From The Editor - Fairhaven Neighborhood News

Selectboard supports Voc-Tech renovations, sets FY13 tax rateBy Beth DavidEditorThe Fairhaven Selectboard had a fulland long night of it on Tuesday, 11/13,facing several groups, public hearings,and the warrant for the special townmeeting scheduled for 12/4. The boardalso heard from resident KarenIsherwood, who has been very vocalabout the effects that the IndustrialWind Turbines on Arsene Street havehad on her property.Ms. Isherwood was accompanied byat least a dozen neighbors andwindwise members, but took issue withChairperson Brian Bowcock when hereferred to her “group.”“Why are you calling me a group?”interrupted Ms. Isherwood. “I’m just meand my daughters.”Then she apologized and said shewas “exhausted.”Ms. Isherwood, who was not on theagenda, started by asking if someonesigns a contract that has a “verynegative impact,” are they responsible.Dr. Bowcock did not answer rightaway.“You know where I’m going withthis,” said Ms. Isherwood.She said she had appeared beforeSelectboard, Board of Health and hashad no resolution. She said the impactfrom the turbines was “unbearable” forher and her family.“I hold you responsible. I’m askingyou to fix it,” she said. “I’m getting veryill and so are my daughters.”She said some people are proud ofthe turbines that are “killing my family.Killing me...and you’re going to beproud of that?”Dr. Bowcock stopped her fromspeaking and told her that “her issue”was not on the agenda, that he wouldnot allow her to continue, and said itmight even be a “violation of law tohave the discussion.”“You’re not going to come in hereand just interrupt the meeting,” said Dr.Bowcock. “You asked for soundtesting,” and the Department ofEnvironmental Protection is doing it.He said nothing would happen untilthe testing is done.Ms. Isherwood argued that thesound testing was taking months.Dr. Bowcock then simply ignored herand called on the next appointment.In another matter, representativesfrom New Bedford Regional Voca tionalTechnical High School presented plansand financial information to the boardon plans to renovate the school.The Mass. School Building Authorityhas approved funding at 80% for theproject. The three municipalities in thedistrict must vote to allow the funding.New Bedford voted yes, Dartmouthvoted yes, and Fairhaven has a specialtown meeting on Dec. 4 to vote on theissue.Voc-Tech representatives had metwith the Finance Committee last week(See page 19), but faced some opposi -tion for not having all the informationtown officials asked for.“This presentation was better thanthe last one,” at the finance commit tee,said Selectboard Executive SecretaryJeffrey Osuch, adding that the projectwas “deserving of consideration,” andthat he expected it to pass at TownMeeting.We’re not looking formore students. We’relooking to serve thestudents we have better[Linda Enos]Plans call for an expansion of thecafeteria, increase in the size of someclassrooms, a decrease in size of someareas, and reconfiguration of thescience areas.“We’re not looking for morestudents,” said Superintendent LindaEnos. “We’re looking to serve thestudents we have better.”The cafeteria was built to serve 1860students when built in 1974, it nowserves 2150.Officials also explained that evenwithout the renovation project, thedistrict was expecting to pay up to $2.9million for new air handling systems.That seemed to be the factor thatput it over the top for selectboardmembers.The total project is estimated at$17,099,808 with MSBA granting$12,736,352. The New Bedford,Dartmouth and Fairhaven would splitthe costs of the remaining $4,363,456.Representatives encouraged resi -dents to attend GNBVT’s open house onSunday, from 11-4, to see the building.The measure is article 5 on theNEW: Meeting videosavailable onlineThe Fairhaven town website nowhas meetings streaming onine. Visit:http://70.88.215.124/Cablecast/Public/ Main.aspx?ChannelID=1Special Town Meeting (STM) warrantand the board voted to support it.The board also met with PublicWorks superintendent Vinnie Furtadoabout several articles the depart menthas on the STM warrant.The board voted to support all hisrequests, which include labor contractcosts, $196,000 for the anaerobicdigester.According to Mr. Furtado andSewer/Wastewater SuperintendentLinda Schick, the digester is nowworking, 1.5 years behind schedule.Ms. Schick and Mr. Furtado told theboard that the department had alreadysaved $7,000 in October alone on solidwaste removal because of the digester.The project was paid for with a“forgiveness” loan from federalstimulus funds. Once the project meetsthe guidelines set forth in the grant, thenearly $7 million loan will be forgiven.“I’m glad to see the digester projectis coming to an end,” said Dr. Bowcock.“It’s only just begun,” said Ms.Schick.The Emergency Management Agencyalso appeared before the board todiscuss the hurricane plan and itsrequest at the STM for $1500 to buy 30cots to use in emergency shelters intown.The EMA had received 30 cots fromthe Sheriff’s department, butdiscovered they were “useless”because they were missing parts.Thirty cots also were sold as surplusproperty at the auction this fall, butEMA Director Marc Jodoin told theboard he did not do it.“I never declared them surplus,” Mr.Jodoin said. “So I don’t now how thathappened.”Selectboard Member CharlesMurphy reminded the EMA thatSouthern Mass Credit Union haddecided to donate five cots.The EMA would like to have 200.The board voted to recommend allarticles on the Special Town Meetingwarrant including repairs to theMacLean Seafood/Union WharfSELECT: cont’d on page 20Page 4Thursday, November 15, 2012Fairhaven Neighborhood News