Historic Harwich

Three Cheers for the Planning Board

If I run out of ideas for a blog entry, I don't have to wait too long. Something always turns up.

Recently, the Planning Board held hearings and will continue to hold hearings in order to firm up the Local Comprehensive Plan which, I assume, will provide us with the vision of the future of Harwich in detail. This is an awesome task to be sure. I haven't seen much in the media about the Planning Board welcoming input from the community. Maybe if the items below are listed with meeting dates to invite public comment would help.

At the risk of being picky, I suggest a revised format of the vision statement with a couple of additions:

Paragraph 2: "Our vision incorporates the following for our residents, non-residents, and seasonal guests:

•o       Safety and security for all

•o       Efficient and effective delivery of Town services

•o       Maximization of the tax base

•o       Optimization of the economic potential of the Town as a whole and, in particular, all Town owned assets

•o       Superlative education system for all age groups

•o       Attention to the needs of seniors

•o       Protection and enhancement of the vitality of our cultural, recreational, and natural assets

•o       Preservation and protection of our historical assets

•o       Expansion of affordable workforce housing for our service providers.

These bullet points are essentially value statements that can act as a guide for the Board's goals and objectives by accepting suggestions under each one. As a working paper, the list of all Town departments and committees should be added under each value statement; input from community members can be targeted under each statement as well. In addition, target completion dates should be added to keep the process moving in an orderly manner. According to the Planning Board Chair, the LCP will be complete for the May 2010 Town Meeting. Robin Wilkins suggested that compliance with the Cape Cod Commission's Regional Plan should be addressed. Larry Cole suggested that there will be a "lot of back and forth" going on between the Cape Cod Commission and the Board. Even the wording of the vision statement will be under review. There seems to be some doubt as to whether the timeline is realistic for completion.

It seems to me that time needs be spent in outlining the planning process with tasks and completion dates for ending input. A Gantt chart would help since several tasks may go on at the same time and take longer. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I highly recommend a Gantt chart so that the BOS can keep abreast of the process at the same time. At the end of the information collection phase, time will be needed to analyze and write the final plan, coordinate it with the Cape Cod Commission and obtain final approval by the BOS and the Town Meeting. Now is the time to assign dates for the many tasks, lay out a timeline, and inform the public.

It might be a good idea to hire a special record keeper during the process to keep the paperwork and files in order. The burden on the Board secretary is enormous.

At the August meeting, someone mentioned that the Local Comprehensive Plan completed in year 2000 essentially ended up on a shelf somewhere instead of being used as a working document. The same thing happened to the Harwich Center Initiative. Although some of the recommendations were completed, the initiative faded. The committee, still listed on the Town web site as a subcommittee of the BOS, failed to get support.

The first topic slated for September 29 was bikeways, trails, and sidewalks. Interesting. I guess the process is not necessarily going according to priorities.

Long Pond Road

Amazing how $1.5 million is tossed around these days as if it was chump change. That is the estimate for building two four-foot wide bike/walkway multi-modal lanes running the entire length of Long Pond Road. A mere trifle "for the population that we're trying to serve" according to the BOS Chair.

Funny thing about this. The same amount of $1.5 million was the estimate for repairs to the old rec. building, now dubbed The Sisson Road School. When this amount surfaced, there was shock and awe. Everyone fled to the hills never to be seen again, except to slide in a few dollars for windows and foundation repair through CPA funds.

I wish the Chair had said the same words back when we needed them. Not to mention that due to Rep. Delahunt's efforts, $1.3 million came in from pork barrel spending for Falmouth's bike trail, and I think another $1.3 for a bike trail in this area to Provincetown. I'm up to my ears in funding for the biker population. I guess we'd rather have a pretty bike trail than to renovate a historical landmark and clean up a dilapidated slum in the middle of the historic district. Instead of being ashamed for leasing the building to the Harwich Junior Theatre, I would have liked to have been proud to hand over a livable space.  Suddenly, someone has the magical fingers to dial up a funding source for the bikeways, but all thumbs for our historical heritage. Where was the Historic Commission when we needed it?

I still don't see the Historical Commission on the list of respondents to the Planning Board's request for input, nor could I find any minutes of meetings at Town Hall. Not surprising.

A Special Shout-out for a Special Friend

            I have had the pleasure of working with Barbara Johnson on a variety of projects over the past four years. There is no one in Harwich more committed to the culture of Harwich. See below for what she is offering;

Adult Classes at Harwich Jr. Theatre: 

Dream Theatre

Tuesdays 7:00-9:00 p.m. 

Class runs 5 weeks beginning Oct. 13

Fee:  $145

Dreams inform our waking journeys.  Einstein dreamed the theory of relativity'. Thomas Edison napped for ideasfrom his dreaming self. This workshop facilitates a dream exploration for each member through expressivearts, psychodrama techniques, and peer participation 

to perform 'on stage' an illuminating dream enactment. 

Fairy Tales for Adults

Wednesdays 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Class runs 5 weeks beginning Oct. 14

Fee:  $145

Fairy tales offer meaningful clues to our personal stories of making wishes, performing the heroic three tasks, encountering the wise old woman/man, and coming across animal helpers or scary challengers along the way. This workshop series constructs a theatre troupe to explore

favorite and not so favorite fairy tales through enactment and entering the enchanting realms of self-discovery. 

About the Instructor:

Barbara E. Johnson, LMHC, expressive arts therapist, intersects with theater in her work by facilitating the connection of imagination to creative expression.  As a professional she has worked in schools and community prevention, homeless shelters and substance abuse centers, has coordinated city-wide community arts projects/exhibits, and often collaborates with peers in theater arts collectives.  

Enrollment

Dates and times occasionally modified with agreement of all enrolled students.  Any questions regarding these classes, contact Harwich Jr. Theatre at 508-432-2002 x 11 or 12, or instructor B.E. Johnson, 508-430-9823, turtle888@comcast.net.

Peace.