Harwich Capital Outlay Committee Opposes Two-Thirds Vote Requirement in Proposed Charter

HARWICH — April 8, 2026 — Harwich Capital Outlay Committee clashes with Charter Commission over proposed two-thirds vote rule for capital plan amendments. At its April 8 meeting, the committee welcomed incoming Town Manager Jay Funkhouser — a veteran of capital planning in Hingham, Sandwich, Marion, and Middleborough — and spent most of the session in pointed discussion with a visiting Charter Commission member over a proposed charter provision requiring a two-thirds town meeting vote to change the town's five-year capital plan. Chair Martha Donovan said the committee is unified in opposing the requirement, arguing taxpayers should vote on the capital budget, not on forecast changes in years two through five. "I don't understand why the taxpayer really cares about that," Donovan said. The Charter Commission, which will send a proposed charter directly to a May 2027 ballot rather than to town meeting, has not reached internal consensus on the provision; a joint meeting with the Select Board is expected to be scheduled at Monday's board session. Members also reviewed roughly $2.5 million in free cash committed to capital items this fiscal year and learned the community center roof project was pushed to fiscal year 2028 after snow-and-ice costs consumed the anticipated free cash funding.