Our View: A Loss For Harwich

Over the more than nine years Harwich Water//Wastewater Superintendent Dan Pelletier served the town — initially as water superintendent and then as overseer of both water and wastewater — he has been an exemplary public servant. There was no one who better understood the steps necessary to provide the very expensive sewering infrastructure required to protect the town’s drinking water, ponds and embayments. His departure is a major loss to Harwich.

At a farewell gathering for Pelletier last Friday, town officials and residents came together to thank him for his service. Residents who did not fully understand their responsibilities to comply with sewer connection requirements in East Harwich praised him for his ability to walk them through the necessary steps with a sense of compassion, patience and care for the community. Attendees also praised Pelletier for his commitment to improving the health of Pleasant Bay.

With limited communication from town leaders on many issues in recent years, Pelletier was like a cool drink of clear water in a parched desert. He not only communicated well with residents, he was also available and willing to talk in detail about any issues relating to public water supply or the rationale behind decisions relating to wastewater infrastructure. That was illustrated recently when he directly addressed the foam contamination in North Harwich.

Pelletier was quick to praise staff for the accomplishment of the award-winning water department. “I don’t take praise well,” he said during his farewell gathering. “I don’t think I’m doing anything special.” That humble comment illustrated his value to the community. Pelletier made it clear that the position he held needs to be separated into a water department superintendent focusing strictly on providing a public water supply and a separate wastewater superintendent addressing the infrastructure and treatment of wastewater. Carrying both of those responsibilities was far beyond the capability of one person, even someone as committed to the community as he was.

The water/wastewater commission recognized the pressures placed on Pelletier and twice in the past two years unsuccessfully requested an adjustment in his compensation level. The result is the loss of a dedicated public servant. Pelletier now departs the town for private industry, and Harwich may be in search of two people to perform the work of one exceptional employee.