By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven Town Meeting members made quick work of seven articles at a Special TM on 11/19/25.
Most articles passed with little or no discussion, but a couple garnered some debate
TM members supported all spending articles as presented, including labor contracts. The new total after numbers were updated for wages and non-union Cost of Living Allowance increases, was $136,024. Funds for the increases came from enterprise funds (funds designated for specific departments, such as sewer and water), the wage reserve fund, and annual TM in May.
Two articles had proposed amendments that resulted in some discussion, including Article 5 which requested $50K from the Public Safety Complex (PSC) Stabilization Fund for a consultant, and Article 7, which proposed significant increases in Animal Shelter fees.
Bob Espindola proposed an amendment to Article 5. He said he was not opposed to the $50,000 for a consultant, but felt that the money should not be spent until after the Select Board approves the 2027 Capital Improvement Plan. He said before any funds are expended there should be a sense that the town will be moving forward with the project.
He said spending $50,000 and thenfind out it is not going to fit into the big picture makes no sense.
Fire Chief Todd Correia said that the money was already transferred to the PSC fund. He said they are just asking to have it set aside to be used for a consultant. Right no, he said, they do not know if they should build one complex for both fire and police, or split them up.
They also need to look at appropriate properties in town. They need to consult with an architect about what would work for what they need.
Mr. Espindola said it was only a matter of a couple of months of delay.
Patrick Carr advocated for releasing the funds now. He said the Select Board created the committee and they have been working hard. He said noti giving the committee the $50,000 will “handcuff” them. It will just “kick the can down the road” like in the past.
In the end, the amendment was voted down and the original article passed as written in the warrant.
Article 7. proposing the increase in Animal Shelter fees, garnered the most discussion, with three amendments proposed.
The bylaw called for the boarding fee to be increased from $25 per day to $50 per day; adoption fees for cats to increase from $200 to $300, and for dogs from $300 to $600.
Police Chief, Daniel Dorgan, said the increases were necessary to cover veterinarian fees. He said the goal is the long term financial sustainability of the shelter.
TM member Cameron Durant said that with the town facing a budget shortfall of possibly up to $1.5 million, services that run with a loss of revenue will be the first to be cut. Those include the animal shelter and the recreation center, he said.
One amendment proposed changing the dog adoption fee to $400; the second amendment proposed chang-ing all the fees to $40 for boarding, $250 for cat adoption, and $450 for dogs; the third proposed changing the dog adoption fee to $500.
All three amendments failed and the original motion passed by a large margin.
Other spending articles that passed easily included Article 3 to transfer $297,803 from Sewer Retained Earnings to the Sewer Plant Article 15A from the 6/18/22 TM; Article 4 transferrin $40,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Reserves and $30,00 for the Town Hall Retaining Wall emergency repairs from Article 10-5 of the 5/3/25 TM.
TM members also voted to allow borrowing $500,000 for additional costs of the Glenhaven Avenue water main replacement.
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