Jean Perry, Neighb News Correspondent
The Fairhaven Board of Health on February 17 voted unanimously to offer the health agent position to David Flaherty, the current part-time health agent for the Town of Marion.
“He came back well-recommended,” said BOH member Geoffrey Haworth.
Board member Michael Ristuccia commented that Mr. Flaherty is “the perfect man for the job.”
Pending acceptance and successful contract negotiations, the board relayed its impression that Mr. Flaherty would be available to start his new position in two weeks. The board’s vote included a compensation rate of a step 17-2, which according to Fairhaven’s Personnel Classification is $35.66 hourly and $74,172.80 annually.
The board also interviewed Nolan Bernier during its 2/3 meeting for the position but did not find that he held the required licenses or had enough experience. A third candidate, Alison Novak, did not appear for her scheduled interview.
Order in the room deteriorated after the board took up an Open Meeting Law violation complaint filed by Andrew Jones concerning the BOH’s 2/3 meeting. The complaint alleged that the board violated the OML when it considered making COVID-19 related restrictions on the Huttleston Marketplace, an open-air farmer’s market event hosted by the Tourism Department.
Town Counsel Thomas Crotty drafted a response to the complaint denying that the board was in violation.
BOH member Michael Ristuccia commented that Mr. Jones, who works for the Commonwealth, should be reported to the state for lodging the complaints that Mr. Ristuccia regarded as “harassment” toward the board.
“Honestly, I’m disgusted by the whole thing,” said BOH member Geoff Haworth, who has faced a public backlash from residents on social media and, allegedly, from Huttleston Marketplace vendors.
“It’s always a game with these people. To be honest with you, [I’d prefer to have] town counsel send the [OML response] letter and be done with it…” said Mr. Haworth.
Resident Ann Richard asked to speak and called for BOH Chairperson Peter DeTerra to clarify the OML response process.
“No matter what town counsel says… he gives you a decision, and then what’s the follow-up with the state?” she asked.
She specified that she wanted Mr. DeTerra, the chairperson, to answer. He said the board would send the letter both to Mr. Jones and the state.
“And you never think that you violate Open Meeting Law, correct? Because Mr. Crotty … agrees with you?” asked Ms. Richard.
Mr. Haworth then started to speak, but Ms. Richard asked that Mr. DeTerra answer.
“The chairman runs the meeting, not you,” said Mr. Haworth.
“Is there not any concern from his board…? You definitely violated something at the last meeting because you tried to have regulations changed that were not on the agenda,” said Ms. Richard.
She asked about a letter the board sent to the Agricultural Commission asking for AgCom to review the proposed regulations for farmers markets and the ensuing process. The group then determined that AgCom is now down to just two members — Ms. Richard and Mr. DeTerra, after Chairperson Kaisa Cripps resigned some months ago.
Ms. Richard asked how that would affect the process given that the chair had resigned, and Mr. DeTerra said he was unaware that “Terry” Cripps had left AgCom. Ms. Richard corrected him that it was not Terry that was AgCom chair, but Kaisa. She asked if Mr. DeTerra was chair of the AgCom.
Communication broke down as BOH members and Ms. Richard talked over each other. Mr. Haworth said his greatest concern was his perception that Ms. Richard somehow had a conflict of interest discussing the Huttleston Marketplace because Tourism Director Chris Richard is her brother. Mr. DeTerra adhered to the conflict of interest theory to end the discussion.
“Oh, because everything Mr. Haworth is saying is true because my brother…?” Ms. Richard said, prompting Mr. Ristuccia to comment that she mispronounced Mr. Haworth’s last name, although she said it the same way Mr. DeTerra consistently does.
“Just do me a favor and shut up for a minute!” yelled Mr. Haworth to Ms. Richard. “You know what? I’m sick and tired of the bullshit.”
He alleged bullying had taken place and again said he was “sick of the bullshit” and then quickly motioned to accept Mr. Crotty’s letter. Ms. Richard was promptly muted, as she was participating remotely via Zoom.
In COVID-19 news, as of Thursday, 2/9, Fairhaven had 133 active cases for a total of 1,658 since the onset of the pandemic. The positivity rate went down slightly to 5.8%.
In other business, the board approved an animal permit* for 64 Hathaway Street to keep six hens but stipulated that no rooster be allowed under the permit. The board briefly discussed creating a policy to inform abutters of pending new animal permits before issuance and will take the matter up in a future meeting.
*In a follow-up with the Building Department, the Neighb News confirmed that the owner of 64 Hathaway Street, located in the residential zone, would require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals to keep chickens before the BOH can issue the animal permit. Mr. DeTerra is also the chairperson of the ZBA
•••
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal.
Click here to download the entire 2/25/21 issue: 02-25-21 BaskRibbonCut
Click here to download Mr. Espindola’s disclosure: 02-23-21 EspindolaDisclosure
