By Beth David, Editor
At their 8/10/26 meeting, the Fairhaven Select Board chose six from 11 applicants to serve on the newly created Budget Working Group. The Finance Committee chair or a designee of that committee will also serve on the group.
The brainchild of SB member Rick Trapilo, the group is tasked with reviewing municipal operations to identify opportunities to strengthen the long-term financial sustainability of the community.
The WG is organized to have seven members, with each seat to be filled with a specific purpose: 1, FinCom member; 2, CPA or other accounting/ budget professional; 3, business owner/manager; 4, resident with public safety experience; 5, educator; 6, resident with experience in procurement, construction, etc.; 7, IT professional.
Ten of the applicants filed by the deadline, one did not. Robert N. Baldwin, the former superintendent of schools in Fairhaven, missed the deadline but made it in time to get on the agenda.
Kevin Gallagher, the former Fire Chief in Acushnet, also submitted a late application, which the board received on the same day as the meeting. SB chairperson, Andrew Romano, said he would like to consider the application for category 4.
Mr. Romano, asked each person the same question: how would they ensure their decisions complied with Mass. General Law and the town’s bylaws even if they conflict with the person’s personal opinions.
“I think this is going to be a pretty intense exercise,” said Ken Blanchard, a member of the Finance Committee who applied to be on the WG. He also has a background in finance and municipal services.
Mr. Blanchard told the board he worked for five different mayors, eliciting a bit of laughter from the group. He said anyone who understands what that means knows it means he has survival tactics and knows how to adapt.
The board chose former Town Administrator, Mark Rees, for category 2, budget professional.
Mr. Rees told the board that he and his wife decided to retire in Fairhaven after he was hired as the TA.
“We love this community so much,” he said, adding that he wants to continue to make it a great place.
There were several contenders for the business owner/operations manager category. The board chose Jason “Jay” Lanagan, a developer who has experience with abandoned properties and properties with “complex permitting problems.”
Mr. Trapilo asked how Mr. Lanagan would handle potential conflicts since the WG will be delving into all the properties in town including town assets.
Mr. Lanagan said there are many people on boards in Fairhaven who conduct business in town.
“I don’t see how it’s any different,” said Mr. Lanagan, adding there would be some form he would fill out.
Mr. Trapilo said his question needs to be answered by the community if there is any inference that people on the WG are there to benefit themselves. They will be looking at tough issues.
Category 4 for a resident with public safety, such as police, firefighter, EMS was tabled.
Mr. Trapilo nominated Mr. Blanchard, but the vote failed, 2-3, with Mr. Trapilo and Andrew Saunders voting yes, and Mr. Romano, Natalie Mello, and Pam Kuechler voting no.
Ms. Mello then motioned for the appointment to be tabled so they could consider the late application, ie, Mr. Gallagher.
“That goes totally against what we are trying to do here this evening,” said Mr. Trapilo.
He said they had a deadline that they should stick to. They made an exception for one, but to make the exception for an application that just came in that day goes “totally against” the rules that were decided on for the process.
“Let’s just stick to what we published,” said Mr. Trapilo.
In a split vote the board decided to table the appointment for category four, public safety.
The board chose Dr. Baldwin for category 5: education, school finance, or school administration experience.
“I just want to give back to the community that’s given me so much,” said Dr. Baldwin.
He responded Mr. Romano’s question, saying he would never go against any laws.
“And my opinions, you’ll probably never know them,” said Dr. Baldwin.
The board chose Daniel Lopes, a former Board of Public Works member, and a lifelong Fairhaven resident.
Mr. Lopes said he has been fortunate to have a lot of mentors in his life.
“We’re stubborn at heart as Fairhavenites,” he said. “But we’re volunteers first and foremost.”
He works at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, one of the largest non-profits on the Cape.
“We watch pennies over there,” he said.
Gunnar Hexum was the only applicant with IT experience, although he could have fit into other categories, including public safety, as he was a paramedic in New York City.
“If he can be a paramedic in New York City, he can do anything,” said Mr. Trapilo.
About the task of the WG, Mr. Hexum said: “It’s going to be painful. No question about it. It’s going to be painful.”
The opening for category 4 is posted on the town’s website and is open for applicants. Deadline to apply is noon, August 19. Visit https://fairhaven-ma.gov/volunteer-opportunities/ to apply.
After the interviews, the board chose a liaison to the WG.
In a bit of a twist, Mr. Romano said he wanted to be the liaison, a point he had referred to in passing during the earlier discussion.
Mr. Trapilo made his case, saying he has a long financial background in business.
“I have solved large budget issues,” said Mr. Trapilo, adding he wanted to commit the time to bring some solutions to Town Administrator, Keith Hickey.
“I truly want to be the liaison,” said Mr. Trapilo.
Mr. Romano said he had been against the forming of the group at the beginning, but now that it has gon through, he wanted it to be successful.
“I have a lot of energy,” said Mr. Romano, adding he has a lot of relationships with people in the community that he is willing to tap into.
He also said he has connections in Acushnet.
SB member Pam Kuechler, said she appreciated that Mr. Trapilo started the process. She said it shows the community
Later in the meeting, Mr. Romano asked for reconsideration of the item. He said as they were getting ready to go into executive session he could “sense” how upset Mr. Trapilo was.
“Very upset,” said Mr. Trapilo.
Mr. Romano said he only put his name out there because he wanted the group to be successful and was not considering Mr. Trapilo’s reaction.
“You weren’t,” Mr. Trapilo quickly interjected. “What did you expect?”
Mr. Romano said he would like to withdraw his name from consideration as the liaison to the WG.
“And I would say the board has voted. Leave the vote as it is,” said Mr. Trapilo. “Let the chips fall where they may.”
He added that he can live with the board’s vote.
“We have an unbelievable group of people who stepped forward,” said Mr. Trapilo, adding he trusted that Mr. Romano would work for the best interest of the town.
“I wanted to do this, but I respect the vote,” said Mr. Trapilo, adding there was no need to go back.
Mr. Romano insisted that he would not be taking the position and asked if any other board member wanted to.
In the end the board voted to make Mr. Trapilo the liaison in a 4-1 vote, with Mr. Trapilo voting “no.”
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