Lakeville candidates stress balance on growth, schools and transparency at Select Board forum

Three candidates vying for two open three-year seats on the Town of Lakeville Select Board spoke Thursday evening at a public candidates forum hosted by town moderator Katie Goodfellow and moderator Joanne Upham, outlining differing approaches to growth, school capacity, water and transparency.

The candidates — Leah Fabian, a current Select Board member; Christopher Planca, chair of the town Finance Committee; and Paul Hunt, a former Lakeville police officer — focused on balancing development with infrastructure needs and town character while keeping taxes manageable.

Fabian emphasized outreach and practical planning. “We have our town website,” she said, and noted the board recently started a community newsletter and is encouraging use of online notifications. Fabian, who said she opposed the town taking ownership of the former Lakeville Hospital property to secure a brownfields remediation grant, told the forum, “I have 0 interest in taking any ownership of the property.” She also urged residents to test private wells and cited recent school maintenance costs: “We just did a $2,000,000 doors and windows project at Assawompsett.”

Planca framed the issues as budget-driven and tied to state mandates. He said the town is roughly “about 5%, only about halfway there, to get the affordable housing number,” and called both Chapter 40B-style developments and the MBTA Communities requirements “unfunded state mandates.” Planca said he supports careful review of large projects and better town authority over high-density housing where possible. On transparency, he said he would ensure information is posted clearly on the town website and social media and that required public forums follow open meeting law.

Hunt described long local ties and committee experience and stressed open process and honesty. He said candidates and officials must “put your personal opinions aside a little bit” when serving and advocated incremental development when appropriate to limit sudden impacts.

Housing and growth: Candidates addressed several high-profile local sites and policies. On the Rocky Woods proposal, Planca said he was “not in support of the current proposal due to the impacts… potential traffic,” citing neighborhood traffic concerns near the high school. All three said a balance must be struck among commercial development, affordable housing and preserving town character. Fabian and Planca described state-level pressure on local zoning: Fabian said Lakeville is now considered an “adjacent community” under MBTA rules because the commuter rail station sits in Middleborough; Planca called the MBTA Communities Act “similar to 40B” and said he opposed state overrides of local zoning.

Old Lakeville Hospital and brownfields: Candidates agreed the former hospital site is an eyesore and needs action but differed on risk. Fabian opposed the town taking title to secure a remediation grant, saying earlier experience showed brownfields funding could be far short of cleanup costs. Hunt said he would consider a partnership only with “rock solid indemnification and penalties” to protect the town. Planca said he supports a cautious approach and would ensure any developer obligations in a development permit are met.

Schools and capacity: School funding and capacity drew sustained attention. Planca and Fabian noted the regional school district has experienced declining enrollment since about 2010 but that facility maintenance remains costly. Fabian cited recent capital work at Assawompsett and said the town should study buildings while enrollment provides a “reprieve” to plan for long-term needs. Planca said he expects 40B-style projects to increase pressure on classrooms and that a future debt-exclusion vote to build or expand schools is possible if demand rises.

Economic development and taxes: All three candidates said economic development must be community-driven. Fabian urged listening sessions and resident input before recruiting businesses, saying voters rejected past proposals the board pushed. Planca recommended an economic development committee as a forum to craft long-term plans. Hunt said there is no short-term fix and warned that some commercial models, such as large warehouses and strip malls, can remain vacant and may not solve revenue needs.

Public water and private wells: In response to audience questions, candidates said public water expansion would be costly and complex. Planca said he would not favor wholesale town water expansion yet, citing expense for southern areas of town; Hunt said long-term planning is needed and noted treatment options are costly. Fabian urged residents to test private wells, noting contaminants such as PFAS and mineral issues.

Civic engagement and communication: Candidates proposed more outreach to recruit volunteers and inform residents about meetings and surveys. Fabian encouraged use of the town newsletter and placing information “where people are getting it,” including social media links back to official pages. Planca emphasized education about volunteering through channels such as the local paper and social media, and Hunt suggested peer encouragement to recruit committee members.

Other topics: Candidates discussed Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School renovations and the community’s use of Community Preservation Act funds. Planca, who serves on Old Colony’s school building committee, described capacity and program expansions at the regional vo-tech. On CPA funds, all three said they support projects that benefit the whole community and mentioned veterans’ projects and Old Town Hall work as examples.

The forum concluded with reminders about voting logistics posted by moderators Katie Goodfellow and Joanne Upham. “Please remember to vote on April 7, from noon to 8 p.m. at Ted Williams Camp, Lune Pond Lodge, 20 Precinct Street,” Goodfellow said.