L-R: Challenger Lisa Plante and incumbent Bob Espindola wait for the cameras to be turned on in the banquet room at Fairahven Town Hall so they can make their pitches to be elected to the Fairhaven Selectboard on 4/6/21. Board of Health candidate Kevin Gallagher sits in the back waiting for his turn. Photo courtesy of Derek Frates, Fairhaven Government Access TV.
Beth David, Editor/Publisher
Fairhaven Government Access TV- Channel 18 and with the North Fairhaven Improvement Association sponsored a “Meet the Candidates” night on Monday, 3/15, allowing candidates for office in Fairhaven the chance to make their pitches directly to the public. The format allowed for a three minute opening and closing statement, and two minutes to answer each question.
The questions were posed by Fairhaven High School student Elizabeth Edminster, and the evening was moderated by NFIA president Pauline Parker. Candidates were introduced according to their placement on the ballot.
Fairhaven will vote on Monday, 4/6.
Selectboard incumbent Bob Espindola began by saying he has been on the Selectboard for the past nine years, so voters know him in that role. He spoke about his personal life, noting that he and his wife are both from Fairhaven and graduated from Fairhaven High School together in 1981,and started dating in college. They lived in California for awhile, but moved back to Fairhaven into his family home.
Mr. Espindola said he was one of 10 children and his parents instilled the values of accountability, honesty, integrity, reliability, responsibility, courtesy to others.
He and his wife have raised four children and are “working hard to instill those same values” in them, he said.
“I like to think I am honoring my family in how I conduct mysel as your representative,” said Mr. Espindola, adding that he takes ethics and the Open Meeting Law very seriously.
He said he has worked hard to earn the respect of voters.
“This means remembering that I serve you,” said Mr. Espindola, and that means listening, being respectful, being prepared. and keeping the town “first and foremost in my words and actions.”
Selectboard challenger Lisa Plante said she was running for a simple reason: “I love this town.”
She said she is a mom with three children, and is “just grateful they’ve gotten to grow up in such a beautiful place.”
She said she wants to be a “voice for the people.
Her father taught her to give back to the town “that gave so much to you.”
Ms. Plante noted that she has been a long time Town Meeting member, a member of the Finance Committee, the Commission on Disability, and has spent hundreds of hours volunteering with the school department.
She said one of her strengths is her working knowledge of the budgets. She said she works well with her peers, the Selectboard Town Counsel, the Town Administrator and is familiar with all the town departments.
“I feel I can walk into this role and fulfill it the way it needs to be,” she said, adding that she could bring “som peace and calm.”
She also said she would like to lead with “humility and positivity. I believe that’s very important.”
She also said she cares about the environment, the Rogers School project, and wants to bring more voices at meeting, such as an alloted time for each precinct, whether it be for criticism or praise. We learn from criticism, she said.
“We always need to do better,” she said.
The first question they faced was if they felt the Town Administrator hiring process had been handled appropriately and what they would do differently.
Both said it had not been handled well, with both stating that the rules or process had not been followed.
Mr. Espindola said the process involved many volunteer hours and nearly $10,000 to a consultant, and they should have “stuck with that process.”
He said he would advise that if anyone had a problem with the process that they identify those issues “before the process begins and then perhaps things would be smoother.”
Ms. Plante said she watched, and had no role in the process but that it did not go the way it should have.
She thanked the volunteers and said it was unfortunate it ended the way it did.
“It could’ve been doner better, absolutely,” said Ms. Plante, adding that there were rules and they should “be followed always.”
If elected, she said she realized she would see another process and she would want to make sure all the rules are followed and it is done “100% by the book.”
Asked about the three most pressing issues facing the town, both said the search for a Town Administrator.
Mr. Espindola also said the town has “enormous capital needs” coming up and they have to find a way to manage those with putting too much of a burden on taxpayers and water and sewer users.
He also said coming out of the pandemic safely and encouraging economic development in town to “help keep us on a positive path forward.
Ms. Plante also said that the board needs to work as a team, “we need some peace.”
Third, she said, they need to work with the other boards and bring that “same cohesiveness and strength” to them.
The two were also asked that wit all the negativity in town, what three positive things have come out of the last year.
Mr. Espindola said the town has taken the COVID 19 issue in a positive way and has taken a lot of steps to recover financially. We have been tested, he said, and have proven that the financial policies helped us weather the storm. The continued effort along the goals they’ve set in place, and the efforts at openness, transparency, informing the public, with all the boards and community working on that has been a positive thing.
Ms. Plante said the police, fire and EMS personnel have “stepped up and done an amazing job,” putting themselves at risk. People have been watching out for each other, caring about each other, she said, as a small town people know each other, and “it’s a beautiful thing.”
Third, she said the Finance Committee has been conservative with funds and that has helped the town during the last year.
The two disagreed on commissioning a Department of Revenue report, something Mr. Espindola has been advocating for in the past few months. Ms. Plante said she did not support it now, but maybe in a year when this are not so “chaotic.”
For his closing statement Mr. Espindola said being a Selectboard member is more than just showing up to meetings.
He spoke about his successes, including his work on the Cable Advisory Committee and the Fiber Optic network that resulted; the Bikeway Committee that let to the town joining the Complete Streets Program, that makes Fairhaven eligible for grants; a Fiber Optic Study Committee that could result in increased data capacity for homes, and could be an economic driver for the town; and his work with the town planner to reshape the business corridor on Route 6.
He said there are many good people contributing on those committees to get things done.
“I believe these things start with a vision,” he said.
He also thanked Ms. Plante for running for the Selectboard, and noted that some day maybe they will be able to change the name to Selectboard (from Board of Selectmen), an effort that failed with the other two board members voting against the measure.
In her closing statement, Ms. Plante said it was time for a change. She stressed that she was coming from FinCom, being a member for almost 10 years.
“I know how to serve. I know how to be a leader. And I know how to be humble,” said Ms. Plante.
She said she wanted to take the people’s voice and make it stronger, and that she could transition “seamlessly” from FinCom to Selectboard, “and bring something new to the table.”
She said she would never give up, fight for the “people of this town,” and as she learns from other boards, “maybe do something amazing in town.”
Marcus Ferro running for reelection to the Fairhaven Board of Public Works participates via Zoom in a candidates night on 3/15/21. Screen shot from Fairhaven Government Cable TV by Beth David.
Two unopposed candidates also opted to join the evening: Marcus Ferro, running for reelection for his seat on the Board of Public Works, and Town Moderator Mark Sylvia, also running for reelection.
Mr. Ferro said he wanted to take the opportunity to introduce himself to the town, as he was appointed last summer to fill a vacancy. He is an attorney, an real estate broker, a talk show host, and a life-long resident of Fairhaven.
Asked for one way that the BPW is working to improve living conditions for residents, which is part of the board’s mission statement, Mr. Ferro first pointed to the new contract to overhaul the meter reading system.
He said the new, more efficient system will save residents a significant amount of money.
He also touted the way the beach was run last summer during the pandemic, calling it an “interesting time.”
Because of the restrictions to so many activities due to COVID-19, the beach was “very frequented,” he said. The board limited the use of the town beach to residents only, making it safer.
I closing he said reiterated that he has lived in Fairhaven his whole life.
“I love this town,” said Mr. Ferro, adding that it has been an honor to serve.
He said the public works department provides all the essential services a municipality should provide, such as highway, beach, public parks.
He said also he is unopposed, he appreciates the support he has received from the community.
The evening also included School Committee, with three candidates running for two seats; Planning Board with four candidates for four seats (two are unexpired terms); Tree Warden, with two candidates for one seat; and the town moderator who is unopposed. See next week’s issue for our story on those races.
To watch the video, visit https://livestream.com/fairhavenlive/events/8101110
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Click here to download the entire 3/18/21 issue: 03-18-21 CandidatesNight
