Harwich Facilities Committee Adopts Animal Policy, Sends It to Select Board

HARWICH — June 12, 2026 — Harwich Facilities Committee approves Community Center animal policy in unanimous vote. The committee voted unanimously June 12 to adopt a new policy restricting animals in municipal Community Center buildings and on property, forwarding it to the Select Board for final approval. The policy carves out allowances for pre-approved programs — such as animal control educational visits and wildlife demonstrations — and exempts service animals; animal control has agreed to train staff on the strict legal limits around service animal inquiries. Community Center Director Carolyn described the preceding public listening session as small but receptive, with several pet-owning attendees acknowledging they had personally violated the existing leash rule. The committee also agreed to shift its regular meeting day from Fridays to Wednesdays starting August 5 at 3:30 p.m., canceling its July meeting, and deferred a decision on a proposed outdoor patio slab — intended to support an already-funded shade structure — until a permanent Recreation Director is appointed.