Mary Macedo, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on Monday 11/02/20 the Fairhaven Board of Public Works discussed 2021 recycling center permit costs, and the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in town spurring the possibility of rotating town employees in groups again.
During the BPW’s latest meeting board members Marcus Ferro and Cameron Durant attended the meeting remotely.
Mr. Durant asked the board and Chairperson Brian Wotton if it would be possible to start having the BPW meetings 15 minutes later, at 6:15 p.m., so he would no longer have a work conflict and would be able to make the meetings on time.
Mr. Wotton said he discussed the possibility of changing the meeting time with the board before the meeting started, and that all the board members agreed that they have no problem with the change.
Public Works Superintendent Vinnie Furtado told the board that with COVID-19 numbers rising, both Dartmouth and Mattapoisett have started to rotate their town employees.
Mr. Furtado reminded the board that back in April when COVID-19 restrictions were more stringent, the department rotated employees, with two groups alternating, one week on and one week off.
Mr. Furtado said that Dartmouth and Mattapoisett have started rotating employees like that again because of the rising COVID cases.
Mr. Furtado said he just wanted to let the board know what other towns are doing just in case the board wanted to do the same.
Mr. Wotton said that there has been no advisement from the state to change the employees’ schedules. He said there was no intention of the board to rotate schedules in the current situation unless otherwise noted or mandated by the governor.
Mr. Wotton said that he believed Dartmouth and Mattapoisett were just being overly cautious. Even though Fairhaven is red on the state’s map, it is red mostly because of an outbreak of 30 cases in nursing homes, he said.
Mr. Wotton said until they hear otherwise to just leave the town employees schedules the way they are. The rest of the board members agreed.
In another matter the board wanted to discuss the possibility of raising the recycling center permit fees for 2021.
Mr. Furtado said that they have less revenue this year from the recycling center than in previous years, running a deficit of around $8,000. He recommended that the board think about increasing the permit fee from $20 to $25 and to possibly increase the senior citizen discount age from 60 years old to 62 years old.
Mr. Wotton agreed that the board needed to increase some fees to cover the expenses. He said they are not trying to make money by raising fees, but need to raise the fees to cover the deficit.
Vice-Chairperson Robert “Hoppy” Hobson said he thought they should increase the contractor permit fees from $400 to $500 because they dispose of the most stuff.
Mr. Wotton said the board increased the contractors’ permit fee from $100 to $400 in 2019.
Mr. Hobson said that other towns charge by the load, and $500 is cheap for a contractor or landscaper.
Board member Frank Coelho suggested they increase both contractor and residents fees.
Mr. Wotton said in 2019 when the board changed the rates for contractors they went from selling 20 permits to only 12 permits the following year.
Mr. Hobson explained that raising the permit fees would only hopefully be for one more year or until the new recycling center is ready. The new recycling center will have scale and everyone will have to pay by the load instead.
Mr. Wotton and Mr. Ferro agreed that they liked Mr. Furtado’s recommendation of increasing the permit fee from $20 to $25 and increasing the senior citizen discount age from 60 years old to 62 years old.
Mr. Wotton said that changing the senior citizen age from 60 years old to 62 years old is not going to hurt anyone.
Mr. Hobson said he was against raising the age.
Mr. Coelho said he hated to see any increase but he had no problem with Mr. Furtado’s recommendations. Mr. Coelho said they needed to raise prices to level off the deficit.
Mr. Wotton said next year if they find they take in more revenue than expected, they can always lower the fees.
Mr. Wotton said they would gain roughly $3,750 if they raise the permit fee from $20-$25. He said then if they increase the fee for contractors from $400-$500 it might level off the deficit.
Mr. Hobson said he would be ok with increasing the senior citizen age if the board also agrees to increase the contractors’ permit fees.
Mr. Coelho made the motion to increase the contractor permit fee from $400-$500, to increase the resident permits from $20 to $25, and to increase the senior citizen discount age from 60 years old to 62 years old.
The motion passed unanimously.
In another matter Mr. Furtado informed the board that they received a recycling grant for $14,000 and he hopes to use it for a landfill study.
Mr. Furtado also informed the board that Sewer Department Superintendent Linda Schick will be retiring in August and they need to start preparing to find candidates for that position.
In another matter Mr. Coelho said a few town employees have asked if the town supplies face masks to town employees. Mr. Furtado said yes they just have to ask for them.
Mr. Coelho said some town employees have suggested getting masks that say BPW or something similar to help identify them when going onto private property.
Mr. Furtado said the office staff has masks with town seals on them, and he thought it was a great idea. He asked Administrative Assistant Becky Vento to get details.
In another matter, the board met with Eric Smith of WC Smith and Son about a driveway waiver on Bridge Street for Carapace/Alden GMC which is expanding.
Mr. Smith explained that they are moving the already existing driveway to the west about 45 feet.
Mr. Wotton said the driveway is currently 80 feet and they not making it bigger.
The board voted unanimously to grant the waiver.
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