By Mary Macedo, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on Monday, 8/5 the Fairhaven Board of Public Works hired for two positions in the Highway Department and received a presentation from Mike Schrader of Tighe and Bond about water and sewer rates.
The board first met with Pat Tyson about a continuing sewer issue. Ms. Tyson met with the BPW a few weeks ago about a break in the sewer pipe. Ms. Tyson had a break in her sewer pipe far away from the street, all the way underneath her neighbor’s driveway. She said that to fix the break the workers had to go through the asphalt driveway which cost her $500 extra. She told the board she believed the town should have some responsibility for the problem because they allowed the driveway to be placed there.
Ms. Tyson said she was looking for the BPW to help out with the extra $500 she had to pay to dig through the neighbor’s driveway.
BPW member Frank Coelho asked if the board has ever helped in situations like this before.
Mr. Hobson explained that the sewer break is in the neighbor’s yard which is not the town’s responsibility. He said if the break was in the street or even at the first few feet of the driveway he would consider it, but it was not.
Mr. Hobson suggested that Ms. Tyson go after the contractor who must not have checked to see where the easement was, and who also probably damaged her sewer pipe while constructing the neighbor’s driveway.
Ms. Tyson explained that the BPW was the one that allowed the driveway to be placed there without looking for an easement.
Mr. Hobson said normally the contractor should check for pipes and the contractor most likely damaged the pipe to begin with.
BPW Chairperson Brian Wotton explained that the easement is on the neighbor’s property, not on town property. He said it is not the town’s responsibility because the BPW only allowed the driveway on the town property, the neighbor has the right to do whatever they want on their property without permission from the board and the broken pipe is on private property.
“The town is not liable for a pipe cracked under the neighbor’s private driveway,” Mr. Wotton said.
He said he felt for Ms. Tyson and wished the BPW could help, but it is not their responsibility.
Mr. Wotton also suggested she go after the contractor who has liability insurance for issues like that because he most likely damaged her pipe in the process of making the neighbor’s driveway.
In another matter the board met with Mike Schrader of Tighe and Bond about the presentation of the water and sewer rates study they conducted. Mr. Schrader explained that it would just be a recap of the presentation he gave in April
Mr. Schrader showed different ways of increasing the sewer rates over the next few years to help pay for the treatment plant. He showed the board ways to gradually increase the rates to help residents not have to pay too much more over the years.
Mr. Hobson suggested that if they increase the sewer rates they should also increase the disposal cost for people who have septic tanks to make the increase fair and equal.
Mr. Coelho asked a few questions regarding how much fresh water the sewer plant uses. The BPW estimated a little more than $3,000 worth a year, but Superintendent Vincent Furtado said he would find out the exact number.
In another matter the board interviewed John Rodrigues for Heavy Motor Equipment Operator/ truck driver for the Highway Department.
Mr. Furtado explained that Mr. Rodrigues had all of the licenses and a great background, and he has done some construction work. Mr. Furtado said a good portion of the job is laborer, too.
The board agreed that Mr. Rodrigues would be a great employee, and he was hired with a unanimous vote.
The board also interviewed Christopher Amaral for Special Motor Equipment Operator. Mr. Amaral had interviewed for the position a month or so ago, but was not hired because he did not have his licenses yet. He has since received them and presented them to the board.
Board members said they were very proud of him and hired him with a unanimous vot.
In another matter the board met with BRW Properties about a driveway waiver for 77 Cottonwood Street. Mr. Wotton recused himself from voting on the matter because he owns BRW, but he did not leave the room, and he presented to the board.
Mr. Wotton explained that his customers would like another driveway on the back of their lot to store their camper. He said they just want to get the camper off the street.
Mr. Wotton said that he would be creating a small driveway with a cobblestone apron. The board approved the request.
Mr. Furtado told the board that the BPW has been asked to remove the Livesey Park scoreboard because it is broken and pieces keep falling off, making it a safety concern.
Mr. Furtado said they are not asking to replace it, but they would like to keep the electricity there and store the scoreboard.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Furtado also told the board that the town will be adopting a one year renewable metal detector application. He said that people who want to use metal detectors in town will have to apply yearly. He said police may stop any person who is using a metal detector. The motion passed
Mr. Furtado also informed the BPW that the Conservation Committee is in charge of the grass and maintenance on Hoppy’s Landing and at the next ConCom meeting he will ask them to do the work at Hoppy’s Landing.
The matter has come up in both the BPW meetings and the Selectboad meetings.
Board member Robert “Hoppy” Hobson made a suggestion that they do something about town beach parking next year. He said people are parking all over the place illegally to get into the beach without paying. He said maybe they should hire someone to tell people where to park.
Administrative Assistant Rebecca Vento said that employees have been calling police and people at the beach have been getting ticketed.
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