.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
Adjourn
To adjourn
From the minutes
“Mr. MacAskill moved to adjourn, 2nd by Mr. McManus. Vote 3:0 in favor by roll call.” (Motion: MacAskill, second: McManus)
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →