By Mary Chasse, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on Monday 11/1 the Fairhaven Board of Public Works conducted interviews for a Special Motor Equipment Operator for the Highway Department, and met with owners of land on Cherrystone Road again to discuss allowing a sewer stub on a new house.
BPW Chairperson Brian Wotton first started the meeting by welcoming the newest board member Steve Riley back to the BPW board. Mr. Riley was on the board years ago and is back to fill the vacancy left by Frank Coelho.
The board first interviewed Matthew Girouard for Special Motor Equipment Operator for the Highway Department. He explained that he has been working in the Fairhaven Highway Department for three years, and has all the licenses needed for the HMEO job, and he knows how to run almost all the equipment
BPW Superintendent Vinnie Furtado explained to the board that the other candidate being interviewed, James Lawrence, was the most senior employee, but Mr. Girouard meets all the qualifications and Mr. Lawrence does not.
Mr. Furtado said that the contract says to hire the most senior, qualified employee.
BPW Vice-Chairperson Robert “Hoppy” Hobson asked if Mr. Girouard has his backhoe license.
Mr. Furtado said that Mr. Girouard has all of his licenses, but has not run all the equipment yet.
Mr. Girouard said he has had his licenses for over a year and it only took him a couple of months to obtain them.
“You are the most qualified, but not the most senior,” Mr. Wotton said. “It says to hire the most senior qualified person… we are split either way.”
Mr. Lawrence told the board he has been working for the Highway Department for seven years and has one of the licenses needed for the job. He said knows how to use most of the equipment, he wants the chance to move up, and he wants to be in the department for the duration.
Mr. Wotton explained to him that he is not a shoe-in for the position because he does not have all the licenses.
Mr. Lawrence said he paid the $150 to take the license test but he is waiting to hear back to schedule the date.
Board member Marcus Ferro asked what licenses Mr. Lawrence needs.
Mr. Lawrence said he needs two licenses and he already paid to take the tests. He said he will know the test date within the week and would know if he passed the tests a few hours after.
Mr. Wotton said that employees need to be prepared when job openings come up. He said if you want a job you should go and get your licenses so you are ready when a job opening comes up.
Board member Cameron Durant suggested that they go with the recommendation of the Highway Superintendent John Charbonneau, who recommended Mr. Girouard for the position because he said he needs the employee to be able to use the equipment immediately; if the employee does not have the licenses then they cannot use the equipment.
Mr. Furtado explained that they could hire Mr. Lawrence and give him two months to past the tests and if he does not, they could replace him with Mr. Girouard.
Mr. Durant said they could also hire Mr. Girouard as interim while Mr. Lawrence works gets his licenses.
Mr. Hobson made a motion to hire Mr. Lawrence. The motion was not seconded.
Mr. Durant made a motion to hire Mr. Girouard. The motion passed 4-1 with Mr. Hobson voting against it.
“Both are good employees,” Mr. Hobson said.
In another matter the board brought back the discussion of granting a sewer stub to lots 313-315 on Cherrystone Road.
At the last meeting the board met with lot owner John Kalife, Board of Health member Mike Ristuccia and retired Board of Health agent Patricia Fowle. The three of them had a lot of documentation from the previous owners of the lots.
Ms. Fowle explained at the last meeting that Mr. Kalife’s property was the last property of 380 properties that were approved for a sewer stub back in the 1990s.
After the last BPW meeting the board requested copies of all the documentation to review and discuss with Town Counsel Tom Crotty.
At the 11/1 meeting Mr. Wotton explained that all the documents were reviewed by the board and Town Counsel and Mr. Crotty verified that the property is the last available sewer stub and has the right to tie into the sewer.
Mr. Furtado explained that they have denied everyone else because no other property has met the criteria.
In his email, Mr. Crotty said in his opinion the property satisfies all the requirements and does not violate the sewer deal they have had with the state since the 1990s.
Mr. Crotty also explained that the Board of Health regulation states that any property that had an existing house or building permit on or before January 28, 1998 is allowed to tie into the sewer system. The documentation of this property from the previous owner proves that a building permit was issued to that owner before the 1998 deadline.
Mr. Wotton said it was clear that Mr. Kalife’s property should be allowed to tie into the sewer, but Mr. Wotton said there is no evidence of the betterment fee ever being paid.
Mr. Riley also asked if Mr. Kalife has gotten a building permit yet.
Mr. Kalife said he thought he had to get approved to tie into the sewer before applying for a building permit.
Mr. Riley said he was all for it, but Mr. Kalife needs to make sure he gets a building permit before they start cutting into the road to tie into the sewer.
Mr. Wotton said the board needed to vote to allow Mr. Kalife to dig into the street to tie into the sewer pending receipt of a building permit.
Mr. Hobson said that Mr. Kalife would also have to pay the betterment fee, and expressed his concern that allowing Mr. Kalife to tie into the sewer is going to open a can of worms. Other residents have asked the board about the same issue, and have been denied.
Mr. Furtado explained that the other residents who appeared before the board have not had the documentation that Mr. Kalife had and have not had the approval of Town Counsel.
The board voted unanimously to approved the sewer tie-in on the conditions that Mr. Kalife pays the betterment fee and receives a building permit.
In another matter Mr. Furtado and all the board members thanked the Water Department and Water Superintendent Jeff Furtado for all their hard work during the boil water order.
They also thanked the Sewer, Park, and Highway Departments for all their hard work during the recent storm.
Mr. Furtado said it has been a busy time and all hands have been on deck and he appreciates everyone’s efforts.
Mr. Furtado also said the recycling center hours will be extended for the next week with no permit needed to allow residents to dispose of debris, brush, leaves, and branches from the storm.
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