Fairhaven Reaches Contract Agreement With Town Administrator

Fairhaven's new town administrator will have big shoes to fill as he takes over for the Standard Times' 2015 "Man of the Year", Jeff Osuch.

While Mark Rees was just a spectator for Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting, he'll be hands-on for the next one on January 19.

During the meeting's executive session, the Board and Rees reached a contract agreement, as he will begin working immediatley.

Rees, a former city manager in Portland, ME, says his first task as Fairhaven's first town administrator is getting to know the community.

"I was very impressed by the high level of public participation. I mean, that was one of the things that attracted me to local government, and communities like Fairhaven is the ability for citizens to come forward and talk with their elected officials about what their concerns and what their issues are," Rees tells WBSM News.

Monday also marked Osuch's last Board of Selectmen meeting as executive secretary. He will continue working for a short time as he assists Rees with his new duties as town administrator.

Osuch has worked for Fairhaven since 1978.