By Beth David, Editor The Fairhaven Select Board and Finance Committee are both holding extra meetings to try to crunch numbers and figure out contingencies to get to a balanced budget. At its meeting on 4/3/23, the SB went over Town Meeting articles and discussed budget items, budget forecasting, and different ways to balance the… [Read More]

By Beth David, Editor At its meeting on 3/20/23 the Fairhaven Select Board discussed possible dates for a special election to be held after Town Meeting for a ballot initiative to override Proposi­tion 2 1/2, which limits the amount of money municipalities can raise through the tax levy (property taxes).  To override Prop 2 1/2, Town… [Read More]

By Beth David, Editor At its meeting on 2/21/23, the Fairhaven Select Board discussed what to include in it annual report and how specific they wanted to get in explaining the distribution of ARPA funds (American Rescue Plan Act).  SB Chairperson Stasia Powers expressed some concern that listing all the projects might end up not being… [Read More]

By Beth David, Editor The Fairhaven Select Board heard some grim news at its meeting on 2/21/23, with the town’s new, temporary budget officer telling them the town is facing up to a $750,000 deficit in the FY24 budget.’ Fairhaven Town Administrator Angie Lopes Ellison introduced Rich Bienvenue, who is the Assistant Town Administrator/Finance Director for… [Read More]

By Beth David Editor At its meeting on 1/17/23, the Fairhaven Select Board took some time to discuss creating a protocol for information dissemination. Vice Chair Leon Correy ran the meeting because chairperson Stasia Powers was absent. SB member Bob Espindola suggested they table the item until Ms. Powers could be present. Mr. Correy, however, said… [Read More]

By Beth David, Editor At the Fairhaven Select Board meeting on 1/9/23, Town Adminis­trator Angie Lopes Ellison informed the board that Eversource will increase its rates by more than 30%.  She implored residents to compare rates with the town’s municipal aggregation aggreement (see sidebar).  Ms. Ellison told the board there was nothing they could do about… [Read More]

By Beth David, Editor The Fairhaven Select Board set the tax rate for next year, choosing to stick with the maximum rate shift between residential and commercial properties, at its meeting on 11/21/22. Board of Assessors member Pamela Davis explained that the tax shift is the differential between the residential rate and the CIP (Commercial, Industrial… [Read More]

By Beth David, Editor At its meeting on 9/19/22, the Fairhaven Select Board decided to attend the MassDOT meeting about the bridge replacement, with all five members saying it was important for the board to be there. The meeting is on 10/3 at 6:30 p.m., at Fairhaven High School in the auditorium.  Select Board chairperson Stasia… [Read More]

By Beth David, Editor At its meeting on 9/6/22, the Fairhaven Select Board had sched­uled a hearing that was requested by Wayne Oliveira to appeal the no-trespass order keeping him away from Fairhaven Town Hall for 60 days (see 8/25/22 and 9/1/22 issues). However, Attorney Philip Beauregard sent a letter saying he had been retained by… [Read More]