Fairhaven Town Clerk
The following bylaw changes which were accepted at the Fairhaven Annual Town Meeting which convened on May 3, 2025 have been approved by the Office of the Attorney General, are published herewith in accordance with the current regulations. Claims of invalidity of any of the amendments to the bylaw by reason of any defect in the procedure of the adoption or replacement may only be made within ninety (90) days of this announcement.
Copies of the bylaws may be examined at the Town Clerk’s Office, 40 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA
ARTICLE 13A: NEW REVOLVING FUND – ROGER A. GRIMSHAW PARK
By majority vote, the Town voted to authorize a “Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Account” under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53 E ½ by adding the following paragraphs to §2-6 of the Town Bylaws:
Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Fund
(1) Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Fund. There shall be a separate fund called the “Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Fund” authorized for use by the Council on Aging Director.
(2) Revenues. The Town Accountant shall establish the Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Fund as a separate account and credit to the fund 15% of all fees received from events located at Roger A. Grimshaw Park received by the Council on Aging in connection with the use of and events held at Roger A. Grimshaw Park.
(3) Purposes and expenditures. During each fiscal year, the Council on Aging Director may incur liabilities against and spend monies from the Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Fund for the purpose of funding the upkeep, maintenance, and improvement of Roger A. Grimshaw Park, or act in any other manner related thereto.
(4) Fiscal years. The Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Fund shall operate for fiscal years that begin on or after July 1, 2025
and to see if the Town will vote to authorize a total amount that may be expended from the Roger A. Grimshaw Park Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026.
ARTICLE 13B: REVOLVING FUNDS
By majority vote, the Town voted to authorize or re-authorize the following Revolving Accounts under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53 E ½ by adding the following and to amend General Bylaws Section 2-6 terms:
Revolving Fund Authorized to Spend Revenue Source FY26 Limit
Hazardous Materials fund, by Fire Chief, fromDisposal fees/charges: $100,000
Sustainability fund, by Sustainability Committee, fromFees/charges: $10,000
Hoppy’s Landing fund, by Marine Resources, from Fees/charges from users of Hoppy’s Landing: $25,000
Town Hall Auditorium fund, by Town Administrator, from Town Hall Auditorium rental fees: $3,000
Park Utilities fund, by Board of Public Works, from User fees: $2,000
Shellfish Mitigation fund, by Marine Resources, from Mitigation fees: $25,000
Mooring Fees fund, by Marine Resources, from Mooring fees: $4,000
Mattress Recycling fund, by Board of Health/Sanitation, from Fees from mattress disposal: $3,000
Hoarding Remediation fund, by Board of Health, from Revenue from textile recovery boxes: $2,000
Supportive Social Day Program fund, by Council on Aging Director, from Receipts from supportive social day program: $250,000
Roger A. Grimshaw Park (NEW) fund, by Council on Aging Director, from Receipts from events at Grimshaw Park: $5,000
ARTICLE 17: AMEND BYLAW, CHAPTER 164, SOLID WASTE
By majority vote, the Town voted to amend Bylaws, Chapter 164 Solid Waste by adding to the existing language indicated below in bold/underlined.
B. General Prohibition and Regulation.
No retail establishment, retail food establishment, nonprofit and/or Town facility food provider shall transfer merchandise to end consumers in a thin- film single-use plastic bag, and shall only use check- out bags that are:
a. Reusable checkout bags
i. Reusable checkout bag shall be defined as the following: “A bag that is not made of plastic film and that is made from any other natural or synthetic fabric, including, but not limited to, woven or nonwoven nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene-terephthalate, or Tyvek, shall satisfy all of the following:
(1) It shall be sewn.
(2) It shall be capable of carrying 22 pounds over a distance of 175 feet for a minimum of 125 uses.
(3) It shall have a minimum fabric weight of at least 80 grams per square meter.
ARTICLE 18: AMEND BYLAW, CHAPTER 50, § 3, MEETING TO ELECT TOWN OFFICIALS
By majority vote, the Town voted to amend Bylaws, Chapter 50 § 3, Meeting to elect Town officials by striking some of the existing language as indicated in strikethrough, or adding language as indicated in bold/underlined below.
The Annual Town Meeting shall be held on the first Monday in April Saturday in May, unless otherwise specified by the Select Board, at which time all articles in the warrant will be considered. at which time the election of all Town officials and Town Meeting members shall take place, and thereafter said meeting will be adjourned to another day for the consideration of all other articles in the warrant. The Annual town election of officers and town meeting members will be adjourned until the 2nd Tuesday in June.
Respectfully Submitted, Elisabeth E. Horan, Town Clerk
FNN: 12/11/25, 12/18/25
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