March 28, 2024

Seekonk Selectmen Search For New Police and Fire Chiefs

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The Board of Selectmen will now be continuing their search for a new Fire Chief in addition to a new Police Chief. Contract negotiations with Frederick MacDonald were unsuccessful, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. “After conducting a lengthy search to fill the position of Fire Chief left vacant by the retirement of Chief Michael Healy on April 26, 2019, the Town of Seekonk’s Board of Selectmen approved a conditional offer of employment at their meeting of August 21, 2019 for Frederick MacDonald to fill the position as the next Fire Chief for the Town. Unfortunately, the Town and Mr. MacDonald have been unable to successfully negotiate a contract and therefore the search will be reopened to fill the vacancy of Fire Chief. The Board of Selectmen wishes Mr. MacDonald the very best on his future endeavors.” MacDonald, a Seekonk resident, has been a firefighter in East Providence for 21 years.

There were 25 applicants for the position. 10 interviews were conducted by the search committee, according to town administrator Shawn Cadime. Selectman Nelson Almeida noted there were no applicants for the position from inside the fire department.

Healy had served as Fire Chief since his appointment in September 2014. Last week, selectmen voted against Christopher MacKenzie as the new Police Chief. The vote was 2 in favor and 3 opposed. Chairman David Andrade and Justin Sullivan voted yes and David Viera, Nelson Almeida, and Chris Zorra voted no.

The recommendation to hire MacKenzie also came from Cadime. Cadime expressed his disappointment with the vote and defended the work of the search committee.

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