By Mary Macedo, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on Monday, 4/6 the Fairhaven Board of Public Works discussed hours for the recycling center, the Pasta House grease trap, and closing town beach parking.
Due to the COVID-19 state man-dated restrictions the meeting was held at town hall so it could be livestreamed and broadcast on Channel 18. The public could call in by phone or video to participate.
The board first opened the discussion with the approval of the minutes for the previous meeting. But before that vote, board member Frank Coelho voiced his concerns about their previous discussion regarding the Pasta House external grease trap.
Mr. Coelho addressed BPW Superintendent Vinnie Furtado stating that he never received the Pasta House external grease trap plan.
Mr. Coelho explained that he asked for the plans for over a month and that Mr. Furtado asked the engineer for more detailed plans of the grease trap but Mr. Coelho said he never received those plans.
Mr. Furtado said he attached the copies of the plan to the packet he gave the board members at the last meeting. He explained that the plan was not as detailed as he would like, but the plan had the stamped approval of the plumbing inspector.
Mr. Coelho said he asked for the revised plan.
Mr. Furtado said that the plan he gave was the only one he received.
Mr. Coelho addressed Mr. Furtado stating that Mr. Furtado let the Pasta House start the grease trap project without the proper detailed plan.
“It doesn’t make a difference what we (the board) say,” Mr. Coelho said addressing Mr. Furtado. “Because you are going to do what you want.
Mr. Furtado explained the board has no more jurisdiction to ask for another plan because the plan has already been approved by the inspector.
He said the board’s job is to make sure the grease trap is the right size and that the bathroom waste is separate from the kitchen waste.
Mr. Furtado said that he did wish that the plan was more detailed, but there was nothing he could do about it because the plan was approved by the plumbing inspector.
Mr. Furtado also said that the Pasta House has been “dodging the bullet” of getting the external grease trap installed for a long time. He said he did not want to hold up the project any longer especially with the COVID-19 situation.
Board member Keith Silvia said that the whole grease trap situation with the Pasta House was not fair to the board and was not fair to other restaurants that have had to put external grease traps in.
He said Mr. Furtado told the Pasta House they needed an engineer and then the board gave them a three month extension, and now the engineer plans they have are a joke.
Mr. Furtado said there is an engineering stamp on the plans, but it is a total joke.
Mr. Silvia said it is not fair to other restaurants that spent the money the right way to install their grease traps. He said he was glad the grease trap was getting done, but it took ten years and now it is being rushed to get done in one week.
Mr. Silvia said he doesn’t know if this is some political favor for someone, but there is definitely something up.
“It’s just not right,” Mr. Silvia said.
BPW Chairperson Brian Wotton suggested that the board come up with a grease trap bylaw with everything that is required within the process of installing an external grease trap. He said that they can write up a policy with the details on what is needed for approval prior to starting the project. He asked Mr. Furtado to put it on next agenda.
In another matter Mr. Coelho brought up last week’s discussion regarding keeping the recycling center open on Wednesdays and Saturdays until further notice.
He addressed Mr. Wotton stating that he should recuse himself from discussions regarding the recycling center because of the landscaping business he owns.
Mr. Wotton explained to Mr. Coelho that his business does not currently have a 2020 sticker permit for the recycling center, so he is just a resident and not a customer.
Mr. Wotton also explained that the board only discussed the hours of the recycling center last week due to worries about essential and non-essential personnel. He said there was no vote on anything that his business has currently paid for or is involved in.
Mr. Coelho said he is just asking if BPW Administrative Assistant Becky Vento could check with the state ethics commission to make sure it is not a conflict of interest.
“Don’t worry, you call Mommy every other week anyways,” Mr. Wotton said. “It doesn’t matter and, guess what, I have never violated anything, so please call them again.”
“Have Eric call me,” Mr. Wotton added. “He knows my cell phone number.”
Mr. Coelho said he just wanted to see if it was legal for Mr. Wotton to vote and make motions about the recycling center.
Mr. Wotton said that the recycling center does not pay his business any money. He said that he has not received any money or bribery that would cause him to recuse himself. He reiterated that his business does not have a recycle center permit.
“You’re stating false information sir,” Mr. Wotton said “Get your information straight then come back at me.”
“I motion to move on because I don’t think you have the grounds to stand on this,” Mr. Wotton said.
Mr. Coelho repeated that he just wanted Ms. Vento to check with ethics.
Mr. Wotton said that moving forward the board will take everything to the ethics commission that Mr. Coelho has a problem with.
Mr. Coelho said that one way or the other these issues need to be checked out and that the board cannot keep going on like that.
Board member Robert “Hoppy” Hobson asked if he could say something.
“Absolutely, why not,” Mr. Wotton said. “What the hell.”
He said take all the time you want and if anyone else wants to run the meeting feel free to.
Mr. Hobson said that he thought the two were talking about two different issues. He said that if Mr. Coelho thinks that Mr. Wotton should not be voting on an issue then Mr. Coelho needs to bring it up at the time of the vote, not after the fact.
Mr. Wotton said there was no vote so he is not sure what he was talking about.
Mr. Coelho countered that there was indeed a 4-1 vote on recycling center hours. Mr. Furtado confirmed it, stating that the board voted to keep the recycling center open on the Wednesday and Saturday schedule through the month of April.
Mr. Wotton said that either way he is not a sticker holder for the recycling center, and asked Ms. Vento to verify that he does not currently have a sticker.
Ms. Vento confirmed that Mr. Wotton did not currently have a 2020 sticker for the recycling center.
Mr. Wotton explained that he has a landscaping business but he currently does not have a sticker for the recycling center. He told Mr. Coelho to get his information straight.
Mr. Coelho said that from his understanding he had heard that Mr. Wotton uses the recycling center for his business, and if that is wrong he apologizes. Mr. Coelho repeated that he would just like to check with the ethics commission because he does not think he is wrong.
In another matter the board discussed a payment of $1,680 for GCG Associates for inspectional services for the Pasta House’s grease trap project. Mr. Furtado said the BPW is just in the middle. The Pasta House already paid the bill.
The board voted to accept the payment 4-1 with Mr. Silvia voting against it.
In another matter the board discussed a contract with GCG Associates for bidding and construction oversight for sidewalk improvements at the Millicent Library. Mr. Furtado said the cost for GCG would be $24,090, but they currently do not have the money for it. He said they would be trying to use Chapter 90 funds. He also said that the Town Administrator has $180,000 earmarked for the construction, but they do not know how much engineering will cost, so they do not know if they have enough to cover the whole project.
The board voted to approve the contract 3-2, with Mr. Wotton and Mr. Silvia voting against it. They both said that they agree with the project, but the cost seemed outrageous. Mr. Wotton asked if they could look at other companies to lower the cost.
Mr. Hobson said that he wanted the project to get done, but he did not like the cost either.
The board also met with Health Agent Mary Freire-Kellogg via Zoom to discuss Governor Baker’s recommendations to close parking lots at beaches and parks.
Ms. Freire-Kellogg said she did not think that the Town of Fairhaven was at the point that closing parking would be necessary. She did, however, agree that closing play-grounds, basketball hoops, and other group sport areas would be a good thing to do.
Mr. Hobson said that a lot of senior citizens like to grab a coffee in the morning and go park by the water and watch the waves. He said that he goes to Union Wharf, Hoppy’s Landing, Fort Phoenix, Seaview Avenue, and the Town Beach and there are cars parked far away from each other. People just sit, he said, most people stay in their cars.
He asked what people are supposed to do. They need to get fresh air, exercise or walk their dogs.
Mr. Wotton agreed with Mr. Hobson, saying he did not understand what closing the parking lots would do. It would not stop people from going, it would force people to park on the streets and park in front of residents’ houses, which would cause problems. Mr. Silvia and Mr. Coelho agreed.
Board member Cameron Durant said that he did not want to stop car access, but people need to maintain the social distancing guidelines.
He asked Ms. Freire-Kellogg what neighboring towns, such as Dartmouth and New Bedford were doing.
Ms. Freire-Kellogg said that it is not a state ban, but the governor is recommending all communities close the lots. She said that eventually the governor might make it an order.
Ms. Freire-Kellogg said she received a complaint from a woman at Livesey Park that there was child playing on the playground. Ms. Freire-Kellogg said she thinks the playgrounds need to be closed because they cannot be sanitized.
Mr. Wotton said that they closed all town playgrounds at the last BPW meeting and they should have caution tape around them.
Mr. Durant suggested they go around and make sure all the playgrounds are closed. Mr. Wotton said the BPW already told the public the playgrounds are closed, and it is a police issue to monitor them.
Ms. Freire-Kellogg said that the police are 100% on board already and have been going out and breaking up groups of kids playing sports. She said the police have been staying in contact with the Board of Health.
She also said the bike path and Fort Phoenix have been a problem with a lot of people walking around.
The board agreed to have all the playgrounds monitored and to leave the parking lots open.
In another matter Mr. Furtado said that due to the pandemic he has requested that the water and sewer payments be given an extra 60 days with no penalties. The board voted to make the change. The bills will be due June 9 instead of May 10.
Mr. Furtado also asked the board to approve $7,900 for Brown and Caldwell to assess the potential of putting the recycling center on Bridge Street. The board voted to table the issue until they have the funds.
•••
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal.
Click here to download the entire 4/16/20 issue: 04-16-20 EasterMeals
