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Municipal votes · 2020–2021 Board

Fairhaven Select Board

How the Fairhaven Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Keith Silvia joined the Board of Selectmen in June 2020; Charles Murphy Sr. left. Daniel Freitas chaired the board. Covers 39 meetings, June 11 to July 12, 2021.

A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.

What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.

Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.

Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budget
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What Town Meeting decided

In Fairhaven, Town Meeting — not the Select Board — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Town Meeting members are elected by precinct; counts are from the town’s electronic voting.

Special Town Meeting · November 19, 2025 14 votes: 14 passed

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the November 19, 2025 Special Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting · May 3, 2025 44 votes: 36 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 failed, 6 no action

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 3, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

Special Town Meeting · November 19, 2024 16 votes: 14 passed, 2 no action

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the November 19, 2024 Special Town Meeting (scanned).

Annual Town Meeting · May 4, 2024 53 votes: 42 passed, 1 passed as amended, 6 failed, 4 no action

Source: Town Clerk's minutes of the May 4, 2024 Annual Town Meeting (scanned).

Not here yet: No minutes are posted yet for the May 2, 2026 Annual Town Meeting, so its results are not included.

Titles are short descriptions of each article from the official record; the quoted words are the Town Clerk’s. A vote at Town Meeting is not the final word on everything: some articles also need a ballot vote (such as a tax override) or the Attorney General’s approval (bylaws).

Members

Keith SilviaMember · Elected townwide · at 39 of 39 meetings

"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.

Meetings

About missing minutes

Loaded: Select Board (Board of Selectmen until 2021) minutes from January 2020 through September 14, 2026, as posted on the town website. Not here yet: minutes before 2020 and minutes after September 14, 2026. The minutes are scanned documents; we read them with text recognition, so some names and titles may read awkwardly; each vote quotes the minutes. Many minutes files also contain attachments, which we did not read. Since 2022 nearly every vote gives the mover, the seconder and a count such as “5-0-0”, and names any member who voted no, abstained or recused; we show those votes as recorded. When the count matches the members present with no one voting no, every member present is shown as voting yes. Before 2022 most votes say “Vote was unanimous” with a count; a few 2-1 votes do not say who voted no and show the count only. Members who recused are left out of that vote. Joint votes with the Finance Committee or School Committee show the count, and only Select Board members named in the minutes. Motions that failed for lack of a second are not listed. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Monday, July 12, 2021 · Regular meeting5 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 3 members presentMonday, June 21, 2021 · Regular meeting13 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 3 members presentSaturday, June 12, 2021 · Regular meeting8 recorded votes, 3 with disagreementAll 3 members presentThursday, June 10, 2021 · Regular meeting2 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 3 members presentWednesday, June 9, 2021 · Regular meeting1 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 3 members present

Votes where members disagreed

Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.

Jun 12Mr. Freitas would like to see this pass to…Passed 2–1 · see note

June 12, 2021: Mr. Freitas would like to see this pass to start the process of SMEC leasing the former Rogers School

ApprovePassed · 2–1

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Silvia made a motion for Pass Over due to the language for article 49: Citizens Petition- Establish an ethics committee. Mr. Freitas seconded. Vote passed (2-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Freitas)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Jun 12Pass Over due to the language Article 52: Citizens…Motion: to Pass Over due to the language Article 52: Citizens Petition-…Passed 2–1 · see note

June 12, 2021: Pass Over due to the language Article 52: Citizens Petition- amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “recall Elections” Mr. Freitas seconded

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To Pass Over due to the language Article 52: Citizens Petition- amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “recall Elections” Mr. Freitas seconded

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Silvia made a motion to Pass Over due to the language Article 52: Citizens Petition- amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “recall Elections” Mr. Freitas seconded. Vote passed. (2-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Freitas)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Jun 12Pass Over due to the language article 53: Citizens…Motion: to Pass Over due to the language article 53: Citizens petition-…Passed 2–1 · see note

June 12, 2021: Pass Over due to the language article 53: Citizens petition- amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516” Recall Elections”

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To Pass Over due to the language article 53: Citizens petition- amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516” Recall Elections”

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Silvia made a motion to Pass Over due to the language article 53: Citizens petition- amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516” Recall Elections”. Mr. Freitas seconded. Vote passed (2-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Freitas)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Jun 10Support Article 57: Rehab new wing of Rogers School…Motion: to support Article 57: Rehab new wing of Rogers School and…Passed 2–1 · see note

June 10, 2021: Support Article 57: Rehab new wing of Rogers School and to include all supporting documents and a draft sheet to be presented to town meeting members

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To support Article 57: Rehab new wing of Rogers School and to include all supporting documents and a draft sheet to be presented to town meeting members

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Silvia made a motion to support Article 57: Rehab new wing of Rogers School and to include all supporting documents and a draft sheet to be presented to town meeting members. Mr. Freitas seconded. Vote passed (2-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Freitas)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

May 14Reconsider Articles 49: Establish ethics Committee, Article 52: Amend…Motion: to reconsider Articles 49: Establish ethics Committee, Article 52: Amend Town…Passed 2–1 · see note

May 14, 2021: Reconsider Articles 49: Establish ethics Committee, Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” and Article 53: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections”

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To reconsider Articles 49: Establish ethics Committee, Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” and Article 53: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections”

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Freitas made a motion to reconsider Articles 49: Establish ethics Committee, Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” and Article 53: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections”. Mr. Silvia seconded. Vote passed. (2-1).” (Motion: Freitas, second: Silvia)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

May 14Recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 49: Establish ethics CommitteeMotion: to recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 49: Establish ethics CommitteePassed 2–1 · see note

May 14, 2021: Recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 49: Establish ethics Committee

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 49: Establish ethics Committee

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Freitas made a motion to recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 49: Establish ethics Committee. Mr. Silvia seconded. Vote was passed. (2-1).” (Motion: Freitas, second: Silvia)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

May 14Recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw…Motion: to recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter…Passed 2–1 · see note

May 14, 2021: Recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” Establish ethics Committee

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” Establish ethics Committee

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Freitas made a motion to recommend Indefinite postponement for Article 52: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” Establish ethics Committee. Mr. Silvia seconded. Vote was passed. (2-1).” (Motion: Freitas, second: Silvia)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

May 14Recommend Indefinite postponement for Articles 53: Amend Town Bylaw…Motion: to recommend Indefinite postponement for Articles 53: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter…Passed 2–1 · see note

May 14, 2021: Recommend Indefinite postponement for Articles 53: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” Establish ethics Committee

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To recommend Indefinite postponement for Articles 53: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” Establish ethics Committee

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Freitas made a motion to recommend Indefinite postponement for Articles 53: Amend Town Bylaw Chapter 516 “Recall elections” Establish ethics Committee. Mr. Silvia seconded. Vote was passed. (2-1).” (Motion: Freitas, second: Silvia)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Apr 12Nominate Mr. Freitas for the position of ChairmanMotion: to nominate Mr. Freitas for the position of ChairmanPassed 2–1 · see note

April 12, 2021: Nominate Mr. Freitas for the position of Chairman

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To nominate Mr. Freitas for the position of Chairman

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Silvia made a motion to nominate Mr. Freitas for the position of Chairman. Mr. Freitas seconded. Vote passed (2-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Freitas)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Feb 16Interview Wendy Graves for the Town Administrator positionMotion: to interview Wendy Graves for the Town Administrator positionPassed 2–1 · see note

February 16, 2021: Interview Wendy Graves for the Town Administrator position

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To interview Wendy Graves for the Town Administrator position

The minutes give the count (2-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Silvia made a motion to interview Wendy Graves for the Town Administrator position. Mr. Freitas seconded. Vote passed (2-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Freitas)

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

From the Fairhaven Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town website. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Member photos: candidates’ own submitted photos, published by Fairhaven Neighborhood News (2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026 candidate statements). Other former members show initials.

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