Belonging Committee — October 19, 2026

The Fairhaven Belonging Committee met on October 19, 2026, to address administrative updates, reflect on the committee's municipal charge, and plan upcoming seasonal events. At the start of the meeting, the committee voted to table the approval of the June 24 minutes and acknowledged the resignation of committee member Suzanne. Chair Aaliyah noted that the committee's fiscal year 2027 budget had been reduced across town departments to $450, and that a new Select Board policy requiring all board and committee members to be Fairhaven residents resulted in former clerk Rachel stepping down to non-voting 'friend' status. New member Denise Barr introduced herself, and members reviewed the town's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion charge while brainstorming long-term goals and community outreach strategies.

The committee voted to allocate $60 from its town budget for candy to support Fairhaven TV's Halloween Fest on October 30, with members planning to supplement the supply through personal candy donations. Members also voted unanimously to participate in the Old Time Holiday Fair on December 12 at Town Hall, requiring no expenditures due to existing supplies. The committee then addressed operational challenges regarding access to its official Facebook page, with plans to contact Derek at Fairhaven TV to restore administrative access for members.

Finally, the committee evaluated the previous Fairhaven Pride event and began preliminary planning for the upcoming year. Chair Aaliyah detailed unexpected expenses from the last Pride event totaling $1,250—including $350 for Town Hall rental, $250 for a prior police detail, and Department of Public Works barricade fees—which depleted the committee's gift account to under $200. Laura suggested charging vendors a modest $20 fee (while keeping it free for nonprofits like Seven Hills) and requesting fee waivers or donated services from the police, DPW, and Town Hall. Due to time constraints, formal action on Pride planning was deferred to a future meeting.

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