By Mary Chasse, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on Monday 9/26/22 the Fairhaven Board of Public Works hired for the Water Department, and voted on water and sewer rates for the upcoming year.
The board first met with Patrick Landry of B&B Excavating about becoming an approved contractor in for water and sewer drainlayers. Mr. Landry informed the board that they already have their first job lined up.
BPW Chairperson Brian Wotton said the board has all the paperwork they need for them to start working in town. Vice Chairperson Robert “Hoppy” Hobson said that B&B Excavating is highly recommended.
The board voted unanimously to approve B&B.
In another matter the board interviewd for Water System Maintenance Craftsman and Meter Repairman. Mr. Furtado explained to the board that the current employee that holds the position Danny Snell, who will be retiring in December.
He said the board would like to hire someone for the position now so they will be able to shadow Mr. Snell for the next few months.
The board then interviewed Darrell Snell for the position. The two are brothers. Mr. Furtado said Darrell Snell really knows the job and comes highly recommended for the position. He is a great employee and has been working for the town for a long time.
Mr. Wotton said he agreed and that Mr. Snell would be great for the job.
Mr. Hobson said that he thinks they should start Mr. Snell on the top step for pay. Mr. Hobson said he has been with the town a long time, plows for the town, and is a good employee.
The board voted to hire Mr. Snell at the top pay.
In another matter the board discussed water and sewer rates for the upcoming year. Mr. Furtado explained that last August the town went up 5%. He recomended that the town increase the rates again by 5% because it will keep the town on track to where it needs to be.
Mr. Wotton agreed and said they should just implement 5% increases for the next two years.
Mr. Furtado said they always vote on the water and sewer rates yearly because there might be different board members next year.
The board voted unanimously to increase the water and sewer rates by 5% for fiscal year 2023.
In another matter board member Travis Rapoza updated the board on his progress with getting student volunteers in town to help with town cleanups and other events.
Mr. Rapoza said he spoke with Fairhaven Superintendent Tara Kohler who loved the idea of students volunteering for the town and is interested in helping the town get student volunteers.
Mr. Rapoza said he thought about doing a bike path cleanup.
Mr. Wotton said he and his brother usually do a bike path cleanup for earth day, but student volunteers would be great.
Mr. Rapoza said maybe they can try doing bike path cleanups a few times a year.
Mr. Wotton said his father does different cleanups all over Fairhaven all year long. He said he would give his father’s contact information to Mr. Rapoza so they can collaborate.
Mr. Rapoza alsot told the boad said he would love to see the town’s recycling numbers increase. He said he would like to find out why people are not recycling.
Mr. Furtado explained that there is about to be a ban on the disposal of textiles in the trash, and the ban starts in November. He said before Covid the board was trying to get in a contract with a textile recycling company, but once Covid hit nothing ever happened with it.
In another matter Mr. Furtado said that Household Hazardous Waste Day will be on October 22nd.
In other business:
• Mr. Wotton informed the board that Hailey Cabral was hire for the Sewer Department Clerical positio. Mr. Hobson said she is very qualified and a town resident.
• The board voted nanimously, to pay for designs from GCG Associates for the walkway at Memorial Park, and a new design for the BMX Park on Bernese Street, which is being redone to include drainage, and will then be brought to the Community Preservation Committee for funding.
• The board announced household Hazardous Waste Day on 10/22.
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Click here to download the entire 10/6/22 issue: 10-06-22 BridgeMtg
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