Commission resolves to include Community Preservation Committee and note Affordable Housing Trust placement

Commissioners raised concerns that the draft charter omitted the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and did not clearly place the Affordable Housing Trust in the new Chapter 7 listing. Chair said the CPC is required following acceptance of the Community Preservation Act and should be explicitly recognized in the charter.

Members debated whether the Affordable Housing Trust, governed by a separate declaration and bylaw adopted in 2018, should be treated as a town agency; the group ultimately decided to include the trust on the flowchart and to draft language stating the trust is appointed by the Select Board in accordance with the trust declaration rather than by bylaw alone. “The Affordable Housing Trust shall be appointed by the Select Board in accordance with the provisions of the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust,” the Chair summarized as agreed text.

Commissioners also discussed practical placement (suggested section 7-2-9A for the trust) and resolved to add CPC language (72-8A) listing nine or fewer members appointed by the Select Board. The commission will fold the agreed placements into Draft 7 and note the legal distinctions of the trust document in the report to the town.