Harwich COA Approves Minutes, Sets Rides to Town Meeting and Statehouse Trip

HARWICH -- April 15, 2026, Harwich Council on Aging maps out transportation services, outreach strategy, and tech help expansion. The board approved its March 18 minutes and confirmed rides to Town Meeting on May 4 and 5, with service limited to a non-wheelchair-accessible van pending completion of state-mandated CCRTA training by a newly hired part-time driver expected to be fully active by May 1. Director Julie reported the COA needs five additional medical volunteer drivers, a figure the board called substantial, and announced a first-ever trip to the May 6 Older Adult Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House, with seats for 12 participants. Social media coordinator Rosa presented a year-long Facebook analytics report showing 1,494 messaging conversations and urged board members to comment on and share COA posts to drive algorithmic reach. The board also endorsed a revived weekly technology help program with Cape Cod Regional Technical School students, a new "beginner and advanced beginner" class structure with a newly identified vendor, and summer sessions aimed at adult children of Harwich seniors visiting during vacation season. A joint tour of the community center basement confirmed no usable program space exists there, with multiple town departments' storage filling the area entirely.