Harwich Select Board Closes Town Meeting Warrant, Splits on ADU Zoning Rules

HARWICH — March 30, 2026 — Harwich Select Board closes annual Town Meeting warrant with split vote on accessory dwelling unit zoning and a favorable sewer bid report. The board voted 2-3 Monday to withhold support for a proposed bylaw amendment aligning the town's accessory dwelling unit rules with the state Affordable Homes Act, with dissenting members citing ambiguous square-footage language and the removal of an owner-occupancy requirement; the article remains on the warrant without a board recommendation. Engineering firm GHD reported that four bids were received for the Phase 3A Great Sand Lake sewer extension, with apparent low bidder Diggett Construction coming in at roughly $11 million against an $18 million engineer's estimate, and said documents would be submitted to the Massachusetts Clean Water State Revolving Fund before the June 30 deadline for zero-percent financing. The board voted unanimously to support the Monomoy Regional School District operating budget at $33,104,137 but withdrew its motion on the $11,801,239 middle school roof project, leaving it on the warrant without a recommendation while seeking a conversation with the building committee about whether a less expensive asphalt roof could be specified. Two Mashpee Wampanoag representatives, including Tribal Council Secretary Talia Landry, appeared in public comment to formally oppose new herring harvest regulations at Johnson's Flume, arguing the tribe was not consulted and that allowing 150 permits at 20 fish per day per harvest would threaten a population the tribe has harvested for thousands of years under recognized aboriginal rights.