Fairhaven SB welcomes new officers; gets first budget draft

By Beth David, Editor

The Fairhaven Select Board wel­comed four new police officers at its meeting on 1/27/25, and received the first draft budget prepared by Interim Town Administrator George Samia.

The four new officers had been officially sworn in that morning by the town clerk. They were introduced to the board and the public by Police Chief Daniel Dorgan, who also noted that the Fairhaven PD Honor Guard presented colors at the graduation in Plymouth on Friday, 1/24, when the four officers graduated.

Off. Patrick Claflin is the son of retired Fairhaven Police Officer Richard “Dicky” Claflin. The younger Claflin worked in hospital security for many years and has a strong back­ground in working well with people in unpredictable and some­times volatile hospital settings. 

Off. Lindsay Halewood has worked for four years as a paralegal. She has a very good understanding of the importance of writing strong detailed police reports and how that relates to success as a police officer. 

Off. Colby Nowicki was a public safety officer at Morton Hospital and has worked in the areas of public safety and security for more than four years and has learned essential skills, such as verbal de-escalation, strong communication skills and the ability to work well with others.

Off. Allisen Swisher has served in the US Navy for five years as an intelligence analyst and was deployed overseas in Africa. She was then assigned at the Maritime Expedi­tionary Security Squadron in Newport, RI where she will maintain her reserve status while employed by the town.

“We’re very proud of all of them,” Chief Dorgan told the board. “I expect a lof of good things from this group.”

He said they will now undergo several months of field training. He asked the public to say “hi” if they see the new officers around town.

After they left the meeting, all four officers said they relied on each other to get through the academy. They rode in together, and helped each other with emotional support and in practical ways, such as making sure their uniforms were correct.

Off. Claflin said the job was the fulfillment of a childhood dream, and his first day was “fantastic,” although it was mostly paperwork.

From his father, a 36-year veteran of the Fairhaven PD, Off. Claflin said he learned to respect people, and, “to maintain my integrity.”

Off. Nowicki said he was “very grateful.”

“We worked hard,” he said. “We stuck together as a team.”

His first day he was “a little nervous,” because he did not know what to expect.

“I’m very happy to be out of the academy,” said Off. Halewood. “I’m grateful to this department and my fellow student officers, now officers. We had a good group going to the academy.”

“I’m grateful for the experience and the opportunity,” said Off. Swisher, from Capt. Gordon, to the Chief, and other officers who were “so helpful” along the way.

The four are from different local towns, and it was the “power of the Internet” that got them to Fairhaven, said Chief

Dorgan.

Off. Swisher said there were some student officers who were there alone and did not know anyone, and she felt if was harder for them. She felt grateful for the camaraderie she has with her fellow recruits.

“We have built a good relationship with each other,” she said, adding it will be there throughout their careers.

“If one fails, we all fail,” said Off. Nowicki.

In another matter, Interim Town Administrator, George Samia, pre­sented “Draft 1” of the FY26 budget. Although it shows a $1.47 million shortfall, Mr. Samia told the board and the public not to panic. He said the revenue estimates were very conservative, and he fully expected state aid and other revenue sources to be higher. Departments are also working on shaving two percent from their budgets. 

Mr. Samia noted that the details of the budget are on the town’s website as supporting documents to his presentation.

“The budget is very fluid,” said Mr. Samia. “Let’s not panic. Things are going to change.”

He gave a quick lesson in munici­pal budgets, noting four sources of revenue: 1) the tax levy, aka, property taxes; 2) state aid; 3) local receipts, such as permit fees and excise taxes; 4) other available funds, such as funds appropriated in previous years and not used, or free cash. 

Mr. Samia said the draft was based on a lot of assumptions.

Board members asked a series of questions based on the documents and their knowledge of previous budgets. 

Mr. Samia noted that the overlay amount was more than $400K and those funds will largely be returned to the general fund. The overlay account is the amount the Assessor holds to pay out for property tax abatements and errors. 

He said they estimated local receipts very conservatively, and expected that number to go up when the new December numbers come in.

SB Chairper­son, Stasia Powers noted that the town had just raised fees in the fall.

Assistant Town Administrator of Finance/Town Accountant, Anne Carreiro said they also estimated the cost of tuition at New Bedford Voc-Tech high to be safe.

In response to questions, Mr. Samia noted that the draft did not include capital items and spend­ing from enter­prise funds (water and sewer), so the overall operating budget number was lower. 

“This is strictly the budget,” said Mr. Samia, not capital items.

The budget pre­sentation and draft are available on the town’s website at https://www.fairhaven-ma.gov/town-administrator/pages/budget-information

In another matter, the board accepted the resignation of Karen Isherwood, Carrie Hawthorne, and Ronnie Medina from the Conserva­tion Committee. 

SB member Andrew Romano said it was “very concerning” that three members of one board all resigned in one day, and noted that Ms. Isherwood’s letter cited staffing changes as the reason. He asked if the SB or Mr. Samia should reach out to the former members to get some more detail on why they were leaving all at the same time. 

Bruce Webb, Director of Land Use who works closely with that board, joined the board remotely to say that Mr. Medina had been talking about resigning for some time. 

Mr. Samia said he would contact Ms. Isherwood to see if he could get some details from her because her comment was “vague.”

SB member Andrew Saunders took the opportu­nity to remind the public that there are many volun­teer opportuni­ties with the town, saying it is very fulfilling to volunteer.s

Mr. Webb said while he was always happy to have additional applicants for ConCom, the town had already received three applications from “very quali­fied” people.

SB Chairperson, Stasia Powers said they should be encouraging people to apply so they have a good choice. 

Any members of the public who wish to volunteer on a board or committee should visit the volunteer page on the town’s website at https://www.fairhaven-ma.gov/volunteer-opportunities to see what is available and to apply; or call or stop by the Select Board/Town Administrator’s office, 508-979-4023.

In other business, the board held a public hearing for two concurrent liquor license transfers. The board approved the transfer of the Ice House license, previous owner Lars Vinjerud, to Mario Ribeiro, current owner of Bocca. The Ice House will be renamed Soco Tavern, dba Soco, with new manager, Jacob Galary. 

The board also appointed Eleanor Chew to the Open Space and Recrea­tion Committee; and Robert Hanaan to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Economic Development Committee. 

The board also met in executive session to conduct strategy in preparations for negotiations with non-union personnel: Fire Chief.

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