By Beth David, Editor
Newly appointed Fairhaven Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, got quite the welcome at his first regular meeting of the Select Board on 10/14/25. The lengthy agenda included three executive sessions, a tree hearing appeal (see page 4), and 16 separate action items, including a review of articles for the upcoming Special Town Meeting, and a discussion about the Atlas Tack Working Group’s status as an entity that does not need to include the public.
Mr. Hickey did have one quick emergency meeting on 9/30/25, but that meeting only had two agenda items. The main point of that meeting was to appoint him as temporary Treasurer for the town until a permanent treasurer can be hired.
On Monday, the board reviewed the seven articles on the warrant for the 11/19 special Town Meeting. Six articles are spending articles, and one is a bylaw change.
Article 2 funds the new union contracts for the Fire Department, Highway Department, Clerical, and the Cost-of-Living Adjustment for non-union employees not covered by a contract.
The total for Article 2 was not specified because not all unions had ratified the changes. The board voted to recommend at TM.
Article 3 moves $297,803 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund to the Sewer Nitrogen Plant Article 15A from 2022. The board voted to recommend.
Article 4 requests a transfer of $40,000 from Free Cash to go into General Fund Reserves, and $30,000 into the Preventative Maintenance Article 10-5 of the May 3, 2025 TM. The funds are for the Town Hall East Retaining wall emergency repairs. The Finance Committee had to use reserve funds for the project because the scope of the project expanded due to unexpected complications.
Article 5 will transfer $50,000 from the Public Safety Complex Stabilization Fund for a site study. The orignal article specified an environmental study for the former Fairhaven Drive-In property, but after some discussion, the article was changed to leave out an exact location.
SB member Andrew Saunders said the committee wanted to be able to expend the funds without having to go back to TM. Discussion revolved around how the money would be authorized for spending.
Mr. Saunders inserted language that would require the SB to approve the spending.
Other articles generally go right from TM to a specific entity for spending so the extra step is no needed.
Mr. Saunders said there should be more checks and balances.
It takes the SB back from being “ornamental,” he said. “Right now, we are ornamental.”
The board voted to recommend at TM with the change.
Article 6 appropriates $500,000 to pay for water main replacement on Glenhaven Avenue, Phase 2. The money will be borrowed, so the vote requires 2/3 in favor at TM.
Article 7 will increase animal adoption fees for the animal shelter.
The board voted to support an increase in boarding fees to $50 per day, up from $25; and to increase adoption fees for a cat from $200 to $300; and for a dog from $300 to $600.
Mr. Hickey said the cost of operating the shelter is greater than the revenue it is bringing in. He said the police chief asked for the changes to more closely balance the operating expenses.
The board also had two items pertaining to the Atlas Tack Working Group (ATWG). One was to make a minor change in the group’s charge. The other, which got tabled, was to discuss changing the group to a committee so they will have to adhere to Open Meeting Law regulations.
Doug Brady spoke on behalf of changing the charge for the group. He said now that we have a permanent TA, the change is to submit the report to the TA to decide, instead of recommendations from the Group. The board vote to make the change.
The other item, though, was a little more complicated.
Mr. Hickey said concerns were raised by residents that the ATWG had been meeting without allowing the public to attend. He said he spoke with Town Counsel and was waiting for an opinion on whether or not the group had the ability to keep the public out.
SB member Andrew Romano wanted to table both items.
SB member Andrew Saunders said just because they may have the right to exclude the public, does not mean they should.
SB member Natalie Mello asked if the group was still meeting or if they were waiting for information.
Mr. Brady said they are still gathering information. They are trying to figure out how much property is owned by Atlas Tack.
He then ventured into the public participation aspect of the discussion, that was slated to be tabled. He said if they want to meet with the assessor, then anyone from the group can go without notice. Suddenly, they will have to invite the public. He said they had 15 meeting since June because they had the flexibility to meet when the could without having to abide by OML regulations to post it, etc.
He noted that they gave the SB an update and they even convinced Mr Romano, who said it was exactly what he had hoped for.
The point goes back to when the group was formed and Mr. Romano expressed concern that if it was not a real committee, there would be no transparency.
Mr. Brady said the “whole transparency thing” and meeting behind closed doors, was not relevant.
“We don’t vote on anything,” he said. “We don’t deliberate. We don’t recommend. We don’t do any of that.”
He said they just compile information.
Mr. Romano said he did say that, but he has since received other information that came up in executive session, that would make him retract that statement.
He said every time the ATWG is discussed, it is back and for about how the public can get involved. He said have as much public engagement as possible only benefits everyone
It is not a good look to come and say this is why we should not have public engagement.
“I will die on that hill,” said Mr. Romano
He also took issue with Mr. Brady going before them with a “written transcript” of something Mr. Romano said two months ago to defend why the public should be excluded…
“I didn’t say you were saying…” said Mr. Brady and the two talked over each other for a bit, until SB chairperson, Charles Murphy, reined in the discussion saying they were getting off topic.
The board voted 4-1 to make the change to the charge, with Mr. Romano voting no.
The board voted 3-2 to table the item to change the ATWG to a committee. Mr. Romano and Mr. Saunders vote “no.”
The board also reviewed executive session minutes from 42 meetings dating back to January of 2024, but only released the minutes from 8/19/24.
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