Historic Harwich

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believed that corporations are inhabited by intelligent, rational, hardworking people of goodwill, but often have outdated ideas, narrow conception of problems, and internal misunderstandings.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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Dear Santa Claus: Are You Coming to Harwich This Year?

I was going to write a letter to Santa Claus, to ask him why he wants to pass by certain parts of Harwich this year. I hope we can change his mind.

Mixed Feelings

On the one hand, I am quite happy that yesterday my wife and I celebrated our 51^st anniversary. Yup, on Pearl Harbor Day, married in Honolulu in 1957. Seems like yesterday; and then there was a nice breakfast on Saturday at the Lighthouse with some of the stellar members of the Brooks Library Writers Group, lunch on Friday with Elizabeth Hude to talk about the plans for Historic Harwich Center, and a trip, including lunch, with Gerry Loftus to Hyannis. Quite a weekend, meeting with all the "movers and shakers". I'm trying to stay upbeat today, but I have a few bad thoughts to deal with. Worry, worry, worry.

Very Bad News

The news of the cancelation of the Cranberry Harvest Festival for 2009 hit very hard. Strangely, when I heard about it, I felt the same as if I had lost an old friend. It's not that I had any part in the organization of it. I sold my books under the big-top three times, so I have had insider experience dealing with the crowds of shoppers, visitors, volunteers, and neighbor crafters from all over the country. I met people from fifteen states. I also dealt with the weather, including the back end of the hurricane that came through a few years ago. The water running through created paths of mud. One gust of wind blew down and smashed a display of a swimming pool company before the fair closed down for the afternoon. However, I met my sales goal despite the weather. I enjoyed standing between jewelry and stuffed toys.

A Myriad of Thoughts

Many things come to mind. The news declared that the number of crafters dropped from 300 to 200. I can see why. The cost of a 10 X 10 slot in the tent was about $800 or more for the weekend. Throw in transportation costs, some people traveling great distances, motel costs, food, etc. not to mention the grunt work of hauling in the crafts, setting up, and tearing down and you have quite an expensive overhead to capture before the profit emerges.

Then, you have the magnificent offerings: Handmade goods and food, all excellent quality in an area almost as big as Macy's.

You have the booths whereby organizations, like the Harwich Middle School and others, reach out for donations to fund wonderful projects.

And, most of all, you have the army of volunteers who kept the whole thing going; people operating in the background donating their time and expertise in the planning and finances; and upfront people helping set up fences and booths, and selling tickets, and helping with cleanup. None of these people benefited financially, no one really got the credit they deserved; unsung heroes they are.

On top of all that, the Festival Committee now struggles for funds for their two key projects: The tent for the high school graduation and the scholarships.

By the way, if you haven't bought your Christmas tree yet, stop in at the A&W on Rte. 28 and pick one out. The proceeds go to the Festival.

When you look at it all, and include the fireworks, the parade, the kids program at Red River Beach, you may come up with more of your own thoughts. There is no denying that the Cranberry Festival was/is an integral part of the heart and soul of Harwich. The revitalization of the Historic Harwich Center and the town as a whole has received a terrible wound.

A Higher Purpose

I have said many times, about the cultural programs held at the old rec. building and other venues in town that it isn't the program that counts; it's what you take away from it that counts. Undoubtedly, the Festival has been the most talked about event in Harwich history. The good feeling that people walked away with is priceless. Apparently, Santa Claus may not be here to rescue this event, vital to the economy, vital to the pride of Harwich. Where are you, Santa?

...and then we have

On another front, the RFP for the renovations and use of the two historic buildings is on the street. We can only wait until mid January for results. I have talked about this enough; like a broken record. If you haven't read my last two blogs, then you can't possibly understand how I feel. I think the sad news about the Festival closed me down. We had it all and we let it slip away.

I guess I don't deal with disappointment very well. My heart goes out to the countless volunteers who have put themselves on the line to make good things happen for Harwich, only to have one thing or another blow them out of the water, some because of apathy, some because of out of control events. Of course, many out there continue to struggle for their causes. God bless them all.

Oh where, oh where is the vision

I wish there was some way to paint a picture or create a diorama or draw a map or find a method by which the people can express what they think (or hope) Harwich will look like ten or twenty years from now. We need something to work toward, a vision of Harwich as a whole rather than a conglomeration of projects, something that is constantly in the public eye (and in the eyes of the Board of Selectmen). Have you seen the mural in the Griffin Room at Town Hall, done by George Robbins? It is the vision of one man, but it will be forever there as a reminder of Harwich's legacy.

In writing, beginning, middle, and end is the structure of all good stories. The beginning is where we are now, the end is where we want to be, and the middle is how we get there. The author of it all is the power that makes it happen and we entrust that to the Board of Selectmen to be a guiding hand, not a reactionary one.

A Pleasant End for You

Maybe I'll get another blog in before Christmas. In any event, enjoy the best of Christmases and a safe and healthy holiday season. Somewhere in your thoughts (or letters to Santa Claus), give a yell for the Festival and for the mixed use, affordable housing/cultural center project.

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Harwich Humpty Dumpty, Bre'er Rabbit, The Tar Baby, and Other Musings

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put Humpty together again.

I took the liberty of looking up this old rhyme on Wikipedia. There's more to Humpty Dumpty than you may have realized. You can look it up, too, so I won't go into what I found. The interpretation I like best is the one illustrated in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. It's a riddle and the answer is an egg. When you break an egg ..... well, you know what that means. The rhyme, referring to an egg, doesn't talk about the mess that's left behind after the egg is broken.

Lately, I keep reverting to children's rhymes and/or stories, straying from my Shakespearean tragedy moments. My last blog mentioned "nettles". While I didn't mention it then, in the back of my rattled mind, it had to do with Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby. Please don't throw me into the briar patch. The Tar Baby is an apt metaphor for what we have today with the two historic buildings and affordable housing.

The most recent Board of Selectmen meeting, November 24, (the part dealing with the recent new RFP) was truly a masterpiece. All of the members appeared to be anxious to get things done, after years of delay, but they appeared to be more anxious to bury the current projects under a cloud whereby they can, eventually, throw up their hands and declare that they did all they could. Only one member offered his dismay over the RFP in its current form. To top it off, a significant portion of the taping of that agenda item discussion for the public to view on Channel 18 was produced without sound. Anyone wanting to review the tape needs to brush up on lip reading. How convenient.

All kidding aside, seriously, I want to commend the staff, i.e. Jim Merriam, Joe Borghesi, and Sue Leven for constructing an excellent RFP, albeit that it is done in a losing cause; a serious waste of time and talent. I have to reiterate my dismay over the decision of the BOS to lay the responsibility off on the staff to do the dirty work of burying the mixed-use, affordable housing/cultural center project. It is unfortunate that a member of the Board supported a 25-year lease proposal on grounds that "this is what they do in California," and is (in so many words) "generous compared to the 10-year lease now enjoyed by the Brooks Academy Museum folks." This issue is the straw that broke the camel's back.

If you were in attendance, you got a bird's eye view of what the BOS subcommittee went through: (A committee organized to approve the design of the previous RFP, review and approve the final draft, review compliance of the bidders to the RFP specs when the bids came in, and make a recommendation to the BOS of a bid award). Not an easy task as you can imagine. The BOS accomplished the initial parts of this in a little over an hour

Granted the latest RFP is somewhat less complex, however, the review process was astonishing. I may be wrong, but it appeared that the members, save one, had not read the RFP before the meeting. No one addressed the issue of a shorter 25-year lease until it was brought up by Dave Marsland, later addressed by Jack Brown, Chair of the CPC, and Pat Stackhouse, Chair of the Cultural Council. Even then, the ramifications of that term got very little attention. As expected, all fell in line with one member's suggestion.

Another issue that nearly got overlooked was the matter of who would be responsible for the renovations of the buildings. Everyone's eyes glazed over when the matter came to light that the wording in the RFP stated that "the town is committed to restoring the buildings to historic standards" (or something close to that), rather than clearly stating that a bidder would be responsible. How strange is it that this most important issue didn't get the right wording, even when the BOS liaison to the staff (and staff) must have known about it. The explanation put forth would confuse even the brightest of bidders.

Pat Stackhouse, Chair of the Cultural Council, also reminded the Board that, absent the housing component, the bidder will be bidding without the expectation of receiving money to help with renovations. Housing Assistance Corp. (HAC) and HECH agreed to contribute/pay to the town $100,000 and $150,000 respectively for building housing on the sites. Either of these amounts, by recommendation of the subcommittee, would be earmarked for building renovations.

In a vote of four ayes and one nay the RFP was approved.

Questions, Questions, Questions

At what point did the probability (or possibility) of the Harwich Junior Theatre submitting a bid to renovate and use the building (at no cost to taxpayer) go out the window. To offer a 25-year lease instead of 99 years is disgraceful and looks like a deliberate attempt to cut the HJT out of the picture. Reason given: The town needs to protect itself in case the lessee fails to meet the obligations of the lease. The fact that the HJT has survived, with national recognition, for 58 years has no bearing? Is it because the BOS doesn't trust the HJT to hold up to its obligations? Of course, things will be different 25 years from now. Why would the HJT take on a 25-year lease, renovate the building, and then leave it to chance that the lease could be closed down at the end of the term. Why offer a 99-year lease for housing and not for the buildings? What happens if the builder of housing doesn't live up to obligations of maintenance, etc.? Of course, all of this would be written into a lease.

  So, what comes next? Look for a miracle, if you believe in them. This isn't Miracle on 34^th Street, it's Miracle on Sisson Road. Tell me there's a Santa Claus.

The BOS must believe in miracles, for they now think that a cultural organization will respond to the RFP. In fact, announcements are to be sent out throughout the kingdom to find a bidder. Whether deliberate or not, the rug has now been pulled out from under HJT. This is a replay with HJT of a previous dispute over the lease term some years ago, an issue well known by the liaison to the staff and knowingly injected into the RFP. Knowing this, why would the lease term be changed when the town already committed itself to 99 years in the first RFP. The lease term is discretionary and the BOS has been given authority by the annual town meeting to sign a lease. One way to encourage bidding is to be generous with the term up front, yet allowing for escape if really needed.

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum.

The BOS subcommittee once voted to issue one RFP for a single developer to take over housing at both sites and building use and renovations at both sites, in which case no additional RFPs would be needed. Then they voted against it, because the architect (with some encouragement from an unknown source) suggested that no one would submit a bid and that the town would have to go out with more RFPs. It was the building renovations that struck fear in the minds of the committee. So, the original RFP went out with three choices: 1) All 2) Housing only; and 3) Renovations only. Not surprising: Three bids came in for housing only. These bids were withdrawn, thus the whole process collapsed, THE GREAT COLLAPSE OF 2008, unprecedented in Harwich history. It did not have to happen.

I hate to be repetitive, but one has to keep all of the previous actions in mind to see the reasoning (and motives) behind what is following the collapse.

If you believe in miracles, pray for one, because it won't be coming from the BOS. The Board's current scenario has failure built into it.

We had it all and all slipped through our fingers.

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put the mixed-use affordable housing/cultural center concept together again.

One man's opinion. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.

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