By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Town Administrator Screening Committee (TASC) submitted four names to the Select Board at its meeting on 6/23/25.
TASC chairperson, Jeff Osuch, told the board that Rick White of Groux-White Consulting had done “very good job” for the committee. He did a “lot of homework” on the candidates.
Mr. Osuch summarized the process that the consultant and the committee went through to get to the finalists. The town heard from 33 candidates from 11 states.
The committee interviewed 12 candidates for about 75 minutes each, asking 10 basic questions. The four candidates chose each have at least 10 years of experience in municipal government.
Mr. Osuch said he was presenting the names in alphabetical order because the committee felt it was not their role to make a recommendation.
The four finalists are Lisa Green, Keith Hickey, Joseph Powers, and James Ryan.
Ms. Green is an attorney who has served as the Town Administrator in Hanson, and Whitman Mass. She is currently the Interim TA in Auburn, according to online sources. She also served on the Selectboard in Whitman.
Mr. Hickey is the Town Administrator in Kingston, Mass., and was the town manager in Winchendon, MA, Salem, MA, Merrimack, NH and Bedford, NH.
Mr. Powers is the Town Administrator in Harwich, although his contract expires on June 30 and is not being renewed. He also served as Interim TA and Assistant TA in Harwich immediately prior to being named TA. He also served as Assistant TA/Town Clerk in Wellfleet; Interim Town Clerk in Northfield; and Town Clerk & Registrar in Braintree.
Mr. Ryan was the Town Administrator in West Boylston, until February, when he was fired in a controversy over his handling of a Trump campaign flag in the police station, according to news reports. The issue was not that the flag should not have been hung in the space, but that Mr. Ryan solicited the help of a subordinate to remove it.
Mr. Ryan also served as Assistant Town Manager/Human Resources Director in Salisbury; was Finance and Budget Analyst in Wellesley; and Budget Analyst/Intern in Foxborough.
Mr. White advised the board to ask about 10 questions of each candidate and to ask the same questions. He said they will have time to do follow-up questions, and said they will have better responses if they engage in a dialogue with candidates.
Mr. White told the board that the position is a good opportunity. He did not sell the community, he said, he sold the opportunity.
The board will hold a special meeting on Monday, 7/7, at 3 p.m. to interview the finalists. The details of how to handle the questioning so the candidates do not hear the questions and answers will be worked out with the advice of Town Counsel.
In another matter, the board appointed nine members to the Atlas Tack Working Group, declining to make it a real committee that would have to post meetings, take minutes, and record their sessions.
SB member Andrew Romano changed his tune a little, saying he was not against a Working Group, but he wanted a way for the public to know what the group was doing and when they were meeting.
Cathy Melanson, who had pushed for the group not to be a committee so they did not have to adhere to the Open Meeting Law, said someone from the group could brief the board once a month.
SB chairperson Charlie Murphy noted, though, that the SB would have a liaison on the committee who would brief them at every meeting.
SB member Natalie Mello asked if members of the committee needed to be Fairhaven residents. Mr. Murphy said they did not because it is a working group. Nine people applied to be on the committee, and one, David Gerber, who is married to Erin Carr, lives in Mattapoisett. In his application, he said he owns property in Fairhaven. Ms. Carr owns a business with her father in Fairhaven.
The board appointed all nine applicants to the WG: Ken Blanchard, Doug Brady, Brandon Estrella, David Gerber, Fernando Lemos, Cathy Melanson, Brian Messier, Michael Sherman, Rick Trapilo.
The board also read and signed two proclamations. One was in recognition of 31 year of “dedicated public service” by Deputy Chief Joy Nichols, who is retiring. Dep. Chief Nichols is the first woman to achieve the rank of Lieutenant, in 2015, and Deputy Chief in 2021.
“Joy’s trailblazing achievements, calm and confident decision-making, and tireless service have left a lasting impact on the Fairhaven Fire Department and the citizens of Fairhaven, who have greatly benefited from her experience, integrity, and compassion,” reads the proclamation.
The other proclamation recognizing July as Americans with Disabilities Act awareness month. The ADA was passed 35 years ago.
The town “affirms the principles of equality and inclusion for persons with disabilities embodied in the ADA and seeks to provide universal access for all its residents,” the proclamation reads.
The board also voted to allow Fire Chief, Todd Correia, to participate in the hiring of a new Deputy Fire Chief. Due to conflicts of interest with potential candidates, Chief Correia was not allowed to participate. The SB said that the list of candidates does not include anyone he is related to, so he can participate in the rest of the process.
The meeting was not, however, bereft of the now familiar drama during public comment.
First, Select Board member Natalie Mello read a statement (see page 20) addressing some of the criticism she has received in the last few meetings.
She said the last election brought in a “whole cadre of new faces, fresh voices and innovative perspectives.”
She said the voters have spoken and she would do her part to get new people involved on various committees and boards.
“We all enjoy the same rights and all should be welcome to get involved as they are willing,” said Ms. Mello. “An assumption that the same folks who have always served will get priority contradicts the principle of true citizen participation.”
She said the time expended on “baseless allegations” has been detracting for the board. She also said her campaign showed that bullying does not lessen her resolve, it strengthens her determination.
In response to that, Tracy Travers told Ms. Mello she does not support women. She reiterated her accusation that Ms. Mello’s questions to Cathy Melanson when she applied for a spot on the Zoning Board of Appeals were sexist and out of line, and she should apologize.”
Patrick Carr addressed the board saying Ms. Mello’s questions should have been different on the night in question. He aso said that as chair of the ZBA, he was never called by the SB to make sure the associate members were made aware that a full member position was vacant.
Mr. Carr also rehashed the meeting from last year when Kenneth Kendall was not reappointed as a full member and was offered an associate member position, which he declined, and resigned on the spot at that meeting.
Mr. Carr also complained that the board did not appoint Ms. Melanson at the 5/12/25 meeting, but appointed a “person off the street.”
He also said the questions to Ms. Melanson were “sexist in nature.”
Mr. Carr said that appointing someone inexperienced could lead to litigation.
He also called out Ms. Mello for calling them “bullies.”
“Shame on you for that,” he said.
When he ran out of time, the boar failed to vote to give him more time because Andrew Saunders was not present, so it was 2-2, with Mr. Romano and Ms. Mello voting no.
“Of course you don’t want to” give more time, he said, although he did not stop talking, adding that they should rescind the vote. He then said they held their discussion about Ms. Mello in executive session.
“You don’t even have the gall* to come here and do it in open meeting session,” said Mr. Carr.*
Erin Carr also spoke saying she took offense to the “narrative” Ms. Mello, saying it was misleading, and they are just advocating for people with experience.
Ms. Carr also said labeling them “bullies” was unacceptable.
Ironically, at the meeting, the board also appointed Mr. Kendall to the ZBA as an associate member. Ms. Melanson also applied for the position.
Michelle Costen also spoke, but chose to rail against the town’s use of Community Preservation Act funds for the Unitarian Memorial Church building. She also said, in a written correspondence to the board, that the money, given under the “guise of historic preservation,” was being misappropriated and was being hidden from the public in how it was allocated.
“I want answers,” said Ms. Costen.
When she needed more time, the board failed to vote for it, but she got in a few more words.
“And I think you’re the bully,” she said, adding she wants answers. “Because I am very mad.”
When it was her turn, Ms. Melanson addressed a controversy from last meeting, when Mr. Romano denied accosting her in the hallway after the meeting. She said she got the video from the hallway and it proves that they spoke. She said he never asked about her ability to do the job on the ZBA. He then stated on camera without her present in the room that he did not “accost” her.
Ms. Melanson said she did not believe she would get an apology from either Mr. Romano or Ms. Mello. But experience is no longer a positive attribute in Fairhaven, favoritism is.
Ms. Romano indicated he would respond at the end of the meeting during board member items, as it was not appropriate for him to respond during public comment.
When he did speak, he said he did not deny speaking with Ms. Melanson in the hallway. He said he also requested the camera footage.
He said he was caught off guard because he did not mean for his comments to be contradictory. He said they have never had the “best relationship,” but he felt they had both been “trying really hard.”
They have a common goal, he said, and it’s Fairhaven.
“I just want to move forward,” sid Mr. Romano.
He also noted that the footage shows them both laughing as they walk away from each other
In other business, the board:
• Approved the transfer of an All Alcohol Liquor License for the Bitter End to new manager, Andrea L. Perry.
• Voted to waive parking fees at Hoppy’s Landing on August 1 from 1–5 p.m. for the inclusive Adaptive Fishing Derby organized by the Recreation Department.
• Voted to reappoint Interim Town Administrator George Samia as his 180 days is running out and a new TA has not been hired.
*Corrects error from previous versions, “gall” not “balls” and added “come here” and “meeting” from taped meeting.
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