HTA Reaches Compromise on Override

We are pleased to announce that tonight, in conjunction with the group Believe in Harwich, we have presented a compromise override proposal to the Board of Selectmen. This proposal represents a substantial reduction from the failed override amount and goes almost exclusively to restore jobs. Even more importantly, it comes with a list of opportunities and expectations of the Board of Selectmen and town managers that, if achieved, will result in a more efficiently managed town. This increased efficiency will far out weigh the cost of this override.

After the recent filing of the petition for a special town meeting, a number of HTA members came forward and suggested that the HTA think about presenting its own override proposal to restore a somewhat higher level of town services. This group started working toward this objective.

About ten days ago we were approached by representatives of the Believe in Harwich organization. We agreed to meet with them and discuss our respective positions. We learned that they we were in agreement on almost all points. Like us, they thought the cuts went too deep and wanted to restore essential services but with a reasonable cost. Also, like us, they felt that the town management needed to take certain steps to strengthen its financial management and seek ways to grow revenue from sources other than property taxes.

We are heartened that a broad group of voters are finally coming together and jointly supporting a reasonable compromise for a difficult situation. Both the HTA and the Believe in Harwich leadership are committed to continue to work together and to reach out to other community groups to monitor and report on the progress of the town in meeting the opportunities available to it and our expectations.

Press release from Harwich Taxpayers Association

We are shocked

We are shocked and appalled that a small group of individual supporters of the override now want a “do over.” We are even more surprised that, upon receiving the petitions for a special town meeting last night, that no member of the Board of Selectmen said a word about how inappropriate a revote would be. The selectmen should have indicated their opposition to another vote even if they were required to hold one. We can only assume from their silence that they, individually and collectively, support another vote.

We recognize that a group of 200 voters can require that a special town meeting be held. We also understand that this process can go on and on until one side finally gives up out of frustration. However, the override issue has been very divisive and the town needs to move on and start the healing process.

Not about the merits of the override

This revote is not about the merits of the override. That has already been voted on and the decision made not to support it. This revote is about whether or not our vote counts. In record numbers, and after a lengthy and difficult campaign, a majority of voters with full knowledge of its impact voted against it. Will the town now treat this vote as it did our vote against the purchase of the dump trucks last year? We hope not.

Stop the Override

It's YOUR money !

Harwich's town employees and supporters presented a petition at Monday night's Board of Selectmans meeting which will force the town to hold a special Town Meeting to re-vote the override which voters turned down last week by a 6% margin: 2,362 in favor of the tax hike and 2,505 opposed, a difference of 143 votes.

The petitioners, led by Harwich businessman Dave Reese, presented the 491 signatures needed to force officials to call a Special Town Meeting within 45 days. The cost of the meeting and election to follow will run from $10,000 to $25,000 for the town, which is already over budget.

It's YOUR Town

This "petition process" of only requiring only 200 signatures in a town of over 13,000 population is a holdover of an earlier era when Lower Cape towns had populations a third or less of today's. Even in Maine, which is more rural than Massachusetts and where they also use the town meeting form of government, towns of over 2,000 population are required by statute to move to a more centralized type of government like town councils and representative town meetings.

If the same town employees pack the Special Town Meeting, as they did the annual meeting last month, the town will be forced to spend money it doesn't have to hold another election on the same issue which the town rejected by 143 votes, or 6%.

At the town disposal area during the past weekend, override supporters sought signatures from residents dropping off their trash. They wore signs asking people to stop and sign the petition and to approve the next override. Thirty-two town employees have already been laid off last week after the override was defeated at the polls.

You can leave your own feelings about this effort as a comment below.

Geoffrey Wiegman, email: g.wiegman@comcast.net