By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Select Board voted at its meeting on 11/9/26 to require a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check on any individual applying to be on a town board or committee or looking to be reappointed. The issue came up when a resident discovered that a registered sex offender was on two town boards.
In a rather embarrassing twist for the town, a poster with the person’s photo and Offender Detail sheet is posted right outside town hall, among other places.
Although the board did not name the individual, the Neighb News has learned he is Timothy Garcia, 48, the only town official on a poster outside town hall. He has been on both the Livable Streets and Sustainability committees for five years, with annual appointments, and is listed on the state’s website as a level 2 sex offender. He was convicted in 2011 and 2012 for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age (1 count); rape and abuse of a child (2 counts); and aggravated rape and abuse of a child (2).
After the town was alerted, Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, contacted Mr. Garcia and gave him the option of resigning, or appearing at a hearing of the Select Board, either in Executive Session, which is closed to the public, or in open session, to discuss his removal. He opted to resign.
He had been reappointed to both boards at the 10/14/26 meeting.
“How does something like this happen,” said SB member, Rick Trapilo, who was at the 10/14 meeting and voted to appoint Mr. Garcia.
“That’s what we’re talking about,” said SB Chairperson, Andrew Romano.
The matter was brought to the attention of the board by Jennifer Cardoza, who said she recognized his name from when she worked at the Rec Center.
All board members who were present, Andrew Saunders was absent, agreed that asking for a CORI was not unreasonable. Mr. Hickey said the CORI checks do not cost the town anything.
“I have mixed feelings about this,” said SB member Natalie Mello, explaining that she is “equally appalled” at the situation, but wondered if a CORI check is “too broad of a brush.”
SB member, Pam Kuechler, said her workplace CORIs everyone. If something comes back, it is not an automatic denial. She said they have guidelines to follow and they make reasonable decisions based on the length of time and type of offense.
And that was part of the discussion: How to handle it if something does come back on the CORI.
In the end, the board voted to have Mr. Hickey draft a policy that the board will discuss at their next regular meeting.
The board also considered holding all appointments until the 12/14 meeting to give them time to get the policy in place. However, there were several appointments on that night’s agenda that seemed somewhat urgent.
Keith Silvia asked to be appointed to the Bell Committee and the Economic Development Committee. The Bell Committee’s work is almost over, so the appointment would be for just a few months.
the board discussed whether it was necessary to appoint him if he could do the work anyway.
They went round and round a it.
“Let’s just put him on the board,” said Mr. Trapilo.
The vote was 3-1, with Ms. Mello voting “no.”
The board also appointed him to the EDC, with EDC chairperson, Cathy Melanson, making an impassioned plea for the appointment. She said she needs all hands on deck with the upcoming events the committee is sponsoring, and she has not been able to get a quorum.
The board also voted to appoint Karyn Ferreira to the Conservation Committee, and Aaron Novy to the Millicent Library Board of Trustees. Everyone appointed on Monday agreed to have a CORI check and to make themselves available at the 11/23 meeting if anything shows up on the check.
Board also set a policy for waivers for residents who apply to be on more than two appointed boards. The new bylaw allows individuals to be on a third board if the SB specifically votes to allow it for each person. The board set guidelines for the waiver to be fair. Factors the board may consider, include, but are not limited to: whether a board has difficulty getting volunteers for that particular board or if has trouble obtaining a quorum; if the applicant has unique experience or institutional knowledge; whether the adjoint appointment creates any scheduling conflict; whether other applicants are available.
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