By Mary Macedo, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on Monday 2/22 the Fairhaven Board of Public Works discussed the rules and regulations at Town Beach, upcoming budget cuts to BPW services.
BPW Vice-Chairperson Robert “Hoppy” Hobson said he had no problem with the current draft of the beach rules and regulations, but he did have a question about kids on bikes riding to Town Beach. He asked if they would be allowed to go into the beach if they do not have a beach pass with them.
BPW Superintendent Vinnie Furtado said they would be allowed in as long as their family member has a season pass. Mr. Furtado said the kids will have to give a name and address of someone that has a season pass upon entering the beach and the gate attendant will have a sheet of season pass holders to verify.
Mr. Hobson suggested allowing kids under 16 years old to get in for free.
BPW Chairperson Brian Wotton said it would get too complicated and that children under 10 years old need to be with an adult to enter the beach anyway. He said he felt like the age was actually too low, and that he would not want his 10 year old son going riding his bike to the beach with no adult accompanying him.
“When I was 10-16 years old my parents didn’t care where I was,” Mr. Hobson said laughing.
Board member Cameron Durant joined the meeting via Zoom and verified that the Town Beach rules only applied to the lifeguarded side of the beach and that there would be signs at Town Beach stating the rules.
Mr. Furtado agreed and said the Town Beach rules and regulations would be given to residents upon purchasing their beach permits, as well as posted online/on the town website and on signage at Town Beach too.
Mr. Furtado asked the board to confirm whether they would like to allow Acushnet residents to use Town Beach this year.
Mr. Hobson suggested the possibility of only allowing Acushnet families whose children attend Fairhaven Public Schools.
Mr. Wotton explained that Fairhaven residents voted on a Facebook survey that they would prefer to have Town Beach with residents only this year until Covid-19 restrictions end. He said that the town residents said they would rather pay more for beach permit fees to keep the beach residents only.
The board voted unanimously to approve of the Town Beach rules and regulations which included only allowing Fairhaven residents to use the town beach.
In another matter Mr. Furtado informed the board of upcoming budget cuts. He said the town would be cutting the budget on BPW office supplies, as well as cutting $30,000 from the Highway Department’s vehicle repair budget.
Mr. Wotton said that was unacceptable. He said the Highway Department does not have the money to repair vehicles, they cannot do work.
Mr. Furtado said that the town cut the vehicle repair budget by 50%, which is huge and not feasible. He siad he took that budget cut and decided to cut the money from roadway items instead because they need that money to repair vehicles. He took the cut of $30,000 out of the roadway items because he would rather not have the money to resurface a road than not have the money to fix a truck that is critical.
“This shit isn’t going to fly around here,” Mr. Wotton said. “Sorry for the language, that’s not the right way to say it, but it’s the truth.”
“The town wants to spend money and pay people $100,000 a day to do nothing around town and this is what happens,” Mr. Wotton said.
Mr. Wotton explained that the Highway Department will have broken vehicles and will not be able to respond when a water main breaks in the middle of the winter and there is ice everywhere. The Highway Department will not have money to make repairs to help fix potholes in the middle of the roads.
“Hit the only department around town that actually does work and gets stuff done,” Mr. Wotton said. “It’s boloney…pay attention to where your money is going.”
“Who’s making these decisions,” Mr. Wotton asked.
Mr. Furtado said the budget cuts come from Town Hall.
Mr. Furtado said they also cut the Park Department budget down by $4000. They would just hire one fewer employee this year.
Mr. Wotton said that when Town Hall needs their grass cut then they should not cut it.
“The Park Department lost 50% of its budget because the old Town Administrator left us in a shitshow,” Mr. Wotton said. “I feel bad for this poor girl filling in… she has to deal with the cards that were handed to her and she didn’t put them there.”
Mr. Wotton said he felt sorry that the interim Town Administrator has to deal with the mess that Mark Rees left behind.
Mr. Wotton said he would love to see the whole budget and he is sure that he could find a lot of better ways to cut money in town rather than cut BPW’s essential services.
He suggested they should think about cutting the Town Administrator’s salary before they hire someone for the position.
Mr. Wotton told Mr. Furtado that when Town Hall needs their grass cut or needs something done to start saying “no.” Mr. Wotton said they should cut their BPW services for Town Hall by 50%.
“I’m sick of it and residents in town are sick of it,” Mr. Wotton said. “The guy (Mark Rees) screwed us… everyone wants to talk about what a great person he is and throw him a big freaking parade, but I’ll tell you what… Mark Rees, you screwed us…you left us with a shithole budget here and walked away and gave that poor girl something to cut down to nothing and make her look bad.”
“She didn’t do this,” Mr. Wotton said. “This is on you Mark Rees…hope you’re still in town watching this.
“Calm down,” Mr. Hobson said.
“I like it,” Board member Marcus Ferro said.
“I can’t wait to see him (Mark Rees),” Mr. Wotton said. “I got high blood pressure, I don’t care… seriously this is ridiculous.”
“You go to calm down,” Mr. Hobson said “You’re pulling a Hoppy,” Mr. Hobson said laughing. “I understand,’ but this is on TV.”
In another matter Mr. Hobson asked Mr. Furtado for an update on what was happening with the BPW taking over the Tree Department.
Mr. Furtado said the Selectboard met with the Tree Warden and said they would look at the whole process and revamp it, but they did not submit an article for the next Town Meeting.
Mr. Hobson said the BPW needs to take over the Tree Department because the BPW already does two thirds of the work and the Tree Warden never answers his phone. He said the town deserves better.
Mr. Wotton said the person running against the current Tree Warden in the April election wants the position to be taken over by the BPW and wants to work under the BPW.
Mr. Hobson said the BPW needs to put in an article for Town Meeting. Mr. Furtado said he would put it on the agenda for the next meeting.
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