Boards Need Experienced Members
Fairhaven Taxpayers/Residents- Pay Attention Please- because we have full voting right members on our Planning/ZBA boards that are void of experience, by their own admission.
Residents can equip themselves with Chapter 40A -ZBA knowledge at mass.gov if interested, and keep up with ZBA decisions that may affect you, and the town that you live in.
Side Note: Right now, your Fairhaven website is under new construction, and it is hard to know anything the way it is being bureaucratically delayed/designed.
Has anyone noticed that the new Fairhaven Website has taken down the public comment page and people are having a difficult time getting on Zoom for board meetings? The new Fairhaven website has a contact page but that is NOT a public comment page.
Where do our voices go where it matters as a public record? While decisions are being made without us?
Anyone can have knowledge and understanding about all the ZBA rules, principles and regulations, but it is what is done and how that knowledge is used that matters. How to craft plans skillfully and make permit decisions with a broader understanding of how these decisions affect us all in the future, can make all the difference in the end goals, being collectively sought after in this town.
The end goals for ZBA permitting are specific and must meet with 5 important rules and principles as listed below, that cannot be overlooked. (Many residents are witnessing the overlooking already; this is just an observable fact on our streets and that has been announced in town hall meetings)
1: Protecting public health, safety, and welfare ZBA decisions must be made with the understanding that they impact the well-being of the community. This means considering potential impacts on traffic, noise, and other factors that could affect residents’ quality of life (Turbines and increased street traffic on our streets come to mind just now)
2: Adherence to local zoning bylaws (where is the Short Term Rental (STR) Annual Report in past 3 years according to STR bylaw?)
3: Balancing individual rights and community interest
4: Transparency and public participation
5: Clear and consistent standards
To make a motion for inexperienced people with full voting rights onto the ZBA board was a tell-tale sign of the leadership we are dealing with. It is very concerning. And when do Select Board members have the right to question ZBA candidates about their personal lives, when interviewing them?
Why was there no reasonable pause in the Select Board decision, to interview ZBA associates, who offered more experience, than a candidate who just said, “I want to give back”?
Mr. Sullivan admits he has no ZBA experience. Perhaps Mr. Sullivan has a good heart. Why not fulfill your need at the Salvation Army?
Mr. Sullivan, if you really wanted to give back, why would it not be a giving out of your reservoir of knowledgeable experiences? Why would you want to give the people of Fairhaven something you don’t have, when we most especially need it now?
Michelle Costen Fairhaven
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