Historic Harwich

An Epiphany

"Onward and upward with the Arts." Larry Cole, Harwich Board of Selectmen meeting Mon. June 29, 2009. Quote from Harwich Oracle, Wed. July 1, 2009

 "I think it's high time that this town rally around the endorsement of cultural arts in this community. All I'm asking for is the same thing we asked of Youth and Recreation. A list of what we estimate are our responsibilities." Robin Wilkins, Harwich BOS meeting Mon. June 29, 2009.

 Both quotes were given on the evening when the BOS conducted their final review of the pending lease with the Harwich Junior Theatre this past Monday night. The lease provides for the "takeover" of the O.R.B. (old rec. building on Sisson Road). How wonderful it would have been had we heard these quotes four years ago and earlier, before our recession hit, but who am I to be the wet blanket here. We should be thankful for the epiphany, the "awakening". Unfortunately, the comments come from only two members of the five on the Board who took some time to proclaim support. With this tepid response, it blunts the historic nature of the agreement, however, at this juncture, maybe the others are waiting until the actual signing occurs. Then we'll get the 3-cheers!!!

 NERVOUS. I have to say that I am downright nervous about this. Why, I don't know. I should be shouting to the rooftops. Having seen the "hit" list of items in Exhibit C of the proposed lease agreement, I am greatly concerned, reason being that the town has done virtually nothing to prepare this building for occupancy, and don't call this 20/20 hindsight. What reason do we have to believe that the town will not continue to delay its commitment to the building, the lease notwithstanding? The balance of the Board does not look favorable at this time, or so it seems, and the "bootstrap" concept will be the excuse for delays. In any event, a 3-2 vote will show as much timidity as before. It should be unanimous.

 A MATTER OF CHOICE. Over and over again, I have stated my position (of no importance to anyone) on the building, namely, that the O.R.B. is not out there in a vacuum. Through their elected officials, the townspeople have made their choice, and, in the absence of a groundswell of support from the community, forcing the issue, the BOS has acted with its own individual tastes. Thus, we have had an extraordinarily tepid response to the vision that the restoration of the O.R.B. will have genuinely positive effects on the Historic District. Hopefully, the dilapidated building will be transformed into a tourist attraction and help revitalize Historic Harwich Center. At least, we will have a nationally recognized theatre production company to lead the way, still without a word from the BOS of the potential consequences.

 HISTORICAL COMMISSION, WHERE ARE YOU?

I mentioned a while back that I attended a meeting of the MA Historical Commission. I received a DVD which explains how historic preservation occurs in communities. I ran through it a few days ago and was reminded of the fact that the prime mover in every community is the Historic Commission. We now have one body that covers this responsibilities of the Historic Commission and the Historic District Commission. The DVD places the Historical Commission on an equal footing with the community Planning Board which means that all matters concerning historic preservation go through this body. In brief, the Historical Commission is part of the municipal government with members appointed by the BOS. This is a huge responsibility involving identifying historic properties, evaluating them, and protecting them. What happened with the O.R.B.? Here is a historic building, yet for years it has fallen through the cracks and it is still an object that will require and has required people to be dragged screaming to preserve it. Wouldn't you think that at some point the BOS should have at least asked a question or two about their thoughts?

 HISTORIC REGISTRY, I HOPE SO

I'm nervous because the objective of having the vinyl siding removed on the O.R.B. and the outside restored to historic proportions is so that it can be eligible for the Registry of Historic Buildings. I have to remind you that such a project with the Brooks Academy Museum failed leaving the museum ineligible. We have to pray that the same thing doesn't happen to the O.R.B. and the oversight lies squarely on the Historical Commission. I haven't heard word one about what strategy will be used to accomplish this, nor have I heard of any planning involved, nor has it been on an agenda except to review the ramp and signage. I do understand that CPA funding requires this, but I don't think it can assume the commission's responsibility. I'm nervous.

FIT-OUT FOR OCCUPANCY? NOT

There are many historic properties in town, but none that stand out like a sore thumb like the O.R.B., a testimony to utter neglect and now we are courting a tenant to take the building off our backs. It is shameful that the building has not been made fit for occupancy long before this. End of story.

 HISTORIC HARWICH CENTER INITIATIVE

The Historic Harwich Center Initiative is still open for ideas and members, now under the chair of Eileen Brady. Let this be a reminder that this initiative is aimed at creating the Center as a tourist destination. Funds have been allotted from the CPC to conduct an inventory and survey of the Historic District with the possibility of redrawing the boundaries. My concerns remain the same. I challenge anyone to take a photo in the district without including a telephone pole or line (excepting close-ups). The whole purpose is to benefit businesses. No other reason. This done, it can be expected that there will be spillover into other parts of the town. So, it is urgent that all of the business people find a way to take part when the committee meets, if only to give ideas.

 During the past few weeks, over 4,000 Historic Harwich Center brochures have been distributed to businesses and organizations in town. If each business handed out a brochure with a customer receipt instead of leaving the to be taken randomly, the word will get out. The brochure is generic and shows no favoritism, so no fear of conflict of interest here.

 One thing that everyone can do is to send me your permission to be included on the e-mailing list of the Initiative just so that you can keep abreast of the activities and needs of the committee. E-mail me at jprophet4@verizon.net and in the subject line just put, "Count me in."

 ATTENTION ALL MEN. The I-Bake-Da-Pie Club is looking for members. The Harwich Historical Society's Annual Pie Sale is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, 2009. Normally, 100 pies are sold at this event and the complaint has been that there aren't any pies left over. So, we are recruiting men (only) to bake additional pies for the sale. The goal is to raise the number to 200. We will have donations of the ingredients, including the pie crusts. Each baker, including bakers of the first 100 will receive a special button certifying membership in the I-Bake-Da-Pie Club. For details, contact me at jprophet4@verizon.net.

 In the meantime, enjoy a great weekend. Happy Fourth of July.

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A Strange Silence

 No Word Yet on the Lease

            I really shouldn't be surprised at the strange silence going on at Town Hall. After the difficult preparations for town meeting, I can see how a rest period would be in order. However, the Board of Selectmen wrapped things up rather early this past Monday night with two important projects in the mill that I am interested in. There is no word yet on the impending lease of the old rec. building (O.R.B.) to the Harwich Junior Theatre. I understand that there is tweaking going on. On Monday night, the BOS had an opportunity to air concerns regarding the lease and what the tweaking  is about. On the other hand, negotiations of this kind may need privacy. Yet, there was no executive session called to find out where the town stands on the matter. At any rate, the public has a right to know that this important step is moving along and whether or not it is falling into the category of "planned delays".

 No Word Yet on the RFP for Affordable Housing

            I can't tell if  the issuing of the RFP for affordable housing on the O.R.B. site is contingent upon the signing of the lease or if the two are interconnected or if it isn't ready or if that, too, is in the "planned delay" box. Where is it?

 What's the Plan?

            There is a lot to do. I wish we could have a plan to look at with milestones and all that good stuff. Which comes first? Which events trigger others? For example, money has been awarded from CPA funds for the removal of the vinyl siding on the O.R.B. This is critical for the building to be eligible for the Registry of Historic Buildings. Money is there for window repair and foundation repair. What is the order in which these repairs will take place? I am quite discouraged about the amount of money recently awarded for the siding: $50,000. It's a pittance, I believe, to quiet the advocates for the building, for the Historic District, and for the revitalization of Harwich Center.

I have said before that I admire the remarkable work at the South Meeting House, but it is difficult to accept the vast difference in the amount of funding ($260,000 vs. $50,000) when the impact of funding is so different in importance. No, I haven't forgotten the previous levels of funding.

What I'm struggling with is the fact that we have a tenant ready to take over the building, a nationally-known tenant, a tenant with a history in Harwich dating back over fifty years. The Harwich Junior Theatre was founded in 1952 in Harwich. As a landlord, the town stinks. There is no other word for it. It's like a slum lord refusing or delaying repairs on a project and expecting people to rent a place in as-is condition. I don't get it. I have said it a hundred times, if I have said it once: "How can we expect someone to lease the building in its current condition?" Is it acceptable for the building to have toilets in a dark dungeon of a cellar with a port-o-potty outside? Sorry, I don't know the French word for it. And why do we have to accept the notion that a building of this import doesn't have to be fully up to code to let it out in good condition. I am not surprised at the foot dragging going on. There is no plan, no timetable. What is going to happen this year, never mind next year? And if I hear "tear it down" one more time I'll have a conniption.

 It Does Take Money, but ........

Yes, it does take money, but the worst of it is that there is no commitment, no fire in the bellies of the BOS to get things done. It comes from the top. There is no fire in the belly of the Historic District Commission and others to SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS. Without the fire, there is no realization of the dream. So far it's still smoke and mirrors.

 KISS (Keep it Simple S. . . . .)

            I'll try one more time to say in simple terms what my flailing about is all about. I urge the BOS and Historic District Commission (combined committees) to adopt the following: (sign and deliver):

            Whereas the goal is to enliven Historic Harwich Center for the good of the creative economy with positive consequences for the whole town:, and

            Whereas the goal is to unify the historic buildings and parks in the Historic District so that they represent, as a whole, the history of the town and the place of the town in the history of the country, thus making the area an attraction for tourists, and

            Whereas, the goal is to restore the O.R.B to its rightful place in the  Historic District and have it added to the federal and state Registry of Historic Buildings, and

            Whereas, the goal is to make the O.R.B. fit for occupancy by a tenant with cultural intentions,

            Be it here resolved that  <insert name> accepts the above goals and will exercise all of its powers to accomplish them.

 Actually, I would like to see a modification of this signed and delivered (with conviction) by every citizen of the town, every representative, and every organization. It is a simple package., nothing complex by any means. Maybe I'm not as verbal as I should be, or as persuasive as I should be, but anyone who can express it better, I welcome your suggestions.  E-mail me at jprophet4@verizon.net . All messages held in strict confidence.

 A Few Announcements:

 I-Bake-Da-Pie Club: The Harwich Historical Society will hold its Annual Pie Sale on August 23, 2009 to  generate funds for its ongoing programs. Each year, a fine group of bakers bake 100 pies for sale and the response is overwhelming.

This year, Gerry Loftus and I are looking for a group of gentlemen bakers to bake an additional 100 apple pies, thus doubling the funds for the  Society. All bakers will receive recognition as members of the official I-Bake-Da-Pie Club and will receive a ticket for a raffle. Winners will receive an 8 X10 caricature drawn by a local artist. This year, the event will honor Harwich resident, Muriel Wadsworth, a Betty Crocker model from 1955-1965. For more information, contact me, John Prophet at 508-430-7850 or e-mail at jprophet4@verizon.net.

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A Conglomeration of Thoughts

A Conglomeration of Thoughts

Odd time this week with ideas galore running through my head. When I get to a point like this, I look to Michael Michalko's book, Thinkertoys, which I have mentioned before. In addition, however, I hearkened back to my earlier days in management to the days when Peter Drucker was popular. I learned about him when I took a course in job finding where I was taught to recognize that wherever I was hired, I would be joining a "corporate culture". Drucker believed that corporations are inhabited by intelligent, rational, hardworking people of goodwill, but often have outdated ideas, narrow conception of problems, and internal misunderstandings. This, in my mind, poses the problem:  How to effect change. I hope our new town planner is aware of what Peter Drucker says.

This all started several weeks ago and continued until Sunday night, the night before the Harwich Annual Town Meeting. In particular, I was nervous about the outcome of the vote on the $50k for the exterior renovations of the old rec. building (O.R.B.) on Sisson Road. At the same time, I continued to have guilt feelings about the failure to convince the public and, in particular, the Board of Selectmen, to rally around the mixed-use development project that fell on its face and, at present, is taking a circuitous road back (Humpty Dumpty is still cracked); the failure to raise an outcry from the public about the tepid response to the Harwich Center Initiative; failure to recruit members for the newly-formed Friends of the Harwich Cultural Exchange Centers, Inc.; failure to find a winning strategy for marketing the vision of the renovated O.R.B. and its historic place in the Harwich Historic District. It felt like my brain was putting out static, like an old-time radio.

 Food for Thought

I looked closely at the progress of the South Harwich Meeting House as a large group of people gradually brought their project along at an excruciating pace and realized that they, too, struggled with the same concerns about historic preservation. Their dedication to their cause has been/is magnificent.

I have watched, and worked closely with Gerry Loftus, Chair of the Housing Committee, with support from Dave Purdy, as they struggled over the past five years to achieve affordable housing in the town. I see the Gomes Way Project rising out of the ground and another project on Depot Road and Rte 28 nearly ready for occupancy. I feel devastated by the defeat of the buy-down program.

I see the new police station construction moving along, the result of a dedicated committee working with Chief Mason.

I have seen the efforts of the school department to produce a first class learning environment and the incredible successes of unsung heroes within that department.

I have watched the successes and struggles of the children at all levels and I realize how great the Town of Harwich is when viewed from the "ground" up.

Then, I saw the dispute between two committees, the Agricultural Committee and the Conservation Committee over a farmers market location. Ugly.

 Going to the Masters: Michalko and Drucker

So, what did Michael and Peter do for me? I was attracted to a chapter in Tinkertoys entitled Brutethink, in which Michael states, "the human brain cannot deliberately concentrate on two separate objects or ideas without eventually forming a connection between them. No two inputs can remain separate in your mind no matter how remote they are from each other."

An Epiphany of Sorts

After town meeting, I concluded that I had just witnessed the townspeople voting on a disparate list of articles arranged in no observable order, or priority, except that there were groupings of related articles, like the CPA articles. It might be said that the budget review process took care of the priorities. Then,  the "brutethink" idea hit me. Keep in mind that I have not thoroughly thought this through, but I think I'm headed in a right direction.

          As far as I can see, the five operational priorities of the town, not necessarily in priority order are safety, education, historic preservation, environment, and human services. All of them have a role in determining the heart and soul of Harwich; all should operate under a set of common values which, at this date, I know not what they are. In my mind, these priorities shift in order from year to year because of funding concerns, but the values do not change.

Confusion About Values

            I have pointed this out before, that, as the ongoing business of the town is conducted, I have no sense whatever of what the BOS is thinking, what they believe in, or what they are willing to go out on a limb for. At the same time, I have no sense of what the overall values are of the town. All of the departments have mission statements, but somehow, they are not generated by an overall system set of values. Which comes first, the chicken or the egg, values from the top down or the ground up? Who is leading the pack?

 Thank God for the Internet

I've done a little research on the Net. I think it is a worthy exercise and I encourage you to spent some time with this.

Here are a few links that will help this along. If you are interested in what I'm trying to say, follow these for a second or two or more and try to apply the same to the public sector.

 1)   http://www.ecitele.com/AboutECI/Pages/Corporate%20Values.aspx .

     This company talks about "respect for the individual, team spirit, innovation, integrity, and our customers (citizens). They conclude their list of values with this:

"In all our activities we constantly conduct ourselves respectfully to promote our common goals. We are committed to these values and truly believe that if we adopt and implement them, we will lead the company to success in the future and derive a lot of fun and self-achievement in doing so."

2) http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/shared_values.html .      

 Here they give an overview of what a successful corporation can do. They talk about losers, too.

3) Keep this definition in mind for "core values": Operating philosophies or principles that guide an organization's internal conduct as well as its relationship with the external world. Core values are usually summarized in the mission statement or in the statement of core values.

Finally,

• 4) http://www.sog.unc.edu/pubs/electronicversions/pg/pgfal01/article3.pdf .

     This link covers the public sector, an excellent article about how public problems are solved. The best example of how Harwich solved the dispute between two committees is shown by the Agricultural Committee withdrawing. They couldn't make their case because the Conservation Committee stood its ground on the matter of use. The committee that should have made the decision, namely, the BOS, failed to address the problem in light of a value system. Instead, they stepped back. Unusually, a similar thing happened in the matter of dealing with the bids on the mixed-use housing project when the bidders withdrew. Is there a pattern here? Another example, the Harwich Cultural Council couldn't make its case and were led down a golden path for over two years due to lack of consideration for the values involved. Another, the Housing Committee couldn't get the buy-down program because it got trampled by an $8,000 IRS tax deal orchestrated by the president followed by terribly weak support from the BOS. Was this business conducted according to a value system? I think not.

 This doesn't mean that everyone should get their way, it means that we should have CONFIDENCE in the body that is responsible for reminding us and holding steady to the town's core values, but where are these values? In short, there is no compass.

        The problems I have stated show a big problem, a breakdown in the way solutions are drawn. Too many times, the problems are directed out to further study and intentional delays so that time will solve them, instead of judging the merits in light of the values the town holds dear. This is how our leaders need to be evaluated. Why shouldn't they evaluate a request this way. A case in point: The BOS stated that the Recreation Department fullfilled their requirement for more and more data about field useage. In fact,  the Recreation Department got a positive vote because they presented their case for ballfields in light of a set of values. That's why they won, not wholly because they justified a set of numbers.

      We are living in a fast-paced time, but there is no excuse for setting aside, killing time or ignoring values. We need to find a way to express the value system in such a way as to link it to every decision made.

Time to Vote on May 19

The Fire Department is requesting confirmation of the town meeting vote approving the two firefighter/EMTs. I hope voters will approve this based on one part of a value system, i.e. concern for  the value of human life and the potential impact on individuals, families and the environment. 

God bless the Town of Harwich.

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A Decline in Culture and Historic Preservation in Harwich --- Or Not? -You Decide

I've been writing this blog since January 2007 (a total of 78 blog entries. It started as my way of recording the history of the efforts to restore the old rec. building (O.R.B.) and West Harwich School as cultural centers from that year onward. I felt a need to record what the status of the old rec. building (O.R.B.) was at that time, outline the effort to change that dilapidated building into a useful and historic landmark, and record the various efforts to achieve that goal. If you go to my December blog under "Archives" you will see a recap of the efforts of a relatively small band of people. If you have trouble sleeping some night, go to the beginning.

It is a sad story, filled with post mortems (and whining), failed efforts to ignite an interest from the community and from the powers that be, and recently, an almost fatal blow. This is creating a great strain on me (present tense) and when you reach a point of bitter end, you look for the fatal flaws in the approach to the problem. In my mind, it breaks down into four phases:

1. The Do-Gooder Stage
2. The Naïve Stage
3. The Confusion Stage
4. The Reality Stage

 The Do-Gooder Stage

I don't use the term "do-gooder" in a negative sense. What I mean to say is that we all started out with an idea; a dream, if you will, just as several others did many times in the past, of resurrecting two historic buildings. We wanted to energize the community around a cultural center concept, create a venue for creativity using the Cultural Council's mandate to promote and advocate for the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. We thought we could unite like minds in the endeavor. Who could deny that we wanted to do something good for Harwich?

 The Naïve Stage

This stage blends with the first in that we anticipated, no, expected, great things from those who had the authority to make things happen. We thought that we could make it clear to everyone that our efforts would be fruitless without endorsement from the top echelon in town government. The BOS led us on by letting us open the O.R.B. for a "test" run and tasking the Cultural Council to come up with a use for the building. That "test" run, in place for almost two years, is still in force until June 2010. We thought they were acting in earnest, that we had their backing and that our efforts were not in vain; that their "permissions to use" were evidence of support. To our dismay, this "support" fell off a cliff.

 The Confusion Stage

When we asked the BOS to designate the buildings as cultural centers, they refused. In so doing, they cut the legs off the fundraising group (The Friends of the Harwich Cultural Exchange Centers, Inc.) and sent us spinning into space, yet the BOS continued to extend the use of the O.R.B. to conduct cultural activities as some insipid olive branch and a "Good boy," tap on the head. As all politicians do, they hold their views close to the vest as individuals totally devoid of support for ANY cause. Who knows what they are thinking? They exist in a gated community of the mind.

 The Reality Stage

Now, I'm sure these experienced politicians knew what they were doing from the beginning. The use of delay tactics is a potent weapon. Those individuals or groups who do get support, somehow learn the code to open the gate. To my dismay, I personally failed to find the code; so be it.

 Decline? Or not?

When virtually the entire body of authority is aligned in a zigzag pattern with regard to culture and historic preservation, the result can only mean decline. When the words "culture" and "historic preservation" are met with glazed eyes, you know there is an irreversible disconnect with these important words. A Cape Cod Times feature article, entitled Winter's Chill, dated Sunday, April 12, talked about unemployment and real estate, but at the bottom, it talked about a most important issue - Tourism, from the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. I don't have any figures from the Harwich Chamber, but I suspect the data is similar. All of the data shows a significant decline.

Certainly, external economic factors affect Harwich. No doubt about that. But, what happens to a town like Harwich when a core belief in a CREATIVE ECONOMY is lost? The result, in my mind, is catastrophe.

• Did the BOS think that we just wanted to open a building and polish it up to get rid of the eyesore?
• Did they give us "permissions to use" to keep us out of their hair?
• Did the BOS and other groups think that we were just "playing house" without serious intent?
• Where did we fail to impress the townspeople and the authorities that we were acting on behalf of an improved economy?
• When did the BOS go blind to the impact of a revitalized Harwich Center on the town's economy? We have heard the talk, but have not seen the walk.
• What does it take to imbue the town with the idea that the creativity in the town is the engine that drives Harwich's economy? Surely, it is the beaches, the harbors, the bike trails, and the conservation lands that give Harwich its wonderful appearance; but, absent a population that encourages creativity, advances culture, and preserves the historic heritage, any town will ultimately decline, regardless of its geographic assets.
• Who is leading the way?
• Who is determining what kind town Harwich is and becomes?
• Who has a vision?

Harwich is loaded with talent, but what of it?

There is no denying that Harwich has an unusually large population of creative and dedicated people. But, who is out front with authority to unite these individuals and groups and to set policies based on core principles of a creative economy. In the past few weeks, we have gotten a clear view of how "the system" works here:

• We've had an unfortunate episode with the Town Administrator's evaluation;
• I invite you to read the Annual Report of the Finance Committee. One version states:

"It is the responsibility of the Finance Committee to advise all voters of the Town of Harwich on the town budget and all warrant articles, finance-related and otherwise. We are appointed by the Town Moderator to provide an INDEPENDENT VIEW UNAFFECTED BY PERSONAL; POLITICAL MOTIVES. As a result, there are occasions when the Finance Committee's recommendations differ from those of the Board of Selectmen."

I can't figure out why the Charter allows this group to withdraw articles. Let them recommend up or down, but deprive the townspeople their right to decide is, in my mind, unconstitutional.

One member we all know wants the O.R.B. torn down.

• Why was the Selectmen's subcommittee not reconvened to advise on the lease with Harwich Junior Theatre and the upcoming RFP for affordable housing.

The bigger picture here is the zigzag I mentioned earlier. Ask yourself: If the town as a whole has adopted a vision of the town based on a belief in a creative economy, the unified concept of advancing culture and creativity, and preserving the historical heritage, how do we elect and appoint persons who are not committed to this (or any) unified concept? Why is there such a disparity here among those who run the town?

I am now reduced to prayer: That the townspeople will rise up and vote to approve the amendment to Article 4 (which surely will come up on the first night, May 4) asking voters to transfer $50,000 from the Harwich Community Preservation Committee Fund for the purposes of exterior repairs on the O.R.B.

By approving this, the people will be making a grand statement of purpose beyond repairs, that they sincerely support historic preservation and the efforts that follow.

Sooner or later, we may get the right kind of leadership.

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Hats Off and Jeers

 Hats off to Larry Cole, Harwich Selectman, for the professional handling of Jim Merriam's annual evaluation "roundup" on Monday, April 6. No surprise there. Larry is always fair in his comments, businesswise or otherwise. I should have mentioned earlier that Larry, Dave Marsland, and Robin Wilkins all gave Mr. Merriam stand out grades in the first go-round. While there was no official vote accepting Mr. Merriam's plan, in the absence of comments from other members, we must assume it was unanimous.

****Nevertheless, my gripe about the process still stands; i.e. the public five-on-one, gang-up method of evaluation****

Open Meeting Law vs. MA Public Records Law.

I have known) about the Open Meeting Law for some time. Go to http://www.mass.gov/Cago/docs/Government/openmtgguide.pdf ) where it states that all matters, with the exception of nine categories authorized for discussion in Executive Session, must be discussed in public. If you look up on the Internet, several towns have run amok with the law with regard to Town Administrator evaluations. The Town of Charlton is a good example.

If you are interested, others feel the same way about public "roastings": Try this link. http://www.massupt.org/policy/style5.cfm?category=3POL&ID=348

In summary of the latter link, the Mass. Superintendents Organization supports having a superintendent's evaluation considered under the contract provision of the Open Meeting Law, which allows Executive Session. They support the idea that an evaluation is part of a public employee's personnel record and thus is exempt from the FOIA or the MA Public Records Law.

Here is a quote from the MA Secretary of State. See http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prepdf/guide.pdf             PAGE 11

"Generally, personnel information which is useful in making employment decisions regarding an employee is sufficiently personal to be exempt pursuant to the first clause. Such information may include employment applications, EMPLOYEE WORK EVALUATIONS, disciplinary documentation, and promotion, demotion, or termination information."

Obviously, I am not a lawyer; some things are common sense. Maybe, just maybe, a public evaluation could be a violation of the state's Public Record Law with respect to privacy. I understand, too, in the middle of all this, that once a reference has been made about an evaluation in a public meeting, everything goes public. Absent that, an evaluation could remain private in an Executive Session. In other words, unless the Board is proceeding to fire a TA, the public does not have to know about matters that become part of the TA's personnel file. It's worth looking into.

I hope that before next year's evaluation, this will be taken seriously and that deference will be given to the Town Administrator. This year, it could have been done far better.

Hmmm, I wonder what other towns are doing.

Three Jeers for the Finance Committee

            Just when you thought things were leveling out, guess what happens.

            Using what appears to be a power given to the Finance Committee back in colonial days, the FinCom decided to exercise a veto of a warrant article that would have placed before the townspeople a request for $50,000 in CPA funds to be used to renovate the exterior of the O.R.B. (old rec. bldg. on Sisson Road, Harwich Center). How outrageous can our town authorities get? Imagine, in this day and age, a government body depriving the townspeople of making a decision about how to spend their own money. Apparently, it was voted down by a 2-3 vote. What are they thinking? Unless I have lost my mind, the money was earmarked to take the vinyl siding off the building and make sufficient improvements in appearance to line it up for a future application for the historic registries. Not to mention improving the disgraceful appearance in Harwich Center. Do they not see the economic benefits to this?

            As far as I know, the Harwich Junior Theatre and the Town are close to signing a lease for the use of the building. If so, how much more of a disgrace is it to have a nationally known theatre move into and pay rent for a dilapidated building? Hard times or not, it is a disgrace.

Off You Go To Merry Harwich, England

The Harwich Cultural Council is sponsoring a trip to our sister city, Harwich, England. I understand that the red carpet treatment will be ready for all those who sign up. The trip is scheduled through Durgan Travel for October 19 - 27, 2009; 9 days and 7 nights. A wonderful time to see London, too. Reservation forms should be available at Town Hall lobby in mid-April.

Write this down now. Contact Dorothy Hemmings at dotcapecod@yahoo.com or after May 1 at 508-237-1514. Get the penny bank out and get ready for another spectacular trip sponsored by the Harwich Cultural Council. This is a fundraiser. $100 (part of the fare) will be donated to the Council for each traveler. Do double duty --- enjoy the trip and be happy you have made a worthwhile donation.

 Utter Disappointment

            Sometimes, the only way to express sadness is through poetry. Therefore, in honor of National Poetry month (April) and because of the impact of the FinCom decision on me, I have composed the following poem published in the Oracle yesterday. Enjoy.

A Monument to Younger Days

A monument to younger days;

With somber, aging walls .

And echoes of young voices still

Resounding through its halls.

A helpless mass of wood and stone

It stands now in a shroud

Where once its rooms were teeming with

A joyful, eager crowd.

Why won't she fall and end it all

And rid us of our shame

For leaving it in disrepair

To smear the town's good name?

Why don't we tear the whole thing down

And let the ol' rec. fall

Before the cold and ruthless hand

Of the mighty wrecking ball?

It's not the morning dew we see

That seeps along the eaves

It's tears of sorrow falling there

For its neglect it grieves.

It dreams of honor --- better days

With style to make us sing;

When people care about its life

And the grandness it can bring.

With hope and cheer we struggle on

To make a dream come true;

To rid the name of the ol' rec.

And brand it all anew.

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A return to Puritan punishment in Harwich

Puritan re-enactment at Jim Merriam's annual evaluation

Let's step back in history and find out the choices available to them.

PURITAN PUNISHMENTS
Options for magistrates

1. Benefit of clergy - the convicted may plead benefit of clergy, in which case, if they can read a passage from the Bible without one mistake, their sentence will be reduced.
   Benefit of clergy was not offered to Mr. James Merriam, Town Administrator, at the last BOS Annual Evaluation meeting, although he surely needed it.

2. Stocks - the convicted will have his head and hands placed in a locked stockade for the remainder of the day, and the community will be invited to pelt him with food. The convicted must clean up anything he is pelted with.
In all fairness, we don't have the money to build the stocks, nor can we afford to throw good food at Mr. Merriam. The Food Pantry is far more worthy. In fact, Mr. Merriam is far to busy working on the historic lease with Harwich Junior Theatre to spend time cleaning up.

3. Wearing a sign - a milder punishment than branding. The convicted must make their own sign to hang around their neck, which indicates their crime.
   This may be an option, however, we have recently been dealing with sign placements on public property. Should Mr. Merriam wear one he may be guilty of a sign violation at his desk.

4. Branding - the convicted is marked with letters that stand for their crime - HT for hog thief, A for adulterer. The branding can be on the cheek, forehead, or more mildly on the hand or finger.
   Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hester Prinne wasn't branded, but she did have to wear a scarlet letter A to announce her violation. I do believe we could arrange to have a reasonably priced sweater, Large, for Mr. Merriam to wear for the coming year marked with the letter "F" for failure. The cost of the sweater and its insignia will be charged to Mr. Merriam.

5. Ducking stool - for women only, usually used in the case of gossip. The woman shall be confined in a chair and dunked in water.
   This may be an option if Nan Balmer's evaluation is at hand.

6. Whipping - for men only, a common punishment. A number of "lashes" is administered to the convicted's back. Lashes usually number from 5 to 20.
    I would have to call this cruel and unusual punishment at this date, however if Mr. Merriam fails to read the Town By-Laws and figure out how the town operates, by his next evaluation, it may be an option, provided he agrees to stay and take his punishment.

7. Public shaming - a milder form of punishment, the convicted is pulled on a rope through the town, while the community is invited to point fingers at him, tell him he is naughty, and pelt him with small objects.

Maybe the Harwich Board of Selectmen took seriously a proposal last Monday night by a group of Democrats to impose some of the best of the Puritan Punishments. I think the BOS made a vain attempt to put on a Puritan re-enactment at Town Administrator Jim Merriam's annual evaluation.

Now, we come to the punishment, recently adopted by the Harwich Board of Selectmen (without the rope).

All of these puritanical punishments came to mind after watching the last Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, March 10 at which they conducted their OPEN annual evaluation (or should I call it, annual humiliation) of the Town Administrator. Surely, a man of James Merriam's stature didn't deserve what he got at that meeting in the way that he did and no person in high office should. I guess most of us are used to Bush bashing, so there is no reason why we can't take our top administrator to the woodshed.

Disbelief.My wife and I watched the telly in disbelief as the BOS conducted a personal humiliation in public of the Town's top leader; all done in public for underlings to hear, people who are supposed to work for him day after day, his family and friends (if he has any).

Standard practice or not, it stinks. It stands as a five against one reaming which should be taken up in Executive Session. It looked like the weakest Board on record trying to look official, flexing their idiotic, attempt to exert their power to make someone under their jurisdiction look like a fool. It shouldn't be tolerated.

In the many years that I've been here (almost ten), I have never seen the Board subject themselves to a public evaluation of that calibre and I'm sure they would not tolerate similar tactics against themselves. Their evaluation apparently comes at election time, but what mechanism does the public have to judge their candidate, except through nicey-nicey coffee meetings.

To be honest, most of the evaluations, rated no lower than "good", praised Jim for his outstanding work in finances in taking hold and running with difficult topics, saving the BOS' rear end during the rejection of Prop 2 ½, handling the BOS bungling of the Cranberry Valley situation, working his financial magic with Dave Ryan, and many more and I might add that Jim Merriam has to drag the BOS along behind him because he can't ever get a straight answer.

THE ILLUSIVE BY-LAWS

However, in plain sight, one selectman had the gall to say (in sarcastic terms) that Jim had not digested the content of the town bylaws. "The charter does things in different ways and it causes problems when you are going in the opposite direction. I'd like to have the feeling," Mr. Mcmanus said, you've read through the [Town's] By-Laws and understand the rules we operate under."

What does that mean? Did this selectman suggest that violations were going on? If so, why weren't they revealed instead of throwing out an innuendo? If there is so much concern about the detailed condition of Mr. Merriam's desk, surely time should have been spent addressing the by-law problems and how, in addressing a by-law, Mr. Merriam failed to operate as the great men of Harwich operate.

Read newspaper reports:
Harwich Oracle
Cape Cod Chronicle

Please be clear about this, Mr. McManus. Which by-law(s) are the culprit(s) for bringing down the Town Administrator? Mr. Merriam deserves an answer, after all, the fact that an infraction was not reported to the BOS by Mr. McManus, makes Mr. McManus culpable as well.

Another evaluation topic that seemed to hold incredible weight was the condition of Jim's desk, that he is "disorganized and that some materials get to the BOS too late or not at all, in which case, he should phone Ed McManus because Ed doesn't always get to his computer. Perhaps the BOS should adopt a standard practice, so that on man doesn't have to have detailed reports or action read over the phone.

STAFF TRAINING: It's ongoing. Then there were matters dealing with the preparation of Jim's staff, that they are not making proposals in good order, or that they are not prepared to speak at Town Meeting (much to the embarrassment of the BOS). There was something there for all. Judging by the past year, and the monumental work going on , it hardly seems possible that Jim Merriam could watch every move of his staff, but given that he should have done this, then the BOS should provide the time give Mr. Merriam the formats they would like for him to carry back to his staff and the time to train.

I am speaking with good authority about the way evaluations are handled professionally. I have worked in management positions (and received professionally-driven evaluations) as an officer in the Navy, and as manager in the public sector and private sector. In each case, the evaluations occurred quarterly; any flaws were brought to attention and used as measures for the next time period. None of these evaluations occurred in public. I feel that this type of thing is a violation of a right of privacy. The public has a right to know the outcome, but the process of a continuing employee evaluation of a critical management position should be kept between the employer and employee until a recommendation to fire is made. The BOS has one evaluation to perform: The Town Administrator, is responsible for the rest of his staff. Simple design.

The process of humiliating the Town Administrator publicly over flaws that should be evaluated early on, not at the end of a year, smells of a terrible power play that is unworthy of Harwich. Such a process subjects the employee to a kind of blackmail in which a member of the BOS may hold out a favorable evaluation to receive favors. I'm not suggesting that this is going on, I merely state that the process should be protective of the employee. Under the current method, it undermines the credibility of an important leader.

DO WE NEED A DIFFERENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT

I heard a suggestion from someone that Harwich may be ready (or soon to be ready) for a different form of government, i.e. a Town Manager

From another Town's by-laws:

"The board of selectmen shall provide for a semi-annual review of job performance of the town administrator in the first year and annually thereafter, which shall, at least in summary form be a public record. The town administrator's review would be a public record subject to mandatory disclosure."

"Be a public record" this says. NOT Public humiliation The Town owes Mr. Merriam an apology for their bungling of his evaluation. I don't care what the rules are, no professional person operating for the good of the town (paid or otherwise) should have to undergo a public humiliation. Matters of concern are between the BOS and the TA as to a best fit. The public elects the BOS to run the town professionally and with dignity. Individuals or groups may have access to the information, but not to intentionally discredit the individual's dignity.

IF THIS IS THE WAY THE TOWN IS RUN, WE ARE IN DEEPER TROUBLE THAN ANY BAILOUT CAN SOLVE.

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Not to Worry About the Letter I Sent

There were rumors running about that there could be funds in the Stimulus Bill that would help local communities with certain "shovel ready" projects. I believe that communities, at the request of the governor, submitted projects needing funding in anticipation of inclusion in the Stimulus Bill. My curiosity has been satisfied. Unless I'm interpreting the bill wrongly, no money will be available for the renovations of the old rec. building, nor any help for new school funding. In fact, I see no benefits to the Cape as a whole in terms of job creation (or saving of jobs). Check it out yourself with this link, which spells out what MA will receive and how the funds have been allocated. So, forget the letter I sent out urging support for the old rec. There will be no new jobs created to fund the historic preservation projects.

I feel good about the housing portion of the bill, yet, in the back of my mind, I feel that every one of the bill's provisions should be debated on their own merits with consideration given to the impact on future funding.

I have seen this type of "stimulus" in the past whereby cities and towns could apply for grants or funding for programs. I worked in the education and mental health fields where grants were available for teaching positions or mental health professionals, however, the city (or town) was expected to pick up the tab in the future (which they never could). The funds were treated like the "puppy dog" in sales. A potential buyer is allowed to take the puppy home for a week or so. At the end of the week, the expectation is that the two will bond and can't be separated, so the sale is made. There are elements of the puppy dog in the bill. See if you can identify them.

http://dpc.senate.gov/docs/fs-111-1-24-states/ma.pdf

The news media has hammered the Republicans for their criticism of the bill and the process through which it passed. I hope you will take this opportunity to view the link and express your opinion (up or down) regarding the projected job creations and efficacy of an item's inclusion in the bill. Try to forget your party affiliation.

I'm writing about this because I feel that the future of Harwich will be significantly impacted by the bill's funding for programs that will require follow-on funding which may not be available later. For example, "$10.1 million for Headstart to allow additional children to participate in this program...... Where will the money come from to continue at this level down the road? The same goes for the Senior Meals Programs; school lunch programs; Emergency Food Assistance Program; law enforcement, and the list goes on. I urge you to go down the list and try to envision a job(s) created by the item and how your town will benefit.

I'm curious to know what you feel about the bill. Do you think the Town of Harwich (and other towns on the Cape) will buy into the bill in light of the fact that the town(s) will have to pick up the tab later on? Am I wrong? Maybe the bill is supposed to produce jobs that will offset the expenditures. The projected number of jobs for MA is 79,000. Will that number do the trick and how many will be created in Harwich or your town?

If you backtrack on the web site to the Home Page you will find the entire list by state and that the same pattern of funding applies to all states.

Another observation I have is that the state level will skim much of the money off the top for existing and new administrative positions, thus whittling down the amounts flowing to the towns.  Tell me if I'm wrong. I may be completely off base.

Please share your thoughts about this. I need to know (and I'm sure others will be interested in knowing) how you feel about your government at work.

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A perfect fit

OPPORTUNITY AND PREPAREDNESS MEET

            An opportunity comes along, sometimes once in a lifetime, when all the pieces of a project come together perfectly. There's a certain condition whereby elements are joined to produce an effect greater than the sum of the individual effects. It is called synergy.

            Such a case is in the making with the Town of Harwich and the Harwich Junior Theatre. The town wishes to restore a historic building for the register of historic buildings. The HJT needs room to expand its programs. The building in question is the old rec. building (O.R.B.) on Sisson Road in Harwich Center. The aim of both parties is to sign a lease for the use of the building.

            Recently, the HJT responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP) deemed favorable to the Board of Selectmen, thus giving permission to proceed for pre-lease "negotiations". Before considering the actual lease agreement, the BOS, to their credit, is asking for a breakdown of the financial responsibilities for both parties. None of the detailed issues, such as who will repair a leaky roof, was included in the RFP, so they have to be "negotiated". Fine and dandy.

SETTING THE STAGE (No pun intended) or WORKING IN THE DARK

When the first RFP went out for housing, with no response for building renovations, followed by the withdrawal by the bidders, I wrote my reference to Humpty-Dumpty; that all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again. Humpty has fallen off the wall, now we are engaged in a great civil negotiation. The reason I wrote that is because I couldn't (and still can't) follow the BOS logic; that they chose not to accept their work group's recommendation (Housing Assistance Corp. - HAC), and compounded the problem by allowing not only HAC to withdraw, but all of the others, thus sending the mixed-use development project spinning toward oblivion.

            I have stated frequently from the beginning that I (and presumably the entire population of Harwich) am in the dark as to the stance of the BOS. I wish they would share their thoughts beyond a few mumblings, but apparently this will not be forthcoming in my lifetime.

            What I see, lately, are some feeble attempts at atonement for needless delays, vague mumblings about historic preservation, and hidings behind unspecified doubts. When a statement pops up, it is difficult to tell where it is coming from. Sincerity isn't there, for sure.

            On the other hand, I have seen several attempts to undermine the process at every step of the way. For those observations, go back in my archives from September 2008. So, it is very, very, very difficult to trust the BOS in the coming days of "negotiations".

ON THE BRINK (AGAIN)

Forget the housing proposals for a moment. Let's deal with current events. The HJT has been rebuffed in the past, some ten years ago or more. The BOS is in a position to repeat that if the "negotiations" regarding a lease agreement break down.

What's at stake?

In many meetings, I repeatedly said, "No organization (or individual) in their right mind will want to sign a lease to use the buildings (two) in their current condition."

Ask yourself, would you want to lease a dilapidated house to live in, especially when there are code infractions involved? Wouldn't you expect the owner, at the least, to bring the building up to minimum code and be responsible for the major repair items, like a leaky roof before offering it up for lease? Isn't that fair?

            The troubling part of this is that the Boards of Selectmen, current and past, have been the landlords of the historic buildings for years and have not dealt with them with any urgency at all. They have failed to bring the renovations to the forefront or supported any initiatives to revive or decide on the matter. Articles at Town Meeting have been offered up, but with such apathy, it is no wonder the townspeople haven't stepped up. The collective energy of the BOS has been lacking. As a result, the buildings (old rec. and W. Harwich School) have been allowed to stand as monuments to an apathetic leadership and to drag down the Historic District to slum proportions. Shameful. All the excuses in the world do not hold water here. A COMMITTED LEADERSHIP CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS IF IT WANTS TO. One selectman recently said that things can be passed (by the BOS) even if the townspeople don't like it. I assume that this means that the BOS considers these as best for the town and they are the best to judge.

LOST IN THE WEEDS

Still lost in the weeds is the Historic District. All of a sudden and I mean, sudden because I perked up and sat forward in my seat, startled by the words from a BOS member, "This is a tourist town." Another member mumbled something about not shooting the cows because you can't get the milk (or something). These statements came up in the discussion about baseball fields behind the Community Center, but never once were they so strongly put in the continuing debate over the future of the historic buildings or the Historic District.

            I strongly support ball fields, but it never occurred to me to connect them to the town's tourism. I have worked with children of all ages, in the criminal justice system, in day camps, teaching sixth grade and emotionally disturbed children. The benefits of organized sports are incalculable for children and adults with regard to physical and mental health. But, the town has a hunger for cultural values, too. Attendance at all of the events held in town is testimony to that need for cultural enrichment and social and educational values.

LOST IN THE SHUFFLE

            And then, there is the creative economy. I daresay people normally don't correlate creativity in a community with economic or idea engines. They feel the warm fuzzy feelings from the entertainment aspects and the broadening and deepening of their knowledge. Take cultural activities away and we become robots; ideas go up in smoke if they are not written down, painted, composed, or designed.

            The idea here is that we need the "pockets" of nourishment in the theatres, schools, parks, beaches, etc. to move us to goals greater than ourselves. Harwich has been on the brink for several decades. Some people derive pleasure (and a certain amount of power) from keeping projects in flux, hanging from cliffs. The historic buildings are a good example.

NEGOTIATIONS TO NEGOTIATE RESPONSIBILITY

            "Negotiations" to set the ground rules for future "negotiations" for a lease are now under weigh with Harwich Junior Theatre. The ship is sailing. To their credit, the BOS has asked for a detailed accounting of what each party will be responsible for in terms of the care and feeding of the Sisson Road building if a lease is signed. The lease will spell out the specifics, but the extra step is needed because the town did not specify anything in the RFP.

            The scary part (and I didn't think there would be any scarier parts) is what the numbers will show. It is hard to imagine that the town will escape from some substantial responsibility, given the shape of the building. Another scary part is that the exterior renovations to bring the building up to historic register standards is on the back burner. There is such a cavalier attitude about the exterior, we may soon see that the O.R.B. will remain as a slum monument while all the rest is going on. A main objective of interested folks has been the revitalization of historic Harwich Center. It is discouraging to say the least that all parties involved with the decision-making are not addressing a most important cosmetic and historical issue that influences tourism directly.

            When these matters come up, I hope you all will be attentive and support the Junior Theatre in every way possible. I don't mean giving up the ship totally, I mean watch for fairness. The town has a lot to gain from HJT besides a maintenance fee. THIS IS THE PERFECT FIT.

            We will have to wait and see. Maybe, as a BOS member suggested, President Obama's stimulus bill will produce funds to fix everything good and proper and put Humpty-Dumpty together again. Don't count on it.

            By the way, housing RFPs for the historic sites will follow. Won't that be fun?

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Embattled Historians

 I have been asked to provide a short history of the old Harwich Exchange Building for CapeCodToday.com's Cape Cod History blog. So, I'll do my best with that, but here I'll express some of my own thoughts. For the complete article on the Exchange Building, go to www.capecodtoday.com . Click on Cape Cod History. It may take a few days to see it. 

I had to look up the definition of "historian". Historian: An expert in history; authority on history; a writer of history, chronicler. In all respects, I don't qualify; no degree in history, no career. I know that historians often take the same historical events and apply their own interpretations. While they record history with the idea(l) in mind of historic preservation, they may not necessarily throw themselves in front of historic buildings to save them. You may not find Doris Goodwin, for example, in the midst of a political battle to preserve certain historic buildings. However, I did notice a recent article in the Cape Cod Times, entitled Historians Take on Developers, in which Ken Burns and David McCullough are mentioned as opponents of Wal-Mart's proposal to build a store within a mile of a historic site in Fredricksburg, Virginia. What struck me most about the article was a statement by a Town Supervisor, Teri Pace, who said "there are more appropriate places in the county for Wal-Mart to build. She envisions an economic development plan that taps the county's history and its agricultural heritage . . . She concludes with "If we define ourselves as something different, with tourism and agriculture, we really have huge opportunities here.

ALL HISTORY IS LOCAL

We owe embattled historians and local lawmakers a deep sense of gratitude for keeping local history in the spotlight. Just as Tip O'Neill once said, "All politics is local", so it is for history. I didn't make that up. For more on this, go to: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/98/local/25quest.html.

 Who's In Charge?

Looking back on the demise of the Exchange building, I read in most of the articles about it a strong sense of guilt and remorse. The Board of Selectmen at the time avoided responsibility for directly voting on the action by petitioning the state to have the demolition order placed on a ballot for the townspeople to vote on. Nothing wrong with that. In an article in the Harwich Oracle on March 24,2004, forty years after it was torn down, it was called "an untimely demise". "It was a cumbersome structure to maintain."  So be it.

 To Survive or Not Survive, that is the question.

How can a town avoid the consequences of savagely uprooting the most significant landmark in Harwich (and Cape Cod) history? To understand better is to know who, what, when, and where it all happened. In so doing, we need to look at our local world today in a brighter light with an eye toward understanding the impact and value of today's decisions, i.e. what do we keep and what do we let go? What is worthy of being passed on to future generations and what is not? What is the litmus test?

 SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS?

I overheard this statement in Dunkin' Donuts recently: "Harwich history is in a sorry state." Why would anyone say that and where does that feeling come from? Who then is the keeper of our town's legacy? We have outstanding people working in the wings, but who is center stage calling the shots? Obviously, the Board of Selectmen. On what basis do they make their major decisions for the general public and if they pass it on for town meeting approval, how do they stand on the matter? I don't believe, in all of the eight years I have lived here, I have not heard a strong voice of advocacy from any member. Is it conflict of interest to take a stand? I take that back. Angelo LaMantia asked that the Board be proactive with regard to historic preservation.

 Early on, shortly after I got here eight years ago, I attended a few BOS meetings when they discussed values in the town management and town policies. I hope I got that right. I didn't hear anything about what the town uses to promote itself. I've heard it from the Chamber of Commerce, but never from the town leaders. If I missed something, I apologize. I would like to hear those matters again, if I missed them.

 SADNESS, NOSTALGIA, ANGER, AND BITTERNESS

In my brief research on the Exchange Building, I came across The Birth of a Building by Virginia Doane (Bob Doane's mother)(Bob Doane is a member of the Harwich Cultural Council and the Board of Directors of the Harwich Junior Theatre) and I have quoted from articles printed in the Harwich Independent.

 The articles are most revealing. It seems that the same kinds of appeals were made to preserve the Exchange Building as a few of us have made to save and restore the old rec. building on Sisson Road and the West Harwich School. Many looked back in tears at the loss of the Exchange Building. I have no doubts about the intensity of those appeals, nor do I have any doubts that there are people, few in numbers, not an influential bloc, in Harwich today who have the same interest. Unfortunately, the numbers weren't strong enough then and they are well hidden today.

PRAY FOR THE NEXT RFP

I am most anxious to see if there is a bid for the latest RFP, due January 15. I think there will be. Wouldn't it be nice if all of my readers called or wrote a short note to Town Hall to the Board of Selectmen encouraging them to move quickly on the RFP.

Hope you all got off to a roaring start for 2009. Happy New Year.

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2008 Odyssey: What Have We Learned

Archives

            When the end of a year rolls around, I try to look back at what happened during the year, what I accomplished, and what I learned as time went on. I have found the archives of my blogs quite enlightening with respect to my involvement in a particular project, i.e. the renovation of the two town-owned historic buildings.

I started in January 2007, so I have almost two years of blogs on which to reflect. I have gone so far as to compile the blogs from January 14, 2007 to August 29, 2008. Thanks to Walter Brooks and Maggie Kulbokas at CapeCodToday.com, I have been able to recover all of them for my own files. After two years, I finally realized that I should have written the blogs first, then copied and pasted them for the blog entry. In any event, I now have them all saved on a CD, pictures included, and I have one printed copy bound with plastic coil for my memoir collection. Winkir Printing in Yarmouth did the work for me using my CD. I consider that an accomplishment. Those who know me know that I am an avid believer in memoirs.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Year in a Big Nutshell

If you are a first time visitor to my blog, you are in for a treat if you go to my archives (scroll down the right hand column on my blog page). You only have to read January 2007 entries and my last two blogs to see what has happened with the historic project. Let me briefly summarize.

First, you will see that a new 501(c)(3) (The Friends of the Harwich Cultural Exchange Centers, Inc. a.k.a. CEC) was formed to fundraise for the interior renovations and other cultural uses. We launched a $1.5 million campaign for such things as elevators, furnishings, and other niceties. Are you wondering what happened?

Going back a few years to 2005, the Board of Selectmen tasked the Harwich Cultural Council to come up with a use for the two buildings. The Council got permission from the BOS to use the old rec. building on Sisson Road for cultural activities, the object being to make the community aware of the possibilities of establishing a cultural center there. Since the Council's main purpose is to fundraise and issue grants for cultural activities, the CEC was formed to take the responsibility of booking activities at the rec. building, which they did.

Before anything could be booked, it was necessary to prepare the building for public use, so a ramp had to be built for disabled access and a port-o-potty placed outside because of the steep staircase to the facilities indoors. The new approval of this, by the way, is coming up before the Historic Commission on December 23. Stay tuned. You can still see these two objects as you pass the building. For over eighteen months, the CEC programmed the center with a variety of cultural activities, and solicited donations for the renovations. The whole thing rolled along with all the participants happily working their tails off. Then, the first disaster occurred.

The Council recommended that the BOS designate the two historic buildings as cultural centers. The BOS turned the idea down and in so doing cut the legs out from under the CEC's fundraising goals. In the meantime, the cultural activities continued.

Fast forward to a few months ago after the bids came in for a mixed-use, housing/cultural center concept for the two historic sites. In short, given the options, the renovations of the buildings were left high and dry.

Then, the second disaster occurred. After a vocal hearing, two bidders for constructing affordable housing withdrew their bids. Despite the fact that a subcommittee of the BOS reviewed and found that only one bidder complied with the RFP and recommended that bidder for the contract award, the BOS allowed the withdrawal, so, in the space of less than two hours, the whole thing collapsed.

Had the housing award gone through, the Harwich Junior Theatre would likely have come forward to sign a lease to use the Sisson Road building and renovate it to historic standards for the historic register and gotten fundraising help in the process. We had it all and we let it go.

There is much more about this, all recorded in the blogs as we went along. No need to drag the history out anymore.

Now, there is a separate RFP on the street asking bidders to take over the use of the building and the renovations. In their wisdom, the BOS reduced the term of a lease from 99 years to 25 years. It is not the reduction that is important because there is a clause that offers renewal. It is the attitude. The reduction clearly comes across as a hostile act against the project. The 99-year lease was offered in the original RFP. The change was/is unnecessary. That's the way I see it. Every move so far has been made to drag the process out.

What Have We Learned?

The point here is, what did we learn from all this? What went wrong? What could we have done to ensure a positive outcome? No doubt, this project still is the most important project since the tearing down of the Exchange Building. Yet, the whole thing is being kicked around like a political football. Why? Why doesn't the BOS come clean on the reasoning behind their actions? I say to the BOS, walk us through your reasoning process, step by step. No one knows what you're thinking. When this happens, you have to wonder what strings are being pulled. All sorts of questions come to mind. Are they falling back on legalities that we don't know about? If so, why haven't they revealed them? Why did they wait until the final days to lower the boom? They knew it was coming, why didn't they ask for progress reports and help guide us through their thinking? It isn't enough to issue an edict about having all committees communicate with each other. Nothing seems to happen if all of us do that.

What Were We Lacking

Did we not inform the public well enough of the import of the project? Do they not realize the effect the Sisson Road site development will have on the Historic District? Do they not have any thoughts about historic preservation? Should the BOS have told the Cultural Council and CEC to cease and desist using the building, instead of leading them on? Does not the public understand that the maintenance of the historic buildings will no longer show up on the town budget, an amount in excess of $18,000 per year? Does not the public understand the historic significance of the project, the effect on tourism, the effect on the creative economy, the pride, and on and on?

I am asking these questions because I do not have any answers. I, and others, feel that something went wrong, drastically wrong. We went from a solid affordable housing building proposal and positive interest by the nationally known theatre group (HJT) back to square one. Why? Show me the steps that should have been taken.

Also, you have to know that the dollar cost of hundreds of volunteer hours went into this project. The town could/would never spend the money to pay for the effort put into this. I hesitate to put a dollar value to the number of willful hours and personal treasure that I and my colleagues (and many others) put into this.

Looking Ahead

            I don't know what Plan B is. Unfortunately, I have had to retreat from civic affairs due to a malady that nobody seems to have a remedy for. It has sapped my energy. I just hope that all of the king's men are on their game. Santa Claus is somewhere over northern Maine by now. Hope he stops here for a spell and visits you all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!!

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