Board of Public Works — September 29, 2026

The Fairhaven Board of Public Works met to address annual fees, contract agreements, and concerns regarding town discussions around privatizing wastewater operations. The board approved the 2027 annual contractor fees for both highway and water/sewer, maintaining current rates at $500. Board members also approved a $35,000 general engineering contract with Tata & Howard for FY27 to assist with departmental transitions following the upcoming retirement of longtime employee Jeff, as well as a $2,200 contract with Tata & Howard for mandatory 2026 Emergency Response Plan (ERP) training for water personnel.

A significant portion of the meeting centered on discussions by the town's newly formed Budget Working Group regarding potential contract operations and privatization of the wastewater treatment plant through an RFP process, referencing Veolia. The board strongly pushbacked against this initiative, stating statutorily under Massachusetts General Law that the Board of Public Works serves as the sewer commissioners with sole jurisdiction over wastewater budgeting and maintenance. Superintendent Vinnie Furtado and board members emphasized that Fairhaven's plant is award-winning and fully compliant, and that contracting operations would not produce savings once burden rates, markup, and required staffing levels were factored in.

In other business, the superintendent reported on a $40,000 application submitted to the Planning Board for 14 parking spaces near the BMX pump track at Macomber Pimentel Park. Board members discussed e-bike usage guidelines on town bike paths, upcoming road maintenance and tree trimming, and announced the Phoenix Rail Trail ribbon-cutting scheduled for October 17 at 11:00 AM.

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