Select Board Rejects NSTAR Pole Permit, 4-1
Select Board · Meeting of September 8, 2026
Harwich Select Board denies NSTAR pole permit, 4-1, amid utility frustration. The board learned the Harwich Charter Commission voted unanimously Aug. 27 to approve a final charter draft after 56 meetings over 15 months, headed to a spring 2027 ballot. Board members withdrew two draft letters opposing the Massachusetts Mass Ready Act, which Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski warned could force the town to weaken its locally adopted wetlands bylaw, with member Howell calling the bill's hidden provisions a threat to "home rule." The board also previewed "Open Finance," a free public budget-transparency tool showing Harwich's $208.47 million total fiscal 2026 budget, and voted unanimously to eliminate the Building Department's technology fee and approve a charity cycling permit that has raised over $1 million for 19 charities.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,771 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of September 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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