Sandwich Selectmen Approve Heather Harper as New Asst. Town Manager

SANDWICH – Selectmen in Sandwich voted last week to hire Heather Harper as the town’s next assistant town manager.

Harper previously served as the assistant town manager in Falmouth for over two decades and currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Cape Cod Commission.

The vote followed a recommendation from Town Manager Bud Dunham.

“Heather is an extremely qualified professional and an outstanding person with a lot of knowledge,” Dunham said.

During her time working as assistant town manager in Falmouth she served under three different town managers. She also filled in as interim town manager a few times, once for more than a year.

“I honestly don’t think that we could have been more fortunate than we are that she is interested in the job and we would love to have her contribute to Sandwich like she has contributed to other places,” Dunham said.

Harper was one of 73 applicants who applied for the position. She was one of four applicants interviewed.

Harper told selectmen that she is expecting to remain as assistant town manager for the long-term.

“I’m in this for the long-haul,” she said. “I’m truly interested in the town of Sandwich. I know what lays ahead in terms of what types of projects that you need to continue to carry out. You are making a lot of headway right now in the community and I would be delighted to be a part of that.”

Harper said she would be able to start in mid-August after wrapping up some projects with the Cape Cod Commission.

She will replace Doug Lapp who recently left to take the Rockland town administrator’s job.