From the Town Clerk

It’s beginning to look a lot like the Holidays….

I was out shopping in the Route 6 area over the weekend and the traffic is already starting to build up. I wish I had a strategy on how to avoid the traffic, unfortunately the one strategy I have involves getting up very early. So if you are an early riser you’re good, if not, try to be patient, a little goes a long way. Everyone is a bit more stressed this time of year so try to remember to be courteous and if that rude person steals your parking space, take a deep breath, move along and ask Santa for more patience.

Town Meeting results
The Town of Seekonk held its Fall Town meeting at Seekonk High School, 261 Arcade Ave. Monday, November 13, 2017 at 7:00PM to vote on the articles summarized below. The Meeting was called to order at 7:00PM with a beginning quorum count of 77 registered voters that eventually increased to 94. The meeting was then turned over to the town moderator.
Article 1: A motion was made that the town vote to receive the reports of town officers and committees, and to place them on file with the town clerk.
A report was given by Jeff Harris – planning board member
Action on the motion: motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Article 2: A motion was made that the town vote to accept the layout of the public way known as Becky Lane as described in the warrant for this town meeting, and authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire by gift, purchase or eminent domain an interest in said may be necessary or appropriate for all purposes for which public ways are used in the Town of Seekonk.
Action on the motion: motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Article 3: A motion was made that the Town vote to dissolve the Library Facilities Committee established by town meeting to serve until completion.
Action on the motion: motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Article 4: A motion was made that the Town appropriate, from Free Cash, the sum of $170,052, for the purchase and implementation of a computer-based permitting and licensing system, such funds to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Action on the motion: motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Article 5: A motion was made from the Town Meeting floor to make an amendment to the motion, changing the language in the last line from a “buffer of fifty (50) feet to a “buffer of twenty-five (25) feet”: Action on the motion: motion passed
Article 5: Continued: A motion was made that the town amend the Zoning Bylaws by changing the zoning designation of the property located at 800 Fall River Avenue and identified as Seekonk Assessor’s Plat 8 Lot 3 containing approximately 22.04 acres of land from R-3 and Highway Business to Highway Business and require a minimum residential buffer of twenty-five (25) feet from the side and rear lot lines of the property.
Action on the motion: motion did not get the 2/3 vote required. Motion failed to pass.
Article 6: A motion was made that the Town amend the Zoning Bylaw, Section 4.2 
USE TABLE, Section 4.2.4 Business and Commercial Uses, Subsection 16. Non-residential mixed use development, by deleting the strikethrough text and inserting the underlined text as presented in the warrant for this Town Meeting.
Action on the motion: Motion passed with 2/3 vote.
Article 7: A motion was made the Town appropriate from free cash the total sum of $100,000 with $50,000 for a feasibility study for the construction of a south end fire station and $50,000 for a feasibility study for the construction of Phase II of the Seekonk Senior Center ($50,000), said funds to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Action on the motion. Motion passed.
Article 8: A motion was made that the town vote to appropriate from free cash the total sum of $33,130.92 to fund the cost items for the first fiscal year of collective bargaining agreements with the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO,CLC Local 9517-10 (Clerical Unit) and The United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC Local 9517-09 (Supervisors Unit) and, in connection therewith, to amend the vote taken under Article 2 of the June 5, 2017 Annual Town Meeting and allocate such additional amounts as presented, in the warrant, for this Town Meeting.
Action on the motion: Motion passed unanimously.
Article 9: A motion was made that the Town amend the General Bylaws by inserting a new bylaw as Category 51, entitled “Stretch Energy Code”, for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy, pursuant to Appendix 115.AA of the Massachusetts Building Code, 780 CMR, the Stretch Energy Code, including future editions, amendments, or modifications thereto, with an effective date of January 1, 2019, all as presented, in the warrant, for this Town Meeting.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Article 10: A motion was made that the Town appropriate from free cash sum of $236,000.00 to be expended for the purchase and equipping of a loader to be utilized by the Department of Public Works, said funds to be expended under the Direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Article 11: A motion was made that the Town appropriate, from free cash sum of $67,000 to be expended for the purchase and equipping of a dump truck/plow to be utilized by the School Department. Said funds to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Article 12: A motion was made that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 to be added to that appropriated under Article 2 of the June 5, 2017 Annual Town Meeting for Line 46, Forestry Expense.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Article 13: Moved that the town appropriate, from Free Cash, the sum of $100,000 to be expended for work associated with asbestos abatement at the Seekonk Public Library, said funds to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, in consultation, with the Board of Library Trustees.
Action on the motion: Indefinitely postponed
Article 14: A motion was made that the Town Amend the Home Rule Charter, of the Town of Seekonk, by inserting in Article 3, Section 2 “Eligibility”. Any registered voter shall be eligible to hold any elective office. No person shall simultaneously hold more than one elected office, provided, however that for purposes of this sentence, the term “elected office” shall exclude a charter commission elected under the provisions of G.L. c. 43B”
Action on the motion: Motion passed with 2/3 majority.
Article 15: A motion was made that the Town Amend the Home Rule Charter of the Town of Seekonk as presented. By inserting in Article 7, Section 2 Finance Committee
A finance Committee of seven (7) members shall be appointed by the Town Moderator for three (3) year overlapping terms of office. No elected or appointed town officer or employee, other than a member of a charter commission elected under the provisions of G.L. c 43B, shall be eligible to serve on the Finance Committee. Members of the Finance Committee shall be allowed to serve on an ad hoc committees as long as the ad hoc committee does not impact the town, or school operating budgets. Any committee member who submits nomination papers for an elected position shall take a temporary leave of absence from the Finance Committee. The Moderator shall appoint a temporary replacement to serve until the election.
Action on the motion: Motion fails.
Article 16: A motion was made the Town appropriate, from free cash the sum of $50,000.00 to be added to that appropriated under Article 2 of the June 5, 2017 Annual Town Meeting for the care and upkeep of the Dexter Avenue Cemetery, Line 34, Building Operations Expense.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
A motion was made to dissolve the meeting at 9:15PM
Action on the motion: Passed with a unanimous vote.

The Seekonk Senior Center
The Seekonk Senior Center will be offering a program: Adopting a family for Christmas. For more information on how you can adopt a family in need please call the Senior Center: 508-336-8772

Holiday Highlight - To get you in the Holiday mood.
Enjoy your favorite seasonal and holiday songs at a special NoteWorthy Holiday Concert at Seekonk Library on Wednesday, December 13 at 6 PM. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Seekonk Cultural Council and offered free to the public. No registration necessary.
This concert is sure to put you in the Yuletide spirit with its mixture of traditional Christmas carols and popular holiday tunes. NoteWorthy is a group of local musical friends, many of whom are lifelong musicians.
The Annual Seekonk Town Election is held on the first Monday in April. Nomination papers for offices up for election are available December 15, 2017 in the Town Clerk’s office.
The positions that will be up for re-election are:
Two seats for Board of Selectmen (3-year term)
One seat for the Board of Assessors (3-year term)
Two seats for The Library Board of Trustees (3-year term)
One seat for the Planning Board (5-year term)
Two seats for the School Committee (3-year term)
One seat for Water Commission (3-year term
One seat for Housing Authority (5-year term)

Board and Committee openings
A great way to get involved in local Town Government is to become a member of a Board or Committee. If there’s a committee that you think you could be of benefit to, or one that you have an interest in, please go to the Town Administrator’s office for more information and to fill out a Talent Bank form.
Volunteers are needed on the following: Charter Study Committee (2), Conservation Commission (2), Energy Committee (2), Finance Committee (2), Historical Commission (2), Property Tax Work-Off Committee (3), Zoning Board of Appeals (1).
Please stay safe over the holidays and slow down to take time to enjoy family and friends.