By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven Town Meeting members will be asked to approve two budgets at the annual TM on Saturday, 5/6/23. The town faces a budget shortfall of $450,000. The Select Board/Town Administrator recommended budget, if passed, will require a Proposition 2 1/2 override to be implemented. So TM members are being asked to approve that budget, the “contingent” budget (contingent upon the override passing), and a non-contingent budget, which includes $450,000 in cuts to balance it.
The Finance Committee also passed a budget with $450,000 in cuts, just not all in the same places as the SB/TA budget.
Cuts by both the FinCom and SB/TA include $200,000 from the school department’s requested FY24 budget (not last year’s budget, which is FY23). The school department requested $23,953,641, up from $22,910,683 last year, an increase of $1,042,958. The cut would result in a school budget of $23,753,641, which is still an increase of $842,958 from FY 23.
The general electorate must approve any override in a special election which is set for June 5, when voters will be asked simply to pass an override of Proposition 2 1/2 in the amount of $450K for FY24.
That vote will take place regardless of what happens at TM. If the override is approved at TM and approved by the voters, then the contingent budget will be implemented. If TM votes against the larger budget, but the voters approve the override, then the $450K will be added to the tax levy (property taxes) started the following year, requiring the cuts to go into effect for FY24.
Town Administrator Angie Lopes Ellison said the voters are the ones to decide on the override and the state will take the “yes” vote and apply that amount to the levy. However, only TM can appropriate funds, and if they vote against appropriating the money, then it will have to wait for either another town meeting or next year.
TM will also vote on a number of spending articles and other articles on the warrant.
The Community Preservation Committee is asking for $715,775 to be spent on a variety of projects, including $200,000 for windows in Town Hall; $150,000 to rehab the skate park at Livesey Park; $140,775 for resurfacing the bike path.
Larger spending articles include $2,397,320 to replace the roof at the middle school, with $1,159,288 from surplus revenue and $1,238,032 from the Capital Stabilization Fund; $530,000 to replace the roof on the Rec Center/Senior Center building; $220,000 to digitize paperwork.
Other projects to be funded by surplus revenue (free cash) include: $425K for road work; $21K for HVAC in the BPW administration building; $175K to replace a backhoe; $30K to replace emergency lighting at Cushman Park; $80K to pave the senior center parking lot; $156,261 for the police cruiser program; $36K for a street camera computer server; $19,168 for tactical ballistics equipment; $26,500 for divider curtains for the Rec Center gym; $24,605 to replace engines on the Harbormaster’s boat; $30K to replace hardware in the IT department; $31K to replace protective sheathing on windows in town hall; $9,550 for “Poll Pads” for electronic voter check-in and check-out in elections. Total general fun capital budget expenditures in Article 8A are $1,814,584.
Non spending articles that might garner a bit of discussion include a proposal to ban single-use plastics (article 21) and nips (article 22).
The Sustainability Committee and Board of Health petitioned the single-use plastics ban. It would prohibit the use of single use plastic checkout bags; and prohibit the use of plastic and styrofoam containers for take-out at restaurants. It also prohibits restaurants from automatically supplying straws and take-out utensils. Patrons will have to ask for them.
(See letter on page 19 for more information on why the Sustainability Committee supports both articles.)
Two articles will amend the authority that Conservation Commission members have to enforce the conditions of projects under their jurisdiction.
Article 19 would amend the wetland bylaw clarifying when ConCom members can enter private property to inspect a project. Members would need the permission of the owner, unless there is another legal reason giving them the authority to enter the property.
Article 20 makes the Conservation Agent the sole enforcement officer, with the approval of the TA, for violations of conservation projects. The change removes the ConCom chair or any designated agent from enforcement. Article 20 also takes away the ConCom’s authority to initiate court actions against violators, leaving that action to the Select Board and town counsel, upon request of the ConCom.
The authority of the ConCom members to enforce and issue fines was only granted last year at town meeting, with ConCom members arguing that because the Conservation Agent position was not filled, people were able get away with violations.
Articles 14 and 15 would remove the Police Department and Fire Department, respectively, from civil service requirements. Both unions approved the change.
Article 16 would amend the bylaw governing that makes the Director of Finance als the treasurer and collector. The change would make the Finance Director a department head under the direct control of the Town Administrator. The change would then have to be approved by voters at the annual town election.
Article 18 would require special legislation from the state to make the Town Administrator the appointing authority for the health agent, by amending the TA act to include the Health Agent. The Board of Health is currently the appointing authority.
Town Meeting is this Saturday, 5/6/23, at 9 a.m. at Hastings Middle School. It will run live on Comcast channel 18 and will be livestreamed at FairhavenTV.com,
Fairhaven has a representative Town Meeting, which means only elected TM members can vote. Anyone can attend.
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