Seasonal Population Impacts Felt, Summer Residents Told At Annual Meeting

HARWICH – Growth, especially of the seasonal population, is having an impact on the town, several department heads told a gathering of about 60 non-resident taxpayers at the annual meeting put on by the select board Monday. 

Police Chief Kevin Considine and Fire Chief David LeBlanc cited increased requests for services, especially during the summer months, when the town’s population triples. Considine said from the beginning of June through Aug.10 his department had 3,648 calls, up 700 calls over the same time last year. The department handles these increases with the same year-round staff, he said, noting that the state is phasing out the use of special officers used mostly in the summer months. 

LeBlanc said his department does close to 5,000 runs a year, handling 3,675 medical emergencies and responding to 79 fires in the past year. As for mutual aid assistance, LeBlanc said the department responded to 237 out-of-town responses. Mutual aid has increased 29 percent since 2020, he said.

 “Mutual aid has increased and everybody is getting busier. The Cape is really populated, and we and everybody [are] really busy,” LeBlanc said. 

Quality of life is the main concern, said Considine. Traffic, speeding, business activity in Harwich Port and increases in beach gatherings are among the top problems. The department has to be proactive with requests from neighbors, added Considine.

He also said electric and motorized bikes are becoming a significant concern. The state legislature is looking to bolster laws and provide more enforcement authority, Considine said. There has also been a substantial increase in mental health issues, he added. 

 “The police do a tremendous job,” said Bill Holly of Pleasant Street, adding that he would like to see more police walking around in Harwich Port, especially during Wednesday night’s Port Summer Nights music events. “We don’t ask for a lot of services, we’re asking for peace and quiet.”

Kathy Gunnerson said she called the police department looking for the animal control officer and was told nobody was available. Considine said the department has one animal control officer and she can be called in on an emergency, but police officers will respond to barking dog complaints when the animal control officer is off duty. 

John Schiller wanted to know about federal ICE issues. Considine said there is not a lot of activity with ICE in Harwich. The chief said he requests that ICE officials notify the department when they are in town so his officers know that what is going on is based on law enforcement. 

 “We will listen to them, document what is happening, but the department does not deal with civil and federal issues,” Considine said. 

Department of Public Works Director Lincoln Hooper announced on Monday night that he has filed his retirement notice effective this winter. Select board Chair Peter Piekarski said the town is grateful for the work Hooper has done. “It’s a great community because of you,” he said. Hooper started working for the department in 1991 and has served as the director for 23 years.

 “Working for the town of Harwich as DPW director has been one of my greatest privileges and responsibilities that I have behind being a father and a husband,” Hooper said.

Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jason Trepanier reminded those present that there are water use restrictions in place through Sept. 30. He also noted the major water main project that will soon be starting along Route 28 from the Dennis town line to South Street in Harwich Port. He added that the department has a seasonal turn-on and turn-off program for water service. 

On the subject of water use, Trepanier said during the off-season the town uses one million gallons of water per day, which increases to five million gallons per day in June and up to seven million a day by July 4. Last year the town used 785 million gallons of water, he said.

 Ed Costello said over the past decade he has been very pleased with the use of dredge material to nourish the Grey Neck Road Beach, but the means of distributing the sand there changed this year, creating a flatter beach, forcing beachgoers to leave at high tide because waters reach to the rock revetment. He urged the town to return to the former slurry distribution system.

A woman identifying herself only as “Georgia on Wyndemere” took issue with the meeting being called the “non-resident taxpayers meeting,” recommending it be called the “seasonal residents meeting.” 

 Recently-hired Town Administrator Jay McGrail said that he will be responsive and proactive when people reach out to him with issues. 

 “It’s a huge part of what I believe in in town government,” McGrail said.