By Beth David, Editor
At its meeting on 9/28/26, the Fairhaven Select Board took several votes to allow the Old Tyme Holiday event to take place in and around town hall on 12/12/26.
The department that runs the event was eliminated due to budget constraints, so the Economic Development Committee, comprised completely of volunteers, has taken up the cause.
EDC Chairperson, Cathy Melanson, told the board that the event will be similar to prior years, with nonprofits located in town hall, and the other venues in the neighborhood independently planning to hold their events.
In the past, the Olde Tyme Holiday consisted of a variety of holiday festivities, including lots of opportunities to buy handmade items and food, join in on sing-alongs, and more. The Unitarian Church, the First Congregational Church, Northeast Maritime Institute, Masonic Lodge, and the Millicent Library have all had coinciding events, such as holiday shops, tours, and Santa visits.
Ms. Melanson said the nonprofits were very happy to sign on because it is a major fund-raiser for most of them. She also said that the other venues were all “on board,” and would participate as in past years.
“People are very happy we’re continuing it,” she said.
The board made three positive votes: to authorize use of town hall, to authorize street closures, to authorize a one-day alcohol license.
The EDC will be discussing the event at future meetings, which are open to the public and posted on the town’s website. Their next meeting is on 10/15, in Town Hall, at 5:30 p.m.
In another matter, the board approved a letter asking for increased state aid to support local budgets. The letter is written for other South Coast municipalities to sign on.
The board discussed strategy around when to send the letter, and had some wording changes.
There was also some discussion on whether or not to have the School Department or School Committee separately approve the letter.
The letter asks for more state aid for schools (Chapter 70) and in unrestricted general government aid.
It also asks for a review and update of existing state formulas to reflect the actual costs facing communities.
The letter asks for the governor and legislature to “make increased and equitable state support for South Coast communities a priority in future budgets and legislative initiatives.”
SB member, Rick Trapilo, and Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, will distribute the letter and try to get other SC communities to sign on.
In another matter, the board held a lengthy discussion around possibly choosing a new firm or firms for Town Counsel and Labor Counsel. Mr. Hickey said four firms responded to the RFP. He said he was waiting for some information from two of the firms, so board members did not have the proposals, but they did have a summary.
The board discussed interviewing the firms without knowing how much they proposed to charge for their services. Mr. Hickey said price is a factor, but comfort level with the firm or individuals in the firm might be more important.
SB Chairperson, Andrew Romano, said he thought the point was to save money, so how does it help not to know how much the firms charge. He also reminded everyone that he was against the whole idea from the start, because he wants to keep the current TC, Heather White, who has institutional knowledge, and he did not want to lose that.
“I’m honestly flabbergasted at what you just said,” said Mr. Trapilo, adding that prejudging undermines the whole process.
He said he wanted to hear the presentations from all the firms.
The board went back and forth a bit and in the end decided to invite the four firms to make a presentation with the board members not knowing their rates. The board will set a date to hear the presentations at a separate meeting or meetings.
The board tabled the discussion on creating an Artificial Intelligence use policy. SB member, Natalie Mello, said that after she put something together based on other policies she found, the town’s IT department shared a policy they had written. The board will discuss it at the next meeting after they and department heads have a chance to review it and suggest changes.
The board also had a variety of discussions surrounding how the board interacts with departments. The issue clearly arose because Mr. Trapilo has independently contacted the School Department, and subsequently, other departments looking for detailed budget information.
SB member, Pam Kuechler, said the School Department and town budgets have different statutory requirements. She said they should all be in collaboration, but they have to respect the statutory requirements.
“We have to work together,” said Ms. Kuechler, who served on the School Committee for 15 years.
She said it is important to set the right expectations to the community. They should be working together, she said, not as individuals.
Ms. Kuechler said they will not always agree, but without the conversations, they will not get great resolutions down the road. In any case, it will not be easy.
Mr. Trapilo said the town is facing a systemic budget failure. He said he has simply been looking for information and has been frustrated at not getting it. So he sent letters directly to the school department.
“I stand by that,” he said, adding that he does not know how to solve problems without information.
Mr. Trapilo also noted that he and Mr. Romano had a phone conversation about it and he was grateful for the clarification.
Mr. Trapilo said he had wanted the School Department to have the budget discussion with the SB in a September meeting. He said they need to have the discussion soon. The School Department is the largest budget, taking up about 40% of the town’s operating budget.
He said the problem is not going to go away.
Mr. Romano said he wanted to make it clear he was not keeping anything off the agenda, he was just postponing it. He had received some correspondence from School Committee members about the correspondence and questioning if it came from the board.
He said he cannot tell Mr. Trapilo what to do.
“You are an elected member,” said Mr. Romano. “The only person you answer to is the voters.”
He added, though, that as SB members, they cannot “divorce” themselves from the board.
“We’re in a pressure cooker right now,” said Mr. Romano, adding that the community has spoken “loud and clear,” and they want change.
“We are tasked with figuring it out,” said Mr. Romano. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
He said they will disagree, it will get “spirited,” but they will move on and do what is best for the community.
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