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Municipal votes · 2022–2023 Board

Fairhaven Select Board

How the Fairhaven Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. The board grew from three to five members in April 2022 (Town Meeting vote, June 2021); Leon Correy and Charles Murphy Sr. joined. Stasia Powers became Chair on April 11, 2022. Covers 33 meetings, April 11 to April 3, 2023.

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
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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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

Robert EspindolaClerk · Elected townwide · at 33 of 33 meetingsCharles Murphy Sr.Member · Elected townwide · at 33 of 33 meetingsKeith SilviaMember · Elected townwide · at 32 of 33 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, April 3, 2023 · Regular meeting10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentTuesday, March 28, 2023 · Regular meeting28 recorded votes, 1 with disagreementAll 5 members presentThursday, March 23, 2023 · Regular meeting2 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentMonday, March 20, 2023 · Regular meeting14 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 members presentThursday, March 16, 2023 · Joint meeting0 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 5 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.

Mar 28Recommend adoption of the Health and Environment Budget of…Motion: to recommend adoption of the Health and Environment Budget of $188,923Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Powers

March 28, 2023: Recommend adoption of the Health and Environment Budget of $188,923

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To recommend adoption of the Health and Environment Budget of $188,923

Yes: Correy, Espindola, Murphy, SilviaAbstained: Powers

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Murphy made a motion to recommend adoption of the Health and Environment Budget of $188,923. Mr. Silvia seconded. The motion passed (4-0-1) Ms. Powers abstained.” (Motion: Murphy, second: Silvia)

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

Dec 5Accept the Retirement Board’s recommendation to increase the COLA…Motion: to accept the Retirement Board’s recommendation to increase the COLA for…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Murphy

December 5, 2022: Accept the Retirement Board’s recommendation to increase the COLA for FY23 from 3% to 5%

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To accept the Retirement Board’s recommendation to increase the COLA for FY23 from 3% to 5%

Yes: Correy, Espindola, Powers, SilviaAbstained: Murphy

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Silvia motioned to accept the Retirement Board’s recommendation to increase the COLA for FY23 from 3% to 5%. Mr. Espindola seconded. Mr. Silvia, Mr. Espindola, Mr. Correy and Ms. Powers in favor, Mr. Murphy abstained. The motion carried (4-0-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Espindola)

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

Dec 5Add additional signage on Morton Street as approved by…Motion: to add additional signage on Morton Street as approved by public…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Espindola

December 5, 2022: Add additional signage on Morton Street as approved by public safety and BPW

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To add additional signage on Morton Street as approved by public safety and BPW

Yes: Correy, Murphy, Powers, SilviaAbstained: Espindola

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Murphy motioned to add additional signage on Morton Street as approved by public safety and BPW. Mr. Silvia seconded. Mr. Silvia, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Correy and Ms. Powers in favor, Mr. Espindola abstained. The motion carried (4-0-1).” (Motion: Murphy, second: Silvia)

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

Dec 5Accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the…Motion: to accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Espindola

December 5, 2022: Accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA report for $240,000 for playground resurfacing

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA report for $240,000 for playground resurfacing

Yes: Correy, Murphy, Powers, SilviaAbstained: Espindola

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Murphy motioned to accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA report for $240,000 for playground resurfacing. Mr. Silvia seconded. Mr. Murphy, Mr. Silvia, Mr. Correy and Ms. Powers in favor, Mr. Espindola abstained. The motion carried (4-0-1).” (Motion: Murphy, second: Silvia)

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

Dec 5Accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the…Motion: to accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA…Passed 4–1 · No: Espindola

December 5, 2022: Accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA report with the exception of the school’s playground resurfacing of $240,000 (from previous vote)

ApprovePassed · 4–1

To accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA report with the exception of the school’s playground resurfacing of $240,000 (from previous vote)

Yes: Correy, Murphy, Powers, SilviaNo: Espindola

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Murphy motioned to accept the ARPA fund uses as outlined in the TA report with the exception of the school’s playground resurfacing of $240,000 (from previous vote). Mr. Silvia seconded. Mr. Murphy, Mr. Silvia, Mr. Correy and Ms. Powers in favor, Mr. Espindola opposed. The motion carried (4-1-0).” (Motion: Murphy, second: Silvia)

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

Nov 7Approve the proclamation for Stephen Cornish in recognition of…Motion: to approve the proclamation for Stephen Cornish in recognition of his…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Murphy

November 7, 2022: Approve the proclamation for Stephen Cornish in recognition of his many accomplishments and work with MOLIFE

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve the proclamation for Stephen Cornish in recognition of his many accomplishments and work with MOLIFE

Yes: Correy, Espindola, Powers, SilviaAbstained: Murphy

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Silvia motioned to approve the proclamation for Stephen Cornish in recognition of his many accomplishments and work with MOLIFE. Mr. Correy seconded. Vote: Mr. Correy in favor, Mr. Silvia in favor, Ms. Powers in favor, Mr. Espindola in favor, Mr. Murphy abstained. Motion carries. (4-0-1).” (Motion: Silvia, second: Correy)

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

Oct 17Recommend Article 10 – Ms. Powers opened the meeting…Motion: to recommend Article 10Passed 4–0 · see note

October 17, 2022: Recommend Article 10 – Ms. Powers opened the meeting at 6:30 pm. Ms. Powers acknowledged the Board is wearing pink in

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To recommend Article 10

The minutes give the count (4-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Motion: Mr. Murphy motioned to recommend Article 10. Mr. Silvia seconded. Vote passed unanimously. (4-0-1).” (Motion: Murphy, second: Silvia)

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

Oct 6Approve the transfer of $1,410.80 from the Reserve Fund…Motion: to approve the transfer of $1,410.80 from the Reserve Fund to…Passed 9–0 · see note

October 6, 2022 (Joint meeting): Approve the transfer of $1,410.80 from the Reserve Fund to account 001-161-00-0145

ApprovePassed · 9–0

To approve the transfer of $1,410.80 from the Reserve Fund to account 001-161-00-0145

Joint vote with another board (9-0-0); individual Select Board votes are not shown.

From the minutes

“Motion: Ms. Plante motioned to approve the transfer of $1,410.80 from the Reserve Fund to account 001-161-00-0145. Mr. Grinrdod seconded. Roll call vote: Padraic Elliot in favor, Jennifer Dupras in favor, Robert Grinrdod in favor, Linda Gallant in favor, Theresa Szala, Lisa Plante in favor, Denise Barr in favor, Peter Gardener in favor, Carolyn Roberts in favor. (9-0-0).”

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

Jul 18Appoint Patrick Carr as an associate member of the…Motion: to appoint Patrick Carr as an associate member of the Zoning…Passed 4–1 · see note

July 18, 2022: Appoint Patrick Carr as an associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term to end May 31, 2023

AppointPassed · 4–1

To appoint Patrick Carr as an associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term to end May 31, 2023

The minutes give the count (4-1-0) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Motion Mr. Murphy motioned to appoint Patrick Carr as an associate member of the Zoning Board of Appeal for a term to end May 31, 2023. Mr. Silvia seconded. Mr. Espindola voted in the opposition. Vote carried. (4-1-0).” (Motion: Murphy, second: Silvia)

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

Jul 18Approve the Pedal for the Path event to be…Motion: to approve the Pedal for the Path event to be held…Passed 4–0 · see note

July 18, 2022: Approve the Pedal for the Path event to be held on September 11, 2022

ApprovePassed · 4–0

To approve the Pedal for the Path event to be held on September 11, 2022

The minutes give the count (4-0-1) but not how each member voted.

From the minutes

“Motion Mr. Murphy motioned to approve the Pedal for the Path event to be held on September 11, 2022. Mr. Silvia seconded. Vote was carried. (4-0-1) Mr. Espindola was an abstained.” (Motion: Murphy, second: Silvia)

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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