January News Notes

Town Planner Resigns
Seekonk Town Planner John Hansen has resigned. Hansen has served in the position since 2008. He has taken a position as town planner for Dartmouth. His last day will be January 8.

Seekonk Staples Store Involved in Customer Data Breach
Staples has reported that four stores in Massachusetts, including the Seekonk store on Rt. 6, were hit by a data breach. More than 1 million customer credit cards may have been affected. The security breach affected charges between July 20 and September 16. Customer information that may have been stolen includes cardholder names, card numbers, expiration dates and card verification codes. Anyone who shopped at the store during those dates should check their account statements and notify card issuers if any suspicious charges are found. Staples said that malware may have allowed access to information at 115 of its more than 1,400 stores. Staples is offering free identity protection services, including credit monitoring, identity theft insurance, and a free credit report, to customers who used a payment card at any of the affected stores during that time periods. Visit www.staples.com for more information.

Town Administrator Runs in Fall River Election
Town Administrator Shawn Cadime came in third in the Fall River mayoral recall election. Cadime, who served as city administrator in Fall River for several years, was one of seven candidates in the special election to recall former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, who also ran. Voters elected Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter to replace Flanagan. Sutter received 6,072 votes, Flanagan 4,445 and Cadime had 3,088.

Banna Fire Station Dedicated
A dedication ceremony was held last month for the Banna Fire Station on Pine Street. Town and state officials, former and present members of the Fire Department, selectmen, family and friends were in attendance. The fire station is named in memory of firefighter Richard Banna, who died responding to a house fire in December 1977. The building was first dedicated to Banna in June 1978. A construction project to renovate the station has been going on for several years and was expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

Seekonk Town Election Set for April 6
Voters will be going to the polls for the annual town election on April 6. Nomination papers are now available in the town clerk’s office for the following positions: two three-year seats on board of selectmen, two three-year seats and one one-year seat on the school committee, two five-year seats on the planning board, one three-year seat on the board of assessors, one three-year seat on the water commission, one five-year seat on the housing authority, two three-year seats on the library board of trustees. Nominations papers, signed by 50 registered voters, must be returned to the town clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Feb. 17. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 6.

Selectman Stopped by Police for Removing Signs
Selectman Nelson Almeida was found removing signs from utility poles and residences in town, but no charges were brought against him, according to a story in the Sun Chronicle. Seekonk Police responded to a call about signs being stolen late one night and stopped Almeida. Several signs were reportedly found in the back of his Jeep. Almeida reportedly said he was removing the signs because they were in violation of the town’s sign bylaw. Christopher Zorra, a member of the housing authority, was reportedly assisting Almeida, but had not removed any signs himself.