By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Select Board had two separate items on the agenda relating to the Atlas Tack Working Group at its meeting on 10/27/25.
The board first discussed the way the ATWG operates, and then discussed whether or not they should change it to a committee instead of a working group. The SB had received a complaint that the public as prohibited from attending a meeting. The main difference between a working group and a committee is that a committee has to post agendas on the town’s website 48 before the meeting; the meeting has to be recorded by government access; and the public is allowed to attend. A working group has no rules regulating public access.
ATWG chairperson, Rick Trapilo, told the board that it was out of an “over abundance of caution’ that the group felt the meetings should be closed to the public. He said the group wanted to be focused solely on Atlas Tack.
Mr. Trapilo said they would be happy to have the meetings open to the public, but still want the flexibility they have by not being a committee.
Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, said a reasonable alternative would be to allow the group to stay a working group, and they will live stream the meetings via Zoom. The meetings would also be available on demand.
SB member Andrew Romano asked if there was a financial difference.
Mr. Hickey said there is. A committee would have to be recorded in the room, requiring an employee to work the cameras and computers. For a Zoom meeting, any staff member can set it up. He also noted they do not have the ability to live shoot when the group is on site, but they can post when a site visit will occur so the public can attend.
Karen Vilandry, President of Hands Across the River Coalition, submitted a letter asking the board to make the WG a committee so the public can attend.
“In so doing, Fairhaven residents can attend and for example, may offer information about individuals going into the building, vandalizing the property, etc.,” she wrote.
She also wrote that nearby residents would be kept abreast of the Superfund site so close to their homes.
“So will you please make it a Committee?” she wrote. “It’s crucial to allow Fairhaven residents to know what’s going on with that Superfund Site!”
In the end, the board did not vote to make any change, being satisfied with the compromise outlined by Mr. Hickey.
Mr. Romano said it was what he was looking for.
“I applaud the compromise that was reached,”said SB member, Natalie Mello, adding that having people having access to the meetings should satisfy people who felt they were being shut out.
Mr. Trapilo also gave a brief update on the WG’s progress. He said they are trying to find out ownership of the different parcels in the 44-acre property. He also said the owner of the building seems to receptive to fixing some of the security issues, such as repairs to the fencing, but nothing definitive has happened yet.
He said the best result it to tear the building down and remove the debris from the site. The WG is looking at options involving the federal Environmental Protection agency, state Department of Environmental Protection, and other agencies.
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