Know your town: Town of Fairhaven boards and who’s on ’em
Fairhaven has a representative Town Meeting form of government. There are six precincts with 429 elected Town Meeting seats. Currently, there are vacant seats in some precincts. Elected board members are also Town Meeting members. Elected officials are voted in by residents registered to vote in Fairhaven.
Elections are held the first Monday in April, however Town Meeting approved to change date to the second Tuesday in June. The bylaw change has been submitted to the Attorney General’s Office for approval.
The town has a Town Administrator who runs the day-to-day operations of town hall and all town departments except for public works, which is governed by the Board of Public Works, an elected board.
The five-member Select Board sets policy that guides the decisions of the Town Administrator, manages the town budget, and appoints members of boards and committees.
The School Department is also separate, governed by the Superintendent and the elected School Committee.
Candidates need to collect 50 certified signatures to get on the ballot for townwide office, and 10 signatures from their precinct to get on the ballot for Town Meeting. Contact the Town Clerk to find out what else you need to know to run for office.
Appointed boards are appointed by a vote of the Selecboard (unless otherwise noted). The board usually asks for a letter from those interested in serving on a board. There is an application form online.
Fairhaven’s public library is a not a town department, but is funded by the town based on a formula created by a special act of the legislature.
See the calendar on the town website for meeting dates, times, and agendas.
To apply to be on a board, visit the website under “Volunteer Opportunities.”
Town Website is: https://fairhaven-ma.gov
Editor’s Note: The names come from the Town Clerk’s records and the town website. If your name appears in error, or does not appear where it should, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 508-979-4023, Ext. 3.
See page 18 for a list of town departments and phone numbers.
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