Fairhaven Select Board members pause for a photo with Animal Shelter volunteers and Animal Control Officer Terry Cripps after the board issued a proclamation recognizing the work of the volunteers and proclaiming 4/30/24 Adopt-A-Shelter-Pet Day, at its meeting on 4/22/24. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
At its meeting on 4/22/24, the Fairhaven Select Board recognized the volunteers who help out at the Fairhaven Animal Shelter. The board presented Animal Control Officer, Terry Cripps, with a proclamation praising the volunteers and recognizing National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, which is April 30.
SB chairperson Stasia Powers credited SB member Andrew Romano with suggesting that the board recognize the volunteers for the “wonderful work” they do at the shelter.
“We all happily agreed,” she said.
Mr. Cripps told the board he has about 30 volunteers of all ages. . There are individuals from the public, some from organizations, such as MO LIFE and Community Connections. They are there every day of the year, including every holiday, he said.
“They’re there all the time,” said Mr. Cripps, adding they are not like “normal” volunteer staff, and “It’s a privilege to watch them.”
He gets compliments about how clean the shelter is and how it does not smell like an animal shelter, and he credits the volunteers for that.
He also said they lost three volunteers last year and have a garden for one, and are working on ways to remember the other two.
“They were valued members of our team,” said Mr. Cripps.
They all joked about getting “Cripped,” meaning he got someone to take an animal.
Mr. Romano also noted that Mr. Cripps helps with all kinds of animals, including an injured squirrel that Mr. Romano called about.
SB member Charlie Murphy said the town could not afford the work that the volunteers do. He also said he calls Mr. Cripps “about everything,” including 12 duck eggs in the yard….with the duck.
Mr. Cripps said to leave them alone, when the eggs hatch, they will go to the water. And, indeed, they did just that, said Mr. Murphy, so it was “great advice.”
“You excel at what you do,” he said. “You are shining stars.”
SB member Keith Silvia agreed that the volunteers were “special people” who do not get paid for what they do.
“They never say ‘no’,” said Mr. Cripps.
Donna Baldwin, who volunteers at the shelter, told the board it was “wonderful” to work with Mr. Cripps. “He’s great.”
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” she said.
Joan Fye told the board she had been through more than one ACO and, “They don’t come any better than Terry.”
She also said the shelter itself was “wonderful” and one of the only “genuine no-kill shelters in Southeastern Massachusetts.”
“I just love the animals so much,” said Ms. Fye. “When I retired, they gave me purpose.”
The proclamation recognizes the contributions of the volunteers, noting that “our Fairhaven Animal Shelter could not operate without the faithful volunteers who help support their efforts to save, foster and care for animals through donations of their time, goods, services and funds.”
The proclamation further states, “Our community recognizes the benefits of pets, who make life better by giving us unconditional love, providing companionship and comfort, encouraging us to get outside for exercise, and helping us build social connections.”
The board also held a public hearing to renew the aquaculture license for Stephen Doonan, who requested a five-year renewal.
Fairhaven Harbormaster Tim Cox told the board that Mr. Doonan was stuck in traffic, so Mr. Cox explained to the board that the original license was for three years and expires in May. He told the board that the town usually starts with a three-year license until the town knows how they operate, then they Increase it if there are no problems.
He said he has had no issues with Mr. Doonan at all.
The license could go up to 10 years, but he and the Marine Resources Committee are recommending five. The MRC voted unanimously to grant the extension.
Mr. Doonan’s aquaculture farm grows quahogs and oysters.
There were no questions and the board voted unanimously, 4-0, to grant the five year extension. Select Board member Andrew Saunders was not present.
In another matter, Town Administrator, Angie Lopes Ellison, told the board that two Town Meeting articles had some changes. Article 20, which amends several sections of the zoning bylaw, including the section on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), has been split into more than one motion. Article 21, which creates a bylaw to regulate sewer connections, takes out some language that was “more restrictive,” she said.* Ms. Ellison added that the changes did not necessarily impact the substance of the article. The changes for that article are marked in red in the packet.*
Article 21, which is a new bylaw that would regulate who can connect to the town’s sewer system, also had some changes, which were marked in red on the online packet.
In her report, Ms. Ellison told the board that the town website is transitioning to a new company. There may be some gaps in what is available online until the transition is complete, but all the information will be available on the new website.
The project has been discussed in the past, and the plan is make it easier to find things on the website. The new site will make it easier to apply for permits, etc. The transition should be done within the next couple of months.
Ms. Ellison also announced that Office of Tourism Director Chris Richard announced his retirement as of 5/31. She noted that they had talked about reshaping that position to focus more on community development. With Mr. Richard retiring, she said, it will be a “great opportunity” to do that.
“He will be missed,” said Mr. Ellison, and added that when she first met him she wanted to make him the town historian. She said it would be a great appointment now.
“As the saying goes, he knows where the skeletons are buried,” said Ms. Ellison.
Mr. Romano said that it seemed “kind of sudden,” considering Mr. Richard’s presentation to the board recently, and some conversations they had about upcoming events. Mr. Romano asked Ms. Ellison if she had “anything to share” about why Mr. Richard suddenly decided to retire.
Ms. Ellison said one of the things she does not do is talk about staff. She said she would talk to Mr. Romano privately about it if he wanted.
Ms. Ellison also gave the board information on restructuring the permitting departments, and moving offices. She said the idea is to group together the departments that might need to see the same set of plans so that residents are not running all over town hall. One irony, she noted, is that she is recommending that the Board of Health be relocated back to where it had been traditionally.
In another matter, the board appointed liaisons to the various boards and committees that require, or requested a Select Board representative.
The board also made several appointments, including: Bob Espindola to the Broadband Study Committee; Nicole Arruda to the Cultural Council and the Historical Commission; and chose Jessica Fidalgo to be nominated for the at-large position at SRPEDD (Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District), which is a position chosen by SRPEDD from names submitted by the boards of the municipalities in the district.
The board met in executive session with the Planning Board pursuant to MGL c 30A, S 21 (a)(3) to discuss litigation, “Rodriques v. Fairhaven PB).
The SB also met in executive session to discuss Civil Services (see page 3 for letter).
*Corrects errors from previous versions: Article 20 has no language changes; Article 21 changes are marked in red.
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