Bob Espindola. Submitted photo.
Bob Espindola
I am running for another term as your Selectman because many of you have encouraged me to. I have enjoyed having been entrusted with your confidence for the past three terms. I take this job very seriously and I work hard for you. You see, I believe the job of Selectman should be much more than attending Selectmen meetings and I also believe that strong leadership starts with listening. I am proud of my record as a Selectman for Fairhaven.
Here are some examples of how I have listened and taken action:
DOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW. Early on I listened to concerns about financial reserves and I advocated for a free Financial Management review by the Department of Revenue. Recommendations that came out of that review resulted in the Town running five-year projections for revenues and expenses, establishing a formal Capital Planning process, establishing Financial Management Policies from which substantial reserves were built that are now carrying us through the impact of COVID-19.
EMPHASIS ON GRANTS. I listened to budget concerns and did research on grant opportunities. I have personally had a hand in initiating and writing grants or in passing along grant opportunities I had researched to Town Administration to follow through on. Throughout my years as a Selectman, the grant applications I have been involved with have yielded over $1.0 Million. Many of these grants bring about efficiency improvements that will continue to pay dividends year after year (and long after I am a Selectmen) covering areas like Economic Development, IT Consolidation, Improved Energy Efficiency, Solar Installations. Other grants will make our roadways safer and more user friendly for pedestrians and cyclists. I advocated for the Town Administrator to place a focus on grant opportunities and Mr. Rees worked to ensure that all Department Heads research grant opportunities and report, annually, on their accomplishments. Thanks to the hard work of a very dedicated Town Staff, in FY2020 alone the Town received over 34 grants for a total of $1.1.
CABLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I learned that the Town had been collecting franchise fees from Comcast for over 10 years without providing the services those fees were meant for. This resulted in accumulated funds of over $1M that can only be spent for those types of services. I advocated for reforming the CAC and helped negotiate a contract with Comcast that resulted in nearly $200K in funds to invest in the build-out of a Fiber Optic network connecting all Town Facilities. This resulted in greatly improved internet capacity, better security and will save the town six figures annually.
I proposed a Bylaw that requires the Town to record all meetings, and these meetings are now aired on a very timely basis on Cable TV. People can now watch any meeting at their own leisure and from anyplace where they have internet service.
BROADBAND STUDY COMMITTEE. I listened to complaints about high Cable rates, poor service and lack of competition and advocated to form a Broadband Study Committee. We now have a completed Feasibility study, RFP for the Design/Build cost of a fiber network which will provide accurate, hard numbers for a potential project build out.
If I am elected to serve another 3 years, you can expect more listening, learning, action and accomplishments. I’m hoping to have your vote on Monday, April 5th.
Thank you.
Lisa Plante
Lisa Plante
My name is Lisa Plante and I’m proud to be running for the office of Selectman. I have lived in Fairhaven for 51 years , I left for 1 year in 1991 and was back before the year was over. I Love this town and can’t imagine ever living anywhere else. I have three children and a granddaughter. My son Robert graduated from FHS in 2009 and is now a Bio Engineer. My daughter Kayla graduated FHS In 2020 and plans to attend college in the fall. My youngest daughter Kristen graduates this year from FHS and my granddaughter Lillian attends Leroy L Wood School.
I am running for Selectman because I truly love this Town and want to do everything in my power to serve the people that live here . I will be your voice!! When talking to people one of the biggest concerns was not feeling like they had a voice outside of town meeting. I want to work with the seated Selectman to have a time alloted at the Selectboard meeting for one precinct a month to come forward with concerns, problems,even criticisms. This would give each precinct two visits between town meetings. I think this will bring people together and help get a better understanding of what needs to be done to make Fairhaven the best possible place now and in the future.
I currently serve on the Finance Committee as the Vice Chair. I have served for almost 10 years now and I have knowledge of the town finances as a whole and the budgets of every department which is what we focus on primarily. I work very well with the members of our committee and I have had the pleasure of working with all of the department heads and the selectmen while preparing for town meeting every year. Before joining the Finance Committee I served on the Comission on Disability. I have been a long time town meeting member and served the community by volunteering in the School System for many years.
I am ready and eager to continue serving the town and bringing something new to the office of Selectman. I have always been fiscally conservative and have made every decision based on what is best for the town. The job of Selectman is a privilege, it is not about power or ego it is about service to the townspeople. I will work hard for the people of Fairhaven and would appreciate your vote on election day. I WILL BE YOUR VOICE.
Thank you Beth David and The Fairhaven Neighborhood News for this opportunity.
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