Our View: The Harder Choice

Harwich select board members were unnecessarily harsh last week with the town’s representative to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates. They insulted Elizabeth Harder and treated her with disrespect because they didn’t agree with her vote in support of an assembly measure to petition the state legislature to allow Cape towns to impose a real estate transfer tax to support affordable housing. Chairman Donald Howell wouldn’t even allow Harder the opportunity to defend herself, while at the same time allowing other residents to speak out against the assembly delegate.

 While this may now be acceptable behavior at the federal level, it is reprehensible that local officials would stoop this low.

 At issue is Harder’s vote in favor of the transfer tax legislation. Select board members said she should have consulted with them and with townspeople before voting, because the board is not in favor of the surtax. 

 What board members seem to not have understood is that, if — and that’s a big if — the legislation passes, each Cape town would have to vote at town meeting and the ballot box to accept the transfer tax. Each town can also choose the amount of the tax and the level of home sale to which it would apply, as well as create their own carve-outs. So residents, and the select board, would have the opportunity to make their voices heard on the measure, even if it passed without Harder’s vote.

 Similar legislation, which would enable Cape towns to impose a transfer tax if they so choose, is being promoted by our state representatives. We haven’t heard the Harwich Select Board call for their resignation.

 We can’t remember a time when the Harwich Select Board canvassed residents before they took a vote on an issue, so it’s a bit hypocritical to expect Harder to do so. Like Harder, they are elected to make those decisions, and like Harder they answer to voters. If residents don’t like Harder’s performance as an assembly delegate, they can vote her out in November, just as an annual town election is a referendum on the performance of select board members seeking re-election. Calls for her to resign are misplaced. That should be a decision of voters.

 Disagreements among officials happen. They can be handled like adults, calmly and respectfully, or like children who lash out. Which is the harder choice?