Earle Road Beach in Harwich Port
HARWICH – Seasonal municipal workers in Harwich could be looking at a raise in 2018.
Selectmen approved the hourly bump last month at the recommendation of the town’s recreation Director Eric Beebe, contingent on a fee increase for Harwich beach stickers.
The move is an effort to stem a recent loss of lifeguards and beach attendants to other towns, almost all of whom offer their beach staff more money.
According to Town Administrator Chris Clark, the 50-cent across the board increases will cost the town an estimated $40,000 annually, bringing lifeguard hourly pay to $15 per hour, which is more in line with the Cape average.
“We are starting to see some erosion in the recruitment and retention of people that work for us,” said Clark.
“To that end, if we do a $5 increase on the beach permit that will generate about the $40,000 that we need.”
The proposal, which received the support of selectmen on a 3 to 1 vote, and the proposed beach fee hike will be the subject of a public hearing next Monday.
By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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