Board of Public Works — October 15, 2026

The Fairhaven Board of Public Works met on October 19, 2026, to discuss traffic studies, ongoing capital projects, waste contracts, and municipal operations. Highway Superintendent Josh presented the results of intersection safety studies, recommending a 4-way stop at Bridge and Adams Street, which the board supported for submission to the Select Board. However, the board strongly rejected removing the traffic signal at Bridge Street and Mill Road despite engineers finding it does not meet state signal warrants. The board approved locations for six newly delivered Big Belly trash barrels funded by CPC, approved issuing an amended RFP for solid waste disposal and recycling collection for FY2027–2031, and authorized an amendment to the Highway Superintendent's employment contract allowing carryover of up to 10 vacation days.

The board firmly voted against funding or pursuing a wastewater privatization feasibility study requested by the Budget Working Group, criticizing any attempt to privatize the wastewater plant and arguing it would not save taxpayer money or benefit the general fund. The board also voted against hosting an in-person town surplus auction at the BPW facility, with members objecting to spending estimated departmental overtime on selling low-value surplus items and broken equipment.

Several project payments and contract actions were approved, including payments to Dig It Construction for the Glen Haven Avenue and Spring Street water main projects (along with issuing the final certificate of completion for Spring Street), Beta Group for park assessments, Methuen Construction and FTI Consulting for WPCF upgrades, Tata & Howard for Wolf Island well and generator projects, and PAO Corp for the Phoenix Rail Trail rehabilitation. Work Change Directive 10 for $24,191.77 for the wastewater plant was also approved under emergent business.

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