By Beth David, Editor
At its meeting on 10/26/26, the Fairhaven Select Board voted to negotiate an agreement with Harrington Heep to provide legal services to the town.
The board interviewed four firms on 10/15, and narrowed the list to three to ask for more information.
At the 10/26 meeting the board looked at information from Mead, Talerman & Costa; Harrington Heep; and KP Law.
The town’s current Town Counsel, Heather White, is currently with Harrington Heep. The firm she was previously with, Petrini & Associates, no longer provides town counsel services. When she left and went to HH, the board retained their services on a short term basis, and decided to review other firms.
At the time, Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, and SB chairperson, Andrew Romano, voiced their support of keeping Ms. White.
At the meeting on Monday, Erin Carr, whose father is Patrick Carr, a member of the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, addressed the SB twice. The first time was during Public Comment. She told the board that she believed there was a conflict of interest involving Ms. White because of her role in the Hiller Subdivision debacle.
In that case, the subdivision was greenlighted by a “constructive approval,” because the town missed crucial deadlines. A blame game ensued and an investigation put the blame on the town planner, and partly on Patrick Carr who was the Planning Board chair for part of the deadline stretch.
Ms. Carr noted that a certain attorney was not allowed to investigate because of a conflict. She said the same is true now concerning Ms. White.
Patrick Carr also addressed the board saying that he wanted Mr. Romano to explain what he meant when he said Ms. White had “institutional knowledge.” Mr. Carr also asked what would explain a “substantial” price reduction by HH.
During discussion of the firms, SB member, Rick Trapilo, said he had concerns that HH had reduced its rate by $60,000. SB member Andrew Saunders, an attorney, said that did not bother him.
At the end of the discussion, just before the vote, Ms. Carr asked to speak. Mr. Romano said he would not allow it because it was not a public hearing. Mr. Saunders, however, spoke up and said he believed they should allow the public to say something.
Mr. Romano relented.
Ms. Carr then made the same claim that there was a COI involving Ms. White, but she got more specific about the Hiller Subdivision debacle. Ms. Carr said rather pointedly that it was Ms. White who should have made sure the subdivision got on the agenda. Instead the investigation blamed the previous town planner, and partly Mr. Carr.
After Ms. Carr spoke, Mr. Saunders said he believed in letting people say their piece.
However, he added, “What you said tonight makes me have to recuse myself because I have a conflict of interest. So I’m out of it.”
Since he has been on the board, Mr. Saunders has recused himself from most matters involving Patrick Carr because they have a business relationship.
SB member Natalie Mello will negotiate for the board, instead of Mr. Saunders. The vote was 3-1-1, with Mr. Romano, Ms. Mello and Pam Kuechler voting “yes,” Mr. Trapilo voting, “no,” and Mr. Saunders abstaining.
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Click here to download the 10/29/26 issue: 10-29-26 Horribles
Click here to download Mr. Trapilo’s letter: TrapiloResponse
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