By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Select Board met on Monday, 3/30/26, to discuss the budget, a possible Proposition 2 1/2 override, and articles on the Town Meeting warrant. The board voted to approve all except for three articles: the operating budget (Article 8); the proposed override (Article 9); and the General Fund Capital Plan because of questions about a $700K request for a roof for the Tripp School building, which is currently leased to SMEC (Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative).
They decided to vote on those items on Tuesday (see article below), when they held a joint meeting with the Finance Committee and the School Committee.
At both meetings, animal shelter advocates showed up with signs to protest the proposed closing of the shelter, and the reduction of the Animal Control Officer (ACO) to part time, and with no assistant.
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- Protesters gather in front of Fairhaven Town Hall on 3/30/26 before the Select Board meeting to protest the proposed closing of the animal shelter due to budget constraints. Photo by Beth David.
Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, said the plan for the shelter, if the override does not pass, is to turn it over to a group of volunteers who are in the process of creating a nonprofit organization to run the facility. The town would provide the ACO as part of the deal, and would lease the building for a nominal fee, probably $1 a year if approved by the Select Board.
If the override, for $760,149 to fund FY27, the shelter and full time ACO would be restored.
Zachary Aubut spoke in favor of keeping the animal shelter open. He said the schools have declining enrollment, but keep getting more money.
Mark Alves, who said he was a disabled veteran on a fixed income, spoke in favor of the override. He said nobody likes taxes, but “we have no choice,” but to pay more. He said his property taxes are low compared to other towns. He said he wants all the social services, and does not want to pay more in taxes either, but the reality is that taxpayers have to pay to get the services.
Patrick Carr said that Fairhaven’s taxes are not that low if you take into consideration the water and sewer rates. He suggested that instead of asking for an override, the town could increase the $100 trash fee to $300, which would raise an additional $1.2 million. He said it makes more sense than an override, because the trash fee is not permanent and is easy to rescind.
The Board of Public Works, however, sets the trash fee rate, not the Select Board.
Mr. Carr also took issue with the estimates for the tax increases that would result in an override. He said it would be closer to $500 a year on the average home of $450K.
“Respectfully,” said Mr. Hickey after a pause. “I find so many inaccuracies in some of the comments that are being made that I don’t even know what to say.”
He added that the website will have a calculator available in a few days for people to put in the value of their homes and get an accurate amount for what their tax increase would be.
“And I can respectfully suggest a $450,000 house…a heck of a lot less than 500 bucks.”
Mr. Carr also noted that school employees are getting their cost of living increases, and asked why there is not a freeze on raises.
Mr. Hickey town employees are facing the same challenges as everyone else. The COLA increase is 1.5% while health insurance is also going up a lot more.
“I will defend them every time,” he said.
The board also voted to recommend creation of an Affordable Housing Trust that would be used to preserve and create affordable housing and support efforts to improve affordable housing in Fairhaven.
The trust would have a board of seven members that would be responsible for acquiring funds and properties, and would be authorized to spend and/or borrow up to $15 million with prior approval of the Select Board.
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