By Beth David, Editor
At its meeting on 10/13/26, the Fairhaven Select Board approved a policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and closed the warrant for the Special Town Meeting (STM) scheduled for 11/17.
At a previous meeting, the board had discussed an AI draft policy created by SB member Natalie Mello, who then discovered that the town’s Information Technology Director, Steve Rosa, had already created a draft policy that was more comprehensive.
The policy establishes security requirements and acceptable-use rules for staff. It clarifies which tools are approved by the town, which is based on security to keep sensitive data private.
The policy includes five Core Principles. 1: Human Accountability. The employee is responsible for the output, “The AI wrote it” is never a defense. 2: Tool selection is decided by the sensitivity of the data not the convenience of the tool. 3: No AI system makes the final determination affecting a resident. 4: Transparency is the default. Residents are entitled to know when AI shaped something that affects them. 5: Assume anything entered into a public AI service is disclosed, the same way anyone can read a postcard.
Mr. Rosa told the board that the policy puts in safety guard rails for security. Employees have to vet the answers they get from AI, he said, because it is not always accurate.
Software used by employees has to be the vetted by the departments.
He also said the policy needs to be a “living document,” because of how often technology changes.
The board also noted that the School Department has its own AI policy. Board members and Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, acknowledged that the School policy is very school and education specific.
SB member, Rick Trapilo, also noted that the Board of Public Works is an autonomous body.
Ms. Mello suggested that the board add, as a preamble, the introduction from her draft policy with some changes, including to exclude school department employees because they have their own policy to follow.
In the end, the board voted to adopt the policy with the changes, pending review by the Board of Public Works and town counsel.
Both draft policies are available in the meeting packets on the Select Board page on the town website. Ms. Mello’s is available in the 9/28/26 meeting packet, and Mr. Rosa’s is in the 10/13/26 packet.
The board also voted to close the warrant for the STM. Mr. Hickey told the board that there are nine warrant articles, eight from the town, and one citizens petition.
Most of the articles are spending articles. One will allow the BPW to lease space on the water tower on Sconticut Neck Road for an antenna for cell service. Another will allow the Conservation Commission to hold the Conservation Restriction on 117 acres on Weeden Road/DeNormandie Farm West.
Article 9 was submitted by citizens petition and will prohibit the town’s use of Flock Cameras and other similar surveillance systems.
The Special Bylaw Review Committee also submitted an article to make a variety of changes to several bylaws.
Mr. Hickey also told the board that Town Accounting/Assistant TA, Anne Carreiro, is retiring next summer. Mr. Hickey said he would like to hire someone to start about a month before Ms. Carreiro leaves, so there would be a few weeks of overlap for a transition period. Article 5 in the STM warrant allocates $30,348 from unexpended funds for union contracts to use for the transition.
Mr. Hickey also the board that other retirements are coming for some long term, respected, knowledgeable employees in the next couple of years.
In another matter, the board heard from Fairhaven Historical Society member, Beth Luey, asking the board to allow the organization to use the Academy building’s two empty rooms for meetings and exhibits.
The society runs a museum on the second floor of the building. The first floor has a preserved 1800’s classroom. There are also two empty rooms on the first floor, where the Office of Tourism was once located.
The town owns the building, which was a school in the 1800s. The Historical Commission, which is a town government committee with members appointed by the SB, is responsible for the building, the same way it is responsible for other town historic structures.
The Historical Society is a private 501c3 nonprofit organization that runs a museum of Fairhaven history on the second floor of the Academy Building. The Society also organizes a variety of events, including author appearances, holiday house decorating contest, and scholarships to graduating high school seniors.
Ms. Luey, who is a member of both the Commission and the Society, told the board that the society would like to hold their meetings there, and have exhibits on the first floor.
In her letter making the request, she said that the Commission can also use the space to meet with the consultant who is conducting the survey (see page 3), and store research materials.
She noted that the 1798 building has seen some neglect since the Office of Tourism left, including a leak in the roof that went undetected.
Ms. Mello, who is the board’s liaison to the Commission, and has also been a member of the Society in the past said she had owned an 1730 house. She said the worst thing they can do is leave an old house empty, “because things happen.”
Eleanor Chew, a member of the Commission, said she was speaking for herself only, and she was concerned about the details. She said the Commission pays the bills on the building. Although they had talked about the possibility of a new arrangement, they did not talk about any details. She said they had no problem with Ms. Luey speaking to the Town Administrator, but the did not give permission for an agreement to be made.
The board voted to table the item until the next meeting to give the Commission time to discuss it at their next meeting.
The board also voted to allow the production company for 47 Brand Apparel to film and possibly block off Reservation Road from traffic later this month to record commercials.
Raymond Forbes told the board that they have several private locations in mind, including a residence on Reservation Road.
He said they “fell in love with Jake’s Diner.”
They will also be shooting at the Seaport Inn, possibly other locations.
The company will work with the police department and BPW and pay any associated costs.
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