By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Select Board held a special meeting on 10/14/26 to make appointments to boards and committees. It was the first meeting to make the annual appointments since two new bylaws passed at Town Meeting and were approved by the Attorney General.
The new bylaws restrict the number of boards and committees that individuals can serve on. Elected officials can only serve on the board they are elected to unless appointed as a liaison of the board to another committee/board. Appointed individuals may serve on a maximum of two boards, although the SB may override that with a “specific vote” to allow it.
The issue came up pretty quickly with the Bell Committee, when Doug Brady, who was on four committees, The Bell Committee, the Historical Commission, Rogers Reuse, Atlas Tack Working Group, argued that two of his appointments were not up for renewal until next year, so they did not count. He said he was being considered for the Bell Committee and the Rogers Reuse Committee and that is all they should consider.
The board and Mr. Brady discussed the issue for a very long time, ultimately deciding that the total number of committes was the point.
SB member Andrew Saunders pointed to the provision in they bylaw that allowed the board to make an exception. He and SB member Rick Trapilo made the case in favor of letting Mr. Brady stay on all four entities.
Mr. Brady was reappointed to the Bell Committee and the Rogers Reuse Committee, but later in the meeting opted to resign from the Bell Committee. He will remain on Historical Comission, for now.
The issue came up again, but on the elected official side, when Barbara Acksen asked to be reappointed to the Cable Advisory Committee. Although there was still a lot of discussion, Mr. Saunders noted that the bylaw did not have the same “carve out” that the other one had.
Ms. Acksen is an elected member of the Board of Health, and noted that it seemd a bit of a stretch for that board to need a liaison to the Cable Advisory Committee.
In the end they did not appoint her to the committee. Ms. Acksen also serves on the Trust Commission, which is an elected position. But that term is not up for election until 2028.
The issue of residency also came up with one person who was on a board, but moved and one person who asked to be on a board, but lives out of town.
The SB did not reappoint Rachel Medeiros to the Belonging Committee because she moved out of town.
Erin Carr, who lives in Mattapoisett, but owns a business and a house in Fairaven, asked to be appointed to the Livable Streets Committee. She asked to be appointed several months ago and was refused because she is not a Fairhaven resident.
Ms. Carr told the board she is an outdoor enthusiast, avid walker, runner, cyclist. She said she wanted to help people understand the rules of the and the benefits of being outside.
She noted that an assessor was appointed who does not live in Fairhaven.
Mr. Trapilo spoke in favor of the appointemnt. Mr. Saunders declined to comment, saying he was recusing himself. In past meetings, he has recused himself on any matter pertaining the Ms. Carr or her father, Patrick, due to a business relationship.
SB member, Pam Kuechler, reiterated the sentiment of the board from the previous request that Ms. Carr join a corresponding committee in Mattapoisett.
Mr. Trapilo made a motion to appoint Ms. Carr, but there was no second.
Mr. Romano then addressed Mr. Carr who was sitting in the room, asking if he was recording.
“You didn’t notify us,” said Mr. Romano, referring to a standard statement at the beginning of meetings that anyone making a recording should notify the chair. He said Mr. Carr should delete the recording.
“I’m not responding to you” said Mr. Carr, who was defeated for the Select Board seat by Mr. Romano in 2024.
Appointments included
• Art Curator: Mark Badwey
• Bell Committee: Doug Brady (he will resign), Nils Isaksen, Helena Oliveira
• Belonging Comm: Alliea Groupp, Laura Barillaro, Suzanne Belanger
• Cable Advisory Comm: Ronnie Medina
• Commission on Disability: Cara Viveiros
• Community Preservation Committee: Jeffrey Lucas, Ann Richard
• Conservation Commission: Wendy Drumm, Karyn Ferreira
• Council on Aging: Michael Hevey
• Cultural Council: Beth Ann Gallagher, John Walker, Jennifer Frasier
• Economic Development Comm: Cathy Melanson, Karyn Ferreira, Jon Hinds
• Historical Commission: Beth Luey, Eleanor Chew, Brian Messier, Nils Isaksen
• Livable Streets Comm: Tim Garcia, Roger Sicotte
• Marine Resources Comm: Michael McNamara, Robert Pink Jr., David Darmofal, Andrew Jones, Morgan Dawicki
• Millicent Library Trustees: Kathryn Powers
• Rogers Reuse Comm: Susan Loo, Doug Bradu, Nils Isaksen, Beverly Rasmussen,
• Sustainability Comm: Ann Richard, Melanie Jansky, Christin Ritz, Wendy Drumm
• Zoning Board of Appeals: Cathy Melanson
The meeting is available on demand at FairhavenTV.com
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Click here to download the 10/22/26 issue: 10-22-26 HalloweenTrail
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