By Mary Macedo, Neighb News Correspondent
At its 3/25 meeting the Fairhaven Board of Public Works discussed a variety of issues, including the annual debate about piping plovers, and the annual struggle against the numbers for road repair (see 4/2/20 issue for more from the 3/25 meeting).
The board conceded that there ar lots of potholes throughout town.
“Tis the season,” said chairperson Brian Wotton, adding the he understood roads need to get fixed soon because this is the time of year where more traffic starts on West Island.
“Good thing you got those stop signs there,” said Robert “Hoppy” Hobson. “Thanks to you.”
“Other people like to take credit for that,” Mr. Wotton said.
Board member Cameron Durant said he agreed and that he was taken aback when someone else took credit for the stop signs on West Island.
“Just so everyone does know, this board and this board only got those stop signs on West Island,” Mr. Wotton said.
It took four years, multiple traffic studies, engineer reports and favors to get those signs there, he said.
“Not one other person in town, despite what you may have heard at a debate meeting, did anything to do with those stop signs,” Mr. Wotton said. “The credit goes to this board for the continuing pushing of Mr. Furtado to get that done. Mr. Furtado is 100% solely responsible for those stop signs on West Island, no other person in town should ever open their mouth and take responsibility for that and shame on you for doing that.”
In another matter the board discussed the endangered Piping Plovers. Mr. Furtado explained that the board needed to approve the money to be spent to close off an area of beach for the nesting birds.
Mr. Hobson asked why the BPW is responsible for paying. Board member Frank Coelho also questioned it.
Mr. Furtado explained that it is mandated by the state that the town fund the protection of the species because they are endangered.
Mr. Coelho asked why the state did not pay for it.
Mr. Furtado explained that for the past three years the BPW has had to pay for it because the nests are on town property. The state only pays if the birds nest on state property.
Mr. Coelho and Mr. Hobson both said that they did not think the town should be paying.
Mr. Hobson said he had not seen the birds or nests on the town property, so how can they be sure that the birds have not moved.
Mr. Durant suggested that the board monitor the nests and if they move from town property to contact the state immediately so the town would not have to pay.
The board voted 3–2 to approve the money to protect the Piping Plovers, with Mr. Hobson and Mr. Coelho voting “no.”
Mr. Wotton said the only reason he voted yes was because it is mandated by the state.
“If the state wants it, it should come out of their pocket,” Mr. Wotton said.
The board also discussed an issue with political signs on public ways.
Before the discussion started board member Keith Silvia recused himself and left the room because he is running for Selectboard and has signs throughout town.
Mr. Furtado said he received an email from the building commissioner who has received complaints. Mr. Furtado explained that if you tell a resident to take down a political sign then you would have to tell realtors to take down for-sale signs and open house signs, etc.
Mr. Wotton said he can understand someone complaining about a sign blocking the view of drivers, or a sign on an intersecting corner on town land, but the board cannot just remove political signs for no reason.
Mr. Furtado said that they cannot just target political signs. He said his recommendation is to just let the complaints go.
Mr. Wotton said that the BPW already has too much to do; they do not have time to go around town checking signs. He suggested that they contact the resident who placed the signs and tell them to make sure their signs are not on intersecting corners on town grass and to make sure they are not blocking the view of cars.
Mr. Durant asked Mr. Furtado if he has ever had to move signs before.
Mr. Furtado said never.
Mr. Durant said that he believes this is definitely a political thing.
Mr. Coelho said he agreed with Mr. Wotton that the BPW has too much to do and to just give the resident a call.
Mr. Wotton said that the BPW cannot be prejudiced against political signs. He said residents can call the BPW if a sign is blocking visibility or if it is in on a corner.
“This is so low on the totem pole,” Mr. Wotton said.
The board tabled the issue, 4–0, with Mr. Silvia not voting.
The board also discussed an accident on West Island that damaged a pole. Mr. Furtado told the board that the pole was fixed by a private contractor.
Mr. Coelho said some time ago six poles were fixed by town employees, not due to an accident, and the six poles were fixed much faster than the one pole. He asked why the town employees did not fix the pole so it could have gotten done faster.
Mr. Furtado explained that it took a long time for the pole to get fixed because the person who hit the pole had to wait for his car insurance to pay the claim, etc. The pole was fixed by a private contractor and was paid for by the insurance of the man who got into the accident.
Mr. Furtado said it was a better utilization of taxpayers’ money for the driver’s insurance to pay for it. He said town employees have other work to do.
Mr. Wotton agreed, saying it is not the town’s responsibility to pay, it is the responsibility of the person who hit the pole.
“You don’t get the point,” Mr. Hobson said, explaining that the insurance pays for these stupid things and then the insurance is more expensive.
Mr. Wotton said it is not the town’s insurance, and agreed that it would have been done faster if the town had done it, but reiterated that it was not the town’s responsibility.
Mr. Hobson said he understood that, but the more claims that go into the insurance the more his own insurance goes up.
“It’s not your insurance,” Mr. Wotton said.
“I’m done,” Mr. Hobson said.
“You don’t understand it,” Mr. Furtado said.
“Someone please come in on this.” said Mr. Wotton referring to the public watching on Zoom. “I would love some outside comment.”
Mr. Silvia asked if the town could have fixed the pole and charged the driver’s insurance.
Mr. Wotton said they could not because the town is not a contractor and the insurance cannot hire the town to fix something.
Mr. Furtado said that using the town employees would have been a mis-utilization of town resources.
Mr. Coelho said that the more claims that are put into insurance the more the insurance goes up for everyone.
Mr. Hobson said he wanted to see the bill for the work done on the pole.
Mr. Furtado said he did not have the bill because the town did not pay for it.
Mr. Coelho said that it took three months for the private company to fix the pole.
Mr. Furtado said that he could not control how long it took. He said shame on the insurance and the private company for taking so long.
Mr. Wotton said he understood that it would have only taken the town employees a day to fix, but it would have cost the town time and resources. The way it was done, it cost the town nothing.
In another matter Mr. Furtado said that he met with the Finance Committee and they approved all of the BPW’s Town Meeting articles except the money for the road work. He said that the FinCom members wanted to see the roads themselves.
Mr. Furtado said that he put up a stink at the meeting, that the BPW picks the roads and the Finance Committee just gives the money.
“Let them know this board is asking for a dollar amount, not what roads they want,” said Mr. Wotton, adding that it is not the Finance Committee’s job to give comments on roads; their job is to allocate money.
“Stick to your job,” Mr. Wotton said “And we’ll stick to ours.”
Mr. Wotton explained that the BPW had an open meeting about roadwork and not one person from the Finance Committee attended. He said they had the opportunity to speak, and now the time is closed.
He said the BPW just needs the dollar amount and has no interest in their comments at this time.
“I like that,” Mr. Hobson said.
“I’m tired of the bologna around here,” Mr. Wotton added.
In another matter Mr. Furtado informed that board that all Fairhaven playgrounds have been closed due to COVID-19 and the town was just following suit with neighboring communities that have closed their playgrounds. •••
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