By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven’s Annual Town Meeting concluded after a second night on Wednesday, 10/21, to finish up the articles from Tuesday, when the meeting went past 10 p.m.
TM voted to approve $1.5 million to replace the current water meter reading system with a new, centralized, automatic system.
Public Works Superintendent Vinnie Furtado said the current system is “archaic and very laborious,” requiring a worker to drive to each home and use a handheld device to read each water meter. The meters in town are also old, resulting in 13% of water unaccounted for, mostly due to inaccurate readings. The current system also only allows for meters to be read a couple of times a year because it just takes too long.
Last year TM approved $1.5 million in borrowing for a drive-by system which allows a worker to drive by houses for the meters to be read. But since that appropriation, the cost of that system and a fully automated system, which uploads data continuously to the system, have come closer together making it more prudent to get the better system, said Mr. Furtado.
The article also asked for $245 from the water enterprise fund for well capacity evaluation ($125K); $30,000 for a van to replace a 1998 vehicle; $90,000 for the water main on Farmfield/Harborview.
TM approved the $1.745 million to cover all items in the article.
Town Meeting also approved $982,179 in spending for sewer capital projects, including the long sought after Muffin Monster for the Tabor Street Pumping Station ($75,000). The monster will chop up certain kinds of wast that gets tossed into the sewer system and clogs up the works, such as so-called “flushable” wipes which should, however, never be flushed down the toilet.
The article also includes $657,179 in borrowing for upgrades to the West Island Treatment Plant; $250,000 for an Inflow and Infiltration Study.
The Community Preservation Program also received an okay for its expenditures, including $75,000 for door replacement at Green Meadows/ McGann Terrace, a Fairhaven Housing Authority development.
There was some discussion on the door project, with TM member Robert Grindrod saying he did the math and each door will cost $11,500 each.
“I think that’s a bit excessive,” said Mr. Grindrod.
Community Preservation Committee Chairperson Jeff Lucas said that the FHA has its hands tied because of the restrictions on the process they must use.
“It’s crazy money,” agreed Mr. Lucas, but said that because of all the federal and state regulations it comes to “this crazy number.”
“I have no defense for the amount,” he said, noting that the town is providing a small percentage of the total cost of the project, which includes 80 doors total, each having a storm and an inside door.
The article also included $15,000 for the Buzzards Bay Coalition to acquire and conserve a piece of land near Fort Phoenix known as Boys Creek Marsh. The piece, off Doane Street, was slated for development by NStar.
Town Meeting also passed article 25, which establishes a by-law titled “Gold Star Parents Tax Abatement.” The new bylaw provides abatement of the full amount of property taxes for the surviving parents or guardians of military service members killed or missing in action during active duty. The abatement is for the residence only, not income properties.
Article 26, looking to install four street lights also garnered a good deal of discussion. Three of the four locations did not meet the requirements to be considered for a street light. The one for Reservation Road was rejected based on the “long standing practice” of placing a light on every other pole, according to Finance Committee Chairperson Padraic Elliott.
However, after resident Jeffrey Adesso made his case and a bit of back and forth on the issue, Town Meeting, in its legendary wisdom, chose to appropriate the $800 for the light on Reservation Road.
Mr. Adesso’s argument included that it was simply a dangerous and dark curved spot at night, making it dangerous.
Town Meeting also spent quite a bit of time debating article 28, to use $16,400 in surplus revenue/free cash for two electric vehicles.
Those against the proposal said the timing was not right due to the uncertainty that COVID-19 restrictions have caused to revenue.
Mr. Elliott said the town had put together a “needs based budget” due to COVID so FinCom voted against the vehicles. He said they could take a look at it “down the road.”
The argument that the vehicles were needed to keep Fairhaven on track with its commitment as a Green Community also did not fly with some people.
“These vehicles are not going to make or break the Green Community deal,” said FinCom member Lisa Plante.
“We really have to be careful with our free cash spending right now,” said FinCom member Kathleen Carter.
Ann Richard, chair of the Sustainability Committee said that Fairhaven should be a model, but other towns are already making progress towards switching to electric vehicles.
“It’s a minimal amount compared to all the other mone we spent last night,” said Ms. Richard, saying the town should understand how important it is to be a green community, and “not just in name only.”
The money will help to fund two cars and two charging stations.
TM member Jim Anderson said he wanted to express his “excitement and enthusiasm” for the motion. He said people need to think of the future, and that two of his neighbors have EVs.
Calling it an “extremely practical move,” Mr. Anderson said it puts a stake in the ground to say that Fairhaven is a community that cares.
In the end, TM passed the article.
Town meeting failed to pass article 34, with would have rezoned the G. Bourne Knowles property from apartment/multifamily to business. After much discussion, and a reminder that the property had already been rezoned once to accommodate the owners to put multi-family housing units there, TM members voted 39 for the change and 87 against the article.
Concerns included that the Lifestyles Plaza is right across the street, so a new business development would cause traffic woes; a lack of information on the kinds of projects that could go there; a rehashing of the last attempts to re-use the property that ruffled feathers; and the parcel’s wetlands issues, including how close it is to the Nasketucket River and Little Bay.
Ann Ponichtera Denardis expressed her concern that it was the last article on the warrant, besides the “other business,” one. She said more people should know about the change.
Henry Ferreira, a 30-year TM member, said he had never seen a zoning change this size, that would have such an impact on the town with so little information, calling the article “astounding,” and asking why Mr. Knowles was not there to speak on the article.
“This isn’t a plan or project looking for a zoning change,” said Mr. Ferreira. “This is a zoning change looking for a reason, and the reason is the money,” to sell to the highest bidder.
The measure failed with 39 voting yes and 87 voting no.
Town meeting passed over Article 14, which would have deposited money into the Capital Stabilization Fund, which funds capital expenditures for large purchases.
TM also voted
• To transfer $65,000 from ambulance receipts to the Ambulance Stabilization Fund.
• To approve $15,000 for the propagation of shellfish.
• Passed over an article that would have created a new revolving fund for mooring fees, to be authorized for ruse by he Harbormaster and the Town Administrator.
• Passed over an article that would have adopted new waterways regulations.
• Passed over Article 23, which would have instituted a plastic bag ban at stores in Fairhaven.
• Passed over Article 24, which would have required the Board of Health to be held to the standards set forth in the Selectboard’s boards and committees handbook.
• Approved article 27 which would enact a Special Act in the legislature to create the civil service rank of Fire Lieutenant.
• Approved a $10,000 local match for a grant from the Seaport Economic Development Council for an economic feasibility study of Union Wharf, that will study the economic impacts of existing and future uses.
• Approved $89,500 for repairs to Union Wharf Phase IV
• Approve a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement) for a solar array project at 46 Charity Stevens Lane.
• Passed over Article 32, to petition the court for a restaurant/all alcohol license for Traveler’s Alehouse, 111 Huttleston Avenue
• Granted a perpetual easement for 245 Huttleston Avenue to pass over the BPW property to tie into the sewer system.
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