Candidate Statements: Fairhaven Board of Public Works

Robert “Hoppy” Hobson

I’m running for re-election because I love my town and I think it’s important for people to be involved in politics.

It’s like being a veteran, which I am. Do you want to take care of your country? Do you want to take care of your town?

One of the most important things we did while I was on the board was to hire our superintendent, Vinnie Furtado.

I also always tried to make sure we hired Fairhaven residents first and veterans. If they are qualified, I feel we should always give town residents and veterans preference.

There are a lot of upcoming projest that I would like to continue to work on, such as upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, and more road work. The upgrades to the treatment plant will cost millions, and I’d like to be there to make sure we are spending the money right.

I would like to us to be fixing things before they go wrong. I try to make sure we maintain the equipment we have and look to the future.

I was very instrumental in keeping the recycling center open throughout the winter, although I’d like to get it open more days.

Basically, I work very hard just to pay attention to protect the taxpayers from getting a raw deal.

We have a lot of new people in town making changes. We need to make sure they are good for the town. I’ve seen a lot of changes in Fairhaven in the last 70-something years. I don’t like all of them. Someone has to be paying attention to make sure they are the right changes, and to protect the taxpayers.

For the future, I’d like to see a state-of-the-art recycling center in Fairhaven. If you want to tear sheetrock off the wall, you have to go to ABC. Why can’t we have our own place and you can pay the town? The leaves and grass disposal would still be free.

So I ask you to please vote for Robert D. Hobson on April 2.

Albert Martin

My name is Albert Martin. I am a candidate for the Board of Public Works (BPW). I am a veteran of the Army from 1969 to 1971. I have been a resident of Fairhaven for 39 years. I have owned my home on Hawthorne Street for 24 years. I have been a Town Meeting member for over 20 years. I retired in 2016 after 23 years of service in the Fairhaven Highway Department.

The number one issue facing the town is not if anyone is buried at the Cooke Memorial Park, or if we have enough bike paths and on and on.

The number one issue is when will we see a catastrophic failure of our sewer treatment plant. We have been kicking the can down the road for over 20 years. This is an issue that must be addressed now, and it involves all town departments from the BPW to the Selectmen to the Board of Health and, most importantly, the Finance Committee.

On another note, I wouldl ike to see more information included with the Highway Department notification to residents, as to the steps involved in reconstruction of their streets.

Another thing I would like to pursue is the possibility of creating a revolving account within the Highway Department for equipment repairs and purchases.

We have a lot of material stockpiles at the landfill, such as loam from the Wood School, East Fairhaven School, the Cancer Center projects and from Road work projects, which can be screened and sold.

We also have a large pile of road excavation materials that can be screen to reclaim the gravel it contains, and can also be sold. Each year, we pay a contractor to screen some of this for use in town projects. Each year as we reonstruct town roads we add to their piles.

I would also like to continue the policy of paving one or two dirt roads every year. Those residents deserve to be able to open their windows in the summer and let in fresh air without letting in 20 pounds of dirt.

While I stated that I believe Mr. Hobson and Mr. Silvia are doing a good job, I do thinkg I can do a better job based on my experience and inside knowledge of the department.

I respectfully ask for your vote on Monday, April 2.

Keith Silvia

My name is Keith Silvia and I am running for re-election to the Board of Public Works.

I have been a resident of the Town of Fairhaven for 34 years. My wife Anne and I raised our three children Dan, Meghan and Tom, and now our granddaughter, Evianna in this town.

I became interested in town politics when my own sewer and water rates increased wondering how this increase was going to be spent.

I have enjoyed being on the Board for the past fourteen months. Since I have been on the board I have a better understanding of where rate payer money is spent and have learned a lot about the responsibilities of the Board from the knowledge of the other Board members.

In the near future, the Town will be looking at some big changes, namely the expansion and upgrade of the sewer treatment plant and possibly the relocation of the current recycling center.

I am looking forward to being part of those upcoming decisions that the BPW will soon be facing keeping the rate payers wellbeing in mind.

I am a working man, willing to work for you.

I would appreciate your vote on April 2nd.

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