Finance Committee Recommends Cutting Fire Department Hires

Members of the Seekonk Select Board expressed their dismay with the Finance Committee’s vote to remove the mid-year hires for the Fire Department from the FY’27 budget, less than two weeks before the May 11 Town Meeting.

Chief Shaun Whalen had attended the committee’s meeting on Tuesday but was not present when the vote was taken.

“I don’t understand their thought process,” said Board Chair Gary Sagar. “It makes no sense to me. I think town meeting (voters) would support (hiring) the four firefighters.”

“It’s a recommendation, we don’t have to listen to it,” said member Michael Healy, a former Fire Chief. “To me, I will leave it up to the voters at Town Meeting. I’m sure they will do the right thing.”

Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said what was in the budget was intended to allow for 11 firefighters per shift.  The proposed Fire Department budget is $5.7 million, which provides for 49 full-time employees.

“The original commitment, going back to 2023, was to have 12 firefighters per shift,” Cadime explained. “I still think there was room for discussion. I don’t know why we would reduce it, especially mid-year hires, if there’s no need to put (money) into another department.”

Resident Doreen Taylor called the committee’s actions “horrible.”

“Taking a vote that affects this man’s department after (Whalen) has left the room is completely unprofessional,” Taylor added. “That is totally disrespectful to our fire department and our fire chief.”