FAIRHAVEN The Board of Selectmen set a date for a Special Town Election for the recall of Selectmen Chair Daniel Freitas: Monday, July 26.
A recall petition against Freitas was certified by the Town Clerk after exceeding the required signatures of 20% of the town’s registered voters 2,384 signatures were needed, and 2,521 signatures were received.
Freitas, who is still serving as Chair of the Selectmen, is calling for an investigation into the authenticity of the signatures on the petition.
Freitas had to recuse himself from this portion of the May 10 Selectmen meeting where, on the advice of town counsel, a recall election must be scheduled.
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Tree laborer is a dangerous municipal job, he added.
“These people are on call 24/7. They are asked to go out during inclement weather for fallen trees.
The highest the warden can offer these new experienced laborers is $16 an hour, a wage Collasius called “dismal and deplorable” as well as a great contributor to the high employee turnover rate for the position.
“It’s a long-term problem preventing the department from functioning in a reliable manner.”
It was previously reported that the Department has a massive backlog of work due to staffing shortages and COVID-related restrictions.
Collasius is asking for a wage increase of $17.50 and $18.30 an hour for the two new employees he wants to hire. These numbers, according to him, are still roughly 25% less than the industry standard for the work involved.