By Beth David, Editor
At its meeting on 4/27/26, the Fairhaven Select Board voted to change their recommendation for the operating budget and the proposed override that will be voted on at Town Meeting this Saturday, 5/2.
Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, said the state budget is not finalized, but the latest iteration gives the town $94,000 more than expected. He made a recommendation for an amendment to the budget adding $90,000.
Mr. Hickey proposed that the town use $90K to restore the animal shelter and make the Animal Control Officer full time ($30,861 for wages and $24,700 for shelter expenses); restore the $25,000 (the full amount) for police overtime and $9,439 (of $25,000).
The reduction to the override totals $110,971. The $20,971 difference represents funding a full time ACO, but not a part time ACO, and reducing Animal Control Expenses based on prior year expenditures.
These changes would be made to article 8, which is the operating budget without an override and eliminates the ACO and the shelter, eliminates $25K each in overtime for Police and Fire; and eliminates the tourism department.
Article 9 proposes to send a Proposition 2 1/2 override ballot question to the voters. It asks for $760,149 to fund ACO and the shelter, police and fire overtime at $25K each, restore the tourism department, restore one of two lost positions in the highway department, and add $481,376 to the School Department.
Lots of discussion and several motions later, the board ended up voting for a different allocation than recommended by Mr. Hickey.
SB member Andrew Romano first proposed allocating the whole $90K to the school department.
Mr. Romano said he did not like the message it sends to fund the animals and not the schools. He said they should be doing all they can to support the schools and let the volunteers set up a nonprofit to run the animal shelter. He said they reached out to state representatives to get more money to fund the schools and then they are spending it on the animal shelter.
“You are not alone,” said SB member Natalie Mello, adding that the fact the town is so close to Net School Spending “should be an embarrassment.”
She said we claim to value education but then do not fund it.
“A budget is a reflection of your values,” said Ms. Mello, adding if they truly value education as much as they say, they need to spend money on it.
SB chair Charles Murphy said it takes a long time to set up a nonprofit. Funding the shelter for one more year would give the volunteers time.
The motion to use the whole $90K for the schools failed, 2-3, with Mr. Romano and Ms. Mello voting for it, and Mr. Murphy, Keith Silvia, and Andrew Saunders voting against.
Mr. Romano then made a motion to allocate the money to fund the ACO and shelter and use the rest for the schools: $30,861 to Animal Control Wages, $24,700 to Animal Control Expenses and $34,439 to the School.
That motion passed, 3-2, with Mr. Romano, Ms. Mello, and Mr. Murphy supporting it, and Mr. Silvia and Mr. Saunders voting “no.”
The budget will have to be voted on at TM, and members can make amendments. The board is also meeting in the morning, before TM on Saturday, when they can also make changes to their recommendations.
In another matter, the board voted against a proposal to use the Rogers School for a summer art exhibit and program. Local artist, Susan Darwin said she had three artists lined up to create an immersive experience using the front part of the old school.
The building has been empty for years and has lead issues, and is also an historical building gifted to Fairhaven by town benefactor, Henry Huttleston Rogers.
Ms. Darwin made a passionate plea to use that building. She said she had contractors to do the work. SB members, however, voiced concerns about liability and the building itself.
Ms. Darwin said she was willing to take the risk.
“But it’s magical,” she said. “Those buildings ere meant to be used. They were gifts to the town.”
The board voted 2-3 against it with Mr. Romano and Ms. Mello supporting it, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Silvia, and Mr. Saunders against.
The board also voted against changing the number of police officers at the polling station. Resident, Frank Crowell, wrote a letter stating that one officer is sufficient, not three.
•••
Click here to download the 4/30/26 issue: 04-30-26 WI 5K
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
