By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Planning Board met jointly with the Select Board on 11/10/25 to choose a replacement for Dianne Tomassetti, who resigned on 10/20, and then tried to rescind her resignation. She applied to fill that vacancy, along with former PB member, Rick Trapilo; and long time PB member, Jeff Lucas. Michelle Costen also applied, but then withdrew her application.
The three candidates gave opening statements and then were asked questions by SB chair, Charles Murphy, and PB chair, Jessica Fidalgo.
In his opening statement, Mr. Trapilo said he was raised to believe deeply in public service. He said he also witnessed how difficult it was to move a community forward during the 40R process. He said PB members were sometimes subjected to personal attacks and it was disheartening.
He said Ms. Tomassetti was treated with a lack of respect and said he “wholeheartedly” supported her to be reinstated, and encouraged the board members to vote for her. He said if they allow hostility or personal attacks to determine who steps forward then we compromise the “very heart of democracy.”
He did not, however, withdraw his name, and stayed to answer questions.
Mr. Lucas talked about his qualifications as a PB member for 25 years. He said he has knowledge of the bylaws and would like to think he would be open minded in how he treats people. He said his goal is to work with the current bylaws as they stand.
“When I look at a project, I don’t look at who the person is,” said Mr. Lucas, adding he looks at how the project affects the town.
He also said he expects people to be respectful: “It shouldn’t have to be asked for.”
Mr. Lucas also said he did not intent to run for the seat next year.
Ms. Tomassetti said she wanted to take a moment to speak to residents, saying the comments of her last meeting got the better of her.
She called her resignation a “knee-jerk reaction.”
“My feelings were hurt, I was stressed and felt extremely bullied,” she said, adding that she tendered her resignation when she felt she was under “significant pressure and negativity that seemed to compromise my reputation, integrity, both personally and as Planning Board Chair.”
“For that decision, I apologize,” she said.
She said she felt that continuing on the board would bring a level of positive direction and support to the town.
Ms. Tomassetti also said she had an “obligation to the people of Fairhaven to return to the Planning Board.”
She promised to provide unbiased research and communicate with board members and “town entities” to ensure the accuracy of board items.
“As a cohesive board, our impact can reach beyond individuals, reshaping our community and neighborhoods,” said Ms. Tomassetti.
The applicants faced three questions, about their experience with technical documents and site plans, and their ability to conduct site visits; how they would make sure the public is considered for projects, especially those facing strong community opposition; and how the would approach conflicts of interest and their own bias.
At the end of the questioning, PB member, Patrick Carr, said SB member, Andrew Romano (who beat Mr. Carr in the election for the SB seat in 2024), should recuse himself from the vote because Romano and Lucas are both members of the North Fairhaven Improvement Association.
Mr. Carr questioned why Mr. Romano was not stepping aside, noting that he has said in the past that any appearance of a Conflict of Interest should be reason enough for a board member to recuse himself. Mr. Carr cited several instances, with dates, quoting Mr. Romano.
Mr. Romano was ready, saying he filed the disclosure because he had a feeling the issue would come up. He also said he checked with the state Ethics Commission. He has no financial relationship with Mr. Lucas, he said, so there is no COI.
He went through each of the cited cases and explained his position.
In the end the board took a vote for Ms. Tomassetti first, with SB member Keith Silvia nominating her, seconded by SB member Andrew Saunders.
The vote ended in a tie. PB is an eight-member board, minus Ms. Tomassetti, leaving seven to vote; SB is a five member board, 12 total.
A tie vote means the motion dies.
“Yes” votes for Ms. Tomassetti were SB members, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Silvia, and Mr. Murphy; and PB members, Mr. Carr, Sharon Simmons, Ruy DaSilva.
The second vote was for Mr. Lucas, nominated by SB member Natalie Mello and seconded by Mr Romano, which passed 7-5, with “yes” votes for Mr. Lucas being SB members, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Romano, and Ms. Mello; and PB members, Miles Grant, Sean Powers, Kevin Grant, Jessica Fidalgo.
Mr. Lucas and Ms. Tomassetti shook hands after the vote.
In another matter, the SB tabled an item for an update on the zoning bylaw project. Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, was not at the meeting, so the board decided to wait until e could give the update.
The board also approved a change to the flag/banner policy, and the use of town hall process.
The Flag/Banner policy will now require a 30 day notice for a request to hang a flag or banner on town property, instead of 60 days.
A requests for use of town hall will also require 30 days instead of 60 days. The policy also changes the fee to $150/hour for all groups, except Town government groups.
In other business the board:
• Voted to reclassify the Treasurer/Collector position to Grade 20 from Grade 19, to be competitive with other municipalities competing for talent. The current Treasurer/ Collector has announced her retirement.
• Appointed Timothy Cox to the Public Safety Complex Committee, replacing the Planning Director, who resigned.
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