By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Select Board held a marathon meeting on Monday, 9/23/24, even though they passed over two items that could have taken up a lot of time. The meeting ran until almost 11 p.m.
The board heard from Fairhaven Wind developer, Sumul Shah, who constructed the two wind turbines (WTs) on Arsene Street near the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and owns the project. The town has a lease agreement with Fairhaven Wind for the use of the land the WTs are on; and the town has a contract to buy the electricity produced, although it all goes through a rather complicated process involving Eversource and transmission and distribution costs.
The project has resulted in $4,000,000 in benefits to the town.
Mr. Shah gave an outline of the projects successes and failures over the past 12 years. He said the town has been making money from the project, but the last few years production has been down. He said the town has not seen a downturn in revenue because electricity costs are so high, not because of productivity.
In a nutshell, the WTs need an overhaul and it will cost millions. The company is looking for the town to renew the lease according to the current contract, but also to change the way the town pays the company for electricity. Mr. Shah said he needs a more stable revenue projection to get a loan to rehab the turbines.
The turbine manufacturer is no longer in the US due to a lawsuit against the Chinese company for stealing technology. Mr. Shah said his company has partnered with a variety of maintenance companies to keep the WTs running, but they are reaching the point when that will not be feasible.
Mr. Shah has found a different company that has components that will fit the WTs on Arsene Street, but the project will cost millions. The refit will increase production from 1.5 megawatts to 1.85 megawatts if Eversource will allow it. He is also hoping Eversource will allow them to create a battery backup system to help with regulating transmission.
He said the biggest problem they have is that Eversource kicks them off the system if there is a problem and it can take days to get producing again. The refit and the battery backup will help with some of that interruptions.
He is asking the town to incorporate the transmission and distribution rates into the fixed rate it pays to his company. That way there is no variability and he can get a loan from the bank.
Mr. Shah and board members discussed details of how that change would look.
The board did not vote on the change, but asked Mr. Shah to get more information to them, and to work with Town Administrator Angie Lopes Ellison, Anne Carreiro, Assistant Town Administrator of Finance/Town Accountant. The board will discuss it at a future meeting.
In another matter, Fairhaven Police Chief Daniel Dorgan formally introduced Cooper Howell, Fairhaven’s newest police officer. He graduated from the academy in Fitchburg on 9/13/24, and was sworn in on Monday, 9/16. (See 9/19/26 issue.)
Chief Dorgan said he was skeptical about the Fitchburg program because students go directly from the college’s criminal justice program into the academy. After visiting and learning more, however, he was convinced.
“I think it’s a great program,” said Chief Dorgan, adding that in the future he hopes to get more candidates from there.
The board also voted to approve the Ms. Ellison’s appointment of Alyssa Botelho to the Community Development Coordinator position that is the new iteration of the Director of Tourism job, which has been vacant since Chris Richard retired in May.
Ms. Botelho currently works in the town’s Cable TV department. She is also known around town as an independent film maker, and she works as Marketing Manager for BOLD Real Estate.
SB Andrew Romano recused himself from the discussion and left the room because he is a Real Estate agent with BOLD.
The board also declared as surplus a weathervane that was on the Oxford School. The request from the Historical Commission was to give it to the North Fairhaven Improvement Association to restore it and display it, however that organization voted not to accept it.
John Medeiros and Jeff Lucas, both members of the NFIA, asked the board to give it to them, saying they believe it does have historical value despite the determination of the Historical Commission.
There was quite a bit of discussion about how to go about declaring a piece of town property as surplus and giving it to specific individuals, instead of offering it to the public for purchase.
“I am very passionate about this weathervane,” said Mr. Medeiros, adding he was not sure where it should go, but it should not be scrapped.
He said the vocational students might be able to restore it, and he can reach out the Lions Club, where he is also a member.
“I find it hard to believe it has no historic value,” said Mr. Lucas, and discussed the difference between monetary value of an object and the historic value it may have to a place.
“If you’re going to toss it out, toss it out into my truck right now,” said Mr. Lucas.
In the end, the board voted to declare it surplus property and suggested Mr. Medeiros and Mr. Lucas talk to Ms. Ellison about how they can acquire it.
The weathervane has been stored at the Millicent Library for about 10 years and needs to be moved.
The board also voted to approve winter storage for boats at Hoppy’s Landing for $25 per foot. Harbormaster Tim Cox said the property is dormant in the winter and it can hold a lot of boats, which will provide revenue for the town.
After the meeting the Neighb News asked if money generated at Hoppy’s Landing can be moved to the general fund or if it has to go into the Hoppy’s Landing Revolving account to be used only at Hoppy’s Landing. The board did not have a clear answer by press time.
The board also met in executive session to discuss the use of town counsel and who on the board would have access to that, a continuation of a discussion that began in open session at a previous meeting. After the executive session, Ms. Powers said the board had made changes to the proposed protocols and would present it to the public at the next meeting.
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