By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Select Board revised its agenda for the 2/10/25 meeting twice, with the last revision posted at 5:30 that day, a half-hour before the meeting was scheduled to start.
The first agenda included two executive sessions to discuss the “discipline or dismissal of, or complaints brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual.” One was for Patrick Carr, the chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Vice Chair of the Planning Board; the other against Ruy daSilva, the Vice Chair of the ZBA and a PB member.
Both have been embroiled in controversy for months over possible conflicts of interest due to bylaws changes, and more recently, a clash with the School Department over a storage shed being built that would result in the storage containers Mr. Carr leases to the High School no longer being needed. The ZBA stopped that project, siding with abutters who appealed the issuance of the building permit.
The first revision to the 2/10 agenda moved the complaints to open session and added an executive session to discuss legal advice regarding the high school project.
The second revision added an executive session to “discuss possible litigation: Patrick Carr and Ruy daSilva.”
Neither Mr. Carr nor Mr. daSilva was at the meeting, and in the end, the open meeting topic was passed over after a lengthy recess while the board met in executive session with Town Counsel.
SB member Andrew Saunders recused himself from discussions involving Mr. Carr, but not Mr. daSilva; SB member Charles Murphy recused himself from discussions involving Mr. daSilva, but not Mr. Carr.
When they returned from executive session, SB chairperson, Stasia Powers, said they would pass over the two items regarding Mr. Carr and Mr. daSilva. They set the date of Wednesday, 2/26, to hold both hearings.
In another matter, the board approved an aquaculture license for Shawn Skinner. The two-acre site will be in the same area as five other aquaculture sites in Deacon’s Cove, in a designated area already mapped out for Aquaculture. The lease is for three years.
The Marine Resources Committee recommended approval.
Mr. Skinner told the board he wants to grow oysters and has been learning from local aquaculture operators. He has been a commercial shellfisherman for 31 years, and will fund the operation himself. He already has two boats he can use.
The vote by the board is just the first step. He will need approvals by state agencies, and then will have to sign a contract with the town.
In another shellfish matter, Harbormaster Tim Cox asked the board to reduce the cost of a shellfish license for non-residents. The fee was increased last year from $135 to $275 for non-residents, resulting in a drastic drop in applications and revenue. The point of raising the fee was to increase revenue to the town. However non-residential sales dropped from 45 to nine, resulting in a decrease from $6075 to $1935 in actual fees collected.
The Marine Resources Committee approved a recommendation to the SB to charge $175 for a non-resident shellfish license. It is still an increase from the $135, but not as drastic.
In his letter to the board, MRC Chairperson, Michael McNamara, said residential permit sales also dropped, from 283 to 191. He said the board believes the drop in sales is due to a combination of the frequent shellfish closures last year, and the “extreme fee increases.”
The fee for Fairhaven residents increased from $30 to $50 last year. The MRC did not recommend any changes to that fee.
In other business, board members named their choices to be on the Town Administrator Search Committee. The board had decided that each of the five members would pick and person, and the Board of Public Works and School Department would also have a representative on the committee.
Ms. Powers chose Pam Kuechler, a former, long time School Committee member and chairperson; SB Vice Chair Charlie Murphy chose former Harbormaster David Darmofal; SB clerk Andrew Saunders chose Finance Committee member Ken Blanchard; SB member Andrew Romano chose former Town Administrator Mark Rees; and SB member Keith Silvia chose former Fairhaven Executive Secretary Jeff Osuch.
The committee will work in conjunction with a professional search firm.
Interim TA, George Samia, told the board he had three possibilities. He and Mr. Romano will interview the firms that are interested working with the town and make a recommendation to the full board which will then vote to pick one.
The board also talked what needs and priorities they should discuss with newly elected State Rep. Mark Sylvia, who will be at a meeting soon to learn what the town needs.
Mr. Saunders reiterated his oft-mentioned comment that the state needs to give more aid to municipalities. He said the state has $8 billion in its rainy day fund and the interest alone would go a long way to help cities and towns.
“We can’t cut our way out of it anymore,” said Ms. Powers. “It’s an unending challenge.”
The board also said they would discuss funds for housing with Mr. Sylvia; and regionalization possibilities.
In another matter, the board appointed three people to fill the sudden vacancies on the Conservation Commission. Four people had expressed interest, but Justin Methia did not attend the meeting, so the board was not able to ask him questions.
They appointed local business owner, Karyn Ferreira; local realtor Diane Tomassetti, who is also on the Planning Board; and Karen Goodhue, who said she decided at the last minute to apply..
The SB also appointed Melanie Jansky to the Sustainability Committee.
There are a number of openings on a variety of boards. To earn more visit https://www.fairhaven-ma.gov/volunteer-opportunities
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