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Municipal votes · 2021–2022 Board

Fairhaven Select Board

How the Fairhaven Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Stasia Powers joined the board in July 2021; Daniel Freitas left. On July 28, 2021 the board chose Robert Espindola as Chair. Covers 23 meetings, July 28 to March 28, 2022.

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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Board years

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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 SilviaClerk · Elected townwide · at 23 of 23 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, March 28, 2022 · Regular meeting11 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 3 members presentMonday, March 14, 2022 · Regular meeting10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Stasia PowersMonday, February 28, 2022 · Regular meeting5 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 3 members presentTuesday, February 22, 2022 · Regular meeting5 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 3 members presentThursday, February 10, 2022 · Regular meeting2 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.

Jan 10Approve setting up the gift account for Grimshaw ParkMotion: to approve setting up the gift account for Grimshaw ParkPassed 2–0 · see note

January 10, 2022: Approve setting up the gift account for Grimshaw Park

ApprovePassed · 2–0

To approve setting up the gift account for Grimshaw Park

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to approve setting up the gift account for Grimshaw Park. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote passed. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Sep 13Submit a letter in favor of H3948, an act…Motion: to submit a letter in favor of H3948, an act An…Passed 3–1 · see note

September 13, 2021: Submit a letter in favor of H3948, an act An Act Relative to The Board of Selectmen of The Town of Fairhaven

ApprovePassed · 3–1

To submit a letter in favor of H3948, an act An Act Relative to The Board of Selectmen of The Town of Fairhaven

Joint vote with another board (3-1); individual Select Board votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to submit a letter in favor of H3948, an act An Act Relative to The Board of Selectmen of The Town of Fairhaven. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote passed. (3-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 30Approve the final revision of the Town Administrator position…Motion: to approve the final revision of the Town Administrator position statementPassed 2–0 · see note

August 30, 2021: Approve the final revision of the Town Administrator position statement

ApprovePassed · 2–0

To approve the final revision of the Town Administrator position statement

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to approve the final revision of the Town Administrator position statement. Mr. Espindola seconded. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 23Approve the draft Town Administrator position statement condition upon…Motion: to approve the draft Town Administrator position statement condition upon the…Passed 2–0 · see note

August 23, 2021: Approve the draft Town Administrator position statement condition upon the Collins Center outlining the salary as appropriate and to add the edits by Ms. Powers and Mr. Espindola

ApprovePassed · 2–0

To approve the draft Town Administrator position statement condition upon the Collins Center outlining the salary as appropriate and to add the edits by Ms. Powers and Mr. Espindola

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to approve the draft Town Administrator position statement condition upon the Collins Center outlining the salary as appropriate and to add the edits by Ms. Powers and Mr. Espindola. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote passed. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 16Appoint Travis Rapoza to the Economic Development CommitteeMotion: to appoint Travis Rapoza to the Economic Development CommitteePassed 2–1 · see note

August 16, 2021: Appoint Travis Rapoza to the Economic Development Committee

AppointPassed · 2–1

To appoint Travis Rapoza to the Economic Development Committee

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

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to appoint Travis Rapoza to the Economic Development Committee. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote passed. (2-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 16Appoint Anne Morton Smith to the at-large position on…Motion: to appoint Anne Morton Smith to the at-large position on the…Passed 2–0 · see note

August 16, 2021: Appoint Anne Morton Smith to the at-large position on the Town Administrator Search committee

AppointPassed · 2–0

To appoint Anne Morton Smith to the at-large position on the Town Administrator Search committee

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to appoint Anne Morton Smith to the at-large position on the Town Administrator Search committee. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote passed. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 16Appoint Gloria Perparas to the at-large position on the…Motion: to appoint Gloria Perparas to the at-large position on the Town…Passed 2–0 · see note

August 16, 2021: Appoint Gloria Perparas to the at-large position on the Town Administrator Search committee

AppointPassed · 2–0

To appoint Gloria Perparas to the at-large position on the Town Administrator Search committee

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to appoint Gloria Perparas to the at-large position on the Town Administrator Search committee. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote passed. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 9Reconsider the acceptance of the Town Administrator Screening processMotion: to reconsider the acceptance of the Town Administrator Screening processPassed 2–0 · see note

August 9, 2021: Reconsider the acceptance of the Town Administrator Screening process

ApprovePassed · 2–0

To reconsider the acceptance of the Town Administrator Screening process

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to reconsider the acceptance of the Town Administrator Screening process. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote was unanimous. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 9Amend the Town Administrator Screening committee to add one…Motion: to amend the Town Administrator Screening committee to add one Board…Passed 2–0 · see note

August 9, 2021: Amend the Town Administrator Screening committee to add one Board of Public Works representative and one more Citizen at-large member

ApprovePassed · 2–0

To amend the Town Administrator Screening committee to add one Board of Public Works representative and one more Citizen at-large member

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Ms. Powers made a motion to amend the Town Administrator Screening committee to add one Board of Public Works representative and one more Citizen at-large member. Mr. Espindola seconded. Vote was unanimous. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Powers, second: Espindola)

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

Aug 9Move the project forward for a Fall Town Meeting…Motion: to move the project forward for a Fall Town Meeting ArticlePassed 2–0 · see note

August 9, 2021: Move the project forward for a Fall Town Meeting Article

ApprovePassed · 2–0

To move the project forward for a Fall Town Meeting Article

The minutes give the count (2-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Mr. Silvia made a motion to move the project forward for a Fall Town Meeting Article. Ms. Powers seconded. Vote was unanimous. (2-0-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Powers)

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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